[/] WELCOME, LOGOUT SIGN IN / CREATE ACCOUNT Follow us on LOGOUT GET APP TOI HOME Adventure Holidays Weekend Getaways Driving Holidays TIMES PASSION TRAILS Destinations Hotels Things to do Eating Out Nightlife Guides Destinations Hotels Things to do Eating Out Nightlife Guides Adventure Holidays Weekend Getaways Driving Holidays TIMES PASSION TRAILS Home / Destinations / Snapshots of Lisbon Snapshots of Lisbon sightseeing | lisbon nextSlideshows prevSlideshows 01 Lisbon's impressive 18th century aqueduct was built in order to channel water into the city. This outstanding feat of engineering extends from the town of Caneças—just north of Lisbon—to the beautiful Mãe de Agua reservoir in the city's district of Amoreiras. The 65-metre-tall Gothic arches that cross the Alcântara Valley are the centrepiece of the aqueduct, and were instrumental in guiding water into the city's main reservoir back in the day. You’ll get the best views of this 58-km-long aqueduct from the Alcântara Valley and the catch basin in the district of Amoreiras. nextSlideshows prevSlideshows 02 The only museum on the planet purely dedicated to decorative azulejos tiles, the Tile Museum is a bit off the beaten path, but well worth a visit. Lisbon is full of buildings adorned with blue and white azulejos—they’re an important part of Portuguese architectural heritage—and this stunning art form is displayed and detailed at the museum. The building holds a rich variety of tiled art dating back to the 15th century, with the exhibit culminating in a 23-metre-long, multi-coloured, tile depiction of Old Lisbon before the ruinous earthquake of 1755. nextSlideshows prevSlideshows 03 From strong espresso to delicious hot desserts, the cafes in Lisbon are perfect for a quick snack or dessert after a bog meal. Pois Café is known for its famous apple strudel which is served piping hot with a dollop of fresh whipped cream. A Brasileira is perhaps the most famous café in Lisbon. It’s been around for ages—it used to be one of the favourite haunts for city’s intellectual elite—and the Bica (espresso) there is one of the most popular drinks on the menu. nextSlideshows prevSlideshows 04 Trams are a wonderful way to see the city, but as street traffic can often block them, they do run behind schedule from time to time. Also they only cover downtown Lisbon and Belem, so if you want to travel to some of the city’s outlying districts, you’ll have to hop on a bus or take the metro. Buses make a good option when there is no tram service available; they’re efficient, quick and very affordable. nextSlideshows prevSlideshows 05 An iconic, early 20th century lift connecting two Lisbon districts—Baixa at the base with Largo do Carmo square at the top—the Santa Justa Lift was designed by one of Gustave Eiffel’s apprentices, and some even say it looks a bit like Paris' Eiffel Tower, with similar framing and ironwork. You can take the lift or climb the spiral staircases to the top of this seven-storey, Neo-Gothic structure for the most stunning views of Lisbon, and there’s even an observation platform especially for this purpose. nextSlideshows prevSlideshows 06 This 500-year-old tower is a testament to the Age of Discovery—Magellan, and several other explorers launched their voyages of discovery from this very site—and has guarded the entrance to Lisbon for the same amount of time. Built on a small basalt island next to the northern bank of the Tagus River, the Belém Tower has witnessed battle and glory, as well as defeat. Constructed in the early 16th century, it served not only as a fortress, but also as an artistic marvel. nextSlideshows prevSlideshows 07 An avenue cram-packed with illustrious shops, Avenida da Liberdade is Lisbon’s answer to the Champs-Élysées. While not quite as large or heavily stocked with famous shops as its cousin in Paris, this shopping hub stocks a sufficient number of designers and brands from Armani, Burberry and Calvin Klein, to Hugo Boss, Louis Vuitton, Prada and Trussardi. There are plenty of cafés and restaurants interspersed among the boutiques where you can grab a bite to eat before hitting the next store. nextSlideshows prevSlideshows 08 When the circus comes to town, it sets up shop at Coliseu dos Recreios; the biggest multi-purpose concert venue for ballet, dance, live music, theatre, and of course the circus. The concert hall has been open for well over a hundred years, and has seen an incredible variety of acts grace its stage. With a diverse selection of entertainment on offer, you should definitely drop by and check their schedule. Performances change often, so there’s bound to be something playing that you’ll enjoy. nextSlideshows