Destinations > Portugal > Lisbon > Sights

Lisbon (Lisboa)

Sights

ALFAMA & CASTELO

Lisbon's medieval quarter is located between Baixa and Estação Santa Apolónia. The main attraction here is the massive Castelo de São Jorge.

Casa do Fado e da Guitarra Portuguesa

This museum focuses on Lisbon's own unique music and the Portuguese guitar.

Largo do Chafariz de Dentro 1, Alfama

Bus 8, 25-A, 28, 35, 39, 48, 50, 90, 107, 208, 216

Tel (21) 882 34 70

Open 10am-1pm & 2pm-5.30pm daily

Castelo de São Jorge

Dating from the 5th century, this Visigoth castle has also been occupied by Romans, Suevians and the Moors. It was rebuilt in the 1940s and offers excellent views of the city centre.

Rua da Costa do Castelo, Lisbon

Bus 37 Tram 12, 28

Tel (21) 887 7244

Admission free

Open Jan-Mar 9am-6pm daily; Apr-Sep 9am-9pm daily; Oct-Dec 9am-6pm daily

Igreja de São Vicente de Fora

Located between Castelo de São Jorge and Estação Santa Apolónia, the 16th century church and monastery features a Renaissance façade and azulejo (Portuguese tile) panels.

Largo de São Vicente, Lisboa

Bus 12 Tram 28

Tel (21) 882 4400

Admission free

Open 9am-12.30pm & 3pm-6pm daily

Museu da Água

This underrated museum in the Santa Apolónia neighbourhood is housed in the first elevated steam station to distribute water from the Aqueduto de Alviela.

Rua do Alviela, 12, Lisboa

Bus 35, 104, 105 Metro, Train Santa Apolónia

Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm

Museu Militar

Lisbon's military museum is one of the world's largest and has a large collection of artillery, weapons, armour and uniforms.

Largo dos Caminhos de Ferro, Lisboa

Bus 9, 25, 28, 35, 39, 46 Metro, Train Santa Apolónia

Tel (21) 888 23 00

Open Jul-Sep Tue-Sun 10am-6pm

Museu Nacional do Azulejo

This museum is dedicated to azulejos (Portuguese tiles) with some exhibits dating from the 15th century.

Rua Madre de Deus 4, Lisboa

Bus 18, 42, 104, 105

Tel (21) 814 77 47

Website www.mnazulejo-ipmuseus.pt

Admission €2.25

Open Wed-Sun 10am-6pm, Tue 2pm-6pm

Sé Catedral de Lisboa

Portugal's first king, Dom Afonso Henriques, built Lisbon's cathedral in the 12th century.

Largo da Sé, Lisboa

Bus 37 Tram 12, 28

Tel (21) 886 6752

Admission free; cloister €1.50

Open Mon 9am-5pm; Tue-Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 9am-5pm

BAIXA

The Baixa is the heart of Lisbon. There are plenty of places to eat and drink and transport connections are excellent.

Museu e Igreja de São Roque

This museum and church is home to Italian art from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Largo Trindade Coelho, Lisboa

Bus 58, 100 Metro Baixa-Chiado Tram Glória

Tel (21) 323 5381

Open Tue-Sun 10am-5pm

Palácio Nacional de Ajuda

This neo-classical palace was built for Portugal's former royal family in 1802. The palace features exhibits that include furniture and paintings.

Calçada de Ajuda, Lisboa

Bus 14, 32, 42, 60 Tram 18

Tel (21) 363 7095

Open Mon-Tue & Thu-Sun 10am-4.30pm

BELÉM

This seaside suburb has loads of history and was the launching place for many expeditions during Portugal's Age of Discovery including Vasco de Gama's voyage to India. Attractions in Belém include the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and the Torre de Belém, both classified by UNESCO has World Heritage Sites.

Centro Cultural de Belém

This cultural centre hosts a variety of music and dance performances and is home to an ever-changing programme of exhibitions and a design museum.

Praça do Império, Belém

Bus 27, 28, 43, 49 Tram 15 Train Belém

Tel (21) 361 2444

Website www.ccb.pt

Open 9am-9.30pm daily; exhibitions Mon-Fri 11am-8pm, Sat-Sun 10am-7pm; design museum 11am-8pm daily

Jerónimos Monastery (Mosteiro dos Jerónimos)

This 16th century monastery was built by Dom Manuel I to celebrate Vasco de Gama's discovery of the sea route to India.

