Lisbon attractions

In the heart of Lisbon, Chiado is nestled between the lively Bairro Alto district and downtown Baixa District. The neighborhood is worth seeking out, not only to stroll along its luxury shops and art nouveau buildings, but to find some of Lisbon’s best cafés and restaurants. It also boasts cultural landmarks including the National Museum of Contemporary Art (Chiado Museum) and Teatro Nacional de São Carlos.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sometimes translated as Carmo Square, Largo do Carmo is one of the last reminders of the devastating 1755 Lisbon earthquake, as it hosts the remains of the 14th-century Carmo Convent. Today the Gothic-style ruins hold the Carmo Archaeological Museum. A monumental drinking fountain and jacaranda trees add even more charm to the cobbled square, which you can reach by the Santa Justa Lift (Elevador de Santa Justa).

Right in the heart of Lisbon, on the fringes of the historic and multicultural Mouraria district, Praça Martim Moniz (Martim Moniz Square) is a popular gathering place for locals. Despite its unprepossessing appearance, it’s the starting point for the popular and iconic Tram 28 route and home to a number of trendy rooftop bars. It’s also surrounded by restaurants with diverse cuisines from different cultures.

Standing on the site of a former hospital reduced to rubble by the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, the bustling Praça da Figueira is surrounded by 18th-century townhouses housing shops, cafés, and hotels. Pigeons perch on the square’s off-center equestrian statue of King Joao I, while Castelo de São Jorge can be seen in the distance, and Rossio Square (Praça Dom Pedro IV) is just around the corner.

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 was inspired by Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer, and looks over the Tagus River (Rio Tejo) and 25th of April Bridge (Ponte 25 de Abril). It’s also home to a chapel and intricately carved sculptures of saints Matthew, Luke, Mark, and John.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara in Bairro Alto is one of Lisbon’s best spots to take in panoramic views. Head to this viewpoint at sunset with a picnic of wine and petiscos to gaze upon the Castelo de São Jorge and the city below at this two-tiered garden while relaxing on benches or along the fountain. Admire the azulejo map that depicts the city’s landmarks, the fountain at its center, and statues that line the gardens.

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.

A popular Baixa meet-up point, particularly for sightseeing tours, this spacious square at the end of Avenida da Liberdade commemorates Portuguese independence. Landmark structures such as the baroque-style Foz Palace, the art deco Teatro Eden, and the former Condes cinema building line the borders of Restauradores Square (Praca dos Restauradores), while a 98-foot (30-meter) tall obelisk—the Monument to the Restorers—stands at its center.

Edward VII Park (Parque Eduardo VII) is Lisbon’s largest urban oasis and one of its most scenic spots. Known for its manicured gardens, mosaic-patterned hedges, and lake, it stretches along a hillside and affords stellar views over the city. The view from the hilltop observation deck is emblematic of Lisbon, with the Marquis of Pombal Square set against a backdrop of the historic center and Tagus River.

Once home to Portuguese monarchs, Lisbon’s Belém National Palace is now the official residence of the president of Portugal. The blush-pink complex features five buildings and beautiful gardens along the banks of the Tagus River. The palace’s Museum of the Presidency of the Republic (Museu da Presidencia da Republica) is currently closed for renovations, but the Changing of the Guard is still running.

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.

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.

Portugal's principal royal residence at the fall of the monarchy, the Ajuda National Palace provides a glimpse into the riches of 19th-century royal life. Set on a hillside overlooking the Belém district, the Neoclassical palace is now a museum of decorative arts, and its ornate rooms are filled with original furnishings, fine art, and lashings of gold. It’s also home to the Royal Treasury Museum.

Discover the melancholy melodies of Portugal’s answer to 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 throughout the years. Musical audio guides for both adults and children bring the experience to life.

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.

Part of Lisbon’s popular Museum of Art, Architecture, and Technology (MAAT), the Electricity Factory is a permanent exhibition that looks at the evolution of energy. Housed in a former coal-burning power plant that dates back to 1908, the museum combines industrial history with contemporary art. Visitors can explore the original machinery once used to power the city alongside stories of the old plant and exhibits on the history and future of energy.

To give you a sense of just how far the Vasco da Gama Bridge—Europe’s longest bridge—stretches from Lisbon, it would take almost four hours to walk across it at an average pace. Don’t get any ideas about hiking or cycling it, though: The 10.7-mile (17.2-kilometer) bridge is part of the A12 expressway, which crosses the Tagus Estuary between Lisbon and Setúbal.

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.

Though austere from the outside, the interior of the Church of São Roque (Igreja de São Roque) is anything but; it’s decorated with gold, marble, carved panels, gemstones, and azulejo tiles that reflect the wealth and power of the Jesuits who built it. A museum attached to the church houses religious art and relics, and was one of the country’s first fine art museums when it opened in 1905.