prevSlideshows 09 Pão Pão Queijo Queijo (which translates to Bread Bread Cheese Cheese in English) is one of the best sandwich shops in Lisbon, and is hugely popular for its grilled chicken baguette. The menu also sticks some delicious pitas, grilled meats and salads at reasonable prices, and is located just across the road from the Jerónimos Monastery. There is a seating area upstairs, and a few tables outside where you can sit down and enjoy your food while doing a spot of people-watching. nextSlideshows prevSlideshows 10 One of the largest and greatest private art collections in the world, the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum houses over 6,000 pieces of art collected over several years by Armenian businessmen Calouste Gulbenkian. The museum boasts an incredible array of Egyptian, Greco-Roman and Far Eastern art as well as paintings by masters like Rembrandt, Renoir, Monet and Van Dyck, and is situated on a lovely piece of land, replete with gardens, waterfalls, ponds, ducks and several cultural centres. nextSlideshows prevSlideshows 11 Cascais and Estoril are two enchanting resort towns along the Atlantic coast that have long been favoured by Europe's elite. Located in one of the richest areas of Portugal, these side-by-side towns are just a 30-minute-long train journey from the city, and are considered suburbs of Lisbon. While Cascais is renowned for its picturesque buildings, ocean scenery and pedestrian walkways, Estoril—which is a mere 3 km east of Cascais—is best known for the Casino Estoril, which is one of Europe's largest casinos and also the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s book Casino Royale. nextSlideshows prevSlideshows 12 The Lisbon Oceanarium was built for the World Expo in 1998 and houses an impressive assortment of flora and wildlife from all of the world's major oceans. Inside, the building—which juts out on a pier in the middle of a small river harbour—houses a massive, 1000-sq m central tank surrounded on all sides by four smaller tanks holding more than 450 different types of species. The main tank represents the Global Ocean, while the other four represent the world's major oceans and hold wildlife from each one. nextSlideshows prevSlideshows 13 If you’re a film buff who appreciates the avant-garde, you should definitely pay a visit to Cinemateca Portuguesa. The movies projected here include an eclectic collection of classic and art-house films—the cinema specializes in alternative and international films—and many screenings are theme based. There’s also a small film museum on the premises, along with a comfortable café where you can unwind before or after a showing. nextSlideshows prevSlideshows 14 A fairytale village complete with a colourful hilltop palace, Sintra is only 35 km from Lisbon, and is one of the most charming spots in all of Europe. The town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its stunning 19th century Romantic architecture which can be seen in the palaces scattered around. There are also several gardens and parks where you can spend your time, and a good number of cafés and restaurants for eating out. nextSlideshows prevSlideshows 15 A 17th-century resting place for Portugal's explorers, heroes and kings, the stunning Jerónimos Monastery—which took about 100 years to build—is also the burial ground the famous Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, among other notable figures in history. This architecture of the monastery pays tribute to Manueline architecture, and the maritime elements of the building—the interior is richly decorated with patterns and tile work evocative of the ocean— honour the seafaring exploits of the Portuguese Empire. nextSlideshows prevSlideshows 16 In the afterhours, there are several places you can head to. Among them, Lux—owned by American actor John Malkovich—is an institution of sorts where clubs are concerned. The coolest kid on Lisbon’s party circuit, it houses an elegant bar upstairs while the ground floor doubles ad a dance-floor. Get yourself a fancy cocktail and head down to shake a leg to some excellent house music. Make sure you look your best, there’s a chance you could be turned away for being underdressed. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Been There, Done that? Share your Experience! Characters Remaining: 3000 X Sort By: Newest Oldest Discussed Up Voted Down Voted Be the first one to review. From around the web Recommended by Colombia ALSO SEE FOLLOW US ON SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER Get Inspired! Travel ideas from across the world straight to your inbox. 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