The main attractions of Lisbon. The best attractions of Lisbon with photos and descriptions. What amazed you in Lisbon
Lisbon is one of the the oldest cities in the world and the oldest in Western Europe. Julius Caesar made it a municipality called Felicitas Julia, adding to the nameOlissipo. After being captured by Germanic tribes in the 5th century, in the 8th century the Moors came to the city. In 1147, the Crusaders under Afonso Henriques recaptured the city and since then it has been a major political, economic and cultural center of Portugal.
Lisbon enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate. Of all European cities, it has the warmest winters, with average temperatures of 15°C during the day and 8°C at night from December to February. The typical summer season lasts about six months, from May to October, although also in April temperatures sometimes reach around 25°.
Sights of Lisbon
1. Alfama
Alfama is the oldest district of Lisbon, the area is located on the mountainside down from the Castle of St. George to the Tagus River. This is the most distinctive area of Lisbon. Its name comes from Arabic al-Hamma, that is, "hot fountains" or "baths". The name is pronounced differently depending on the placement of the word in the sentence. The area includes the parishes of San Miguel, Santo Esevano and San Vicente de Fora.
During a strong earthquake in 1755, most of Lisbon was destroyed, Alfama escaped almost without destruction, thanks to its compact narrow streets and small squares. Thanks to this, Alfama has preserved the Arabic street layout and the spirit of Moorish Lisbon. This is the historical part of the city, occupied by fado bars, restaurants and houses with small shops below.
2. Belem Tower (Torre de Belém)
Probably the most emblematic historical monument in all of Lisbon. The Belém Tower is located at the mouthRiver Tagus and is a symbol of Portugal during the Age of Discovery. Was builtin 1521 as a fortress and was originally located in the middle of the river, but the watercourse has changed over the years. The Belém Tower represents the culmination of Manueline decorative architecture.Its façade is richly decorated with intricate nautical motifs - twisted ropes and armillary spheres,carved from stone. WITHOnly this valuable and iconic monument is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
3. Jerónimos Monastery
The highlight of any sightseeing tour of Lisbon is the Jerónimos Monastery, one of the most important tourist attractionssights of Portugal, a stunning monument of great historical and cultural significance,deserved to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is located nearbyfrom the waterfront in the attractive Belem district of Lisbon. Jeronimos was commissioned by King Manuel I in 1501in honor of Vasco da Gama's epic voyageIndia in 1498. It is also called a symbol of the wealth of travelers, as it was financedbehind an account of the spice trade with the colonies, discovered through expeditions to distant lands. The peculiarity of the monastery isthe fantastically complex southern portal and the beautiful but calm architecture of the monastery.
António Ribeiro)
Chiado is Lisbon's traditional shopping district and has a monument to the poet Antonio Ribeiro in the square. Chiado has a mix of old and modern shops, coffee shops and restaurants. Locals as well as tourists visit Chiada to buy books, clothes and ceramics, as well as drink a cup of coffee. Chiado is also an important cultural district, with museums and theaters, including an opera. Several buildings on Chiado were destroyed in a fire in 1988, an event that deeply shocked the country. Thanks to a reconstruction project that lasted more than 10 years, the damaged area is now practically restored.
5. Bernardo Museum
The museum was created asFoundation for Contemporary ArtAugust 9, 2006, and opened its doors to visitors on June 25, 2007 and was named after Jose Berardo. The museum is located on the territory of the exhibition center Culture Center de Belem , with a collection of more than 1,000 works of contemporary art on permanent display and temporary exhibitions
The collection consists of paintings by many famous artists such as: Piet Mondrian, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Pablo Picasso, Jackson Polotsk and Kazimir Malevich. To visit all the attractions be sure to book a tour of Lisbon.
Official website: pt.museuberardo.pt
6. (Gulbenkian Museum)
The sparkling stone in the cultural crown of Lisbon, Calouste Gulbenkian Museumis also one of the most famous museums in Europe . He located in a lush green park in the northern part of the city and named afterhonor Calouste Gulbenkian, an Armenian oil magnate who was born in 1869 andbequeathed his extensive collection of private art to Lisbon shortly before his death in 1955.
Gulbenkian's astonishing collection contains priceless works of art from around the world and spans art from 4,000 years of human history, from ancient Egyptian times to the late 20th century. th century.
Official site: http://museu.gulbenkian.pt
7. Aguas Livres Aqueduct
The main aqueduct is 18 km long, but the total canal network is almost 58 km. Lisbon had always suffered from a lack of drinking water, and King John V decided to build an aqueduct to bring water from the springs in Canesas parish to the capital. The project was paid for with a special sales tax on beef, olive oil, wine and other products.
Construction began in 1731 under the direction of Italian architect Antonio Canevari, who was replaced in 1732 by a group of Portuguese architects and engineers.
The tallest arches reach a height of 65 meters and many of them resemble arches in the Gothic style. The aqueduct is considered a masterpiece of Baroque engineering. In 1748, although the project was not yet completed, the aqueduct finally began to bring water to the city, a fact commemorated by a memorial arch built in the Amoreiras area.
