Lisbon is the original city of Portugal, living in its own rhythm and according to its own laws. This is a real tangle of contradictions, where modernity and history, fashionable institutions and cultural heritage are interwoven. Lisbon, the sights of which perfectly reflect the spirit of the capital, is capable of falling in love with yourself at first sight and immersing you in the unique atmosphere of Portuguese life. If you want to visit all the iconic places of the capital, you need to allocate at least 2-3 days to the city overview. And in order to facilitate your task, we decided to compile for you a selection of the best sights of Lisbon that are definitely worth visiting during your trip.
To make it easier for you to navigate in the objects we are describing, we suggest taking a look at the map of Lisbon with attractions in Russian, which we placed at the bottom of the page.
Lisbon Aquarium
Among the attractions of Lisbon in Portugal, the Lisbon Aquarium, which in 2017 was recognized as the best aquarium in the world, is very popular. Here you will find spacious halls with multi-tiered aquariums where you can admire sharks, rays, moon fish, jellyfish, frogs and other underwater inhabitants. The oceanarium building has a well-thought-out design of ceilings and walkways for guests. Aquariums are well illuminated, everywhere there are plates with the names of marine inhabitants and convenient signs.
On the ground floor there is a large cafe, as well as a gift shop. Visiting the Lisbon Oceanarium will be interesting for both adults and children. In order to see all the expositions presented, it will take at least 2-3 hours.
- The oceanarium is open daily from 10:00 to 19:00.
- Entrance fee for adults is 16.20 €, for children from 4 to 12 years old – 10.80 €.
- Address: Esplanada D. Carlos I | Doca dos Olivais, Lisbon 1990-005, Portugal. The most convenient way to get to the oceanarium is by metro. How to use the subway of the city read here .
Lisbon Zoo
If you cannot decide what to see in Lisbon, then feel free to go to the capital’s zoo. A distinctive feature of this place is the presence of a funicular where you can ride while watching wild animals from above. White tigers, lions, bears, rhinos, various species of monkeys, as well as peacocks, flamingos and penguins live here. All animals live in spacious enclosures, look well-groomed and behave quite actively. The zoo has the opportunity to attend a dolphin show.
In general, the territory of this attraction is small, but ennobled, surrounded by greenery. At the entrance to the Lisbon Zoo there are many cafes. It takes about 3 hours to see all the animals.
- The facility is open daily from 9:00 to 18:00.
- Admission price for adults is 21.50 €, for children from 3 to 12 years old – 14.50 €. The price includes a cable car ride and dolphin show. When buying tickets online, a 5% discount is provided.
- Address: Estrada de Benfica 158-160, Lisbon 1549-004, Portugal.
Alfama District
Among the attractions of Lisbon, you should visit the historic quarter of Alfama, which is the oldest district of the Portuguese capital. Wandering through the labyrinth of narrow shady streets, either going up or down, the traveler is imbued with the authentic atmosphere of old Portugal. Unusual shops and cafes huddle here, and breathtaking views of the city open from the Santa Lucia observation deck. A lot of ancient houses have survived in the area, the decoration of which is clothes that dry on ropes.
Alfama has several attractions: we recommend everyone to see the National Pantheon, as well as visit the Church of St. Anthony and the Cathedral of Se. In the area, tourists have a great opportunity to ride on the old tram, visit the flea market, and in the evening go to the restaurant and listen to the fado – a national romance. Travelers who are here are advised to go to Alfama in comfortable shoes and spend at least 2 hours on visiting this place.
You will be interested: Where to stay in Lisbon – an overview of the city’s districts .
Jeronimos Monastery
If you look at the photos and descriptions of the sights of Lisbon, then a magnificent white building with an original lace carving will surely attract attention. This is the Jeronimos Monastery, built in 1450 by the monarch Heinrich the Navigator in honor of Vasco da Gama, who made his famous trip to India. The pride of the religious complex was the Church of St. Virgin Mary, whose decoration is an incredible combination of Gothic, Baroque and Classicism. Here you can see the statues of saints, appreciate the elaborate stained-glass windows and bas-reliefs, as well as honor the memory of Vasco da Gama, whose remains lie in the walls of the church.
In the Jeronimos Monastery, there is an archaeological museum, as well as choral concerts.
- You can visit this attraction daily from 10:00 to 18:00, in winter the cathedral closes an hour earlier.
