49 Best Sights in Lisbon, Portugal

This magnificent space dedicated to the city's eye-catching azulejo tiles is one of the city's top tourist attractions—and with good reason. Housed in the 16th-century Madre de Deus convent and cloister, it displays a range of individual glazed tiles and elaborate pictorial panels. The 118-foot-long Panorama of Lisbon (1730) is a detailed study of the city and is reputedly the country's longest azulejo mosaic. The richly furnished convent church contains some sights of its own: of note are the gilt baroque decoration and lively azulejo works depicting the life of Saint Anthony. There's also an azulejo-covered café with a pleasant courtyard, and a gift shop that sells, naturally, tiles.

Winemakers Catarina Moreira and David Picard turned an old car repair workshop into Lisbon’s only urban winery. Using grapes picked nearby and minimal intervention techniques, the family produces vibrant and lively small-batch wines. The winery tours are an accessible but rigorous journey into wine biochemistry.

Although the castle was constructed by the Moors, the site had previously been fortified by Romans and Visigoths. Just outside the entrance is a statue of Dom Afonso Henriques, whose forces besieged the castle in 1147 and drove the Moors from Lisbon. The ramparts offer city panoramas as far as the towering Ponte 25 de Abril. A residence of the kings of Portugal in the medieval period, the palace now houses a small museum showcasing archaeological finds. From the periscópio (periscope) in the Torre de Ulísses in the keep you can spy on visitors going about their business below. Beyond the keep, traces of pre-Roman and Moorish houses are visible thanks to recent archaeological digs, as well as the remains of a palace founded in the 15th century. The castle's outer walls encompass a small neighborhood (Castelo), the medieval church of Santa Cruz, restaurants, and shops.

With a beautiful Moorish-style atrium, the city's movie museum hosts exhibitions on film history and screens classics from all over the world, usually in the original language and with Portuguese or English subtitles. Arrive early to check out the treasures displayed around the building, like the first Lumière projector used in the country. There's a café with a pleasant terrace.

Arguably Lisbon’s most romantic miradouro, this landscaped promenade is split into two levels, each offering a wonderful view across the city center to the castle on its hill on the other side. It’s a popular spot at night, as the moon shines over the city. On the upper level, a large kiosk surrounded by tables and lounge chairs serves refreshments and light meals to those who decide to stay and enjoy the views a little longer. Down the steps is another, more secluded kiosk with a smaller range of offerings.

This family-friendly museum uses multimedia exhibits to bring Lisbon's history to life. Over the course of an hour, the story is broken down into chapters, with a focus on the country's golden age of maritime adventures. A multilingual audio guide takes visitors through a series of exhibits. Midway through, a small cinema shows a short but dramatic reenactment of the 1755 earthquake and the fiery aftermath.

If you see only one historic landmark in Belém, make it this magnificent monastery. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a supreme example of the Manueline style (named after King Dom Manuel I), which represented a marked departure from earlier Gothic architecture. Much of it is characterized by elaborate sculptural details, often with a maritime motif. João de Castilho was responsible for the southern portal, which forms the main entrance to the church: the figure on the central pillar is Henry the Navigator. Inside, the spacious interior contrasts with the riot of decoration on the six nave columns and complex latticework ceiling. This is the resting place of both explorer Vasco da Gama and national poet Luís de Camões. Don't miss the Gothic- and Renaissance-style double cloister, also designed to stunning effect by Castilho.  Lines can be especially long here; buy a timed ticket in advance.

Portugal has a rich history of using puppets—from cute to creepy—to tell stories, and this fascinating museum is an opportunity to see the marionettes and masks up close. The only one of its kind in Portugal, the Marionette Museum has expanded in recent years to include an impressive collection of African and Asian puppets, and big-ticket visiting exhibitions have included a selection of puppets from Tim Burton's animated movies. The location, inside a former convent, adds an extra dash of drama to the proceedings, and there’s a chance to get hands-on with some of the puppets.