25 de Abril Bridge)
Completed in 1966 and originally named after dictator Salazar, this suspension bridge over the Tagus River changed its name after the revolution of April 25, 1974.This bridge is a spectacular sight in any direction, with a total length of 2278 meters and the longest central span in Europe (1013 meters / 3323ft), longer than San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. This bridge is always compared to the Golden Gate from San Francisco. The 25 April Bridge is the main engineering landmark of Lisbon.
9. Christ the King
Construction of the statue of Christ began in 1949, construction lasted 10 years. The statue of Christ is located in the city of Almando, which is a suburb of Lisbon. The Portuguese Statue of Christ is only 10 meters lower than the Statue of Christ in Brazil. The statue was built with public money. The statue was built in gratitude for the fact that World War II bypassed Portugal.
Today, at the foot of Christ, there is one of the best panoramic platforms overlooking the capital of Portugal.
10. St. George's Castle (Sao Jorge Castle)
Castle of St. George is one of the main tourist attractions in Lisbon. The castle can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. Its oldest part dates back to the 6th century, when the Romans and then the Moors built their first defensive structures on the hill. It served as the royal residence of the Moorish king until the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, who captured it in 1147 with the help of the Crusaders on his way to the Holy Land. It was then dedicated to St. George, the patron saint of England, in honor of the Anglo-Portuguese Pact in 1371 and became a royal palace.
Official website: castelodesaojorge.pt
11. Monument to the Discoveries
One of the most famous landmarks in Lisbon, the imposing Monument to the Explorers, located on the riverbank in Avenida de Brasília in the Belém district, was erected to commemorate the Portuguese Age of Discovery. Belem, where the Tagus River flows into the sea, is the point from which sea travelers long ago set out to discover unknown lands.
The monument was unveiled in 1960 to mark the 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator in 1460, the monarch who was largely responsible for Portugal's role in the global era of discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries. The massive monument takes the shape of a caravel with Prince Henry at the prow.
12. Church of the Carmelites (Igreja do Carmo)
The ruins of the Carmelite Church are one of Lisbon's most memorable attractions. The church was built almost exclusively in the Gothic style between 1389 and 1423. Brilliant, with the adjacent Carmelite monastery, it was once the most important church in the city. But on Sunday morning, November 1, 1755, All Saints' Day, a terrible destructive earthquake occurred in the Portuguese capital. The violent tremors almost destroyed most of the building, and hundreds of pilgrims died when the masonry fell. The altar withstood the earthquake, but the rest of the church was never rebuilt.
Today, during an excursion, tourists can wander along the windswept nave, in the shadow of the preserved arches. The altar is now housed in the quirky Carmo Museum of Archeology, whose exhibits also include a Visigoth pillar and Roman tombs.
13. Palace of the Marqueses of Fronteira (Palácio dos Marqueses de Fronteira)
Hidden in the northOn the western outskirts of the city is this charming country manor house, home of the family of the Marquises of Fronteira. He was nbuilt as a hunting lodge for the firstArquiza de Fronteira in 1640, later reconstructed into a palace and still remains one of the most beautiful and tranquil private residences in Lisbon.Fortunately, some of the rooms in this palace are accessible for organized tours.
14. (Oceanario de Lisboa)
The Lisbon Aquarium is one of the best aquariums in Europe and one of the largest in the world. It's the same, The most family-friendly place among all the tourist attractions in Lisbon.Designed by Peter Chermayeff and built for Expo 98 at the Parc des NationsThe aquarium is home to a stunning array of fish and marine animals, V including a dozen different species of birds.The ingenious layout presents four separate seascapes in the form of the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and Arctic oceans.
Official site: www.oceanario.p
Lisbon is an ancient and extremely interesting city, which you can easily spend at least 2-3 days exploring. Tourists usually spend at least one more day exploring the surrounding area - the town of Sintra with many interesting castles and palaces, Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of the mainland, and the incredible Cascais.
But if you don’t have much time and want to explore the Portuguese capital, don’t miss the following places:
1. Belem
This is an entire historical district of Lisbon. The famous Portuguese navigators-discoverers - Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan and others - began their expeditions from here. In 1960, a monument to the Discoverers was erected on this site, on which 32 figures of heroes are engraved. Nearby on the ground is a map of the world, which shows the routes of the first sea expeditions.
A little further is the Belem Tower, interesting for its Manueline style. This is an architectural movement that was strongly influenced by Islamic and Oriental traditions. The Belem Tower marks the end of the medieval tradition of fortress towers and the beginning of the era of bastions. It was erected at the beginning of the sixteenth century in honor of the opening of the sea route to India. Gothic laconicism dominates inside, and among the furniture there is a throne from the 16th century.
And near the monument and tower is the main culinary attraction of Lisbon - Pastelaria de Belem. A place where you can try the famous traditional Portuguese custard tarts. There are huge queues here for the freshest baskets; you can take them with you or sit down in a cafe and order a couple.
2. Jerónimos Monastery
Located in the Belem region, it is considered one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal and is included in the UNESCO list. The building looks more like a royal palace than a monastic retreat. The idea belongs to King Manuel I, who decided to create this monastery supposedly in gratitude to the Virgin Mary for helping Portuguese sailors.
