Things to do in  Baixa

Commerce Square (Praça do Comércio) is one of Lisbon’s largest and best-known public plazas. It was formerly home to the city’s Royal Palace, which was destroyed during a devastating 1755 earthquake. The palace now stands elsewhere, and the square has been restored with ornate arches, grand civic buildings, and an equestrian statue of King Jose I. Marble steps lead from Commerce Square directly down to the Tagus River.

Lisbon is dubbed the City of Seven Hills, so it’s no surprise that getting around on foot can be tiresome. In the early 1900s, architects in the hilly capital constructed a beautiful wrought-iron lift to help locals reach the 148-foot-high (45-meter) Bairro Alto district. Designed in the same style as the Eiffel Tower, the Santa Justa Lift (Elevador de Santa Justa) offers stunning panoramic views of Lisbon’s downtown areas and Saint George Castle.