Lisbon Bingo: Spot 30 Typically Lisbon Things
Walk the seven hills, tick off the card, snap a photo of every typically Lisbon thing you can find. From a pastel de nata fresh out of the oven to tram 28 squeezing through Alfama, this is a 30-item Lisbon bingo that turns any walk into a treasure hunt. No fixed route. Just keep your eyes open.
Challenges (30)
Spot a pastel de nata
Find a pastel de nata in a Porto bakery window or on a café plate (the Manteigaria branches on Galerias de Paris are famous). Photograph the tart.
Spot an azulejo tile wall
Find a building covered in blue-and-white (or polychrome) azulejo tiles. Most of Lisbon's facades have them. Photograph the pattern.
Spot tram 28
Find the yellow heritage tram 28 squeezing through Alfama or the Bica funicular district. Photograph it on a tight bend.
Spot a Lisbon rooster (Galo de Barcelos)
Find a ceramic Galo de Barcelos (Portuguese rooster) in a souvenir shop, on a tile, on a fridge magnet. The polka-dot rooster is Portugal's symbol. Photograph it.
Spot sardines in a tin
Find a stack of decorative sardine tins (Conserveira de Lisboa, Comur). Each tin is dated as a vintage. Photograph the colourful display.
Spot the Portuguese tricolor
Find a Portuguese flag (vertical green-red with the coat of arms) flying on a building, balcony or boat. Photograph the colours.
Spot a glass of port wine
Find a glass of port wine (ruby red or tawny gold) at a bar or restaurant. Photograph the glass with the colour clear.
Spot a calçada portuguesa mosaic
Find a stretch of calçada portuguesa, the black-and-white limestone-and-basalt mosaic paving that covers Lisbon's squares and sidewalks. Photograph the pattern.
Spot a Lisbon funicular
Find one of Lisbon's yellow funiculars (Bica, Lavra, Glória) climbing one of the city's steep streets. Photograph it climbing or at the top.
Spot a bacalhau dish
Find a bacalhau (salt cod) dish on a restaurant menu or counter (bacalhau à brás, bacalhau com natas, pastéis de bacalhau). Photograph the plate.
Spot the Belém Tower
Walk to the Torre de Belém on the Tagus and find the Manueline limestone tower. Photograph it from the riverside path.
Spot Jerónimos Monastery
Find the south facade or cloister of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos in Belém. Photograph the lacework Manueline carvings.
Spot the Padrão dos Descobrimentos
Find the Discoveries Monument on the Belém riverside, a 52-metre stone prow with explorer statues. Photograph the prow with the river behind.
Spot the 25 de Abril Bridge
Find a view of the red 25 de Abril Bridge across the Tagus (it looks like the Golden Gate). Photograph the towers and cables.
Spot the Cristo Rei statue
Across the Tagus from Belém stands Cristo Rei, Lisbon's 28-metre Christ the King statue with arms outstretched. Photograph the statue across the water.
Spot Praça do Comércio
Walk to Praça do Comércio on the riverside and find the yellow arcade buildings around the square, with the Rua Augusta arch on the north side. Photograph the arch.
Spot the Santa Justa Lift
Find the cast-iron Elevador de Santa Justa in Baixa, a 45-metre Gothic Revival lift that takes you up to the Carmo Convent. Photograph the lift tower.
Spot a Lisbon Miradouro
Walk to one of Lisbon's many viewpoints (Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, Miradouro de Santa Luzia, Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara) and photograph the city laid out below.
Spot a fado poster
Find a fado venue poster (Mesa de Frades, Tasca do Chico, Casa de Linhares) or a Portuguese guitar on display. Photograph the music heritage.
Spot Saint Anthony sardines
Around the June Saint Anthony festival (Santos Populares) sardines roast on every corner. The rest of the year, find a Saint Anthony shrine, a sardine tile or a sardine-shaped souvenir. Photograph it.
Spot a ginjinha shop
Find a ginjinha bar (the cherry-liqueur shots served in tiny glasses) in Baixa or near Rossio. A Ginjinha and the Eduardino are classic stops. Photograph the doorway or a tray of glasses.
Spot a Lisbon laundry line
Look up in Alfama and find laundry strung between two windows or on a balcony rail. Photograph the line.
Spot a Lisbon trolleybus or autocarro
Find a Carris bus or a heritage trolleybus on its route. Photograph it climbing one of the city's hills.
Spot LX Factory facade
Walk to LX Factory in Alcântara, the post-industrial creative quarter under the 25 de Abril Bridge. Photograph the painted brick walls or the Ler Devagar bookshop facade.
Spot a Bordallo Pinheiro swallow
Find the colourful ceramic swallows that Bordallo Pinheiro makes (in souvenir shops, on facades). Photograph a pair of them on a wall.
Spot a Mosteiro de São Vicente azulejo panel
Find the large azulejo narrative panels at São Vicente de Fora (or any of Lisbon's azulejo museums). Photograph the storytelling tiles.
Spot a Lisbon iron balcony
Find a cast-iron balcony on a tiled Lisbon facade (Bairro Alto and Chiado have the prettiest). Photograph the iron lace against the tile.
Spot a Lisbon vintage shop
Find a vintage shop in Chiado, Bairro Alto or LX Factory with old radios, tile-stamps, port glasses in the window. Photograph the window curation.
Spot a Lisbon street artist
Find a piece of Lisbon street art (Bordalo II animals, Vhils carved portraits, large-scale murals). Photograph the wall.
Spot a francesinha or bifana
Find a francesinha (Porto sandwich) or a bifana (pork sandwich) on a tasca counter. Photograph the meaty layers.
Frequently asked questions
The duration is up to the organizer when they set up the adventure. As a guideline, a focused day through Baixa, Chiado, Alfama and Belém ticks off most of the easy items, and stretching the game across a weekend lets a determined group complete all 30.
Each of the 30 items is a camera challenge. When you spot the thing, take a photo and submit it; the bingo card tracks progress. Play solo, with friends or split into teams and race to tick off the most items.
Some items (Belém tower, certain azulejo walls) need targeted hops. Sweep Baixa and Chiado for the easy items, Alfama for the tram and azulejos, Belém for the pastéis and the tower, and the riverside for the bridge view.
Baixa, Chiado and Alfama hit the most items in a walking loop, with Bairro Alto for evening. Add a tram or rideshare to Belém for the tower, the pastéis and Jerónimos monastery. The Miradouros (viewpoints) on the hills are great between stops.
Yes. Kids love spotting trams, pastéis de nata, ducks, roosters and tile mosaics; adults enjoy hunting fado, port wine and viewpoint vistas. No alcohol stops are required.