Lisbon Attractions

With its very rich history and culture, Lisbon is one of the most staggeringly beautiful cities in Europe. Here are only a handful of Lisbon's most popular tourist attractions and sightseeing hotspots.

Torre de Belém/Belém Tower

Known as an important symbol of Lisbon, the Belém Tower was originally built as a lighthouse and fortress for Manuel I, and as such is one of the best examples of Manueline architecture, or what was called Portuguese late Gothic style. It was built in tribute of Vasco de Gama, to welcome him from his successful discovery of the route to India. The tower was the site of many other significant events in Portugal's history. Although constructed for and used as a defensive fortification, with a bastion that had two floors for guns and artillery placement, and a four-storey tower measuring 35 meters high, the architecture is richly decorative, with sculptures, arched windows and cupolas.

Mosteiro dos Jerónimos/Jerónimos Monastery

Also known as the Hieronymite Convent, the Jerónimos Monastery was also built to commemorate Vasco de Gama's return from India. The vast building, which contains the Church of Santa Maria, the monastery, a sacristy, and a refectory, is one of the most magnificent and ornate constructions in the Manueline style, from the gables and mouldings on the entrances to the royal tombs found inside. It is also legendary for having survived the 1755 earthquake with hardly any damage.

Museu Nacional do Azulejo/National Tile Museum

The azulejo, a painted and tin-glazed ceramic tile, is one of the most important accents in Portuguese architecture, having been used for over five centuries to line the interiors of not only typical Portuguese households, but also churches, palaces, and even train and subway stations. Although you won't miss seeing examples of the azulejo on your trip to Lisbon, you ought to still visit the Museu Nacional do Azulejo, which houses the biggest and most varied collection of tiles in the world. The National Tile Museum significantly relates the evolution of styles of the azulejo as it displays the histories of the tiles through the centuries. Formerly a convent, the Convento da Madre de Deus is also a tourist attraction on its own.

Padrão dos Descobrimentos/Monument to the Discoveries

A spectacular vision at the mouth of the Tagus River is the Monument to the Discoveries, standing 52 meters tall, with sculptures of some of Portugal's most important personages during the Age of Discovery, led by Henry the Navigator, who first sponsored the adventures of the time.

Rossio or Praça de Dom Pedro IV

Perhaps the most popular square in Lisbon, as well as the busiest, Rossio is the place to truly drink in what it's really like to live in Lisbon, watching tourists and locals come and go from any of the several sidewalk cafés. Virtually all methods of transportation stop at Rossio, so it's a great place to look for if ever you find yourself lost in the city.

Museu Calouste Gulbenkian/Gulbenkian Museum

The legacy of Armenian magnate Calouste Gulbenkian is perhaps the most important cultural Centre and foundation in Portugal. In accordance of his last will, Gulbenkian left his estate to the people of Portugal, including an immense collection of major paintings from different periods and the museum houses these, as well as a growing number of Portuguese art. The Centre also functions as a performance venue, with theaters and concert halls, and its own library.

Castelo de Sao Jorge/St. George's Castle

There are several castles and palatial architecture in Lisbon, but the fortress that is St. George's Castle must be visited especially as it offers one of the best views of the city of Lisbon. The castle was, at different points in time, home to royalty and a prison. Although it was reconstructed after the 1755 earthquake, the castle was completely restored to its original design to preserve its historic importance.

Igreja de Santa Engrácia and Pantheon

Now a shrine in tribute to Portugal's national heroes and former presidents, Igreja de Santa Engrácia was once a church with an interesting story – it had a curse that prohibited the completion of the building for centuries. In Portugal, when anything takes too long to happen, it is thought to be the doing of Santa Engrácia. Only when it was reconstructed as a pantheon for heroes did the building finish. Its dome can also be investigated, giving fine views not only of the city outside, but the rest of the building within.

Parque Das Nações/Nations Park

The site of the Expo '98 is now a leisure and residential Centre, although it still retains much of the old Expo's attractions, such as the Lisbon Oceanarium. You can also find here the Vasco de Gama shopping mall, the Atlantic Pavillon with is concert hall, and the São Gabriel and São Rafael twin towers.

Amoreiras Shopping Centre

If you're looking for Portuguese souvenirs, the Amoreiras Shopping Centre is not the place to go; but tourists still visit the sixth largest commercial Centre in Europe. This is where to go when shopping for luxury goods, catching the latest film or indulging in fine dining.