Praça do Império, Belém

Bus 27, 28, 29, 43, 51, 112 Tram 15 Train Belém

Tel (21) 362 0034

Website www.mosteirojeronimos.pt

Admission €3, under 25 €1.50

Open Jan-Apr 10am-5pm daily; May-Sep 10am-6.30pm; Oct-Dec 10am-5pm daily

Museu de Marinha

Lisbon's maritime museum features a variety of boats including the Bergantim Real, a royal barge built in 1778, and the first sea-plane to cross the southern Atlantic in 1922.

Praça do Império, Belém

Bus 27, 28, 29, 43, 49, 51 Tram 15 Train Belém

Tel (021) 362 00 19

Open Jan-May Tue-Sun 10am-5pm; Jun-Sep 10am-6pm daily; Oct-Dec Tue-Sun 10am-5pm

Museu Nacional de Arqueologia

This museum, located in the Jeronimos Monastery complex, features exhibits from prehistoric, Roman, Visigoth, Arab and medieval periods.

Praça do Império, Belém

Bus 14, 27, 28, 29, 43, 49, 51 Tram 15, 16, 17 Train Belém

Tel (21) 362 00 00

Website www.mnarqueologia-ipmuseus.pt

Admission €3

Open Mon-Fri 10am-12.30pm & 2pm-5pm daily

Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument of Discoveries)

This monument on the banks of the Tagus was built in 1960 to mark the 500th anniversary of Henry the Navigator's death.

Avenida de Brasília, Belém

Bus 27, 28, 43, 49 Tram 15 Train Belém

Tel (21) 303 1950

Admission €1.90

Open Jan-Jun Tue-Sun 9.30am-5pm; Jul-Aug Tue-Sun 9.30am-9pm; Sep-Dec 9.30am-5pm

Torre de Belém

This impressive tower was built by Dom Manuel I to defend the estuary of the Tagus. It is classified as an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Avenida de Brasília, Belém

Bus 27, 28, 29, 43, 49, 51 Tram 15 Train Belém

Tel (21) 362 0034

Website www.mosteirojeronimos.pt/english/index_torre.html

Admission €3

Open Jan-Apr 10am-5pm daily; May-Sep 10am-6.30pm daily; Oct-Dec 10am-5pm daily

ESTRELA, LAPA & ALCÂNTARA

This neighbourhood, located between Baixa and Belém, is mostly residential although there are some nice cafés and bars by the waterfront. The main attraction in this neighbourhood is the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga.

Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga

This art museum houses a collection of art spanning from the 12th to the 19th century. It is considered one of Portugal's most important art museums with gold and silver work and paintings by Portuguese and European artists.

Rua Janelas Verdes, Lapa

Bus 7, 27, 40, 49, 60 Tram 15, 18

Tel (21) 396 4151

Website www.mnarteantiga-ipmuseus.pt

Admission €3, students €1.50

Open Tue 2pm-6pm, Wed-Sun 10am-6pm

SALDANA

This modern area north of Baixa is mostly a business district. There are a few attractions here, most notable being the brilliant Museu Calouste Gulbenkian.

Museu Calouste Gulbenkian

This art museum is one of Portugal's best. It features a collection that includes Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Chinese, Japanese, European and Islamic art. The large European art collection features works by Ghirlandaio, Guardi, Rembrant, Rodin, Rubens and Van Dyke and an outstanding collection of jewellery by René Lalique.

Avenida de Berna 45a, Lisboa

Bus 16, 18, 26, 31, 46, 56 Metro São Sebastião, Praça de Espanha

Tel (21) 782 3000

Website www.gulbenkian.pt

Admission €3

Open Tue-Sun 10am-5.45pm

Museu da Cidade

Lisbon's city museum is housed in the 17th century Palácio Pimenta and features an extensive collection on Lisbon's history from prehistoric times to the 19th century.

Campo Grande 245, Lisboa

Bus 1, 3, 33, 36, 47, 50 Metro Campo Grande

Tel (21) 751 32 00

Open Tue-Sun 10am-1pm & 2pm-6pm

José de Azeredo Perdigão Centre of Modern Art (CAM)

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation also run this modern art museum, which is located adjacent to their main museum (see above).

Avenida de Berna 45a, Lisboa

Bus 16, 18, 26, 31, 46, 56 Metro São Sebastião, Praça de Espanha

Tel (21) 782 3000

Website www.gulbenkian.pt

Admission €3

Open Tue-Sun 10am-6pm