10 Attractions You Must See in Lisbon

10 Attractions You Must See in Lisbon

Lisbon is an amazing city in Portugal, perfect for wandering, strolling and exploring! The capital city of Portugal is filled with beautiful architecture, historical sites and of course plenty of great photo-ops!

I love spending time in this city, and I’m sure you will too! Keep reading for the 10 attractions you must see in Lisbon.

1. Praça do Comércio

Praça do Comércio, Lisbon by Vitor Oliveira – Flickr

The square Praça do Comércio is one of the most famous squares in Lisbon. It’s located on the banks of the Tagus river, and is in the downtown area of the city called Baixa Pombalina.

Some locals refer to the square as Terreiro do Paço (Palace Yard in English), because it used to be the location of the Royal Ribeira Palace before it was destroyed in the famous 1755 earthquake that wrecked most of Lisbon!

When the town was rebuilt after the quake, the square was renamed the Praça do Comércio, which means Commerce Square in English. The name was fitting, as the square was slated to be an important part of the new Lisbon economy.

In the center, you’ll find a statue of the late King José I on horseback. The surrounding buildings are designed to look symmetrical, which is really pleasing to the eye, and makes for some beautiful photos!

Address: Praça do Comércio, 1100-148 Lisboa, Portugal

2. The Lisbon Cathedral

The Lisbon Cathedral by Alonso Javier Torres – Flickr

In the 12th century, after Lisbon had been conquered by the Moors, construction of the Lisbon Cathedral began. The cathedral is the oldest in Lisbon, and the architecture is really beautiful.

Construction of the church may have began in the 12th century, but was constantly being added to as the years went on. For this reason, there are a lot of different architectural styles to be found, including Gothic and Baroque.

Unfortunately the earthquake of 1755 destroyed some sections of the Lisbon Cathedral as well. But, in the early 20th century, renovations on the church began, and the results are really impressive! The cathedral was even named a National Monument in 1910.

Address: Largo da Sé, 1100-585 Lisboa, Portugal

3. National Pantheon

The National Pantheon in Lisbon by VanGore – WikiCommons

It seems like almost every major city in Europe has a Pantheon: Rome, Paris…and Lisbon! The National Pantheon overlooks the Tagus river, and is a classified as a nation monument.

The Pantheon it is located on the old site of the Santa Engrácia church, which was built in the late 17th century! Portuguese architect João Antunes is responsible for the design of the church, as he was the royal architect at the time. He is also considered to be one of the most important architects of the Baroque period in Portugal!

After Antunes died, the royal family lost interest in completing the church. Construction wasn’t picked back up again until the 20th century, but the structure was named the National Pantheon in 1916. The church has actually never served as a place of worship!

Some of Portugal’s greatest are buried in the Pantheon, such as Almeida Garrett and Amália Rodrigues.

Address: Campo de Santa Clara, 1100-471 Lisboa, Portugal

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10am-5pm. 

4. Monastery of São Vicente de Fora

The Monastery of São Vicente de Fora in Lisbon by Deensel – WikiCommons

Not too far from the Pantheon you’ll find the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora, one of Portugal’s most important monasteries! Construction on the structure began in 1147, and wasn’t completed until1629.

The monastery is dedicated to Saint Vincent of Saragossa, who is the patron saint of Lisbon. The building itself is enormous, taking up a huge portion of the area! The outside is fairly plain, with a white façade and a red roof, and on the inside you’ll find a spectacular Baroque style altar. Inside the cloisters that form a square on the interior of the monastery, there are beautiful tiles that depict La Fontaine’s fables!

In 1834, the monastery was turned into a palace for the archbishops in Lisbon. Then, When King Ferdinand II came into power, he changed the old dining hall into a small pantheon for the kings of the House of Braganza!

Address: Largo de São Vicente, 1170 Lisboa, Portugal

5. Torre de Belém

Torre de Belém in Lisbon – WikiCommons

The Torre de Belém is an iconic monument in Lisbon, and if I were forced to choose one landmark to see, I’d choose this one!

The tower was built in 1515 in order to keep watch over boats that were coming and going out of the Lisbon Harbor. It boasts several different architectural styles, ranging from Moorish to Gothic to Romanesque.

