When I think of Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, I think of the small bairros that wind down stone-laced alleys. I think of views from Miraduros showcasing the beautiful overlooks of the city and the river Tejo (Targus). I think of the smell of the food, the taste of the wine, the art and architecture, the tile, the markets in the morning, the castles, the sheer history of the city, everything about this city is perfect. If this excites you, then you should visit Lisbon, Portugal. Here are the top 15 places to visit in Lisbon Portugal in order of preference.
- Lisbon Cathedral
Lisbon’s Cathedral, whose official name is Santa Maria Maior (aka Sé de Lisboa) was built in the twelfth century in the Romanesque style. Thankfully for us, it has stood the test of time and many disasters, including the earthquake-tsunami-fire that happen on All Saint’s Day of 1755. This means you can enjoy its beautiful Gothic cloister which houses Roman, Arabic, and Medieval styles.
Famous for: The Casamentos de Santo António. Each year, on June 12, the Cathedral hosts the Marriages of Saint Anthony with a group wedding for local brides and grooms as a part of the Festas de Lisboa celebrations.
Magical moment: Walking down the side of Lisbon Cathedral in Summer and smelling the orange trees.
Address: Largo da Sé – Santa Maria Maior Neighborhood
Telephone: +351 218 866 752
Hours of Operation: Monday to Saturday: 9 am – 7 pm & Sunday: 9 am – 8 pm
- Belem Tower
If you are a history buff, you must visit Lisbon’s Torre de Belém. This symbol of Portugal’s power and exploration overlooks the River Tagus and is just a few steps from Jeronimo’s Monastery and the Berardo Collection. The structure, originally named St. Vincent’s tower (Torre de São Vicente), was the place where Portugal’s explorers set off to find adventure and riches during Europe’s Age of Discoveries. It is built in the Manueline style which is unique to Portugal.
Famous for: UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983
Magical moment: Sunrises and sunsets are simply spectacular here.
Address: Jardim da Torre de Belém at Av. Brasília, 1400-038 Lisboa
Telephone: +351 213 620 034
Hours of Operation: October to April, 10 am to 5:30 pm. May to September, 10 am to 6:30 pm. Closed on Monday and January 1st, Easter Sunday, May 1st, June 13th and December 25th.
Price of Entry: ≈21.50 €
- Cais de Sodre
Cais do Sodré is probably one of Lisbon’s most lively micro-neighborhoods after Bairro Alto. You will see younger tourists enjoying libations at many of Pink Street’s bars, lovers walking in the moonlight on the Tejo estuary, and hungry locals (and tourists – of course) grabbing all types of food at Ribeira market (aka – Time Out Market). It is home to the Cais do Sodré station which houses the metro, the train (which will take you to Cascais in 30 minutes), and the ferries that take you across the water to Cacilhas. And if you are into dancing, I highly recommend Club B’leza for a night of Kizomba.
Famous for: A bustling nightlife and beautiful waterside scenery.
Magical moment: Watching the sunset while sipping a glass of wine on the river.
Address: Praça do Duque de Terceira, Misericordia Neighborhood.
- Jerónimos Monastery
The Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, also known as the Hieronymites Monastery is just a few minutes walk from the Tower of Belem. It is clad in the same Manueline details, but somehow, this building transcends what one may call magical. It is hard to explain how breathtaking this building is, so just go. This building is a monument to the Portuguese Age of Discoveries, and it is no wonder that it is a UNESCO heritage site. One thing to know, the lines for this monastery are long, so either purchase your ticket ahead of time, or show up extra (and I mean extra) early.
Famous for: Manueline architecture and the resting place for some of Portugal’s most famous including Vasco de Gama, Luís de Camões, Fernando Pessoa, and many more.
Magical moment: The intricate and stunning carvings on the outside of the church.
Address: Praça do Império 1400-206 Belem Neighborhood
Telephone: +351 213 620 034
Hours of Operation: October to April, 10 am to 5 pm. May to September, 10 am to 6:30 pm. Sundays and religious holidays – October to April, 10 am to 5 pm. Sundays and religious holidays from May to September, 10 am to 6 pm. Closed: Mondays, January 1st, Easter Sunday, May 1st, June 13th, December 24th and 25th.
