Lisbon attractions

Since the 1500s, Bairro Alto has been a central meeting point in Lisbon and home to some of the city’s best restaurants, bars, and cafés. By day, the area is bustling with locals heading to work and tourists visiting popular attractions, including the Miradouro Sao Pedro de Alcantara viewpoint and the Church of Sao Roque (Igreja de Sao Roque). Come sunset, the party begins with edgy bars, top-notch eateries, and the sounds of Lisbon’s fado music.

Named after the beautiful adjacent train station, Rossio Square (Praça Dom Pedro IV) has been the beating heart of Lisbon since the Middle Ages. The lively area is a popular meeting point for Lisboetas and visitors alike, and is packed with bars, restaurants, cafés, shops, and hotels. It’s also characterized by the wavy soapstone pattern of its black-and-white cobblestones and the Column of Pedro IV, known as Portugal’s Soldier King.

Hailed as one of the prettiest places in Portugal, Óbidos is a medieval town encircled by fortified walls. It’s known as the Wedding Present Town, because Portuguese kings often gave Óbidos to their wives as part of their dowry, and it boasts a cluster of Gothic, Renaissance, and baroque churches. Its whitewashed historical center is immensely photogenic, studded with blue-and-white azulejo (ceramic tile) murals.

Right in the heart of Lisbon, Martim Moniz Square (Praça Martim Moniz) is a popular gathering place for locals, with outdoor food stalls and bars. It’s also a starting point for the popular and iconic tram 28 route, plus the surrounding area is home to Lisbon’s Chinatown with a selection of Asian restaurants, supermarkets, and stores.

The Spanish-owned El Corte Inglés is Lisbon’s 1-stop shopping destination and the only department store in Portugal’s capital. The 13-story complex features everything from a sprawling food court to its own movie theater, as well as more than 200 stores selling everything from toys to high-fashion brands such as Gucci, Versace, Dior, and Chanel.

In the culture-rich district of central Portugal lies Fátima, one of the Catholic Church’s most important pilgrimage sites. The now sacred shrine first became known in May 1917, when three shepherd children reported that the Virgin Mary had appeared to them. A marble pillar with a statue of Our Lady marks the exact spot in the Chapel of Apparitions (Capelinha das Aparições), and the complex also consists of two basilicas: Basilica de Nossa Senhora de Fátima and Basílica da Santíssima Trindade.

A short drive from Lisbon on the Portuguese Riviera, Estoril is known for its clear waters, sandy beaches, and waterfront promenade that winds all the way to the neighboring town of Cascais. Many of Estoril’s luxurious amenities date back to World War II, when neutral Portugal was an escape for soldiers and civilians. This includes its star attraction, Casino Estoril—said to have inspired Ian Fleming while writing the James Bond novel, Casino Royale.

Carmo Square (Largo do Carmo) is one of the last reminders of the devastating 1755 Lisbon earthquake, as it is home to the remains of the 14th-century Carmo Convent. Today the convent’s Gothic-style structure holds the Archeological Museum. You’ll also find a monumental drinking fountain from the late 1700s in the center of the square.

Ribeira Market (Mercado da Ribeira), now best known as the home of Time Out Market Lisboa, started as a traditional place to buy local produce. Today, while the produce sellers keep their stands going in a separate space, it’s gourmet food that dominates the beautiful 19th-century building, with top Portuguese indie brands serving up pizza, codfish, sardines, sushi, and more.

Perched high above Sintra with sweeping views of the Atlantic, the Castle of the Moors dates back to the eighth century, when it was built during the Moorish reign in Portugal. Now partially restored, this atmospheric hilltop fortress is part of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors come to walk its ancient stone walls, explore crumbling towers, and take in panoramic views of Sintra National Palace and the surrounding forest.

Towering above Lisbon is the National Sanctuary of Christ the King (Cristo Rei), built to thank God for protecting Portugal during World War II. The 361-foot (110-meter) monument, which looks out at the historic city over the Tagus River and 25th of April Bridge, is incredibly popular for its panoramic views of Lisbon.

For more than 1,000 years, Sintra National Palace (Palácio Nacional de Sintra) has presided over the town center. Notable for its white facade, conical chimneys, and intricately tiled chapel, this house-museum is one of the best-preserved medieval royal residences in Portugal and serves as a quieter alternative to nearby Pena National Palace (Palacio Nacional da Pena), whose rainbow-colored facade draws huge crowds.

Standing on the site of a former hospital reduced to rubble by the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, this bustling plaza is surrounded by 18th-century townhouses hosting shops, cafés, and bed-and-breakfasts. Pigeons perch on the square’s equestrian statue of King Joao I, while St. George’s Castle (Castelo de São Jorge can be seen in the distance.

High in the forested hills of Sintra, Monserrate Palace blends Gothic, Moorish, and Indian influences into one striking summer retreat. Once a getaway for the Portuguese court, the palace is known for its fairytale architecture—complete with domes, fountains, a grand library, and intricate stonework. After exploring the interiors, head outside to discover the surrounding botanical gardens, home to exotic plant species from around the world and considered among the most impressive in Europe.

