5 Essential Things To See In Lisbon

The Portuguese capital offers many attractions to its visitors, such as strolling through its beautiful streets and discovering monuments such as the Torre de Belém. All of them are scattered around some of its most legendary neighborhoods. Below we will reveal what must be done or what to see in Lisbon.

1. Alfama, one of the essential things to see in Lisbon

It is the oldest neighborhood in Lisbon, full of authenticity and without any pretensions. There is nothing like getting lost in it and discovering the corners it hides. Likewise, it could be said that it is the cradle of fado, since it concentrates numerous artists of traditional Portuguese music in its establishments.

To get to know it better, you can take tram 28, one of the most mythical in Lisbon, at Plaza de Martim Moriz; or do the walking tour. In this neighborhood we will find one of the jewels of Alfama: the cathedral, in Romanesque style and one of the few surviving monuments to the earthquakes and fires that the city has suffered.

Dominating the hill where the Alfama neighborhood is located is another of its treasures: the Castle of San Jorge. Its construction dates from the 8th century, when Lisbon was ruled by Muslims. From it you can contemplate one of the most beautiful views of the Portuguese capital.

2. Barrio Alto

This picturesque neighborhood is home to charming squares. Among them, the Plaza Luís de Camões, which separates the Barrio Alto from Chiado and is dominated by the sculpture of the writer that gives it its name. Also noteworthy is the Praça do Príncipe Real, next to the Botanical Garden. The latter is full of exotic species and has a butterfly farm open to the public.

The Bairro Alto is also the most famous place for nightlife in Lisbon. And it is crowded with small bars of different styles where you can socialize and have fun after midnight. Most are concentrated between Rua do Norte, Rua da Atalaia and Rua do Diário de Noticias.

3. Belem

It is one of the most important neighborhoods in Lisbon, since it houses monuments of great caliber, such as the emblematic Torre de Belém. Located at the mouth of the Tagus River, it is the most recognizable symbol of the city, as well as one of the most representative examples of Manueline architecture.

The Torre de Belém is declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, as is the Jerónimos Monastery. This comes to be a tribute to the golden age of the discoveries, as King Manuel I of Portugal ordered its construction to commemorate the return of Vasco de Gama from India. Its façade is more than three hundred meters long, its beautiful cloister and its impressive church stand out.

After visiting the Jerónimos Monastery, the ideal is to make a stop at the Antiga Confeitaria de Belém. There they continue the old and authentic recipe for the Belém cakes, the delicious cream pancakes that constitute one of the specialties of Portuguese cuisine.

Within the Belém neighborhood, we should also talk about the Monument to the Discoveries, a huge monolith in the shape of a caravel raised to commemorate the five hundred years since the death of Henry the Navigator. And, next to it, the Electricity Museum or the National Carriage Museum are places to see in Lisbon.

4. La Baixa

Another must-see neighborhood in Lisbon. It stands on the ruins of the old city, destroyed by the earthquake of 1755 and is the heart of it. It also concentrates most of the monuments, such as the Doña María II National Theater, located in Rossio Square. This square, which is considered the nerve center of the Portuguese capital, also houses the Rossio train station.

Another place of interest in La Baixa is the Plaza del Comercio, made up of a set of buildings with arcades on three sides, being open on the south side to the Tagus River. In her they emphasize the Triumphal Arch of Rua Augusta, designed to celebrate the reconstruction of the city after the great earthquake; and the equestrian statue of José I.

5. Park of Nations

As a result of the Universal Exhibition, this industrial area was transformed into a meeting place for companies and tourists. In this way, we are facing one of the most modern commercial and residential areas of the city and one of the essentials that must be seen in Lisbon. A place full of buildings of contemporary architecture.

Before even entering the Parque de las Naciones, the domes of the platforms of the Oriente Station, by Santiago Calatrava ,  can be glimpsed from afar ; and the Portugal Pavilion, by the Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira.

Already in the Parque de las Naciones, there are many possibilities it offers. From visiting the Knowledge Pavilion, a science and technology museum; until you get on the cable car that connects the two ends of the park; going up to the Vasco de Gama Tower, the tallest building in all of Portugal.