Price of Entry: ≈10.00€
- The National Tile Museum
Portuguese culture and history would be a lot less fun without its famous azulejo tiles. The Museu Nacional do Azulejo in Lisbon has an incredible Azulejo collection set in a former convent. The tile collections here will give you a look at the history of tile, and Portugal, from the 15th century to today. Besides the splendid tiles, the Madre de Deus church (part of the convent) is decked out in full Portuguese baroque splendor, with gilded and carved wood, paintings, and tile panels. It is a sight to behold and a destination not to be missed when you visit Lisbon.
Famous for: Portuguese tile.
Magical moment: Walking into the gilded church.
Address: Rua Madre de Deus 4
Telephone: +351 218100340
Hours of Operation: Tuesday to Friday: 10 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 6 pm. Weekends and holidays: 10 am to 1 pm, with free entry.
Price of Entry: ≈10.00€
- Chafariz da Veiga
Largo do Carmo is one of the prettiest squares in Lisbon, and its resident fountain, the Chafariz da Veiga is the perfect centerpiece. The original fountain was fed by the Águas Livres Aqueduct until it was replaced by this gorgeous Pombaline style fountain. It is located right in front of the Carmo ruins, which is another must-see in Lisbon. The convent and church that were there fell prey to the 1755 earthquake, but its ruins remain to remind us of what the power of nature can do to a nation in its prime.
Address: Largo do Carmo, 1200-092 Lisboa
Magical moment: If you visit in May, the jacaranda trees will be in full bloom. The contrast of these springtime trees with the ruins and bones of the fountain will make for the most beautiful pictures you will take during your trip.
- Rossio Train Station
Is Rossio train station the most impressive in Europe? Hells no, but it is full of charm and beauty and it is one of the places you simply must not miss during your trip to Lisbon. If you read the caption, the statue of the King is no longer there…which is kind of ironic since the prince died/disappeared when he was only 24, and, legend says will come back to Portugal and bring the country back to its greatness (I learned all about this when reading Mensagem from Pessoa). The piece de resistance is its Neo-Manueline facade and the horseshoe doors at the entrance. In this area, you will also find Rossio square with Café Nicola which has been around since 1929 and was Portuguese Neoclassic poet, Bocage’s second home (so skip the crappy Starbucks at the station and take the walk to Rossio Square. This is also the train station where you can make your trek to Sintra.
Address: Rua 1º de Dezembro, Baixa Neighborhood
Magical moment: The décor the attention to detail
- Mercado da Ribeira
Ok…so…When I started coming to Lisbon and this place had just opened, it was amazing…and it still is, if your trip to Lisbon is short and you want to experience the country’s cuisine in one place. It sure is a lot of fun and the quality of the food served here is great, but when you go, you need a strategy. Come with a few people. Have 2 people save the table while others order. If all tables are taken, you will need to hover over a table where it looks like people are about to finish and then go in for the kill…err…I mean table. If you go in the mornings, it is still a working market with great produce.
Famous for: Great food and drink. Lots of people.
Magical moment: When you finally grab a table.
Address: Avenida 24 de Julho, Cais do Sodre
Telephone: +351 213 951 274
Hours of Operation: Monday to Sunday – 10am – 10:30pm
- Museu Coleção Berardo
You may not have heard about José Manuel Rodrigues (aka Joe berardo), but he was one of the richest men in Portugal in 2010. He loved modern art and agreed to loan some of his collection to the Centro Cultural de Belém (near the Tower of Belem and the Jeronimos Monastery). This is one of my favorite places to go on a rainy day. It is almost never crowded, has some amazing pieces…and…best of all…it is free to enter on Saturdays. For an art lover like me, it really does not get better than that.
Magical moment: Its incredible collection of modern art including everyone from De Kooning, Pollock, Sherman, Picasso, Mondrian, Calder, Stella, Lichtenstein, and more.
Magical moment: Having the museum all to yourself on a rainy day.