Inside, there is a chapel, the governor’s room, the king’s room and even a terrace on the top of the tower. Get ready to enjoy an amazing view of the Tagus river, and don’t forget your camera!

Address: Av. Brasília, 1400-038 Lisboa, Portugal

6. Feira da Ladra 

Stand at Feira da Ladra in Lisbon by Marco Verch – Flickr

The Feira da Ladra in Lisbon is about to become the flea market of your dreams! The market is huge, so get your haggling pants on and get ready to strike up a deal with one of the vendors.

The market has actually been around since the 12th century, filled with merchants, traders and other vendors. Today, you’ll find all sorts of goods ranging from antiques to clothing. Get to the market early to beat the crowds, and to scope out the best finds!

A word to the wise: Feira da Ladra translates into English as the Thieves Market. While it may not be as dangerous as back in the 12th century, be sure to keep a close eye on your personal belongings, like in any market!

Address: Campo de Santa Clara, 1100-472 Lisboa, Portugal

Opening hours: Tuesdays & Saturdays 9am-6pm.

7. Alfama

Alfama in Lisbon by Rudy and Peter Skitterians – Pixabay

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Alfama is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Lisbon, and it’s also one of the only sections of the city that survived the major earthquake in 1755. It is filled with winding cobblestone streets, narrow alleyways, and remember the Lisbon Cathedral? It’s located in this area of the capital! You’ll also find the Saint George’s Castle…but more on that later.

If you know anything about Portuguese music, you’ve definitely heard of Fado. It’s a traditional type of Portuguese music, and Lisbon was a really important place for its development. So, why am I telling you all of this?! Because the Fado Museum is located in Alfama!

Don’t miss the old trams that will take you through the neighborhood…which brings me to my next attraction that you must see in Lisbon!

The Fado Museum address: Largo do Chafariz de Dentro 1, 1100-139 Lisboa, Portugal

8. Tram 28

Tram 28 in Lisbon by Christine Zenino – WikiCommons

This attraction is really unique and special. I’ve already mentioned that there are trams that travel through the ancient Alfama district, but the Tram 28 should be the one you try out first!

The tram creeps its way up the old cobblestoned streets and passes by some of the most important sites in Lisbon. The route begins in the city center. Don’t get discouraged if the tram is too crowded to hop on, another one will show up every few minutes!

You will definitely feel the Moorish influence once on the Tram 28, as you go deeper into the heart of the city. The narrow alleyways haven’t changed much since they were built so many decades before.

Sit back, relax and let the Tram 28 take you on a tour!

Address: Tv. Oliveira à Estrela 19, 1200-613 Lisboa, Portugal

9. Saint George’s Castle

Saint George’s Castle, or Castelo de São Jorge in Portuguese,  stands on the highest point of Lisbon, in the Alfama neighborhood. From there, you can see the Tangus river and the rest of the city!

The castle was first built over 2,000 years ago by the Romans in order to defend the city from possible enemies. From the 12th century onward, the castle was taken over by various knights, crusaders and kings. Famed explorer Vasco da Game was welcomed to the castle by King Manuel I after he voyaged to India for the first time.

Saint George’s Castle may be one of the most visited attractions in Lisbon, so try to get their early to avoid waiting in a long line to enter!

Address: R. de Santa Cruz do Castelo, 1100-129 Lisboa, Portugal

Opening hours: Open every day 9am-6pm.

10. Bairro Alto

Bairro Alto in Lisbon by Aapo Haapanen – Flickr

If you’ve had enough of the historical stuff, head to the neighborhood of Bairro Alto for a great nightlife scene! Don’t show up too early, as things don’t really open up in the area until early evening. But once they do, get ready for some great restaurant, bakery and bar options.

My advice? Go out on Thursdays, not Fridays, to meet locals! And don’t forget to try a drink called Morangoska, which is vodka mixed with strawberries. And, of course, a Caipirinha! Lucky for you, Lisbon isn’t really an expensive city to go out in, with shots ranging from 3-4 euros.

If you are interested in learning even more about Fado music, you’ll also find a ton of bars and venues to listen to it in Bairro Alto!

Conclusion

There you have it, my favorite 10 attractions you must see in Lisbon! You’ll have plenty to do if you head to the Portuguese capital for a weekend, or better yet, a week!

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