- Admission to the monastery for adults costs 10 €, for children – 5 €.
- Many tourists claim that the monastery itself is not of particular interest: the Church of St. Virgin Mary, which is absolutely free of charge, is much more curious.
- Address: Praca do Imperio | Lisbon 1400-206, Portugal.
Area of Commerce (Praça do Comércio)
All guests of the capital of Portugal have an excellent opportunity to visit one of the largest squares in Europe – Commerce Square, whose territory covers 36 thousand square meters. meters. Previously, the royal palace towered in this area, but the earthquake of 1755 destroyed it to the ground. The attraction is located on the banks of the picturesque Tagus River, in its center is an equestrian monument to King Jose I, and the Arc de Triomphe leading to Rossio Square is nearby.
In the water a few meters from the promenade, you can see two ancient columns, which are sometimes called the gates to Portugal. Around the square are numerous cafes and restaurants of Lisbon , the oldest of which is more than 236 years old! A variety of events are held in the evenings, including impromptu concerts and light shows. This attraction is interesting to visit, so if you don’t know where to go in Lisbon, head to Commerce Square.
Address: Avenida Infante Dom Henrique, Lisbon 1100-053, Portugal.
Bairo Altu District
The Bayru Altu quarter in Lisbon is a haven of bohemia, the epicenter of nightlife, glamor and fun, where young people flock after sunset. Life is especially boiling here on the evening of Friday and Saturday, when the trendy clubs and luxurious restaurants of the area are filled with tourists and locals. But in the daytime, Bairo Altu is of considerable interest to the tourist: after all, several observation platforms rise from where you can admire city landscapes running down.
The area is on a high hill, and only a desperate tourist will decide to get there on foot. In order to make life easier for visitors to Bairo Altu, a special elevator Elevator do Carmo was installed here, connecting the quarter with the Baixa district. Although this part of Lisbon is not one of the oldest, here you can find interesting architectural solutions in the form of antique houses. And all theater lovers should look into the National Theater of San Carlos.
Castle of St. George
If you look at the sights of Lisbon on the map, you can notice for yourself such a must-see place as the Castle of St. George. The oldest building, built in the 6th century, spreads over an area of more than 6 thousand square meters. meters. The castle, located on the top of the capital, has become one of the most exciting city observation platforms from where you can see the whole of Lisbon at a glance. This monument of ancient architecture is worth visiting for the sake of its dungeons and towers, its flowering park and peacocks walking on it.
In order to slowly explore all the hidden corners of the sights, it will take at least 2-3 hours, and then you can relax in a shady park, enjoying views of the bay. On the territory of the castle there is a cafe where tourists while away time with a cup of coffee.
- The facility is open daily from 9:00 to 18:00.
- Entrance fee is 8.5 €, children under 10 years old get free admission.
- Address: Rua de Santa Cruz do Castelo, Lisbon 1100-129, Portugal.
Tram number 28
In appearance, an ordinary old tram with yellow cabs has long been a real attraction for travelers. Its route passes through the famous sights of Lisbon, so tourists use it for panoramic acquaintance with the city. The path that tram number 28 follows has been around for over 50 years. To look at the whole of Lisbon from the window of a yellow car, it is better to start your trip in the early morning from the final stop.
The tram fare is € 2.8. Read more about tram number 28 and its route .
Observation deck Miradouro da Senhora do Monte
Lisbon is a city on seven hills, so there are a lot of viewing platforms here. One of the highest and most picturesque platforms was Miradouro da Senhora do Monte. And if you have not decided what is worth visiting among the sights of Lisbon, then do not hesitate to include this panoramic terrace in your list. A beautiful view of the capital, the river, the castle and the bridge opens from the platform, from here there is also the opportunity to observe the takeoff and landing of aircraft.
On the territory of the platform there is a cozy cafe, a miniature church and benches in the shade of cypresses and olive trees, where street musicians often delight the traveler with their singing.
- The observation deck Miradouro da Senhora do Monte is open around the clock, admission is free .
- You can get here by tram number 28.
- Address: Rua Senhora do Monte 50, Lisbon 1170-361, Portugal.