The inside of the monastery also looks luxurious, so be sure to buy a ticket (costs €10) and go inside. By the way, in the church not far from the entrance to Jeronimos, Vasco da Gama himself, King Manuel I, and the famous Portuguese poet Luis Camoes rest in tombs. The building was heavily damaged by the earthquake that occurred in 1755, but still was not destroyed, and was subsequently constantly reconstructed. The current appearance was created in the century before last, and this modification of the facade was made in the neo-Manueline style.
3. Castle of St. George, Castelo de S. Jorge
It is located on a high hill, in the very center of the city, so it is clearly visible from almost anywhere in the city. On weekends there are often events held inside, such as crossbow shooting lessons. Peacocks walk imposingly around the area, and there are several coffee shops nearby where you can sit down and enjoy the stunning view of Lisbon.
The castle is very ancient, the first traces of humans here date back to the sixth century BC and belong to the Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians. It was under the rule of Caesar, Suevi, Visigoths, Muslims, was used as a prison, and only in 1910 was recognized as a national monument. Admission for adults costs € 8.50, students € 5.
The famous suspension bridge that connects Lisbon with the Almada area over the Tagus River. The bridge is one of the 20 longest suspension bridges in the world. Outwardly, it is similar to the Golden Gate in San Francisco, and this is no coincidence. The construction was carried out by the same American company, which has a history of creating the Bay Bridge, a neighbor of the Golden Gate.
The bridge crosses where the river flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
The length is more than two kilometers, the height of the supports is 190 meters, and more than two million (!) people were involved in the construction.
The bridge is two-level, on the upper tier there is a six-lane highway, and below there are railway tracks along which city and suburban trains follow.
The bridge was first named after a prime minister named Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, but in 1974, after the Red Carnation Revolution, the bridge was renamed in honor of the day the same revolution began.
5. Statue of Christ, Santuário Nacional de Cristo Rei
This, of course, is not the Brazilian statue in Rio de Janeiro, but it is a copy of it and is only 10 meters inferior to it in height. By the way, the Statue of Christ is the tallest monument in all of Europe. It was erected in 1959 as a sign of gratitude to God for protecting Portugal from World War II. The statue of Christ was built over the course of 1949-1959, and funds for its construction were raised mainly by Portuguese women who were glad that the war had not taken their husbands and sons.
The height of the pedestal is 82 meters, the arm span is 28 meters. You can go up to the observation deck (ticket costs € 5), which offers breathtaking views of the Tagus River, the 25 April Bridge and almost the whole of Lisbon.
6. Arc de Triomphe, Arco da Rua Augusta
Located at the end of a long pedestrian street, which is dotted with cafes, restaurants, boutiques and souvenir shops - just like the “Portuguese Arbat”. Opens directly to Praça do Comércio. There are mosaic sidewalks, artists and musicians, and colorful facades of ancient mansions.
The arch itself is decorated with allegorical statues, decor with Renaissance, Baroque and Manueline elements. At both ends, on the marble curls of the waves, there are statues of two Lisbon rivers - the Tagus and the Douro. The façade is decorated with an antique mechanical clock with stone carvings. And on top there is an observation deck, which was opened relatively recently, only in 2013.
It is better to visit here several times, at different times of the day. During the day you can enjoy a Portuguese siesta, and in the evening the street becomes crowded, but at the same time it is still calm and attractive in its own way. The arch is illuminated with bright illumination, the street looks simply magical. Entrance to the observation deck costs €3.
7. Lisbon Cathedral, Sé de Lisboa
Another name for this attraction is the Church of St. Mary the Most High. It is located in the very center of the city, on a slight hill, so the towers of the cathedral can be seen from many points in the city. Construction began in the second half of the 12th century, and since 1910 the cathedral has the status of a national monument of Portugal.
It is difficult to name a single architectural style, because during its existence it was subject to restoration several times, and each era added new elements to the exterior and interior of the cathedral. Many changes to the Baroque style were added at the beginning of the last century, and during the latest restoration the goal was to return it to its medieval appearance. Entrance to the cathedral is free, but for visiting certain areas you need to pay € 2.50.
There are many more interesting sights in Lisbon - the Santa Justa elevator, the wooden yellow tram No. 28, which moves along the city's tourist route, lift trams, the largest oceanarium in Europe, a large number of interesting museums and castles.
Literally every street in Lisbon is interesting in its own way with its azulejo tiles, thin and tall houses, paths going up and down.
Be sure to visit Lisbon and enjoy its special flavor.
Where to stay in Lisbon?
Tickets to Lisbon:
The cheapest air tickets from Moscow to Lisbon for the year ahead
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Lisbon has a very compact city center; all of its historical districts and their attractions can actually be explored in just one day. However, it is worth mentally preparing yourself for the fact that you will have to walk a lot over the hills, however, sometimes you can make your life easier with the help of elevators, funiculars and ski lifts, which in themselves are interesting tourist attractions and attractions of the city.