Offering spectacular city vistas, São Vicente de Fora Monastery is one of Lisbon’s most important historical buildings. Although the sumptuous decorations are mainly from the 17th and 18th centuries, the original monastery dates to 1147, when Christian forces recaptured Lisbon from its Almoravid Muslim rulers, and you can still visit the 12th-century cistern. Almost every Portuguese king from 1640 to 1910 is buried here.

The Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara in Bairro Alto is one of the best places in Lisbon for panoramic views. Gaze upon the Castelo de São Jorge and the city below at this two-tiered garden while relaxing on numerous benches or along the fountain. Admire the tiles that depict the city’s landmarks and the statues that line the gardens.

Edward VII Park (Parque Eduardo VII) is Lisbon’s largest urban oasis and one of its most identifying landmarks. The meticulously manicured space features mosaic-patterned hedges and stellar views over the city and the Tagus River. Visitors and Lisboetas alike flock here to stroll, reflect, and snap Instagram-worthy photos.

A popular Baixa meet-up point, this spacious square commemorates Portuguese independence. Landmark structures such as the baroque-style Foz Palace, the art deco Teatro Eden, and the former Condes cinema building line its border, while a 98-foot (30-meter tall obelisk—the Monument to the Restorers—stands at its center.

One of Lisbon’s most elegant thoroughfares, Avenida da Liberdade is home to high-end hotels, designer shops, and a wide pedestrian strip with benches and coffee kiosks for taking in the scenery. While the avenue is popular among the luxury crowd, it’s a destination for more than just shopping—it runs between two of the city’s most important squares, with monuments, museums, and mosaic artwork along the way.

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.

Since its construction in the 1700s, Lisbon’s Belem Palace (Palácio de Belém) has been home to Portugal’s monarchs. Today the pink complex is the official presidential residence, featuring five buildings and beautiful gardens along the banks of the Tagus River. The palace’s Presidency Museum showcases the history of the Portuguese Republic.

From Roman ruins to royal palaces and a medieval chapel decorated with skulls and bones, the city of Évora is one of Portugal’s most fascinating destinations. This popular day trip from Lisbon treats you to a picturesque city to explore, a place to trace Portugal’s history throughout the ages. Vineyards dot the landscape surrounding the city, while the nearby Almendres Cromlech is a megalithic site sometimes referred to as the Portuguese Stonehenge.

Dating back to the 14th century, the Carmo Convent (Carmo Archaeological Museum) withstood many battles yet came crashing down during the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755. Today, the main altar hosts an archaeological museum beside the old convent ruins, which are arguably even more majestic in their partially destroyed state. Architecture buffs will delight in the Gothic arches and Manueline windows that were added in the 18th century.

The Ajuda National Palace (Palacio Nacional da Ajuda)in Lisbon is a neoclassical monument filled with ornately decorated rooms, artwork, and furnishings, displaying the wealth that Portugal assumed during its colonization of Brazil. The palace served as the official royal residence from the late 1700s until Portugal became a republic in 1910.

One of the largest aquariums in Europe, the Lisbon Oceanarium (Oceanário de Lisboa) attracts some 1 million people every year, making it one of Lisbon’s most popular tourist attractions. An ideal destination for visiting families and nature lovers, the aquarium is home to more than 450 aquatic species across two levels. It’s housed in an architecturally notable building that appears to float on the surface of the Tagus River.

Discover the nostalgic sounds of Portugal’s version of blues music at the Fado Museum (Museu do Fado). This Lisbon establishment features recordings, memorabilia, and interactive exhibits that give visitors a well-rounded look at the iconic music style, from its creation in the Alfama district in the 1800s to its evolution through the years.

A former fishing village situated on a cove about an hour and a half north of Lisbon, Nazaré is a surfer’s paradise that’s famous for having the biggest waves in the world. But even if you’re not here to soak up the swell, the town’s golden crescent of a beach is backed by a restaurant-fringed promenade and white-washed, red-roofed houses and shops. It’s the epitome of Portuguese seaside splendor.

Europe’s longest bridge stretches 11 miles (18 kilometers) over the Tagus Estuary in Lisbon. Taking approximately 3,300 workers only 18 months to construct, the cable-stayed Vasco da Gama Bridge (Ponte Vasco da Gama) is a modern marvel built to ease congestion from Lisbon’s other famous span—the 25th of April Bridge (Ponte 25 de Abril).

Lisbon has no shortage of hilltop viewpoints, but the views from the Miradouro da Graça are among the most impressive. Situated atop the Santo André hill by the Graça Church, the shaded plaza looks out over the winding streets and sloping rooftops of the Graça and Alfama neighborhoods, the medieval ruins of the Castelo de São Jorge, and the Tagus River with its distinctive 25th of April Bridge.

The Knights Templar built the stronghold of Almourol Castle (Castelo de Almourol) atop an ancient fort on a tiny island in the Tagus River (Rio Tejo). Thanks to its fairy tale–style turrets and stunning river perch, it’s hailed as Portugal’s most beautiful castle and is a must for travelers interested in medieval history.