10 ESSENTIAL PLACES TO VISIT IN LISBON

Send

There are many places to visit in Lisbon, also known as the city of seven hills, fado or Bélem cakes and also one of our favorites in Europe. Easily accessible from Spain, either by car or with low cost flight companies, it is a perfect destination to spend a weekend or more days, in which you can include some excursion to Sintra and Cascais. Something you can not miss and that will allow you to get to know the city better is to get lost in the neighborhoods of Bélem, Chiado, La Baixa, Barrio Alto and Alfama, where you can find some of the most incredible viewpoints of the city and many charming corners .
We have made a selection of what we believe are the10 essential places to see in Lisbon, based on our 4-day trip to Lisbon. We start!

1. Lisbon viewpoints

We have to say that, at least for us, Lisbon is the city with the best viewpoints in the world. Our favorite is that of Portas do Sol, where you can enjoy spectacular views of the Alfama neighborhood while having breakfast on your terrace some delicious Pastéis de Bélem, with a cup of coffee.
Next you will also find the viewpoint of Santa Luzia, with views less pretty, but with a small garden full of tiles, which we are sure will surprise you and you will love it.
The viewpoint of Graça, next to the Graça church, also has magnificent panoramic views of almost all of Lisbon and is perfect for watching the sunset while having a beer on its terrace. Taking the Elevador da Glória you will reach another of the best viewpoints in Lisbon, the Mirador de San Pedro de Alcántara, with views of the Castle of San Jorge and the entire city center.
Our last recommendation, regarding Lisbon viewpoints, is to climb the Elevador de Santa Justa. This 45-meter elevator connects the neighborhoods La Baixa with the Barrio Alto, and has beautiful views of the center, which we recommend not to miss.
Santa Justa Elevator Hours: every day from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. From November to April it closes at 10pm.
A good option to explore some of the best viewpoints in Lisbon is to book this guided tour in Spanish.

Portas do Sol viewpoint

2. Barrio de Alfama

In the Barrio de La Alfama, with its steep and labyrinthine cobbled streets, you will find the true essence of Lisbon. Located between the Castle of San Jorge and the banks of the Tagus River, the best way to travel is to go down in the form of S, forgetting about the map, and it will be of little use to you.
Its characteristic iron balconies with clothes hanging, its squares and stores of proximity with a decadent air, make it one of the essential places to visit in Lisbon.
It also has good restaurants of homemade food and taverns where to eat a cod while listening to fado, in which the bad moments of life are expressed through singing.
A good option to learn more about the history and curiosities of the neighborhood is to book this guided tour in Spanish or this free tour of the Alfama neighborhood. Free!

Alfama neighborhood

3. Jeronimos Monastery and Bélem Cakes

Taking tram 15 or booking this boat trip in the Commerce Square, to visit the Jeronimos Monastery in the Bélem neighborhood, is one of the best things to see and do in Lisbon. The monastery, a World Heritage Site, is one of the most essential places to visit in Lisbon and the church and especially its cloister are its most prominent places.
After the visit or before it is an obligation to go to the Pastry Shop or Pastéis de Belém, which since 1837 bakes the pastés of Belém according to a secret recipe. After a while of waiting in a large dining room they will bring you some delicious cakes, fresh from the oven, which are the best we tried in Lisbon.
It may be interesting to learn more about the history of the neighborhood and the monastery. Book this guided tour in Spanish or this free tour of Belém. Free!
If you don't want to take a guided tour, you can save your queues by booking this quick access ticket.
Monastery Hours: every day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. From May to September they close at 18:30. Closed on Mondays, January 1, May 1 and December 25.
Entry included in the Lisboa Card.
Pastry hours: every day from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Monastery of los jeronimos

Recommended travel cards
Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.

4. Lisbon Cathedral

The Cathedral known as the Sé de Lisboa of the 12th century, is the most important and oldest religious building in the city. It has survived several earthquakes and its interior is a mixture of different architectural styles, which highlights its cloister and its treasure.
It can be very interesting, especially if it is your first trip to the city, book a tour with a guide in Spanish or this free tour of Lisbon Free!, In which in addition to the cathedral you can visit many of the most interesting points of Lisbon while you enjoy its history and anecdotes.
Visiting hours: every day from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

La Sé, one of the best places to visit in Lisbon

5. Chiado and the Carmo Convent, one of the best places to visit in Lisbon

Between the neighborhoods of La Baixa and the Barrio Alto is the most bohemian neighborhood in Lisbon, the Chiado. With several historic cafés such as Café a Brasileira, original stores such as Luvaria Ulisses, which sells handmade gloves, and bookstores such as the Livraria Bertrand, considered the oldest in the world, this is a neighborhood to explore in peace.
It has several buildings with incredible tile facades and museums, which make it a cultural neighborhood, which we assure you, you will not regret knowing.
Our favorite place is the Carmo Convent, which is currently in ruins, where you can see the sky as a roof, as a result of the earthquake of 1755.
Visiting hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. From June to September they close at 7:00 p.m. Sunday closed.