It is possible that the idea of buying a ticket for Bus Turistic is not at all bad for one day, because it will allow you to look out from the bus window also, located far from the city center, take a breeze along Avenida da Liberdade (Liberty Avenue), see the modern park area Nations. It’s simply not realistic to get around all this by public transport in one day along with a walk around the city center. A ticket for the Hop On Hop Off bus costs 20€. If you explore Lisbon only in the center, then you don’t need to use public transport at all.
Well, numerous museums of the capital of Portugal will also pass by those who have only one day to explore the city. In this article I will limit myself to describing the historical areas of Lisbon, those areas that deserve a walk.
Baixa District
I will start the description from the very center of the city - Commerce Square or Palace Square. The official name is still Palace Square, but this name was given to it relatively recently and therefore many people call it by its old name - Commerce Square. The area adjacent to the square is called Baixa, which literally means lowland. This area was completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1755 and the subsequent triple tsunami, so it is built up with relatively young houses, there is a clear grid of streets intersecting each other at right angles.
This is the most tourist area of the city, because along the pedestrian street Augusta, which connects Commerce Square with Rossio Square, there is simply an insane number of restaurants and shops in the city. If you stand facing the Arch of Augusta, then to the left will be the area of Chiado and Bairro Alto, A to the right is the Alfama district and St. George's Castle, it is clearly visible from the square.
You can climb to the upper platform of the arch for only 2.5 €, but it is not a fact that you will be able to take impressive shots of the Portuguese pavement - calzada; the entire street is most often lined with tables of street cafes and crazy crowds of tourists walk along it.
Calzada is a traditional paving of Portuguese streets and squares, most often the designs are two-color. Basalt is used as black stone, and sandstone as white stone. You can post a lot of drawings this way. Below you will see examples of calsada in the photographs.
Commerce Square, Augusta Arch
The center of the square is decorated with a monument to the Portuguese king, Jose I. As a statesman, he was an absolute nonentity; in fact, all power in the state belonged to the Marquis of Pombal. Jose I devoted himself to entertainment, and after the earthquake he completely left the capital and settled in a tent camp near the Ajuda Palace in Belem. But a sculpture of this inglorious man stands in the main square of the capital of Portugal.
Monument to Jose I The sculpture is very interesting, one elephant on a pedestal is worth it.
Elephant on a pedestal In general, the Plaza de Commerce in Lisbon is very reminiscent of the Square of the Unification of Italy in Trieste; on one side it faces the river, but the river is so wide that one would like to call it a sea.
On the very touristy Augusta street, you should pay attention to the Pastel de Bacalhau establishment, where you can try a traditional Portuguese dish - a bacalhao cutlet with a piece of cheese inside. This dish is prepared right in front of the respectable public; the interior of the establishment is also very interesting. Bacalao is salted cod, it is very popular and is sold in every supermarket in Lisbon. Before cooking, it is soaked to remove excess salt. It is suggested to wash down the cutlet with a glass of Madeira; this set costs 8€, which is certainly not cheap.
Interior of Pastel de Bacalhau Also on Augusta Street there are several pastry shops offering to taste traditional pastel de nata cakes, one cake costs 1.10 €, in my opinion it is available to everyone. Calle Agustà will take you to Rossio Square. It is decorated with two wonderful fountains and the National Theater of Queen Mary II. To the left of the theater building is the Rossio train station from which trains depart to Sintra, and to the right is the most famous Ginjinha of Lisbon.
Rossio Square Zhinja is a cherry liqueur. Traditionally, it is supposed to be drunk from chocolate glasses, and then a glass and a snack. A glass of ginji costs only 1€. There is a crowd in front of this establishment very often, many excursion groups are brought to this establishment in an organized manner, but so far this has not affected the cost of the product; in other places a chocolate glass with cherry liqueur costs the same. Some kind sellers give children a chocolate glass for free.
The most famous Ginjinha of Lisbon 
Rossio Square, view from the observation deck of the Santa Justa elevator Chiado and Bairro Alto area
There are two ways to get to the Bairro Alto area from Rossio Square: the first is romantic and not free - by taking the Santa Justa elevator. This is probably the most famous elevator in Lisbon, but not the only one. Lifts and elevators are part of the public transport system and you can pay for travel using a ping card. Sometimes the Santa Justa elevator is called Elevator do Carmo after its upper platform, located near Carmo Square.
The second way is to walk along Aurea Street, and then through the shopping center to the third floor by elevator, and you are in Chiado for free. Aurea Street has a gradual slope.
Elevator Santa Justa The cost of a single ride on the Santa Justa elevator is 5.15 €. All the historical ski lifts in Lisbon are not cheap, alas, but it is not at all necessary to ride them all; it is quite possible to limit yourself to one, or maximum two. There are also free elevators in some places in Lisbon, devoid of course of a historical and tourist touch, performing purely utilitarian functions - lifting a person from point A to point B.
Bridge from the elevator to the Chiado area Walking across the bridge you almost immediately find yourself in the Bairro Alto area to the façade of the church of the former Carmelite monastery do Carmo. They decided not to rebuild the church after the earthquake, and since then it has stood with a collapsed vault - a silent reminder of our insignificance before the rampant elements. From the side of the square you can go inside the church, but there is nothing there - it’s empty, like in the Belem Tower or the Jeronimos Monastery, so the pleasure is dubious and it’s not free.
