Lisbon Destination Guide

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Things to See & Do in Lisbon
Guide to Sightseeing in Lisbon

Lisbon is a capital city with a magnificent history, mainly drawn from its nautical heritage. With a range of museums, monuments and architecture to explore it's an easy place to spend a few days exploring.

The Lisboa card gives free access to 16 of Lisbon's top museums and nine other attractions across the city. Where it doesn't guarantee free entry the card often gains a reduction in admission fees. The card also allows free travel on Lisbon's public transport network. Cost:
1 day: EUR13.50
2 days: EUR23
3 days: EUR28

Jerónimos Monastery

A fantastic exponent of the distinctively Portuguese Manueline style of building, the magnificent Jerónimos Monastery was built to commemorate the achievements of explorer Vasco da Gama (notably the rounding of the Cape of Good Hope and the discovery of the sea route to India).

The cloisters are arguably the most beautiful in Europe. The ornate façade blends Gothic with a more conscious symbolism, the Manueline style being a mark of Portugal's growing power in the 15th and early 16th centuries. The tomb of Vasco da Gama himself is contained within the church.

Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, Praça do Império.
Open: Tue-Sun 10h00-17h00 (Oct-Apr); 10h00-18h30 (May-Sep).
Admission: EUR4.50.

Discoveries Monument

Built in 1960 to commemorate 500 years since the death of Henry the Navigator, the monument is a splendid celebration of the Portuguese role in the development of relations between Europe and the rest of the world.

Henry was the dynamic force behind the Portuguese colonial expansion and can be considered the pioneer of modern exploration, which led to the opening up of the New World. The main figure at the prow of the metaphorical ship is Henry himself followed by the most important participants in the "discoveries", including his mother Philippa of Lancaster.

Padrão dos Descobrimentos, Belém seafront, Avenida de Brasília.
Open: Tue-Sun 10h00-19h00 (May-Sep), 10h00-18h00 (Oct-Apr).
Admission: EUR2.

Belém Tower

The internationally recognised symbol of the city, the Torre Belém sits at the mouth of the Tagus, guarding the entrance to the city.

Built at the same time as the Jerónimos, the tower again demonstrates the Manueline style of architecture and is popularly thought to be the best example still in existence. The building now acts as home to a Museum that has many relics of the discoveries on display.

Torre de Belém, Belém seafront, Avenida de Brasília.
Open: Tue-Sun 10h00-17h00 (Oct-Apr); 10h00-18h30 (May-Sep).
Admission: EUR3.

Coach Museum

The most-visited museum in Lisbon houses the state collection of antique horse-drawn carriages in what used to be the royal stables. If not unique in the world, the exhibition is certainly the most extensive collection of carriages on display anywhere. The elaborately carved and fantastically preserved vehicles date from the 17th century - and include carriages used by Popes, Kings and Queens on various state functions through the ages.

Museu Nacional dos Coches, Praça Afonso de Albuquerque.
Open: Tue-Sun 10h00-18h00.
Admission: EUR3.

The Alfama

This district in the east of the city is the oldest part of Lisbon and is a maze of narrow streets, in parts completely shadowed by overhanging buildings. The area contains relics from several periods of Lisbon's history including remnants of the old Moorish defence walls. The views over the Alfama's tiled roofs make for fabulous photos while its squares and gardens provide a pleasant respite from the hustle and bustle of the modern city.

Look out for one of Lisbon's oldest churches, that of Santo Estevão, a 17th-century marble structure built on the site of the original 13th-century building.

St George's Castle

At the top of the Alfama district are the battlements of the castle, standing on a site occupied by a defensive structure since at least the time of the Romans. Even the most recent structure dates from the time of the Moorish occupation.

The site has benefited from a good deal of face-lifting over recent years and now has a small museum as well as providing some magnificent views over the city. If you can take the climb, walk up through the winding narrow streets of the Alfama. Less energetic, yet equally enjoyable, is a ride to the castle on tram 28, but keep an eye open for pickpockets.

Castelo de São Jorge.
Open: 09h00-21h00 (summer); 09h00-18h00 (winter).
Admission: EUR3.

The Cathedral

Founded in 1170, the Cathedral of Lisbon (or Sé) lies in the middle of the Alfama district halfway up the hill towards St George's Castle.

The building is on the site of the Moorish Mosque, which was the principal place of Muslim worship in the city. The cathedral has undergone a few significant changes in its history, including the adding of Gothic style cloisters in the 14th century. The most extensive changes though were enforced on the cathedral following the disastrous 1755 earthquake, which destroyed the church's most valuable relic - the remains of Lisbon's patron saint, St Vincent.

Largo da Sé.
Open: Sun-Mon 09h00-17h00 (May-Sep); Mon 10h00-17h00 (Oct-Apr).

Madre de Deus Tile Museum

Housed in the church and cloisters of Madre de Deus, this quirky museum charts the Portuguese art of tile-making from the 15th century.

Called azulejo, the square tiles, glazed and decorated on one side, are a distinctive part of Portuguese craft and are a popular souvenir. Surprisingly interesting, the museum contains several unique and valuable murals made up of tiles.

Particularly spectacular are the murals of the life of St Anthony and that of Lisbon before the destructive 1755 quake. Don't forget to look at the architecture of the building as well, there are some fine examples of Manueline styling to be seen.

Museu Nacional do Azulejo, Rua da Madre de Deus 4.
Open: Tue 14h00-18h00; Wed-Sun 10h00-18h00.
Admission: EUR3.

Estufa Fría

One of the most curious of Lisbon's sights is the city's collection of glasshouse gardens in the Parque Eduardo VII. The glasshouses' collective name, Estufa Fría, means "cold greenhouse" which actually applies to only one of the greenhouses here.

This actual "Estufa Fría" contains plants from relatively temperate climates and also comprises attractive water features that make it a good place for a stroll or aimless wander secluded from the city. Nearby are the Estufa Quente ("hot greenhouse"), where you can see more tropical plants, and the Estufa Dolce ("sweet greenhouse" - strangely), which contains dry desert plants such as cacti.

Parque Eduardo VII.
Open: daily 09h00-17h00.
Admission: EUR1.20.

Gulbenkian Museum

This museum is by far the most important collection of art in Portugal and one of the most impressive in the whole of Europe.

Originally the private collection of Armenian oil mogul Calouste Gulbenkian, once one of the richest people in the world, it is an extensive assortment of masterpieces and artefacts. The eclectic collection contains everything from Egyptian coins to Lalique's distinctive Art Nouveau jewellery along with works by Old Masters including Rembrandt, Gainsborough and Rubens. The Gulbenkian Foundation of which the museum is part also includes a separate Modern Art collection.

Av de Berna 45A.
Open: Tue-Sun 10h00-17h45.
Admission: EUR3, adults (free on Sundays); free for children. Combined ticket with Modern Art Centre: EUR5.

 

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