Lisbon doesn't have Rome's density of monuments, but it has an extraordinary variety of places: medieval districts, Enlightenment squares, Manueline monuments of the great Discoveries, world-class museums, modern districts and dozens of viewpoints over the river. Here are the twenty sights not to miss, grouped by area. It is part of the Lisbon guide.
Alfama, the castle and the east
- Alfama: the oldest district, a maze of lanes, stairways and squares that survived the 1755 earthquake.
- São Jorge Castle: the Moorish walls atop the hill, with the widest view of the city.
- Sé de Lisboa: the 12th-century Romanesque cathedral, with its cloister and excavations.
- Santa Luzia and Portas do Sol viewpoints: over Alfama's rooftops and the Tagus.
- São Vicente de Fora Monastery and National Pantheon: the azulejo-lined cloister and the white dome.
- National Azulejo Museum: in the Madre de Deus convent, with the great tiled panorama of pre-earthquake Lisbon.
Baixa, Chiado and Bairro Alto
- Praça do Comércio: the vast riverside square with the Rua Augusta arch.
- Rossio and Praça da Figueira: the central squares, with the neo-Manueline Rossio station.
- Santa Justa Lift: the neo-Gothic iron lift of 1902 between the Baixa and Chiado, closed since September 2025 for safety checks; admire it from outside.
- Chiado: historic cafés like A Brasileira, bookshops and the Carmo Convent with its open-air Gothic ruins.
- Bairro Alto and Príncipe Real: São Roque church, gardens, the São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint.
- Tram 28: the ride on yellow cars through Graça, Alfama, the Baixa and Estrela.
Belém
- Jerónimos Monastery: the Manueline masterpiece, UNESCO-listed, with Vasco da Gama's tomb.
- Belém Tower: the fortress on the water, symbol of the Discoveries.
- Padrão dos Descobrimentos: the monument to the navigators, with the compass rose in the pavement.
- Pastéis de Belém: the historic bakery making pastéis de nata since 1837.
Modern Lisbon and museums
- Calouste Gulbenkian Museum: one of the world's finest private collections, set in a garden.
- Oceanário and Parque das Nações: the aquarium and the Expo 98 district.
- LX Factory and 25 de Abril Bridge: the creative former factory beneath the red bridge.
- Cristo Rei: the view of Lisbon from the south bank, by ferry from Cais do Sodré.
More ideas: the National Museum of Ancient Art, the MAAT, the Coach Museum, the Estrela Basilica and its garden, the Fronteira Palace with its azulejo gardens, the Águas Livres Aqueduct and the Feira da Ladra flea market on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Viewpoints
Lisbon is best enjoyed from above. The finest miradouros are Senhora do Monte, the highest, Graça, Santa Luzia and Portas do Sol, São Pedro de Alcântara and Santa Catarina. See tram 28 and the miradouros.
Tickets and savings
- The Lisboa Card covers public transport, the train to Sintra and Cascais, free entry to the Jerónimos, Belém Tower and other museums, plus discounts: worthwhile if you visit many sights in a few days.
- Book the Jerónimos and Belém Tower online, as queues are long.
- Many national museums close on Mondays.
Planning your visit
With one day you can see the Baixa, Chiado, Alfama and the castle; with three days add Belém, Bairro Alto, museums and the river; with four or five a trip to Sintra and one to Cascais. See itineraries, day trips from Lisbon and practical tips.