Ruined Church of Carmo One of the most photographed buildings was an unknown house, clearly visible from the entrance to the church of do Carmo. He became famous primarily for the clarity of the reconstruction. In Russia, elevators were often added to the outside of ancient houses, and in Lisbon, external sewerage was installed, which is possible in a country that does not know frost.
External sewerage 
Plaza do Carmo The photo below perfectly describes the characteristic features of the old quarters of Lisbon - a house standing on a street with a significant slope, decorated with azulejo tiles, a narrow sidewalk laid with traditional sandstone and a modern door, all that is missing is someone's pants drying on a line, but you can Take my word for it, they hung on the floor above.
Just a typical view of Lisbon 
Trinidad Theater The main attractions of the Chiado district are two adjacent squares - Camões Square and Chiado Square. This is the most poetic corner of Lisbon. It is not surprising that monuments to poets were erected in Chiado, the most bohemian district of the capital of Portugal.
Camões Square (the poet lived 1524-1580) Both Luis Camões and Fernando Pessoa, despite the fact that they lived in different centuries, left this life unrecognized, poor and unknown, fame came to them after death. A very original monument to Fernando Pessoa was erected in Chiado Square - the poet seems to continue to sit in his favorite cafe. Nearby there is a real wooden chair for photography enthusiasts. It’s rare to take a moment and photograph a monument alone, but I managed to do it.
Monument to the poet F. Pessoa (life 1888-1935) Café A Brasileira (At the Brazilian Woman's) is considered one of the most famous establishments in Lisbon. It has been operating since 1905, the interior is made in the art nouveau style, it is always very lively inside, the prices in Brasileira are not happy, higher than in other less pretentious places, they say you need to order Brazilian coffee there. Table service will cost more than bar service.
Famous cafe A Brasileira From Chiado Square begins the very short and fashionable Garrett Street with many shops with beautiful mirrored windows and a couple of ancient churches. What surprised me most was the Armazéns do Chiado shopping center. From Garrett Street you enter directly onto the third floor of this mall, going down two floors below you can exit onto Aurea Street, these are the features of the local terrain. It was extremely unusual for our minds, raised on the plane of St. Petersburg, to navigate this shopping center; it was completely impossible to understand what floor we were on now.
Monument to the poet Antonio Ribeira, nicknamed Chiado In the Chiado area, it is worth walking to the Santa Catarina viewpoint (Miradouro de Santa Catarina). It offers an absolutely wonderful view of the 25 April Bridge, the statue of Christ on the opposite bank of the river and the roofs of Lisbon. There is a small cafe on the site. The sunset over the river from this point looks divine, as well as from Commerce Square.
Rooftops of Lisbon, view from the Santa Catarina observation deck And the site itself is decorated with a statue of the hero of one of Camões’ poems - Adamstor, an evil sea monster who prevents Vasco da Gama’s ships from plying the waters of the Indian Ocean.
Giant Adamastor at the Santa Catarina viewpoint Alfama District
To get from the Chiado area to Alfama, you can cross the already explored Baixa on foot or take the tram. We walked, it's not far. The church of Nossa Senhora da Conceiço itself is not yet in Alfama, but is on the way. I photographed its carved portico, made in the Manueline style. The church itself was destroyed by the earthquake of 1755, but the façade survived; the interior was subsequently restored in the Baroque style; only the entrance portal remained from the 16th century.
Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceiço The church of the especially revered Saint Anthony of Padua (life 1195-1231) stands on the site where the house of Anthony's parents used to be. Saint Anthony is a very revered saint in Lisbon; in his honor, a grandiose festival is held throughout Portugal on the night of June 12-13, surpassing in its scope even the celebration of the New Year. A church has stood on this site since the 14th century, but alas, it was destroyed by an earthquake. They say several ancient stones are preserved only in the crypt. Surprisingly, there was a short queue to get into the church; the Lisbon Cathedral is located nearby, admission is free and there is no queue.
Church of St. Anthony I can’t say that the cathedral impressed me. This is a rather gloomy building - Romanesque style, tiny windows, twilight inside and extreme asceticism of the interior. You can visit the cloister and a small treasury for a fee. The ticket price is 4€, but something tells me that the exhibition is very small, correct me if I’m wrong. It’s surprising that there was no queue at the cathedral; Saint Vincent, the cathedral is dedicated to him, obviously enjoys less respect in Lisbon.
Lisbon Cathedral Alfama is an area where finding a fado bar is not difficult. Usually the performances start at 19-00, admission to most establishments is free, you just need to make an order at the bar. However, I wrote a separate article. Don’t be lazy to read if you are going to have a fado evening, so that later you won’t be excruciatingly painful for spending a lot of money.
Just a sign in Alfama The entire Alfama can be seen from the Santa Luzia observation deck. The area itself is a rather chaotic, but at the same time exciting sight. There are no attractions in the conventional sense of the word, but Alfama with all its medieval courtyards, nooks and crannies, potted flowers, colorful doors, numerous staircases is absolutely charming. This is the only area of the city that has preserved medieval chaotic buildings.
