Lisbon is Portugal’s hilly, coastal capital city. From the imposing São Jorge Castle, the view encompasses the old city’s pastel-colored buildings, Tagus Estuary, and Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge. Nearby, the National Azulejo Museum displays 5 centuries of decorative ceramic tiles.
You can explore the narrow streets of the old quarter, stroll the riverbank promenade, or wander through verdant parks and gardens. In fact, enjoy Lisbon like the locals do, at an easy and unhurried pace, and you'll quickly fall for its welcoming character and beguiling charm.
You won’t have to look far for nightlife as you can just dive into the medley of Fado joints and swish coffee shops in the Bairro Alto district. Then, perhaps, you can take in the latest in digital installation art at the Berardo Collection Museum, or go nose-to-nose with a grimacing shark at the Lisbon Aquarium.
Here are the Top 14 Places to Visit in Lisbon, which are worth visiting on a Lisbon trip:
1. Torre de Belém
If there is just one landmark you visit when touring through the Portuguese capital, make it this one. Soaring high above the seafront of the Lisbon quays, this great tower displays a veritable fusion of architectural styles from the Mudejar to the Moorish, the Gothic to the Romanesque. It has stood watch over the mouth of the Tagus River since its construction under the patronage of Saint John back in the 16th century. Since then, it has risen to become perhaps the most iconic feature of the city, famed as the last sight adventurers like the prodigal Vasco da Gama would have seen as they drifted out into the vast Atlantic Ocean.
2. Alfama District
The compact little Alfama District is Lisbon’s answer to the old town centers of Europe’s other ancient capitals. Like the Forum of Rome, it’s hailed as the oldest part of the city, although this one dates back to the Moors of Africa instead of the kings of Latium. Delving into the warren of winding streets and alleys that forms the district is one of the top activities for visitors to Portugal’s capital. As you stroll, great cathedrals like the Lisbon Cathedral and tile-fronted chapels reveal themselves on the corners. There are also the remains of old city walls and hidden squares with al fresco cafes aplenty.
3. Castelo de São Jorge
This is one of Lisbon's most popular tourist destinations. Its impressive battlements, engaging museum, and fascinating archaeological site combine to make the castle a rewarding experience for the whole family, and kids especially will love clambering over the sturdy walls and towers that encircle the grounds. For the most part, visitors are happy enough to admire the fabulous views from the observation terrace that affords an uninterrupted panorama of the city, the River Tagus, and the distant Atlantic Ocean.
4. Oceanário de Lisboa
The Lisbon Oceanarium is one of Europe's finest aquariums, and one of the largest in the world. It's also arguably the most family-orientated of all the city's visitor attractions. Designed by Peter Chermayeff and built for the Expo 98 World Exposition in an area now known as Parque das Nações, the oceanarium is home to a mind-boggling array of fish and marine animals, including dozens of different species of birds.
5. Jeronimos Monastery
With its Gothic and Moorish influences, the striking Manueline architecture of the Jeronimos Monastery makes it a must-see attraction for anyone visiting Lisbon. Located in the city’s riverside Belém district, the grand complex was constructed during the 1500s to commemorate the discoveries made by Portuguese explorers.
6. Alfama
The oldest quarter in historic Lisbon, the Alfama district is dotted with architectural landmarks, including some that date back to the city’s Moorish past, but it’s the charm of the neighborhood’s meandering streets, tasty eateries, and Fado clubs that make the Alfama a can’t-miss destination. Lined with Fado bars and clubs, Largo do Charariz de Dentro is the best place to go to enjoy traditional Portuguese folk music.
7. Santa Justa Elevator
Located in the downtown district, the Santa Justa Elevator offers visitors delightful views of lovely Lisbon. Built-in 1902, the “elevator” was designed by Raul Mésnier, who was inspired by the famous tower in Paris, which his colleague Gustav Eiffel created.
8. Museu Calouste Gulbenkian
A sparkling gem in Lisbon's cultural crown, the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian is also one of the most celebrated museums in Europe. The facility, sited in a lush, verdant park in the north of the city, is named after Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian, an Armenian oil magnate born in 1869, who bequeathed his vast private art collection to Portugal shortly before his death in 1955. Following the terms of this endowment a foundation was created, the centerpiece of which is this purpose-built arts complex.
9. The National Museum of Ancient Art
The National Museum of Ancient Art is one of Lisbon's great cultural attractions and a "must-see" on any tourist itinerary. This is Portugal's national gallery and houses the largest collection of Portuguese 15th- and 16th-century paintings in the country. An equally impressive display of European, Oriental, and African art adds to the allure.
10. Museu do Oriente
West of the city center, near Alcântara, and housing a fabulous collection of oriental art built up by the influential Fundação Oriente, this engaging cultural facility chronicles Portugal's presence in Asia and the Far East. The permanent exhibition is set over two levels and grouped around several core areas of oriental art, particularly Chinese. Displayed under subdued lighting, but with individual pieces showcased under the pinpoint spotlight, the collection takes you on an incredible journey that traces the cultural and trade links forged between Portugal and India, Japan, Myanmar, Macau, and Timor.
11. Ride Tram 28
Like San Francisco in the United States, Lisbon is a city famed for its historic, rattling tram lines. None are more iconic than Tram 28 which has been working its way up the steep, cobbled roads and into the old Alfama district for decades. The journey starts below the palm-spotted hills of Graça, and weaves toward the hair-pin alleys of Escolas Gerais, before pulling up to a halt beneath the gorgeous domes of the Estrela Basilica. The people-watching opportunities from the windows are second-to-none, and you’re bound to discover decades of history as you pass the various majestic palaces and castles along the route.
12. St George’s Castle
St George’s Castle is unquestionably the most visible landmark of Lisbon’s historic center. Standing tall and firm above the streets of the old Alfama District, the great citadel was first built more than 2,000 years ago by the Romans. Since then, it has been developed by subsequent rulers of the city, from the Berbers to the Reconquista knights. Today it has mighty palisades and crenulated towers to admire, along with an encircling dry moat and other anti-siege features. Pass beneath the large gate here and notice the Portuguese royal seal, marking the country’s monarchic strength.
13. Mercado da Ribeira
There are two distinct sides to Lisbon’s most famous food market. First of all, there is the downstairs part, which throbs with local fruit and vegetable sellers touting succulent legumes and Mediterranean fruits every morning of the week, so make sure to get there early if you want to get the best deals. Then there is the upstairs section which comes packed with more modern, often quirky food stalls and cutting-edge eateries. It is there that you will be able to taste the local specialty of custard tarts, sip fine Portuguese wines, and even attempt to conquer a massive francesinha sandwich which is one of the treats to come out of Porto in the north.
14. Carmo Church
The skeletal ruins of the Carmo church are among the most evocative of all of Lisbon's historical monuments. Built to an almost exclusive Gothic design, this Carmelite treasure was constructed between 1389 and 1423. Today, visitors can wander the open nave, overshadowed by the surviving arches that bow upwards into the sky. The chancel is now the delightfully quirky Museu Arqueológico do Carmo, where exhibits include a Visigoth pillar and a Roman tomb. Among the more bizarre displays are two ancient mummies lying prone in their glass cases
Besides this, there is much more to explore in Lisbon!!!
