69 Best Sights in Lisbon, Portugal

Although St. George's Castle was constructed by the Moors, the site had previously been fortified by Romans and Visigoths. To your left as you pass through the main entrance is a statue of Dom Afonso Henriques, whose forces in 1147 besieged the castle and drove the Moors from Lisbon. The ramparts offer panoramic views of the city's layout as far as the towering 25 de Abril suspension bridge. A residence of the kings of Portugal until the 16th century, the palace remnants now house a small museum showcasing archaeological finds and a snack bar with a pleasant terrace. From the periscópio (periscope) in the Torre de Ulísses, in the castle's 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.

Almada's eye-catching elevator is a fun, free, and extremely photogenic way to travel between Almada's Old Town and the pretty gardens and noteworthy restaurants on the riverfront of Cais do Gingal. Enjoy the views from the glass-fronted cabin as you ascend or descend. It runs every day between 10 am and 9 pm.

More than 2,500 years of history is on display at this archaeological treasure trove hidden beneath a bank on one of Lisbon's busiest shopping streets. The buried 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. The digs revealed homes and artifacts from the Roman, Visigoth, Islamic, medieval, and Pombaline periods, and 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 guided tours in English or Portuguese lead through underground walkways and around the foundations of ancient buildings.

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.

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.

A former industrial area that's been transformed into a symbol of Lisbon's creative spirit, LX Factory is a colorful collection of cafés, bars, and boutiques. There's an excellent bookshop, Ler Devagar ("Read Slowly") with its own bar, plus a rooftop bar that serves cocktails and snacks to a young, laidback crowd. There's notable art to admire, too, and fans line up to snap pictures of the giant bee mural by Bordalo II, one of Lisbon's most celebrated street artists. 

Cementing Belém’s reputation as Lisbon’s top destination for arts and architecture buffs, the ultra modern Museum of Art, Architecture, and Technology (MAAT) is a striking sight on the banks of the Tagus. Opened in 2016, the curved white building houses immersive exhibitions from the likes of revered Portuguese street artist Vhils, and there’s a restaurant overlooking the river. A refurbished 1908 power station next door is part of the same museum complex, and it offers enlightening tours.

Started in 1934, this is one of Lisbon’s oldest neighborhood markets and over the last few years has turned into one of the city’s hottest food destinations. The stalls of fresh fruits and vegetables now surround tables where customers sit for meals and drinks prepared at the newer gourmet stalls. It’s a lively place where you still find many locals, unlike at the bigger and more famous Time Out Market by the river.

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.

Set in lovely gardens filled with leafy walkways, blooming flowers, and waddling ducks, the museum of the celebrated Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation houses treasures collected by Armenian oil magnate Calouste Gulbenkian. The collection is split in two: one part is devoted to Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Islamic, and Asian art, and the other to European acquisitions. The quality of the pieces is magnificent, and you should aim to spend at least two hours here. English-language notes are available throughout. A walk through the gardens leads to the foundation's Modern Collection: 9,000 pieces from the 20th and 21st centuries, including sculptures, paintings, and photography. There's a café with a pleasant terrace overlooking the gardens, and a program of live outdoor music performances during the summer.

Housed in the minimalist Belém Cultural Center, the Berardo Collection Museum is a showcase for one of Europe's most important private collections of modern art. Works from this treasure trove—which range from Picasso and Warhol to Portugal's own Paula Rego—are regularly rotated through the galleries, and there are also excellent visiting exhibitions. There are several bookstores, cafés, and gift shops in the complex, including a terrace café on the upper floor with lovely views.

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.

Portugal’s National Ancient Art Museum is housed in an opulent 17th-century palace, built at the behest of the Count of Alvor and later occupied by the brother of the Marquis de Pombal. Try not to spend too much time gaping at the dramatic painted ceilings, stucco detailing, and baroque doorways or you’ll miss the collection of more than 40,000 works, including the unsettling 1501 triptych Temptation of Saint Anthony by Hieronymus Bosch, one of the most important pieces in the country. A café set in lovely gardens is the perfect place for a bite.

A tile museum might not sound thrilling, but 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 its waterfront 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 St. Anthony. There are also a little café and a gift shop that sells tiles.

East of most of the city's sights in the sprawling Parque das Nações, Europe's largest indoor aquarium wows children and adults alike with a vast saltwater tank featuring a massive array of fish, including several types of shark. Along the way you 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 Prince 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 the 15th- and 16th-century Portuguese sailors. Walk inside and take the elevator to the top for river views.

The large domed edifice is the former church of Santa Engrácia. It took 285 years to build, hence the Portuguese phrase "a job like Santa Engrácia." Today, the building doubles as Portugal's National Pantheon, housing the tombs of the country's former presidents as well as cenotaphs dedicated to its most famous explorers and writers. A more recent arrival is fado diva Amália Rodrigues, whose tomb is invariably piled high with flowers from admirers.

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. It's a romantic oasis in the middle of the city.

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 buildings fronted by expansive esplanades. Down by the river, steps and slopes—once used by occupants of the royal barges that docked here—lead up from the water, and sunbathers strip down to catch rays during the summer. The equestrian statue in the center is of Dom José I, king at the time of the earthquake and subsequent rebuilding. In 1908, amid unrest that led to the declaration of a republic, King Carlos and his eldest son, Luís Filipe, were assassinated as they rode through the square in a carriage. In the summer, live samba bands play at sunset while pop-up drink stands sell potent caipirinhas.