I'll start from the Santa Luzia observation deck.
Viewpoint Santa Lucia, December, and flowers in Lisbon From the site you can clearly see the Church of St. Stephen (the one with the missing turret) and the dome of the national pantheon of Portugal. Both of these churches existed before the earthquake, but were damaged and significantly rebuilt subsequently.
Viewpoint Santa LuciaThe surroundings of the site are decorated with several huge Azulejo panels. For example, on the wall of the church next to the site, the Commerce Square is depicted as it was before the earthquake; another panel depicts a knightly battle with the Moors. On the opposite wall you can admire the view of Lisbon in the 19th century. Those. Santa Luzia is the most azulezha viewpoint in Lisbon.
Azulejo panel at the Santa Luzia viewpoint 
Just flowers and Alfama doors On the same day, we managed to walk around the Castle of St. George for two hours, go down to the embankment, admire the sunset against the backdrop of the 25 April Bridge, have dinner in a restaurant and crawl into an apartment located near Rossio Square to relax. The only transport we used was the Santa Justa elevator.
I’ll write it in the next article; there are already too many letters and photographs for one article. To be honest, I consider a visit to the castle not a mandatory part of a one-day tour of Lisbon. In fact, the castle is another observation deck that offers an absolutely wonderful view of the city, but visiting the castle is paid, so those who are saving money can skip it.
However, compared to the empty Jeronimos Monastery, St. George's Castle definitely wins, since a visit to the Jeronimos Monastery costs 10 € and will take you about 30 minutes at most, and you can walk around the castle for 2 or even 3 hours, paying 8.5 €. There is a camera obscura there, I have never seen such an attraction before, it was very interesting.
Want to travel to Lisbon on your own? Read in one short article. You will learn: about all types of transfer from the airport (cost), about the cost of tickets for public transport, get a plan for exploring the city for 6 days, find out which museums are worth visiting and which ones to skip.
TOP 20 places in Lisbon you need to see
Original, charming and making you fall in love at first sight - all this is about him, about Lisbon. Tourists from all over the world come here for an unforgettable holiday and vivid impressions. We will tell you about the most interesting places in Lisbon that you must see in order to be guaranteed to get this experience.
You simply cannot pass by this miracle on the Tagus River. The Belem Tower was erected in honor of Vasco da Gama's legendary expedition that opened the route to India, and today it is a favorite place for Lisboners and tourists and an excellent choice if you want to admire the river.
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Address: Santa Maria de Belem area, Cais da Princesa, 1400, Lisbon.
How to get there: by bus (No. 727, 729, 714, 28 and 751), by tram No. 15 or by metro (Belem station).
Opening hours: October-May - from 10:00 to 17:30, May-September - from 10:00 to 18:30. The tower is closed to the public on Mondays and 1 January, 1 May, 13 June, Easter Sunday and 25 December.
Entrance ticket price: - €6.
2. St. George's Castle
“The Cradle of the City,” as the locals affectionately call the ancient castle of St. George. According to historical data, a fortress existed on this site since the 5th century BC. A West Goth fortification, a royal palace, a prison and an arsenal - the history of the castle will not leave anyone indifferent.
Address: the castle is located on Rua de Santa Cruz do Castelo
How to get there: by metro to the nearest Rossio station, buses No. 12E and No. 734 to the stops Largo do Terreirinho, Sao Tome, Martim Moniz.
Schedule: The castle is open to tourists from 09:00 to 18:00 from November 1 to February 28 and from 09:00 to 21:00 from March 1 to October 31.
Ticket prices: €8.50, for students (under 25 years old), pensioners and people with disabilities - €5, family ticket (2 adults + 2 children under 18) - €20.
Do you want to see how the Portuguese monarchs and court nobility lived? Then go to the Queluz Palace, in the outskirts of Lisbon. Its interiors are literally filled with works of art - paintings, statues and more. And after you’ve seen enough of the luxurious apartments and halls, be sure to take a walk in the park located around the residence.
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How to get there: by train or bus. If you go first, you need to get off at Queluz, Belas or Monte Abraao stations and walk for about 15 minutes. If the second one is to get off at Queluz or Caminhos and also walk a little.
Ticket price: €9.50 (€8.50 - for pensioners, €7.50 - for children under 18 years old).
Working hours: from 09:00 to 19:00.
4. Museum of Ancient Art
You can learn about the history of Portugal in color by visiting the Museum of Ancient Art. In addition to the usual paintings (Bosch, Durer, Velazquez), there is a rich collection of gold and silver objects from both Portuguese and foreign masters, as well as many exhibits from India, China, Persia and Japan.
Address: The museum is located on Rua Janelas Verdes.
Schedule: Tuesday–Sunday - from 10:00 to 18:00.
Ticket prices: €6 (pensioners and students €3), for children under 12 years of age admission is free. Free entry to the museum - every first Sunday of the month.