Observation deck Miradouro da Graça
If you decide to see Lisbon in 3 days, but doubt what to include in your excursion list, we advise you to pay attention to the observation deck Miradouro da Graça. This panoramic terrace differs from others in a cozy atmosphere where time flies by. Settled under the crowns of trees, you can contemplate a beautiful panorama of the city and the Tagus River. On the observation deck, it is worth visiting the church of Grasse, which was founded in the 13th century and for a long time served as a monastery for the Augustinian Order.
Miradouro da Graça pleases the traveler not only with its enchanting views, but also in a cozy square, as well as a cafe where you can enjoy juicy Lisbon with a glass of wine or a cup of coffee. Often, street musicians perform in the shade of pines, which makes it possible to more imbue the unique Portuguese flavor. The observation deck Miradouro da Graça is especially beautiful at sunset, when here you can see how the day smoothly gives way to the evening.
- The attraction is accessible for visiting round the clock, admission is free .
- Address: Largo da Graca | São Vicente, Lisbon 1170-165, Portugal.
Santa Maria de Belen
When planning a trip to Portugal, you probably looked at a lot of photos of Lisbon’s sights with a description of the area and drew attention to the medieval tower on the banks of the Tagus River. This is the famous place in the capital called Santa Maria de Belen, which has long been the hallmark of the city. Over the long years of its existence, the structure managed to serve as a defensive point, and a prison, and customs, and a telegraph, but today it acts as a museum. And at the highest point of the tower is a panoramic terrace, from where visitors can see the picturesque panorama of the river, the bridge on April 25 and the statue of Jesus Christ.
Many tourists do not recommend visiting this place on weekends, when crowds of people gather at the tower and, in order to get inside, you have to wait in line for 1.5-2 hours.
- From October to May, the attraction operates daily except Mondays from 10:00 to 17:30, and from May to September – from 10:00 to 18:30.
- The cost of admission to the museum is 6 €.
- Address: Avenida Brasília – Belém, Lisbon 1400-038, Portugal.
Prices on the page are for March 2018.
Museums
Lisbon preserves the unique cultural and historical heritage of Portugal, which is reflected in numerous metropolitan museums. Among them, the following deserve special attention.
Built by entrepreneur and philanthropist Galust Gyulbenkyan, the museum is an art gallery that displays the works of European painters, as well as monuments of oriental and ancient art. Among the paintings you will find paintings by famous artists such as Renoir, Manet, Rembrandt, Rubens, etc. In addition to painting, you can admire the ancient Persian rugs, original jewelry, antiques, antique furniture and ancient books in Arabic.
This is the kingdom of Azulejo – Portuguese ceramic tiles in blue and white, which in Portugal are lined with facades of many buildings. Here you can familiarize yourself with its history, learn about the intricacies of its production and, of course, look at the numerous samples of different eras. To visit this attraction will be interesting even to those who have never been interested in ceramics.
This is a large museum of modern art, where works of the 20-21 centuries are presented. The gallery is divided into several sections, each of which exhibits its own direction in painting. Here you can get acquainted with the works of Warhol, Picasso, Pollock and other prominent artists.
See also: 10 of the most interesting museums in Lisbon .
What to see in the surroundings and where to swim
Of course, the capital of Portugal is rich in attractions, but in the vicinity of Lisbon there is something to see. A vivid confirmation of this is the ancient city of Sintra , which has more than 11 centuries. This is a real treasury of the oldest structures in the form of a castle of the Moors , monasteries, the famous Pena Palace and the residence of the Portuguese monarchs in Sintra . These sights are located on the background of landscapes buried in flowers and greenery.
Cape of Roca , located 40 km from Lisbon, is also worth a visit . Breathtaking cliffs, beautiful views of the ocean, the pristine beauty of nature – all this awaits the traveler who visited the cape, which is often called the end of the world.
Now you know exactly what to see in Lisbon, and it remains only to find out where you can swim. In the Portuguese capital itself, public beaches are not provided, so for a beach holiday you need to go to small settlements, which are located 15-25 km from the city. Detailed information about the beaches of Lisbon, we have issued in a separate article, which can be read here .
Output
Lisbon, the sights of which will not leave anyone indifferent, will give you an avalanche of new impressions and emotions. And so that your trip to Portugal is a success, make a list of iconic places that meet your interests in advance. We hope that the information in our article will help you in this exciting undertaking.
Museums, beaches and all the attractions of Lisbon mentioned in the article are marked on the map in Russian.
Video: what to see in Lisbon in 3 days. There is something to take note of.