Housed in the minimalist Centro Cultural de Belém, the Museum of Contemporary Art showcases one of Europe's most important private collections of modern art. Works from the Berardo treasure trove—which range from Picasso and Warhol to Portugal's own Paula Rego—are on show in a more permanent exhibition that walks through various modern art movements. There are also excellent visiting exhibitions. The complex has several bookstores, cafés, and gift shops.

More than 2,500 years of history are on display beneath a bank on one of Lisbon's busiest streets. A subterranean network of tunnels occupies almost a whole block in Lisbon's historic center and was unearthed in the 1990s during excavation works carried out by the bank Millennium BCP, which revealed homes and artifacts from the Roman, Visigoth, Islamic, medieval, and Pombaline periods. Much of the space was used as a major-scale Roman fish-salting factory. It was later used as a Christian burial ground, and there's even a well-preserved skeleton to be seen. Free 50-minute guided tours (book in advance) in English or Portuguese lead through the underground walkways.  

East of most of the city's sights in the sprawling Parque das Nações, home to Europe's largest indoor aquarium, which wows children and adults alike with a vast saltwater tank featuring a massive array of fish, including several shark species. Along the way you'll pass through habitats representing the North Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, where puffins and penguins dive into the water, sea otters roll and play, and tropical birds flit past you. You then descend to the bottom of the tank to watch rays float past gracefully and schools of silvery fish dart this way and that. To avoid the crowds, come during the week or early in the day.

The white monolithic Monument of the Discoveries was erected in 1960 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator. It was built on what was the departure point for many voyages of discovery, including those of Vasco da Gama for India and—during Spain's occupation of Portugal—of the Spanish Armada for England in 1588. Henry is at the prow of the monument, facing the water; lined up behind him are the Portuguese explorers of Brazil and Asia, as well as other national heroes. On the ground adjacent to the monument, an inlaid map shows the extent of the explorations undertaken by 15th- and 16th-century Portuguese sailors. Walk inside and take the elevator to the top for river views.

Formerly Parque da Liberdade, this park was renamed in 1903 when England’s Edward VII visited Portugal. Its large central promenade has manicured lawns featuring traditional Portuguese cobblestone pavement with geometric designs and views of the city center. The beautifully kept Estufa Fria is a sprawling 1930s greenhouse garden whose various habitats are arranged around a pretty pool.

Frequently cited as one of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal, Galapinhos has such white sand and crystalline water that it appears almost Caribbean. Surrounded by the wild nature of Arrábida's hills (wild boar have been spotted taking a dip here during the heat of summer), it's best visited outside the July–September summer season, when things get busy and access to vehicles is restricted. There's parking nearby for the rest of the year, but you'll need to follow a rough path to reach the beach itself. Amenities: food and drink (summer). Best for: snorkeling; solitude; swimming; walking.

Calm and clear water, a workout station, and a diving platform make the western stretch of Sesimbra Beach a favorite with families and athletic young folk. Boats docking here in the summer whisk beach-hoppers off to hard-to-reach strands, but with the pine-covered hills stretching right down to the sand and a café-bar doing a brisk trade in wine, ice cream, and seafood, there's plenty of reason to stay put. The beach has wheelchairs and an access point during the July–September high season and has won national awards for accessibility. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards (summer); parking (fee); showers; toilets (summer). Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

Known to locals as the Terreiro do Paço after the royal palace that once stood on this spot, Praça do Comércio (Commerce Square) is lined with 18th-century colonnaded buildings fronted by expansive esplanades. Today, trendy restaurants and cafés fill the arcades, while down by the river, the renovated waterfront promenade attracts joggers, cyclists, and sunbathers who catch rays on the steps during summer.

