Attractions
Perched on the coast of Portugal and steeped in a rich and
diverse marine history, it's no wonder that many of Lisbon's
attractions are of the aquatic variety. Visitors will have a grand
time exploring the many sights this exciting city has to offer.
Visit the Lisbon Oceanarium, which is marketed as the second best
aquarium in the world and boasting a 1.3-million gallon (5-million
litre) and a wonderful array of marine life, or for a slightly more
historical look at the sea, the Maritime Museum is one of Europe's
best and a must for history buffs.
Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Tower of Belem, stroll
through the streets of the charming Alfama, Lisbon's old qaurter,
visit the Castelo de Sao Jorge and take a stroll through the
Jeronimos Monastery, a World Heritage Site and the resting place of
Vasco de Gama.
Visitors wanting to see the sights in Lisbon should look into
purchasing a Lisboa Card, which grants the bearer free admission or
50% on admission fees to most attractions as well as free access to
public transport. The card costs €15, is valid for 24 hours
and is available from tourist offices throughout the city.
Castelo de Sao Jorge
The walls of Saint George's Castle, sitting atop a hill guarding
the Tagus, date from the Moorish occupation in the 10th century,
but the site has been a fortress for centuries, possibly from 500
AD. The castle is regarded as the cradle of...
see full detailsAlfama
The oldest part of Lisbon, the Alfama quarter sprawls down the
hillside from below the Castelo de Sao Jorge, retaining much of the
traditional colour and atmosphere from the days when it was the
ancient seat of the Saracens. Along the narrow cobblestone
alleyways...
see full detailsSé de Lisboa
Although this cathedral in Largo da Se in the Alfama district is
not outwardly appealing, it was the first church in Lisbon, built
on the site of a Saracen mosque after the city was captured
by the Crusaders in the 12th century. Inside, this...
see full detailsCalouste Gulbenkian Museum
Gulbenkian was an Armenian oil magnate who died in 1955 having
put together one of the world's finest private art collections. The
collection is now housed in a modern centre where the Calouste
Gulbenkian Foundation sponsors a host of cultural and performing
arts projects,...
see full detailsBairro Alto
The Bairro Alto district (literally the Upper City) is, like the
Alfama, an historic enclave dating from 1513, which is reached in a
novel way via the Santa Justa Elevator (a structure reminiscent of
the Eiffel tower in Paris) from the lower city....
see full detailsMonument to the Discoveries
One of the most famous sights in Lisbon is the imposing
Padrão dos Descobrimentos, situated on the riverbank in the
Avenida de Brasilia in the district of Belem and designed to
commemorate the Portuguese Age of Discovery. Belem, where the Tagus
meets the sea,...
see full detailsTower of Belem
The famous Tower of Belem is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and
is one of Lisbon's most photographed landmarks because of the
decoration on its exterior. The outer walls are adorned with a
stone-carved rope and beautiful openwork balconies, along with
Moorish watchtowers and...
see full detailsFatima
In 1917 the Virgin Mary allegedly appeared above an oak tree and
spoke to three peasant children in the valley of Cova da Iria, 88
miles (142km) north of Lisbon. The children claimed to have seen
the apparition on five different occasions, and...
see full detailsSetúbal
A popular touring destination 25 miles (40km) south of Lisbon is
Setúbal, one of Portugal's oldest cities, renowned for
producing the most delicious muscadel wine in the world. The city
is also the centre of Portugal's sardine industry and has been a
fish-salting centre...
see full detailsCristo Rei
Like the iconic Christ the Redeemer in Rio, the Cristo Rei
spreads his massive arms as if to embrace all of Lisbon. Situated
on the bank of the Tejo River opposite the city, the statue is over
328 feet (100m) tall, and provides...
see full detailsFado Bars
As wonderful as Lisbon's historical area of Alfama is by day,
its culture can be even better experienced at night, in one of the
legendary Fado Bars of the area. Fado (meaning 'fate' or 'destiny')
is a traditional genre of music dating back...
see full detailsJeronimos Monastery
One of Portugal's most iconic tourist sights, the Jeronimos
Monastery is an absolute must-see attraction for visitors to
Lisbon. A stellar example of Manueline (or Portuguese late-Gothic)
architecture, the Jeronimos Monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage
Site, earning its place in the registry on...
see full details
