By air
Humberto Delgado, Lisbon (LIS), ~7 km
Europe · Portugal
Lisbon, Portugal
Trams, tiles and a river at sunset
Getting there
Best time to visit
March to June and September to October — warm, not scorching
Don't miss
The Belém Tower
The Jerónimos Monastery
São Jorge Castle
The Alfama
Things to do
Tram 28
The Alfama's lanes
Fado at night
Pastéis in Belém
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL · CC BY-SA 2.0
What to pack
Comfortable shoes (it is all hills)
A quieter corner
The Miradouro da Senhora do Monte at sunset
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Lisbon?
March to June and September to October, when it is warm but not scorching.
What should I not miss in Lisbon?
The Belém Tower, the Jerónimos Monastery, São Jorge Castle and the Alfama's lanes. Ride Tram 28, and catch some fado at night.
What should I eat in Lisbon?
Pastéis de nata (have them in Belém) and grilled sardines, with a wander through the Mercado da Ribeira.
Where can I watch the sunset in Lisbon?
From the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, a quieter viewpoint. Wear comfortable shoes for the walk up — Lisbon is all hills.
About Lisbon
- Riverside
- Hills
Where it is
Lisbon, the capital of Portugal and the westernmost capital of mainland Europe, rises over seven hills on the north bank of the wide Tagus estuary, close to where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean.
History
Phoenicians may have traded here from about 1000 BC, and the Romans and then the Moors ruled the city before Afonso I of Portugal took it with the help of crusaders in 1147; it became the capital in 1255. Vasco da Gama sailed for India from Belém in 1497, and after the earthquake, tsunami and fires of 1755 the Marquis of Pombal rebuilt the Baixa district on a grid.
People
Lisboetas speak Portuguese. Fado, a song of longing, is sung in the taverns of the Alfama and Mouraria, azulejo tiles cover churches and houses, and in June the Festas de Santo António fill the old quarters with street parties, parades and grilled sardines.
Known for
- The Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery
- The Alfama and São Jorge Castle
- Tram 28 through the old quarters
- Fado music
- Pastéis de nata custard tarts
Did you know?
After the 1755 earthquake, the rebuilt Baixa used the Pombaline cage, a wooden lattice frame inside the walls designed to help buildings withstand future earthquakes.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.