The equestrian statue in the center is of Dom José I, king at the time of the earthquake and subsequent rebuilding. In the northwestern corner of the square, a wall plaque recalls the day in 1908 when King Carlos and his eldest son, Luís Filipe, were assassinated as the family passed through in their carriage. (Two years later his second son, Manuel, fled the country after a republic was declared from the balcony of Lisbon's city hall, just round the corner on Largo do Município.) Throughout the year, the square hosts major events from New Year's Eve celebrations to food festivals, while kiosks—including one with an expansive terrace overlooking the river—serve potent caipirinhas and other drinks. The tourist information center and the Lisbon Story Centre museum occupy prime spots under the arcades.

The formal name for this grand public square is Praça Dom Pedro IV, but locals still call it Rossio. A gathering place since at least Roman times (it was the site of a hippodrome), it was formally laid out in the 13th century as Lisbon's main public space. Crowds socialize beside baroque fountains beneath a statue of Dom Pedro atop a towering column and amid dramatic wave-pattern cobblestones, famously reconstructed on the beach promenades of Rio de Janeiro.

On nearby Largo de São Domingos, there's a memorial to Jewish victims of a massacre in 1506, when Dominican friars egged on the mob; just three decades later centuries of more organized persecution began with the creation of the Portuguese Inquisition, which had its headquarters where the Teatro Nacional Doña Maria II now stands, on the north side of Rossio. The atmosphere today is more peaceable: locals come here to relax with a newspaper, have their boots polished by the shoe shiners, or sip a drink at one of the ginjinha bars—the one on the southern side of the square is probably Lisbon's oldest.

Lisbon's answer to Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer was inaugurated in 1959 as a mark of thanks for Portugal's safety during the violence of World War II. Today, it's an important religious site, but most casual visitors come here for the spectacular views from the free lookout or the 262-foot-high viewing platform, reached by elevator.

A local landmark since 1892, the Mercado da Ribeira is worth a visit to see where locals go to buy some of the city’s freshest fruit, vegetables, fish, and seafood. The adjoining hall has become a bustling food court, Time Out Market. Some of Lisbon’s top chefs and most popular restaurants were invited to set up counter-service stalls with food to be enjoyed at communal seating areas. Although the clientele is predominantly tourists, it still offers a solid overview of local gastronomy.

The openwork balconies and domed turrets of the fanciful Belém Tower make it perhaps the country's purest Manueline structure. The UNESCO World Heritage site was built between 1514 and 1520 on what was an island in the middle of the Tagus River to defend the port entrance, and it's dedicated to Saint Vincent, the patron saint of Lisbon. Today the chalk-white tower stands near the north bank—evidence of the river's changing course. Cross the wooden gangway to check out the cannons, then climb the steep, narrow, winding staircase to the top of the tower for a bird's-eye view across the Tagus. Then, descend to the former dungeons.

Stretching for more than 18 km (11 miles), this aqueduct began providing Lisbon with clean drinking water in 1748. An imposing section of 35 arches—including one said to be the world's highest ogival (pointed) arch—stride across the Alcântara River Valley. Nearer the city center, another 14 arches run 200 feet along the Praça das Amoreiras, ending in the Mãe d'Agua reservoir ( Praça das Amoreiras 8), where you can explore equipment. Art lovers are in for a treat, too: Immersivus Gallery ( 91/065–8479,  portugalagenda.com) shows feature works by artists like Klimt, Kahlo, or Van Gogh projected onto walls and water, transforming them into a giant canvas.

Capping the post-earthquake restoration of Lisbon's downtown, the Arco Triunfal, as it's also known, was planned almost 50 years before the Parisian Arc de Triomphe. Its rooftop offers a splendid viewpoint from which to admire the handsome buildings around Praça do Comércio. Access to the terrace is via an elevator and then up two narrow winding flights of stairs. Once at the top, children delight in ringing a giant bell, while grown-ups can stand at the foot of the giant sculptures of Glory crowning Genius and Valour and revel in views of the Tagus River in one direction and the shopping, drinking, and dining strip of Rua Augusta in the other. The red-roofed houses and grand religious buildings that climb up the surrounding hillsides complete the dramatic scene. Back down in the square, you can identify other statues on the main facade by António Víctor de Figueiredo Bastos: from the left, a reclining figure representing the Tagus, followed by Viriato, native scourge of the Romans, and Vasco da Gama; and on the right, the Marquês de Pombal, medieval national hero Nuno Álvares Pereira, and the Douro River.