Address: Praça do Império
Telephone: 21 361 287 8
Price of Entry: ≈5.00€
Hours of Operation: Daily 10 am to 7 pm
- Views of Lisbon
If there is one thing Lisbon has is gorgeous views. If you are looking for a panoramic view of Lisbon, you will have plenty to choose from. These are a few of my favorites. The Santa Justa elevator (which takes you to the Carmo fountain and was designed by a disciple of Gustav Eiffel) and get an incredible vantage point. You can also go to Amoreiras (not the most charming part of town) and check out Amoreiras 360° Panoramic view. Castelo de Sao Jorge has some of my favorite views, so does Eduardo VII and the Pantheon…and if you’re in the mood for a hike, you should head to the Panoramico de Monsanto.
Famous for: Lisbon city view
Magical moment: Any time of day at any of these gorgeous spots.
Address: Lisbon
- São Pedro de Alcântara
While we are speaking of views, the São Pedro de Alcântaraviewpoint may be my favorite miradouro. It is located next to the Bairro Alto and Principe Real neighborhoods, but don’t worry…you don’t have to climb up the hill… just take the Gloria elevator here. There are beautiful gardens, tons of sculptures, a gorgeous fountain, and not one…but two kiosks where you can grab a light bite and a drink. My favorite part of this miradouro is the tiled map of the city so you can identify all the buildings you are looking at.
Famous for: Stunning views.
Magical moment: During the Christmas season, there is a tiny market, music, and tons to do here.
Address: R. de São Pedro de Alcântara
- Chiado Neighborhood
Chiado is one of Lisbon’s swankiest neighborhoods. Want to spend some money on really nice stuff? Hit up the boutiques and stores on Rua Garrett. Want to learn some history? Do a Free Lisbon tour (a bunch start here at Camões square). Maybe you want to catch some theater or a little opera? Teatro Nacional de São Carlos is your go-to place. Want a Michelin Star meal? Hit up Alma, Epur, or Belcanto. Maybe you want to step back in time? In this case, go to Café A Brasileira, a favorite spot of Fernando Pessoa.
Famous for: Upscale shopping, historic buildings, great restaurants.
Magical moment: The nightime light shows at Carmo Convent
Address: Misericordia & Santa Maria Maior
- Cristo Rei
Alright…so big disclosure. There are tons of these throughout the world…ok…maybe not tons, but there’s one in Brazil, Poland, Rome, heck – even Cali, Colombia has one. They aren’t all that special to me, but in this case, they give you a reason to go to Almada across the river, and the statue does offer an incredible 360-degree view. Why Alada? Because this little town across the Tejo river offers some really great seafood at lower prices than Lisbon, great views of Lisbon city, and has some great little secret spots to visit. I recommend taking the Calchilhas ferry and exploring on foot, but if you are going for Cristo Rei, you will be better off just taking an uber.
Famous for: Statue of Cristo Rei
Magical moment: Gradual dawn of the church
Address: Alto do Pragal, Av. Cristo Rei, Almada
Telephone: +351 212 751 000
Price of Entry: ≈€6.00 for adults
Hours of Operation: Wednesday to Monday: 10:30 am to 6 pm, Closed Tuesdays
14. Gulbenkian Foundation
Brutalist architecture, gorgeous gardens, wildlife, two museums, and an indoor and outdoor concert hall. This is what you get when you visit the Gulbenkian Foundation. The foundation bears the name of Mr. 5% – Calouste Gulbenkian, an Armenian petroleum magnate who left a good chunk of his fortune and art collection to the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian) in Lisbon.
Famous for: Music, Art, Science, Culture
Magical moment: Seeing the newly hatched baby water hens in the Spring.
Address: Av. de Berna 45
Phone: 21 782 3000
Price of Entry: The gardens are free, the price for museum entry varies on what you decide to see, and shows have their own set prices.
15. LX Factory
This used to be an industrial complex full of factories. Now it is hipster heaven with co-working spaces, great shopping, and culture. Located in Alcântara, east of Belem, it is one of my fave spots to hit up when they have their Sunday Market.
Famous For: Shopping, eating, startups, and incredible murals
Magical Moment: Listening to some tunes at Rio Maravilha while watching the sunset.
Address: R. Rodrigues de Faria – Alcântara
Telephone: 21 314 3399
Lisboa (Lisbon) is a beautiful city that has stood through time and will continue to stand in this time. As a collector of experiences, I have searched far and wide for anything to do with the city. Lisboa is a city of spirits, and I am a spirit. This city, this amazing city I call home.
Come visit!