Carmo convent

Book the best rated tours and excursions in Spanish in Lisbon by travelers:
- Excursion to Sintra, Cascais and Estoril
- Guided tour of Lisbon
- Excursion to Óbidos and Fatima
- Boat trip at sunset
- Tour of Lisbon and Belém in full
- More excursions and tours here

6. Trams

Lisbon trams are an attraction on their own, especially tram 28.
Take the historic yellow wooden tram 28 and travel a large part of the city to the Castle of San Jorge, is one of the best experiences you can have in Lisbon. You can take a good snapshot, when the tram passes in front of the Lisbon Cathedral, a postcard that you can see in many places in the city.
Another of the most modern and used trams is the number 15 that will take you to the Barrio de Bélem, another one of the neighborhoods that you cannot miss.
Each trip costs almost 3 euros so it is profitable to buy the Lisbon Card if you plan to take it several times.
The schedules depend on the line, but are usually from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Lisbon tram

7. Barrio Alto

With the Elevador de Santa Justa you will arrive at the Barrio Alto, ideal for dining out or drinking. In the neighborhood there are a lot of stores, pubs, discos and restaurants of all styles and budgets, as well as good places to listen to fado. It also has a bohemian atmosphere starting with Luís de Camões Square and spectacular views from the San Pedro de Alcántara viewpoint.
Some of its best venues are the Pavilhão Chinês (a bar with a curious decoration), Music Box, with good live music or the Noobai Café, with stunning views.

Luís de Camões Square in the Barrio Alto

8. Belém Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries

The Belém Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries in the Belém neighborhood are two others essential places to visit in Lisbon. The Bélem Tower, a World Heritage Site, on the banks of the Tagus River was built in the 16th century as a fortress to protect the entrance to the port and we have to say, that at least for us, it is more beautiful on the outside than on the inside.
Next to the tower is the Monument to the Discoveries of 1960, which was built to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator, one of Portugal's great discoverers. The monument is huge, 52 meters high in the shape of a skull. We recommend climbing to the top by elevator to enjoy the views and see the Rose of the Winds, a beautiful mosaic at the foot of the monument.
A good option to learn more about the history and anecdotes of the Bélem neighborhood is to book this guided tour in Spanish.
Tower hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. From May to September they close at 6:30 p.m. Closed Monday. Entry included in the Lisboa Card.
Monument schedule: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. From March to September they close at 7:00 p.m. Closed Monday.

Torre de Bélem, one of the places to see in Lisbon

Our recommended hotel in Lisbon
This is Lisbon Hostel, a hostel in the beautiful Alfama neighborhood with incredible views of the city. Have a good breakfast and cook to make your meal.
For more information you can consult this post about the best neighborhoods and hotels to stay in Lisbon.

9. Commerce Square

The Commerce Square is the most emblematic of Lisbon, located on the banks of the Tagus, where you can enjoy a great sunset and a sunset over the river, which will surely take you long to forget. The square is porticoed on three of the U-shaped sides, where the river side formerly served as the port of entry to Lisbon.
You will arrive at the square crossing the Triumphal Arch, where you can climb to the terrace to have a unique view of the square and see the bronze statue of Joseph I. right in the center.
Other places of interest in Lisbon are Plaza del Rossio and Plaza Marqués de Pombal.

Commerce Square

10. St. George's Castle

On the highest hill in Lisbon stands the Castle of San Jorge, our last recommendation of the best places to visit in Lisbon. Among its 11 towers, Ulysses stands out, where you can see a panoramic view of the city in 360º thanks to the Da Vinci periscope.
The castle of the V century is quite large and you can walk among gardens and defense buildings, although the most impressive are the views of the city from the canyon area. It is also worth a tour of the small neighborhood of El Castelo.
Visiting hours: every day from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. From November to February they close at 6:00 p.m.