This Italianate dwelling is one of Alfama's most distinctive buildings. It was constructed in 1523 for Brás de Albuquerque, the son of Afonso, who became the viceroy of India and conquered Goa and Malacca. The name translates as "House of Spikes," and it's not hard to see why—it has a striking facade studded with pointed white stones in diamond shapes. The top two floors were destroyed in the 1755 earthquake, and restoration did not begin until the early 1980s. Since 2012 the building has housed the José Saramago Foundation, a cultural institute set up in memory of the only Portuguese-language winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, with two floors dedicated to his life and works.

When young Lisboetas want to go to the beach, they'll often cross the bridge for the Costa da Caparica, which packs out in summer with bronzed locals. As a former fishing village, the town itself lacks charm but the beachfront is lively with dozens of cafés and bars catering to a relaxed surf-loving clientele. The further south you go, the quieter it gets. Each beach is different: the areas nearest Caparica are family-oriented, while more southerly ones attract a younger crowd with beach parties (there are some nudist beaches, too). Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; sunset; swimming; walking.

The Santa Justa Elevator is one of Lisbon's more extraordinary structures. Designed by Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard, who studied under French engineer Gustave Eiffel, the Gothic-style tower was built in 1902. Queues are often frustratingly long in high season, but it's an enjoyable ride up to the top. The return ticket sold on board includes access to a high walkway and an even higher miradouro (though this viewing platform is currently closed), but it's a poor value—a 24-hour public transportation pass costs around €7 loaded onto a €0.50 Viagem card and is valid on the elevator as well as all of the city's buses, trams, and metro lines. To skip the queues and the fare, you can access the upper walkway from Largo do Carmo.

Almada's eye-catching Mouth of the Wind elevator is a fun, free, and photogenic way to travel between Almada's Old Town and the pretty gardens and noteworthy restaurants on the riverfront of Cais do Ginjal. Enjoy the views from the glass-fronted cabin as you ascend or descend. 

Portugal's oldest botanical garden—laid out in 1768 by the Italian botanist Domenico Vandelli (1735–1816)—is a relaxing place to spend an hour or so. Baroque fountains and stairways, Renaissance-style terraced slopes, and meandering peacocks create a sense of splendor, and the Scented Garden adds aromatic appeal.

Lisbon's main botanical garden was first laid out in 1873 to teach students about botany, and it is still part of the University of Lisbon. Hidden behind the small Museu de História Natural, about 2 km (1 mile) north of Bairro Alto, the garden has 10 acres of paths through myriad species of subtropical plants. It's a pleasant place for a shaded stroll.

Steps from Belém’s Manueline monastery, this tropical botanical garden offers shady respite from the heat and the crowds outside. Towering palm trees provide a grand entrance to a flower-filled space that was created in 1906 as the Colonial Garden, housing some 600 species from Portugal’s tropical and subtropical former colonies. There are some grand colonial-style buildings, although most are closed to the public, and resident peacocks stroll amid the flowers and plants. Entrance is free on Sunday from 10 am to 1 pm.

It takes a full day to explore this deservedly popular and well-maintained zoo, which is home to more than 3,000 animals from more than 330 species. The grounds are huge, but you can leap aboard a cable car to whiz from one attraction to another. If you don't have a head for heights, a miniature train (extra fee) trundles around the gardens. You'll also find a petting zoo; twice-daily animal shows featuring parrots, pelicans, dolphins, sea lions, reptiles, or lemurs; and a few cafés and picnic areas.