The Portuguese capital is one of the preferred destinations for travelers . It is a place full of charm and history that you can easily reach by road if you live, for example, in Extremadura or Andalusia. If you are planning a trip to the Portuguese city, and you do not know very well the places to see in Lisbon , take note. You cannot miss any on your visit.
The best places to see in Lisbon
Getting around Lisbon is incredibly easy. We like to get around by metro or on foot, since everything is quite close at hand. Of course, prepare some comfortable shoes, because to access some places you will have to go up and down hills. But don’t worry, halfway between destinations, there are always terraces where you can sit and rest and order a delicious Sagres. The Lisbon metro, on the other hand, is very easy to use. They only have five lines that are handled by color and you can get a Viajem card so you don’t have to buy a ticket every time you travel by public transport.
If you go by car, do not forget to cross the two kilometers of the April 25 Bridge, a symbol of the city of Lisbon and which was built on the orders of Salazar.
1. Church and Monastery of the Jerónimos
One of the places to see in Lisbon that you cannot miss is the Church of the Jerónimos and the monastery of the same name. The Jerónimos Monastery was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983 and is one of the main examples of Manueline architecture in Portugal; This type of architecture is so called because it was Manuel I who had this place built to celebrate the return of Vasco de Gama de las Indias.
The monastery is located in the Belém neighborhood , on a hermitage that was founded by Enrique the Navigator and in which, according to tradition, Vasco de Gama prayed before leaving for India. The facade of the monastery is impressive: 300 meters long. There are three points of the Church that are essential for visits: the Portada del Mediodia, the figure of Our Lady of Belém and the main door. In the cloister of the monastery you can visit the tombs of Vasco de Gama and the poet Luís de Camões , as well as that of Fernando Pessoa. The monastery also houses the National Museum of Archeology of Portugal.
2. Torre de Belem
The Torre de Belém is located on the banks of the Tagus River and is a symbol of the city. The tower was erected on a beach from where the caravels departed on their expeditions to the new continent or distant lands. It was built in the 16th century as a defense to protect the entrance to the city’s port from the Tagus. It was also Manuel I who ordered the construction of this tower, which not only has Manueline style touches, but also Arab influences thanks to its architect, Francisco de Arruda, who was in Morocco for a time.
To visit the tower you will have to travel by tram or bus. The most amazing thing about this tower is the facade. The entire exterior is sculpted in stone and has very detailed elements that are allusive to the then new Portuguese colonies. The price of entry to the tower is around six euros.
3. Commerce Square, one of the most important places to see in Lisbon
The Commerce Square is one of the most symbolic places to see in Lisbon. We tell you that this square has witnessed many events; Among them, the military uprising during the Carnation Revolution in 1974, which served to overthrow the Salazar regime. But let’s go further back, to 1755. At that time, the Plaza housed the Royal Palace that was destroyed after the terrible earthquake of that year.
Currently the square houses Portuguese government offices, cafes and restaurants. As a curious fact, here you will find the Martinho da Arcada, the oldest café in the city and which was a meeting point for great intellectuals. The square is accessed through the Triumphal Arch of Via Augusta. Once you cross the arch, you only have to contemplate the grandeur of the square, which, by the way, was built in a U. Thus, at the open end of the square, you can approach the old stairways used by the monarchs to disembark in Lisbon .
4. Rossio Square
Rossio Square is probably one of the places to see in Lisbon where you will find the most movement. It is in the center of the city and, since the 13th century, quite busy. Currently you can find a large number of souvenir shops , as well as restaurants and bars where you can taste the delights of Portuguese cuisine. This square houses the Doña María II National Theater, as well as the burned church of Santo Domingo.
The history of this church is somewhat grim, because after the 1755 earthquake and the subsequent tsunami, the building was practically in ruins. Later it was rebuilt, but a fire in the 20th century left it deteriorated again. Although it was rehabilitated to the public, we can still see the remains of that fire in the summer of 1959 that, according to what they say, took 6 hours to go out.
5. San Pedro de Alcántara viewpoint
This viewpoint is located in the popular Barrio Alto de Lisboa. From here you can enjoy spectacular views of the city; In addition, it has some tiles on a panel where they show you each monument that you can see from the viewpoint. The viewpoint is surrounded by gardens full of sculptures and mosaics . Undoubtedly one of the most recommended places to see in Lisbon!
To get here you can do it on the famous Elevador de la Gloria, a tram that will take you from the Plaza de los Restauradores to the garden. We have reached the viewpoint on foot; Of course, to recover from the climb, nothing like resting in the kiosk of the viewpoint itself. In winter, by the way, they give you blankets to keep you warm.
6. Lisbon Cathedral
The Cathedral or Sé de Lisboa is a must-see on your tour of the city. It has a Romanesque style and is located in the Alfama neighborhood. The construction of this cathedral began in the 12th century and, in fact, it is one of the few buildings in the city that still stands, after all the fires and earthquakes that have devastated Lisbon. This enclosure stands on an old mosque.
7. Convent of Carmo
We are going to travel to 1755, when an earthquake struck Lisbon. And it is that one catastrophe came after another and another. First there was the earthquake, then a fire and, to end the night, a tsunami. They tell us in the city tour that, being the night of November 1, in churches and convents like this one they had the candles lit for All Saints’ Day. With the shaking, the candles fell to the ground, causing the terrible fire. People ran towards the river, not knowing that an even worse catastrophe was coming: the tsunami.
Well, one of the proofs of those catastrophes is precisely the Convento do Carmo. Entering it is awe inspiring. It was not restored, but maintains open ruins with the sky as the only roof and impressive Gothic-style vaults. It currently houses a small Archaeological Museum where you can find mummies brought from South America, as well as important friezes. And here we reveal one of the secrets for tourists on foot and that is related to the next place to see in Lisbon : the Santa Justa elevator.
8. Santa Justa Elevator
The normal thing is to do long queues to go up to the famous Elevador de Santa Justa . But we tell you that you can access it without queuing: just go up directly from the Convento do Carmo. We tell you that the convent is at the entrance of Chiado and yes, you have to get there on foot or by transport (we recommend the first more). Once you visit the convent, you will find a side path that will connect you with stairs that lead directly to an iron walkway that connects with the Elevador de Santa Justa.
But if you want to live the full experience and climb the 45-meter height of the elevator, you can. The elevator has a neo-Gothic style and is inspired by the Eiffel Tower. In the elevator itself, to one side (you will see it if you go up from the Convent), there is a restaurant with spectacular views of the city. We recommend eating here.
9. Bairro Alto and Chiado
Barrio Alto or Bairro Alto, in Portuguese, is where the Portuguese party is located. We advise you to go to the Pavilhão Chinês (Chinese Pavilion), to have a drink. Here they keep a rather peculiar collection of objects that decorate the walls. You can find toys and other gadgets that will amaze you.
It is also advisable to take a walk through Chiado, through Plaza Luís de Camões to Nova do Carvalho or the pink street of Lisbon. You will see a lot of atmosphere in this area. During the day, be sure to visit the Bertrand bookstore, which claims to be the oldest working bookstore in the world; It was founded in 1732 and has been selling books ever since.
