Lisbon attractions

Though austere from the outside, the interior of the Church of São Roque (Igreja de São Roque) is anything but, with gold, marble, carved panels, gemstones, and azulejos (Portuguese hand-painted tiles reflecting the wealth and power of the Jesuits who built it. A museum attached to the church holds religious art and relics.

A former royal residence located outside of Lisbon, the National Palace of Queluz lives up to its nickname as the Versailles of Portugal. Its opulent design fuses rococo, baroque, and neoclassical elements, with manicured gardens that complement the elegant architecture. Touring the 18th-century palace gives you an idea of the lavish parties and royal happenings that took place on its grounds, from the chandeliered throne room to the 377-foot (115-meter) tiled canal.

The Electricity Factory, part of Lisbon’s popular Museum of Art, Architecture, and Technology (MAAT), presents the evolution of energy. Once a coal-burning power plant, the museum features contemporary art displays alongside the obsolete machinery that was once used to power all of Lisbon.

Housed in the 17th-century Palácio Alvor, Lisbon’s National Museum of Ancient Art (Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga) holds arguably the most notable collection of Portuguese art in the world. Works by other European artists, such as Piero della Francesca, Albrecht Dürer, Hieronymus Bosch, and Raphael, to name just a few, are also highlighted.

Lisbon’s most lively neighborhood, Baixa District (Lower Town) lies in the sweet, central spot between Alfama and Bairro Alto. The buzzing district is packed with stores, restaurants, hotels, and bars, and is home to the city’s most symbolic streets and squares. Built after the 1755 earthquake, Baixa showcases “Modern Lisbon’s” neoclassical architecture.

Lisbon’s National Tile Museum (Museu Nacional do Azulejo) exhibits one of Portugal’s most beautiful icons: the colorful azulejo tile. It traces the evolution of the ceramic tile from the first 15th-century Spanish imports to today. A must-see for culture lovers in Lisbon, a major highlight of the museum is an 18th-century blue-and-white tile composition that depicts the city, composed of 1,300 tiles.

With more than 150 retailers offering discounts of up to 70 percent, Freeport Outlet Alcochete is a shopper’s dream. Big-name brands and homegrown Iberian labels sell clothing, homeware, beauty products, and much more.

The Estadio da Luz (Stadium of Light) is a multipurpose stadium best known for being the home of Portugal’s leading soccer team, Sport Lisboa Benfica. It has seating for more than 68,000 people, making it the largest stadium in the country, and features a retractable roof. Additional draws include facilities for hockey, volleyball, and basketball, as well as swimming pools and health clubs.

Opened for the 1998 World Expo in Lisbon, the Vasco da Gama Shopping Center was designed in a maritime theme in honor of its famous namesake explorer. Today the mall remains one of Lisbon’s most beautiful, and comprises 170 stores—including international brands—as well as a multiplex cinema, more than 30 restaurants, and a health club.

The towering Arco do Triunfo in Lisbon, also known as the Rua Augusta Arch, overlooks one of the biggest commercial squares in Europe, the Praça do Comércio, which was built in commemoration of the city's rebuilding following the 1755 earthquake. Take in the arch’s intricate exteriors from the ground, or head up to the top for city views.

At the top of Lisbon’s grand Avenida Liberdade, Marquis of Pombal Square (Praça do Marquês de Pombal) honors one of the city’s great benefactors—Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, the 1st Marquis of Pombal. Now a busy traffic intersection, the square links Avenida Liberdade with Eduardo VII Park (Parque Eduardo VII).

A former industrial zone beautified for the 1998 World Expo, the Park of Nations (Parque das Nações) is a trendy waterfront area filled with restaurants, museums, and the massive Lisbon Oceanarium (Oceanário de Lisboa) aquarium. Much of the ultramodern architecture—featuring undulating rooftops and buildings that soar like ship masts—evokes the nearby Atlantic. Art installations line the public gardens and bike paths along the Tagus River.

Money was no object when King João V commissioned the National Palace of Mafra (Palácio Nacional de Mafra) in 1717. One of the largest monuments in Europe, the baroque complex includes a royal palace, convent, library, and basilica across a whopping 1,200 rooms. Imagine how the Portuguese elite lived—and admire the Italian sculptures, French paintings, and Belgian carillons they collected—while touring this over-the-top estate.

Sitting in the shadow of Lisbon’s 25th of April Bridge (Ponte 25 de Abril, Santo Amaro Docks, known locally as “Docas,” is both a functioning marina and a nightlife hot spot. As well as holding moorings for more than 300 boats, the area is also home to a wealth of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs set in converted waterfront warehouses.

Sitting atop Portugal’s Serra da Arrábida with views over the Tagus and Sado estuaries, Palmela Castle (Castelo de Palmela) has been a strategic vantage point and military stronghold since the Moors occupied the land. The structure was converted into a monastery in 1423, which was crucial in preserving the structure that we see today.

