Destination
Type of Activity
Editors Pick
Read MoreBelem
Belem, located 5km west of Lisbon, is most famous for the Belem Tower and the Monument of Discoveries but is full of hidden gems. Don't miss Pasteis de Belem (Rua de Belem) for delicious, world-famous egg tarts–it’s a short walk...
Read MoreBelém Cultural Center
The massive Belem Cultural Center offers over a million square feet of space for a conference center, performing arts halls and exhibition galleries. The center often hosts performances with a range of artistries such as theater, dance, jazz and opera.
Read MoreBelem Tower
Considered to be one of the main works of the Portuguese late Gothic style, the imposing Belem Tower is a must-see while in Lisbon. Built from rare, local limestone, the tower was commissioned by King John II in the early...
Courtesy Jenna DuffyRead MoreCalouste Gulbenkian Museum
When Calouste Gulbenkian died in 1955, the Armenian-born business tycoon was the richest man in the world, thanks to the agreements he made advising oil-rich countries around the world. He fled to Lisbon during World War II and launched his...
Courtesy Bert K photographyRead MoreCarmo Convent
Located in the center of the city in Chiado, the ruins of the Carmo convent offer a striking legacy of the massive earthquake that nearly wiped Lisbon off the map in 1755. Originally built in 1389, the Convent of Our...
Read MoreCastelo de Sao Jorge
Overlooking the city of Lisbon, this Moorish castle dates back to the 10th century. As legend has it, the Portuguese were only able to reclaim the castle during the Crusades when a young knight noticed one of the castle doors...
Évora, PortugalRead MoreDay Trip: Évora
Known as Portugal’s “Museum City,” Évora is an hour-and-a-half drive from Lisbon but feels like stepping back in time. The UNESCO World Heritage Site was once the Portuguese royal capital, and it is considered the best example of a city...
Read MoreElevador de Santa Justa
Lisbon, with its hilly terrain and steep streets, has always presented accessibility problems. In 1874, civil engineer Roberto Armentio presented a revolutionary idea: build a lift connecting the lower streets of the Baixa with the higher Carmo Square. His concept...
Read MoreFRESS Museum of Decorative Arts
If you would like to explore historic interiors, furniture and objects, as well as catch a glimpse of how the aristocrats lived at the height of Portugal’s power, the Museum of Decorative Arts, which is located in the 17th-century Azurara...
Read MoreIgreja de São Roque
One of the first Jesuit churches in the world, the Igreja de Sao Roque is worth a visit. Decorated with ornate tiles from Seville’s Triana district, the church houses eight chapels, each more gorgeous than the next.
Igreja Sao Domingos, photo by Abby Sandman, courtesy IndagareRead MoreIgreja São Domingos (Church of Saint Domingo)
Though seemingly plain from the outside, this national monument is breathtaking on the inside. Dedicated in 1241, Igreja São Domingos has seen nearly eight centuries of Portuguese history—the good and the tragic. It has hosted royal weddings, suffered considerable damage...
Photo by Abby Sandman, courtesy IndagareRead MoreJerónimos Monastery
This former monastery in Belem has some of the most beautiful Late Gothic architecture in Lisbon. While entry to the church itself is free, it is worth purchasing a ticket to the two-story cloister where the decorative flourishes on corridor...
Read MoreLX Factory
A former mid-19th-century complex of factories and manufacturing outlets, LX Factory is today a reinvented compound consisting of restaurants, cafés, shops and markets. With buildings adorned with fascinating graffiti, locals and tourists mingling, excellent shopping and delicious bites, this is...
Read MoreMAAT
Lisbon's Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology is housed in a unique building and has interesting, family-friendly exhibits. This striking modern building on the Tagus River has been compared to the Guggenheim in New York for its curvilinear design. You...
Read MoreMonument of Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos)
Located on the edge of the historical Belem neighborhood facing the ocean, the Monument of Discoveries is a modern testament to Portugal’s exploratory past. Constructed from cement, rose-hued stone and local limestone, the sculptural structure is accessible to visitors and...
Read MoreMuseu Nacional do Azulejo
The tiles that adorn facades throughout Portugal are a national symbol and source of great beauty. This museum honors the tiles, which some claim were brought over by the Moors, but in any case have been a national icon since...
Read MoreMuseum of Coaches
Located in the trendy Belem neighborhood, this museum hosts one of the finest collections of historical carriages in the world. Housed in the old Horse Arena of the Belem Palace, the museum was created in 1905 by Queen Amelia. Highlights...
Read MoreOceanário de Lisbo
Children will be delighted by Lisbon’s aquarium, set right on the water, which hosts four different marine environments (North Atlantic coast, Antarctica, Pacific forests and tropical coral reefs). Between these four habitats, sea creatures like penguins, sea otters, sharks, tropical...
Courtesy Jenna DuffyRead MorePalácio dos Marqueses da Fronteira
This extraordinary palace sits on the outskirts of Lisbon and has some of the country’s most beautiful tiles and gardens. Built as a hunting lodge for Joao de Mascarenhas in 1640, the Fronteira Palace became the family’s main residence after...
Read MorePovo (Fado bar)
Visit this intimate tavern to listen to Fado (the soulful guitar street music indigenous to Portugal) while savoring traditional Portuguese cuisine.
Read MorePraça do Comércio
Praca do Comercio is integral to the Portuguese history (the country's last monarch Carlos I was assassinated here in 1908). Today, the square is one of Europe's largest and most beautiful, with gorgeous 18th-century arcades, lemon-yellow facades and stunningly preserved...
Rossio Square, photo by Abby Sandman, courtesy IndagareRead MoreRossio Square
Also known as Praça Dom Pedro IV, Rossio has been a main square in Lisbon since the Middle Ages. Surrounded by quaint cafes, it is one of the city’s buzziest plazas, with two baroque fountains marking either side and cobblestones...
Courtesy Paul ArpsRead MoreSé de Lisboa (Lisbon Cathedral)
The oldest church in the city, the Roman-Catholic Lisbon cathedral is an amalgam of many architectural styles. Impacted by multiple earthquakes, Sé de Lisbon has been rebuilt throughout the centuries and different parts of the grand cathedral reflect elements of...
