21 Lisbon Fun Facts –
Discover the City’s Hidden Gems
Lisbon is a beautiful and captivating city and our Lisbon fun facts make this capital even more interesting! This city, known as the “City of Seven Hills,” is brimming with fascinating quirks. From breath taking viewpoints to its iconic historic tram. Lisbon is the perfect blend of old-world charm and modern vibrancy, you have gotta visit this city!
Impress your friends and even some locals with these 21 Lisbon fun facts, updated for 2025!
Lisbon Fun Facts
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The Crow Named Vincent
Lisbon Fun Facts
According to legend rom 1173, crows have been a symbol of Lisbon after they escorted the body of Saint Vincent for his burial. Even today you would see crows around the Castle in São Jorge and the Church Sé adding to the legend. To honour the legend, in the past, Lisbon’s wealthy coal merchants would keep a pet crow and named them …. yes you guessed it Vincent.
Is São Jorge Castle real?
On your trip to Lisbon you might think that the São Jorge Castle is a medieval fortress, but that’s not the truth, it’s actually a 1940s reconstruction. The original structure was in ruins but Portugal’s dictator Salazar decided to rebuild it to glorify the nation’s past. Did you spot the difference?
Lisbon 1st To Import Guinness
Number 3 on our list of 21 Lisbon Fun Facts:
Guinness is the drink of the gods, apparently, so clearly the people of Lisbon knew that before the rest of the world. In the 1820s, Lisbon imported Guinness directly from Arthur Guinness II, the son of Arthur Guinness, the creator of the famous stout. They got hooked on the black gold pretty early!
Mosteiro dos Jerónimos Welcomed Its Millionth Visitor
In 2016, the Mosteiro Dos Jerónimos monument was visited by 1 million tourists. The actual 1 millionth visitor was Aurore Albert and her boyfriend, Misha Senelle, from Marseille.
The momentous event was marked by a bell and enthusiastic applause to signal the occasion. The couple who walked into the monument with zero knowledge of their historic position the couple by utter surprise. The event was captured by Portuguese news and television programs. Now thats a infamous Lisbon Fun Facts.
The momentous event was marked by a bell and enthusiastic applause to signal the occasion. The couple who walked into the monument with zero knowledge of their historic position the couple by utter surprise. The event was captured by Portuguese news and television programs. Now thats a infamous Lisbon Fun Facts.
Lisbon Was a World War II Spy Hub
During World War II, both Allied and Nazi spies gathered in neutral Lisbon, particularly at Estoril Casino. Espionage and intelligence exchanges thrived here, where Allied and Nazi spies enjoyed the thrill of the casino side by side. One of the spies was Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond. He wrote James Bond based on alot of the characters he met in Lisbon.
Even the city’s oldest café was a meeting place for spies – A Brasileira, the famous Lisbon café, was a hotspot for spies during World War II, grabbing a bica (expresso) and a nata. Can you imagine the scene Germans and British spies eating a Portguese breakfast side by side all the while the rest of Europe was fighting to the death. It’s so surreal!
Feeding Pigeons Is Illegal!
Although it might be a little strong you could be arrested in Lisbon if you feed the pigeons, it is against the last and was banned under our waste regulations. However, some older locals still secretly toss crumbs in the parks to our feathered friends.
Only Five People Know the Pastel de Belém Recipe
The famous Pastel de Belém recipe is a closely guarded secret known by only five very important people. These individuals take extreme precautionsto secure their secret lives on. They never travel together, drive in the same car, or order the same meal in order to to protect the beloved pastry’s recipe! You can purchase the delicous Pastel de Belém at Rua de Belém nº 84 a 92 1300 – 085 Lisboa
Now that is one great of our 21 Lisbon Fun Facts.
Now that is one great of our 21 Lisbon Fun Facts.
Belém Tower Was Once a Prison
The tower has a grisly history with many battle being fought in front of the tower and opposing troops being quartered in the towers dungeons. Now that is morbid but luckily today nothing quite as groetesque happens. Today the Tower sits on the edge of the Tagus river quite peacefully, providing stunning images of Lisbon. Visitors are permitted inside the tower and luckily they are no longer quartered, well not to our knowledge anyway!
Lisbon Set a Guinness World Record for Dining
On the 22nd March 1998, Lisbon entered the Guinness World Records book for the longest table ever set. Seating 15,000 people, the very large table spanned the whole of the Vasco Da Gama bridge. (If you dont know its a very long bridge) The people ate eight tonnes of “feijoada” a traditional portuguese dish which took a shocking two weeks to make.
The event was sponsored by Fairy washing up liquid and if you are old enough you probably remember the advert. “For hands that do dishes that feel soft as your face, its mild green fairy liquid” …arhhh memories!!
