Lisbon

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The Santa Luzia viewpoint frames Alfama's terracotta rooftops and the Tagus beyond, Lisbon, Portugal

Line 28 runs vintage trams through some of the steepest and narrowest streets in Lisbon, Portugal

The Jerónimos Monastery is one of the finest examples of the Manueline style and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lisbon, Portugal

Belém Tower was built in the early sixteenth century to guard the river approach to Lisbon, Portugal

About Lisbon

Lisbon, Portugal's capital, spreads over steep hills along the wide estuary of the Tagus River near the Atlantic. The 1755 earthquake destroyed much of the city, and the rebuilt downtown, the Baixa, was laid out in an orderly grid, while older districts such as Alfama kept their tangled medieval lanes. Tiled facades, yellow trams and viewpoints called miradouros give Lisbon its distinct character.

São Jorge Castle crowns the highest hill above Alfama, a district of narrow alleys that descends past Lisbon Cathedral toward the river. Nearby, Miradouro de Santa Luzia and Portas do Sol overlook terracotta rooftops. Tram 28 rattles through several historic neighborhoods, though it is often crowded. Downtown, Rua Augusta leads under a triumphal arch to Praça do Comércio on the waterfront. The Santa Justa Lift connects the Baixa to the ruined Carmo Convent, and from there Chiado and Bairro Alto offer shops, cafés, nightlife and more viewpoints. To the west, Belém holds the Manueline Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Tower and the Padrão dos Descobrimentos monument, with LX Factory, a converted industrial complex, on the way back.

Lisbon suits travelers who like walking, though the hills are steep and cobbles slippery. Fado music in Alfama and Mouraria makes for a memorable evening. Sintra and Cascais are easy day trips by train, and spring and early fall are especially pleasant.

Best seasonMarch to June and September to October offer warm days without the busiest summer crowds.

Ideal stayThree to four days covers the central neighborhoods and Belém, plus a Sintra day trip.

ArrivingLisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport lies close to the city and is linked to the center by metro.

WiserMap travel guideLisbon Portugal Trams Viewpoints Pastries and SintraPlan a Lisbon trip with this guide to Alfama, Belém, Baixa and Chiado, plus tram rides, viewpoints, food, where to stay and a Sintra day trip.Read the guide

12 Best Things to Do in Lisbon

Landmarks 4

São Jorge Castle

Crowning the highest hill of the old city, this Moorish-era citadel was taken by Afonso Henriques in 1147 and served as a royal re...

Belém Tower

Built between 1514 and 1519 as a fortress guarding the mouth of the Tagus, this limestone tower is the finest example of the Manue...

Padrão dos Descobrimentos

This towering riverside monument, shaped like the prow of a caravel, was first built in temporary form for the 1940 Portuguese Wor...

Santa Justa Lift and Carmo

Opened in 1902 and designed by Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard, this neo-Gothic iron elevator links the Baixa grid with the Largo do Carm...

History 1

Jerónimos Monastery

Commissioned by King Manuel I around 1501 and funded largely by spice-trade wealth, this vast monastery in Belém is a masterpiece...

Neighborhoods 3

Alfama and the Lisbon Cathedral

Alfama is the oldest quarter of Lisbon, a hillside tangle of stairways, tiny squares and laundry-strung alleys that largely surviv...

Praça do Comércio and Rua Augusta

Once the site of the royal palace destroyed in 1755, this vast riverside square was rebuilt under the Marquis of Pombal with arcad...

Bairro Alto

Laid out in the 16th century on a grid of narrow streets above Chiado, the Bairro Alto is quiet and residential by day, with tiled...

Viewpoints 1

Miradouro de Santa Luzia and Portas do Sol

Two of Lisbon's most loved viewpoints sit side by side on the climb to the castle. Santa Luzia has a bougainvillea-draped pergola...

Experiences 1

Tram 28

The yellow Remodelado trams of route 28, small wooden cars dating from the 1930s design, rattle up and down some of the steepest a...

Museums 1

Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

Built to house the collection of the Armenian oil magnate Calouste Gulbenkian, who spent his last years in Lisbon, this museum ope...

Family 1

Parque das Nações and the Oceanário

Built on former industrial land for Expo '98, this riverside district has wide promenades, modern architecture and the long Vasco...

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