Fado is Portugal's most celebrated performing art, and it's showcased almost every evening atFado in Chiado. This live show introduces the musical form to audiences from around the world and features a singer and two instrumentalists: one playing Portuguese guitar, the other, classical guitar.

Housed in the old Riding Arena of Belém Palace (Palácio de Belém), Lisbon’s National Coach Museum (Museu Nacional dos Coches) features an impressive collection of royal coaches and horse-drawn carriages from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. The displays are chronological to showcase the evolution of this widely used mode of transportation.

Tomar may seem like a simple riverfront town, but it packs a strong historical punch. Set on the banks of the Nabão River, this small city is home to the impressive Castle of Tomar (Castelo de Tomar) and the Convent of Christ (Convento de Cristo), a 12th-century UNESCO World Heritage Site and the former medieval headquarters of the Knights Templar.

Built during the late 1800s, Campo Pequeno Bullring is a striking neo-Moorish building and events venue in the northern part of Portugal’s capital city. It hosts everything from craft markets to concerts, and is home to more than 60 shops, 20 restaurants, and a cinema. Bullfights are still held in summer, though the bull is not killed during the event (like in Spanish bullfighting).

One of Lisbon’s most popular family attractions since it opened in the 19th century, the Lisbon Zoo (Jardim Zoológico de Lisboa) is home to hundreds of species of animals from around the world, from primates to farmyard animals. More than just a zoo, it’s also a conservation, reproduction, and reintroduction center for endangered species, where scientists and spectators can learn about animals from tigers to dolphins.

At the edge of Lisbon’s Bairro Alto is the Principe Real Garden (Jardim do Príncipe Real), a small park filled with a plethora of exotic trees, including a centuries-old cedar. The garden was laid out in the mid-1800s and has become a favored spot among locals who relax in the shade playing chess and children who frolic on the playground.

The Amoreiras Shopping Center opened in 1985 as Lisbon’s flagship mall and is still one of the city’s largest shopping gallerias. The postmodern towers house more than 200 shops, including a range of mid- to upscale brands from all over the world, as well as a multiplex cinema, large supermarket, myriad restaurants, and observation deck.

The interactive Lisboa Story Centre museum tells the story of Lisbon through a variety of multimedia exhibits. Here you’ll find five main sections, each focused on a different era in Lisbon’s history, plus a sixth section featuring a virtual model of the city. The museum also stages special exhibits throughout the year.

Resembling the sail of a Portuguese ship and characterized by lattice steelwork, the Vasco da Gama Tower has become a symbol of modern Lisbon. The tallest building in the Portuguese capital soars 475 feet (145 meters) over the banks of the Tagus River and stands beside several contemporary attractions built for the 1998 World Expo.

Set in a lush garden, the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum is regarded as one of Portugal’s finest private collections and contains artworks ranging from ancient Egyptian sculptures to modernist paintings. The museum also houses a large selection of European art, with pieces by Rembrandt, Rubens, Monet, Van Dyck, and Renoir.

Situated near Lisbon’s Tagus River, where Portuguese explorers set sail on the Age of Discovery in the 15th century, the Lisbon Maritime Museum (Museu de Marinha) spotlights the country’s seafaring history. Highlights of the exhibitions include maps and globes studied by Portugal’s early navigators, a collection of intricately decorated royal barges, and a wooden statue of Archangel Raphael saved from Vasco da Gama’s 1498 voyage to India.

Built in 1744 to bring potable water to the people of Lisbon, this 36-mile (58-kilometer aqueduct survived Lisbon’s devastating 1755 earthquake. The structure has 109 arches, the largest of which stands an impressive 213 feet (65 meters high. Visitors can walk across a portion of these arches in Lisbon’s Campolide neighborhood.

One of Lisbon’s most recognizable symbols, the egg-yolk-yellow Tram 28 rattles through the capital’s narrow streets and offers a unique perspective on the city. Riding aboard is one of the most popular things to do in Lisbon, thanks to the cost-effective ticket price and the wealth of attractions the tram covers. Highlights along the route include São Jorge Castle, the Sé Cathedral, and Jardim da Estrela park.

The Chalet of the Countess d’Edla is an Alpine-style building set in the forested grounds of Pena Park that surround the UNESCO-listed Pena National Palace. Visit to see the building’s Portuguese azulejo tiles, murals, and traditional cork decor and to take in views of the surrounding park.

A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a popular destination for hikers, snorkelers, and divers, the Berlengas archipelago is a collection of small islands and reefs off the coast of Peniche, Portugal. Only the largest of the islands, Berlenga Grande, is inhabited, and the unspoiled scenery and secret sandy coves draw visitors from far and wide. Fort St. John the Baptist is the island’s most popular attraction, connected to Berlenga Grande by a precarious stone causeway.