5. Basilica da Estrela
“Basilica of the Star” (as its name is translated) is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful buildings in Lisbon. Built in the Baroque and Neo-Gothic style, this snow-white beauty amazes with its openwork, seemingly floating architecture, and from the terrace that encircles the central dome and bell towers, a magnificent view of the city opens.
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Address: The Basilica is located at Praca da Estrela, 1200-667
Working hours: Monday–Sunday from 07:30 to 20:00.
Free admission.
6. City Museum
If time does not allow you to get acquainted with at least the basic facts from the history of the Portuguese capital, but you really want to do this, then the Lisbon City Museum is your lifesaver! Its collection covers the time from the Paleolithic to the present day, and the exhibition is arranged in such a way that its different parts are dedicated to the most striking features of the region.
Address: The museum is located at Campo Grande, 245.
How to get there: The most convenient way is by metro (Campo Grande station, green and yellow lines).
Working hours: Tuesday–Sunday from 10:00 to 13:00 / from 14:00 to 18:00.
Ticket prices: €2.
7. Maritime Museum
Lisbon wouldn't be Lisbon if it weren't for the sea. It is the sea (or rather the ocean) that played a significant role in the history of the city, so it is worth taking time to visit the Lisbon Maritime Museum. It will be interesting for everyone! The museum's collection contains about 17 thousand exhibits: naval uniforms, maps, globes and, of course, ship models (some life-size).
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Address: The museum is located at Praca do Imperio, 1400-206
Working hours: every day from 10:00 to 18:00.
Ticket price: €5 (full) and €2.50 (child).
8. Calouste Gulbenkian Art Museum
That rare case when a private collection gives odds to the most “cool” state museums. Based on the collection of the richest oil tycoon, the museum is a real treasure trove. Canvases by world-famous masters (Rembrandt, Rubens, van Dyck, Gainsborough, Renoir, Monet), ancient artifacts from Egypt and Mesopotamia, ancient jewelry that is hundreds or even a thousand years old - here everyone will find something to look at for hours.
Address: The museum is located at Avenue de Berna, 45a. You can get here by metro (St. Sebastian/Spain Square station).
Working hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00 (second Monday of the month - closed).
Ticket price: €5.
9. Puppet Museum
Well, if you get tired of the abundance of artistic treasures, it’s worth visiting the Lisbon Puppet Museum - the only one in the country dedicated to puppets and puppet theater. This is where you can be transported back to your childhood! Here, under one roof, dolls from different countries and eras are collected: Vietnamese, Portuguese, Thailand, India and even Africa.
Some exhibits “entertained” the public back in the Middle Ages. And after viewing the collection, you can make your own doll in a circle that works for visitors, or learn how to manage ready-made ones.
Address: The museum is located at Rua Esperanca, 146.
Working hours: Tuesday–Saturday from 10:00 to 13:00/from 14:00 to 18:00. Closed days: Monday, January 1, May 1, December 25 and 31.
The ticket costs: €7.50, €5 (children, pensioners and students) and €13 (family, 2 adults + two children).
10. Museum of Costume and Fashion
To immerse yourself in the life of the Portuguese (and not only them) from different eras, it is worth going to the Museum of Costume and Fashion. What does life have to do with it, you ask? And despite the fact that it contains not only an impressive collection of clothing (men's, women's and children's), but also home textiles, household items, accessories and much more that made up the lives of people centuries ago.
Magnificent dresses of the 17th-18th centuries, embroidered with gold, dresses and suits of the 20th century, children's clothing and toys - you can wander endlessly in the halls of the museum! Well, you can finish the tour in the botanical park around the museum.
Museum address: Lisboa, Lumiar, Largo Julio de Castilho.
How to get there: by metro (Lumiar station, yellow line).
Working hours: the museum and park are open on Tuesday from 14:00 to 18:00, Wednesday–Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.
Ticket prices: €4 (museum) and €3 (park). General (park + museum) - €6.
First, it’s worth clarifying: azulejos are clay tiles, painted and covered with glaze (something like tiles). This is a traditional decorative material in Portugal and Spain, which came there from Arab countries. Today, for example, azulejos adorn the Palace of the President of Portugal and the exhibition hall of the Carriage Museum. Well, the museum is worth a visit, if only because it simply has no analogues - except for Portugal and Spain, azulejos are not produced anywhere else.
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Here you can wander endlessly, looking at the intricate paintings on tiles from different eras (the oldest are from the 15th century), and also learn how they are produced and painted.
Museum address: Rua da Madre de Deus, 4
How to get there: Art. metro Santa Apolonia or bus no. 718, 742 and 794.
Working hours: Tuesday–Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.
Ticket price: €5.
This temple attracts attention at first sight: a snow-white building in the Baroque style, topped with a dome, against the backdrop of terracotta roofs and the blue sky - the view is simply impressive! The church is famous for the fact that it took almost 300 years to build, and even with interruptions; the domes of the towers are not finished even today. And its main feature is the magnificent view from the observation deck of the dome.
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Address: Campo de Santa Clara, 1100-471
Ticket price: €3.