The formal name for this grand public square is Praça Dom Pedro IV, but locals stick to the previous name, Rossio. Built in the 13th century as Lisbon's main public space, it remains a bustling social hub and, traffic noise aside, is still an impressive sight. Crowds socialize among Baroque fountains beneath a statue of Dom Pedro atop a towering column. Visitors can admire the dramatic wave-pattern cobblestones, famously reconstructed on the beach promenades of Rio de Janeiro. The square has seen everything from bullfights to public executions. On nearby Largo de São Domingos, where thousands were burned, there's a memorial to Jewish victims of the Portuguese Inquisition. Things are more sedate today: locals come here to relax with a newspaper, have their boots polished by the shoe shiners, or sip a ginjinha (traditional sour-cherry liqueur) at one of the bars.

Lisbon's somewhat austere answer to Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer sits atop a giant concrete plinth high above the Tagus River. It was inaugurated in 1959 as a mark of thanks for Portugal's safety during the violence of World War II. Today, the Santuário Nacional do Cristo Rei is an important religious site, but most casual visitors come here primarily for the spectacular views from the 262-foot-high viewing platform, which is reached by elevator. Visiting the peaceful, scenic grounds is free.

Lisbon's austere Romanesque cathedral was founded in 1150 to commemorate the defeat of the Moors three years earlier. To rub salt in the wound, the conquerors built the sanctuary on the spot where Moorish Lisbon's main mosque once stood. Note the fine rose window, and be sure to visit the 13th-century cloister and the treasure-filled sacristy, which contains the relics of the martyr St. Vincent, among other things. According to legend, the relics were carried from the Algarve to Lisbon in a ship piloted by ravens; the saint became Lisbon's official patron. The cathedral was originally built in the Romanesque style of the time but has undergone several rebuilds and refurbishments over the years, and today its rather eclectic architecture includes Gothic, baroque, and neoclassical adornments. Visitors are expected to dress respectfully.

A local landmark since 1892, the Mercado da Ribeira is worth a visit to see where locals go for stalls selling the city’s freshest fruit, vegetables, fish, and seafood. An adjoining hall has been taken over by very popular and busy food hall, Time Out Market, where Lisbon’s top chefs and restaurants present their best creations to be enjoyed at communal seating areas. The massive warehouse building is where tourists get an overview of local gastronomy and where locals find their favorite bites.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the openwork balconies and domed turrets of the fanciful Belém Tower make it perhaps the country's purest Manueline structure. It was built between 1514 and 1520 on what was an island in the middle of the river Tagus, to defend the port entrance, and dedicated to St. 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, walk inside to admire the cannons, and descend to the former dungeons, before climbing the steep, narrow, winding staircase to the top of the tower for a bird's-eye view across the Tagus River.

Stretching for more than 18 km (11 miles) from the water source on the outskirts of the city, the Aqueduct of Free Waters began providing Lisbon with clean drinking water in 1748. The most imposing section is the 35 arches---the largest of these is said to be the highest ogival (pointed) arch in the world---that stride across the Alcântara River Valley north of the Amoreiras Shopping Complex in the neighborhod of Campolide. Nearer the city center, another 14 arches run 200 feet along the Praça das Amoreiras, ending in the Mãe d'Agua, an internal reservoir capable of holding more than a million gallons of water. This extraordinary structure is open for visits, providing a chance to see the holding tank, lavish internal waterfall, and associated machinery.

Capping the postearthquake restoration of Lisbon's downtown, Lisbon's answer to the Parisian Arc de Triomphe offers a splendid viewpoint from which to admire the handsome buildings around the Praça do Comércio. Access to the arch is via an elevator and then up two narrow, winding flights of stairs. Once at the top, young visitors delight in ringing a giant bell, while the grown-ups can admire views of the Tagus River in one direction and the shopping strip of Rua Augusta in the other. The red-roofed houses and grand religious buildings that climb up the surrounding hillsides complete the scene.

Capping the post-earthquake restoration of Lisbon's downtown, Lisbon's answer to the Parisian Arc de Triomphe offers a splendid viewpoint from which to admire the handsome buildings around the Praça do Comércio. Access to the arch 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 the grown-ups can admire 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.

Liberty Avenue was laid out in 1879 as an elegant Parisian-style boulevard modeled on the Champs-Élysees. It has since lost some of its allure: many of the late-19th-century mansions and art deco buildings that once graced it have been demolished; others have been turned into soulless office blocks. There are, however, still some notable survivors of the original boulevard, now turned into luxury hotels and international fashion outlets. It’s worth a leisurely stroll up the 1½-km (1-mile) length of the avenue, past ponds, fountains, and statues, from Praça dos Restauradores to Parque Eduardo VII, at least once, if only to cool off with a drink in one of the quiosques (refreshment kiosks) beneath the trees and to admire the iconic designs of the cobblestone pavements.

A standout on Lisbon's skyline, this gleaming white basilica was built in the baroque and neoclassical styles. Its location at the top of one of Lisbon's seven hills makes for dramatic views from its rococo zimbório (dome). It was built at the end of the 18th century under the command of Queen Maria I (whose tomb lies within the building) to fulfill a religious promise she made while praying for a male heir. The interior is striking, too, with black-and-pink marble walls and floors and a famously elaborate nativity scene displayed year-round. Estrela is a short walk west of Largo do Rato, where the metro's Yellow Line terminates.