What to see in Lisbon? A small photo-guide
Lisbon is our beloved European city where life goes much slower, houses sparkle with famous azulejos, in the evenings fado is heard somewhere in the distance, and everyone who comes here feels at home.
So far, located on seven hills Lisbon, we’ve visited two times - in 2017 and 2020, and we still want to come back for more. We liked it so much that we plan to live here in the near future (and this is probably the best recommendation ;))
What to do in Lisbon? What to see? You’re about to find out in our small photo-guide :)
Alfama
This is the oldest district of Lisbon. Laundry hanging from windows and fado in the evenings. However, in recent years, due to the increased tourism, the district has begun to change its character, the original inhabitants are slowly moving out, and their tenement houses are turning into luxury apartments. However, we hope Alfama will still retain some of its charm. What to see here?
Castelo de S. Jorge - located on the highest hill in the city offers great views of Lisbon. We recommend visiting it in the morning or late afternoon.
Lisbon Cathedral - it has survived several earthquakes and many reconstructions, built in an austere Romanesque style. The church was built on the ruins of a mosque, which in turn was built on top of the ruins of Roman buildings. We didn’t get to go inside, but we were able to admire the cathedral from the outside.
Miradouro de Santa Luzia - one of our most favorite places in Lisbon. It was built on the site of the old city walls, and its charm is enhanced by a special pergola with a blooming purple bougainvillea hanging from it. An additional attraction are panels of beautifully restored blue azulejos.
Miradouro das Portas do Sol - right next to the Santa Luzia you can find this another vantage point - this time in the form of a large terrace, from which there is a view of the Tagus river and the eastern part of Alfama. We recommend coming here at sunrise ;)
Church of São Vicente de Fora - this is one of the largest churches built in medieval Portugal. From the terrace and the roof of the monastery there is a wonderful view of Lisbon and the Tagus.
National Pantheon - a characteristic building in a classicist style, from the terrace there is a view of Alfama and the Tagus.
BAIXA & CHIADO
Praça do Comércio - it’s a large square in the center of Lisbon, at the entrance from Rua Augusta there’s an ornate triumphal arch from the 19th century (you can clim to the top), and in the middle of the square there is a bronze statue of King Joseph I. The square is right at the Tagus river. It’s a popular meeting place for the locals.
Rua Augusta - this is the most popular pedestrian street in Lisbon. It starts at the triumphal arch and ends at Praça do Rossio. Here you will find a lot of popular shops, banks, pharmacies, hotels and restaurants.
Santa Justa Lift - probably the most original construction in Lisbon. The elevator design was created by Raul Mesnier du Ponsard, who was a student of Gustav Eiffel, and the elevator itself started operating in 1902. At the beginning, it was used to quickly move between Rua da Santa Justa and Rua do Carmo, located much higher (about 30 meters difference). Today it is mainly a tourist attraction with a beautiful view of Alfama, Baixa and Tagus.
Carmo Convent - this place makes an amazing impression. The Carmelite monastery and church was built between 1389-1423. In 1755, during the tragic earthquake, the monastery's vault and the church collapsed. Neither the vault nor the church was ever rebuilt. Currently, the place can be visited, it houses the Archaeological Museum.
BAIRRO ALTO
Miradouro de Santa Catarina - it offers views of the Tagus, the April 25th Bridge and the statue of Christ the King on the other bank of the river. It’s a popular meeting place for younger people from Lisbon. It's worth coming here for the sunset.
Elevador da Bica - is a funicular railway and one of the city's landmarks. Every 15 minutes, two small tram-like cars go in opposite directions and connect the lower and upper part of the district. It’s obligatory to take a photo with one of the cars.
Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara - perhaps the most "elegant" viewpoint in Lisbon. It offers a beautiful panorama of the eastern part of the city, you can see the castle of St. George. There is a small park next to the viewpoint as well as a cafe. A place worth recommending at any time of the day.
Botanical Garden of Lisbon - a wonderful place for lovers of nature and peace. The garden is situated on a hill overlooking Lisbon. There are also: a planetarium and an astronomical observatory. It's the perfect place for an afternoon walk.
BELEM
Belém Tower - one of the city's landmarks. This interesting building in the Manueline style was built in the 16th century by order of King Manuel I. Over the next decades, it was used to defend the port, as a lighthouse, a customs post, and even a telegraph post. Today the tower can be visited. We recommend seeing this building at sunrise and sunset.
Padrão dos Descobrimentos - this is a fairly large monument erected in honor of the Portuguese explorers. The design takes the form of the prow of a caravel, there are 33 figures in total representing figures from the Portuguese Age of Discovery, incl. Henry the Navigator and Vasco da Gama. Interestingly, you can enter the monument. The elevator takes you to the terrace, which offers a wonderful view of Lisbon and the Tagus. Looking down towards the center of Belem, you can see the compass rose and mappa mundi created from limestone.
Jerónimos Monastery - a must-see in Lisbon, as well as a place where every art historian or admirer of interesting architecture will melt with delight. Why? The monastery is the best example of the Manueline style. It is characterized by a combination of Gothic elements with maritime and oriental motifs. The most famous are the intricately carved cloisters. Interestingly, the monastery is one of the few buildings that survived almost intact the earthquake of 1755.
Maritime Museum - if you are fans of ships, this place will be especially interesting for you. You can find here a lot of models of ships from various periods, as well as real exhibits!
Tropical Botanical Garden - this is our favorite place in the whole city and we have a special fondness for it. You can find here lots of beautiful fauna and flora, charming nooks and can spend some good time. The Pastéis de Belém is located right next to it, and it is here where the famous tarts are baked. We guarantee - they taste great! We recommend sneaking a few into the garden and enjoying them on one of many benches ;)
That's it for Lisbon, but its surroundings are also worth visiting: Cascais, Sintra, Cabo da Roca or the Setubal peninsula. More about it soon :)