13. Mafra Palace
Another pearl of Lisbon is Mafra Palace. True, it is located in the suburbs, but it’s worth the time to travel. The palace is the largest in the country (no joke, its area is equal to the area of ten football fields!), but it is not only the size of the building that attracts tourists. The magnificent interiors of the former royal residence, the graceful appearance of the palace and, of course, the famous bell towers with a hundred bells.
Palace address: Mafra, Terreiro Dom Joao V
Working hours: from 09:00 to 18:00 (Tuesday - closed).
Ticket price: €6.
14. Palace and park complex Quinta da Regaleira
This estate with a quaint palace and park is also located in the vicinity of Lisbon. But it's worth the time to travel. This magical castle (there is no other way to say it!) was built according to the plans of its owner, millionaire Antonio Monteira in 1910. The building is made in the Gothic and Renaissance style, surrounded by a lush garden with intricate paths, and in its very center lies the mysterious Well of Dedication.
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Working hours: November–January - from 10:00 to 17:00, February, March, October - from 10:00 to 18:00, April–September - from 10:00 to 19:00.
Ticket price: €6 (adult), €3 (children 9-14 years old), €4 (students over 15 and pensioners). Children under 8 years old - free.
15. Lisbon Zoo
Whether you're traveling with kids or traveling alone, the City Zoo is a must-see in Lisbon. One of the oldest and largest zoos in Europe will delight you with the diversity of the animal world, and the recreation park will delight you with the pleasant coolness of its shady alleys.
Zoo address: Praca Marechal Humberto Delgado.
Working hours: from 10:00 to 20:00 (March 21–September 20) and from 10:00 to 18:00 (September 21–March 20).
The ticket costs:€19.50 (adult), €14 (children, 3-11 years), €15.50 (senior) and €17.50 (group). Children under 3 years old have free admission.
16. Carriage Museum
Do you want to visit the royal “car park” of the 17th-19th centuries? Then the Carriage Museum is exactly what you need. The museum exhibits a wide variety of carriages from Portugal, Spain, France and Italy. Ceremonial ones, covered with gilding and decorated with precious stones, and modest everyday ones, children's phaetons and pleasure carriages - you can look at this magnificence endlessly! A tour will help you learn more about this museum.
The following attractions and places of interest in Lisbon are often included in various ratings, both from large portals such as Tripadvisor, and in selections from various online portals about Lisbon in English and Portuguese. Some of the attractions are also included in the list of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.
Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon
This is the Lisbon attraction that needs to be mentioned first on this list. The Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon is the most visited attraction in Portugal. The number of visitors is steadily growing every year. In 2018, the Jeronimos Monastery was visited by 1,079,459 visitors and this was a record! The monastery is protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and is included in the list of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.
Belem Tower (Belen Tower)
The Belem Tower or, as it is often called in Russian translation, the Belem Tower is the most recognizable landmark of Lisbon, built during the time of the Great Geographical Discoveries. Also classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 1983 and also included in the list of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.
St. George's Castle
The Castle of St. George is located in the very center of Lisbon, on a high hill, and is visible from almost anywhere in the city. The castle operates as a museum and there is an entrance fee. From here you have a beautiful view of the center of Lisbon, the Tagus River and its southern bank. The first traces of human presence here date back to the 6th century. BC. and relate at least to the Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians. A must-see attraction in Lisbon.
The Lisbon Cathedral (Sé de Lisboa) is another impressive landmark in Lisbon. Located in the very center of the city, on a small hill next to the Alfama district. Thus, the towers of the cathedral are visible from many points in the city.
The next attraction is not a specific place, but an entire area of Lisbon with many interesting places. The medieval Baixa was completely destroyed by the catastrophic Lisbon earthquake of 1755, and then rebuilt under the leadership of the Marquis of Pombal (hence the full name “Baixa Pombalina”). In 2004, Baixa was included in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The area includes the following attractions: , .
Tram route 28 (28E, where E means elétrico - tram) is rightfully considered a tourist route and is described in every guidebook about Lisbon. This is a very fascinating attraction in Lisbon.
Pena National Palace
Pena National Palace, also sometimes called Pena Castle, is located in Sintra, about 30 km from Lisbon. This is the first palace built in Europe during the Romantic era. Pena Palace is a national monument of Portugal, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.
This is one of the most must-see places for tourists in Lisbon, along with itself and its other attractions.
Lisbon Oceanarium
The oceanarium in Lisbon is considered the best in Europe and one of the best in the world. Every year the aquarium in Lisbon is visited by approximately 1 million people. The total area of the premises is about 20,000 m², and the number of aquariums is more than 30, including one giant one with a capacity of 5 million liters of water, which can be viewed from different levels. In total, the aquarium contains more than 8,000 living organisms of more than 500 species.
National Carriage Museum
The Carriage Museum in Lisbon is the most visited in Portugal. This Lisbon attraction is recommended not only for museum lovers. We guarantee you will be impressed.
Elevator Santa Justa
Santa Justa Elevator (Elevador de Santa Justa) is an elevator in the center of Lisbon, connecting Rua do Ouro and Rua do Carmo streets with Largo do Carmo square. Built in the neo-Gothic style at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries by a Portuguese engineer of French origin, Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard. One of the most memorable attractions in Lisbon.