Quick fact about the bridge, Lisbon’s Vasco da Gama Tower was inspired by a ship’s sail – The 145-meter-high tower resembles a billowing sail in honor of Portugal’s maritime heritage.
Lisbon Holds the Record for the Longest Mexican Wave
A Lisbon fun facts for sports lovers. Lisbon holds the record for the longest Mexican Wave or an example of a metachronal rhythm. A Mexican wave is achieved when successive groups of spectators briefly stand, yell, and raise their hands. Consisting of 8,453 participants it took place at Parque das Nações on the 12th August 2007. What an amazing Lisbon Fun Facts to tell the grandkids about!
The 25 de Abril Bridge Looks Familiar
Do you think you have seen if before? The 25 de Abril Bridge in Lisbon bears a striking resemblance to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, USA, as both were constructed by the same company.
When it was inaugurated in 1966, the bridge was originally called the Salazar Bridge. Named after Portugal’s then-dictator António de Oliveira Salazar. After the Carnation Revolution on April 25, 1974, the revolution that overthrew the dictatorship, it was renamed to celebrate Portugal’s transition to democracy. The 25th April Bridge
The World’s Oldest Bookstore Is in Lisbon
Bertrand Bookstore, located in the Chiado neighborhood, is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest operating bookstore, dating back to 1732.
Santa Justa Lift – A Legacy of Gustave Eiffel’s Student
Home to the World’s Oldest Operating Elevator
The Santa Justa Lift, built in 1902, still carries passengers between the lower and upper streets of the city center.
The city’s iconic Santa Justa Elevator was designed by Raoul Mesnier de Ponsard, a student of Gustave Eiffel. His students really got around!
Check out our Porto fun facts.
The Santa Justa Lift used to be steam-powered – Before switching to electricity, can you imagine when this iconic elevator was powered by steam engines! All that steam!!
The Santa Justa Lift, built in 1902, still carries passengers between the lower and upper streets of the city center.
The city’s iconic Santa Justa Elevator was designed by Raoul Mesnier de Ponsard, a student of Gustave Eiffel. His students really got around!
Check out our Porto fun facts.
The Santa Justa Lift used to be steam-powered – Before switching to electricity, can you imagine when this iconic elevator was powered by steam engines! All that steam!!
Lisbon’s Trams Came from the USA
Lisbon’s Trams are not Portuguese they are from the U.S. The iconic yellow trams, like Tram 28, were originally imported from the United States in the early 1900s.
Another great Lisbon Fun Fact is that Tram 28 is a Tourist Favorite. The yellow Eléctrico 28 tram takes visitors on a scenic ride through Lisbon’s historic districts.
Scary fact some of Lisbon’s trams still use century-old wooden brakes, lets hope they do not fail!
Another great Lisbon Fun Fact is that Tram 28 is a Tourist Favorite. The yellow Eléctrico 28 tram takes visitors on a scenic ride through Lisbon’s historic districts.
Scary fact some of Lisbon’s trams still use century-old wooden brakes, lets hope they do not fail!
Brazilian Capital?
The Capital on Portugal Was Once in Brazil – During the Napoleonic invasions, the Portuguese royal family fled to Brazil and ruled the empire from Rio de Janeiro from 1808 to 1821.
Lets move onto the next in our list of 21 Lisbon fun facts.
Lets move onto the next in our list of 21 Lisbon fun facts.
Lisbon Has the World’s Smallest Bookstore
Lisbon is home to the World’s Smallest Bookstore. The Livraria do Simão is just 3.8 square meters, fitting only one person at a time! What a teeny tiny Lisbon Fun Facts.
Colourful Streets
Rua Nova do Carvalho, once a red-light district, is now a vibrant nightlife hub. It is now known as “Pink Street” for its painted pavement. From red to pink!
Lisbon also has a green street, known this way because of the plants and greenery on show. The street restaurants madesure the street is almost a garden in the urban jungle that is Lisbon.
Oldest House
Lisbon’s oldest house survived the 1755 earthquake. The Casa dos Bicos, now a museum, was one of the few buildings to withstand the massive disaster. Now thats a well built building, I need the the contact number of the builder.
Elephant in Lisbon?
A royal elephant once lived in Lisbon’s palace – King João III received an elephant named Ganga as a gift from India in the 16th century. Can you imagine walking down one of Lisbon streets and suddenly hearing an elefant!
You Old Funicular, you!
The world’s oldest operating funicular is in Lisbon – The Elevador do Lavra, running since 1884, is the oldest funicular still in use today.
It Is Part British
We have reached the last on our list of 21 Lisbon fun facts.
Lisbon once had a neighborhood just for British residents – The British Quarter had its own church, school, and even its own set of laws. These days most of us are in the Algarve!
Thanks for reading 21 Lisbon Fun Facts.
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