What to see in Lisbon

Monastery

The Monastery of the Order of Jerónimos, in Portuguese "Mosteiro dos Jerónimos", is one of the most beautiful and famous buildings in Lisbon. It was built around 1500 in the suburb of Belém and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The extensive Gothic building is extremely well preserved with a beautiful courtyard in the centre of the monastery. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Lisbon" https://www.booking.com/city/pt/lisbon.en-gb.html?aid=2380460…

Castle, Lookout

One of Lisbon's main attractions is perched on a hill overlooking the city and the Tagus River. The original defensive Moorish citadel and St George's Fortress was converted into the residence of the Portuguese kings after 1147. Despite its age, the castle is extremely well preserved and also open to the public. [btn "Find a hotel with a view of Lisbon" https://www.booking.com/city/pt/lisbon.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-lisabon-castelo-jorge] …

Tower

Just a few hundred metres from the Jerónimos Monastery, you will find one of the main symbols of Lisbon and Portugal - the Tower of Belém. It stands here as an elegant sign to the sailors that they are entering the harbour. It was built at the beginning of the 16th century and, together with the neighbouring monastery, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. [btn "Choose accommodation with river views" https://www.booking.com/landmark/pt/tagus-river…

City Quarter

The oldest and most romantic part of Lisbon is Alfama. The narrow, winding streets rising steeply from the river towards the castle are filled with an abundance of quiet restaurants, little squares in places few people would expect to find them and citrus trees loose on the street. [btn "Find a romantic hotel in central Lisbon" https://www.booking.com/city/pt/lisbon.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-lisabon-alfama] Alfama is also where you'll get…

Cathedral

The Cathedral of Our Lady, by its full name Santa Maria Maior de Lisboa, is the main Roman Catholic church in the city. [btn "Find a romantic hotel in central Lisbon" https://www.booking.com/city/pt/lisbon.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-lisabon-se] None of the locals or tourists call the cathedral anything other than "Sé de Lisboa". It is located in the southern part of the Alfama district, right in the historic centre of Lisbon. The name "Sé"…

Square, Gateway

Lisbon's largest and most central square is located right on the banks of the Tagus River in the heart of the city. [btn "Book a hotel in Lisbon in advance" https://www.booking.com/city/pt/lisbon.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-lisabon-praca-comercio] The centre of the square is dominated by the equestrian statue of King Joseph I and the palace buildings lining the perimeter on three sides. The fourth one is then a promenade along the Tejo River,…

Bridge

The red suspension bridge arching over the water is an unmistakable symbol of San Francisco. But it's not exactly unmistakable... [btn "Choose accommodation with a river view" https://www.booking.com/city/pt/lisbon.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-lisabon-ponte-25] Lisbon is actually connected to the city of Almada via the Tejo River on California's twin Golden Gate Bridge, and uninformed travellers will easily confuse the two in a photograph. The…

Statue, Lookout

The statue of Christ the King stands on a high cliff above the Tejo River near Almada, overlooking the whole of Lisbon on the opposite bank. The resemblance to the statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro is not accidental. The Brazilian iconic statue became the inspiration for a similar monument in Portugal after the visit of the Cardinal of Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro. [btn "Choose the cheapest hotel in Lisbon" https://www.booking.com/city/pt/lisbon…

City Quarter

The quirky and somewhat free-spirited Bairro Alto district in the city centre is the main centre of the Fado musical style. [btn "Find a romantic hotel in central Lisbon" https://www.booking.com/city/pt/lisbon.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-lisabon-bairro-alto] Every other bar or café has at least one singer playing in the evening, and the melancholy tones echo through the narrow streets, giving you the true Lisbon atmosphere along with good wine…

Lookout

The tower associated with the historic elevator, which we describe in the Transport chapter, rises in the lower part of the centre, specifically on Áurea Street. You will also often come across the alternative name"Elevador do Carmo". [btn "Choose a top-rated hotel in the centre" https://www.booking.com/city/pt/lisbon.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-lisabon-santa-justa] If you are in the lower centre, take the elevator up. If you're in the Bairro…

Monastery

One of the largest sacral buildings in the city surpasses all the others especially by its location. It is located on the edge of the hill above the Alfama district, and is therefore visible from the banks of the Tejo River. [btn "How much do hotels in Lisbon cost? Find out at booking.com" https://www.booking.com/city/pt/lisbon.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-lisabon-sao-vicente] The monastery of the Augustinian Order has stood on this site since…

Museum

Lisbon is full of fascinating museums, but one of them is a bit out of the ordinary. That's the National Museum of Azulejo Tiles, the classic ornate ceramic tiles that can be seen lining many Portuguese and Spanish homes. [btn "Find the best hotel in Lisbon" https://www.booking.com/city/pt/lisbon.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-lisabon-museo-azulejo] Azulejos tiles are one of Portugal's main symbols, so if you're at least a little interested in…

Square, Station

Right on the bustling Rossio Square, near Restauradores Avenue in the heart of the city, a railway tunnel nearly 3 km long opens up, at the end of which is Rossio Central Station, where some of the long-distance trains terminate. [btn "Book a hotel in central Lisbon at a discount" https://www.booking.com/city/pt/lisbon.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-lisabon-rossio] The magnificent station building The station building itself is an architectural…

Aquarium

Thelargest aquarium of its kind in Europe can be found in the north-east of Lisbon in the modern Parque das Nações district, which was built for Expo 98. [btn "Find the best family hotels in Lisbon" https://www.booking.com/city/pt/lisbon.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-lisabon-oceanarium] In the aquariums, which cover more than 5,000 cubic metres, you can admire more than 450 species and 16,000 individual specimens, from colourful fish, sharks and…

Station, Modern Building

Portugal's largest railway station and one of the main transfer points between trains, metro and buses, it is one of the leading jewels of contemporary European architecture. [btn "Hotel closest to Oriente Station" https://www.booking.com/landmark/pt/gare-do-oriente.en.html?aid=2380460;label=p-lisabon-oriente] The unique roofing and main entrance is the work of world-renowned architect Santiago Calatrava. The station was completed in 1998…

Bridge

At 12 kilometres, the Ponte Vasco da Gama is the longest bridge in Europe. This extraordinary engineering feat spans the widest part of the Tagus estuary from the north-eastern edge of Lisbon to the city of Montijo and serves as a major diversion for transit traffic out of the city. [btn "View hotels in Lisbon" https://www.booking.com/city/pt/lisbon.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-lisabon-most-gama] The entire structure was built in record time.…

Park

A natural extension and grassed extension of the main Avenida de Liberdade is the Eduardo VII Park with the adjacent Amalia Rodrigues Garden. [btn "View hotels in Lisbon" https://www.booking.com/city/pt/lisbon.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-lisabon-park-eduard] If you have time, come here to relax and enjoy the beautiful view of the city centre with the huge Portuguese flag in the foreground. Head to the park from the monumental Marques de Pombal…

Park, Lookout

This small park, or rather square, offers a welcome oasis of calm in the city centre at one of Lisbon's highest points. On one side of the square are the terraced houses, on the other the church, and from the third you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Castelo de Sao Jorge and the red rooftops of Lisbon. After that, head down on foot in any direction - you'll always reach tram line 28.