Lisboa has many monuments for the visitor to see. Above statue of King D João I (1357-1433) in the Praça da Figueira with the walls of St Jorge’s Castle in the distance.

Below is a selection of the favourites.

BELÉM AREA:

• BELÉM TOWER and interior:

  

  The Tower of Belem was built on the edge of the river as a strategic post.  Av. Brasilia. Open daily: 10am-5.30pm.  Train station: Belém.

  

  The interior has some cannons. Good views from the balconies. One of the main Lisboa monuments.

• DISCOVERIES MONUMENT:
  

  

  Av Brasilia, Belém. Open: Mar-Sept: 10am-6.30pm. Oct-Feb: 10am-5.30m. Train station: Belém.  The monument was innaugurated in 1960 as a tribute to the sea voyagers led by Prince Henry the Navigator.

  

Good views from the top of this Discoveries monument.

• JERONIMOS MONASTERY:
  

  

  Praça do Império, Belém. Tel: +351-21-3620034. Open: 9.30am-6pm.  Train station: Belém. A fine and impressive example of Manueline architecture. Construction began in 1502 by order of King Manuel to commemorate the discovery of the sea route to India. One of the important Lisboa monuments.  Expect to queue in the high season – Summer months – as seen above.  

• PALÁCIO NACIONAL DA AJUDA:
  

  Largo da Ajuda. Tel: +351-21-3637095. Open: 10am-5.30pm. Closed Wednesday.   Work on this palace began in 1802. A residence for former Portuguese royalty. Rooms with paintings, furniture and sculptures.

CENTRAL LISBOA:

• CONVENTO DO CARMO (Ruinas) – Carmo Convent:
  

  

  Rua do Carmo. Open daily May-Oct: 10am-6.40pm. Nov-Apr 10am-5.40pm.  Closed Sun.  Archaelogical artifacts in the ruins of a former convent.

• PRAÇA DO COMÉRIO:

  

  The main square in Lisbon, the Praça do Comércio.

• ARCO DA RUA AUGUSTA (Arch at Rua Augusta):

  

  There are great views from this Arch – a lift takes you to the second floor and then a steep narrow spiral staircase takes you to the top. You can buy tickets from the shop below.

• BASÍLICA DA ESTRELA / JARDIM DA ESTRELA:
  

  Rua da Estrela. Tel: +351-21- 3960915. Open: 10.30am-7.30pm.  A Baroque Roman architecture 18th century church. Built by order of Queen Maria I to fulfill a promise on the birth of a son, Prince José. Construction began in 1779 and was completed in 1790. It opened in 1794.
  Opposite the Basilica is the Estrela Garden.

• PARQUE EDUARDO VII:
  

  Just beside the Marquês de Pombal roundabout with his statue unveiled in 1934.  The park was renamed in 1903 by the mayor Rosa Araújo with the visit of King Edward VII to Lisbon. It is the venue for the annual Lisbon book fair.

• ESTUFA FRIA ESTUFA QUENTE / GREENHOUSES:
  

  Parque Eduardo VII. Tel: +351-21- 8170996. Open: 10am-7pm.  Closed Monday. Tropical, sub-tropical and regional plants and trees under greenhouses.

• SÃO ROQUE CHURCH and MUSEUM:
  

  Largo Trindade Coelho. Tel: +351-21-3235065. Open: Tues-Sun: 10am-6pm. Closed Monday. 16th and 17th Century sacred art.

• SANTA JUSTA LIFT (Elevador de Santa Justa):
  

  This elevator takes you from the Rua do Ouro to the Bairro Alto area. Innaugurated in 1901 it was designed by the French architect Louis Reynard. It was built by the engineer Roaul Mesnier de Ponsard.

• SÉ CATEDRAL:

  

  Largo da Sé.  Open: 10am – 6pm. Sat: 10am – 1pm.  Closed Sunday.
  King Afonso Henriques built this at the end of the 12th century after reconquering Lisbon from the Moors.  In Roman-Gothic style it went through changes and was  rebuilt after the earthquakes of 1344 and 1755.

• NATIONAL PANTHEON (Panteão Nacional):
  

  Campo de Santa Clara, Alfama. Tel: +351-21-8881529. Open: 10am-5pm Closed: Monday.  Baroque 17th century church with the tombs of Portugal’s presidents, the Dukes of Bragança, writers and other illustrious nationals.

• CASA DOS BICOS/ FUNDAÇÃO JOSÉ SARAMAGO:
  

  Rua dos Bacalhoeiros, 10. Tel: +351-218802040.  Open: 10am – 5.30pm. Closed Sunday. The building is of 1523.  The façade has diamond shaped stones giving the building its name. Houses the works of the writer José Saramago and his Foundation.

• ST JORGE’S CASTLE (Castelo de S. Jorge):

  

  St Jorge’s Castle viewed from below.
  Rua de Santa Cruz do Castelo. Tel: +351-21-8800620. Open: 9am-9pm. Built on one of Lisboa’s seven hills to defend the city from enemies. It was occupied by Romans, Visigoths and Moors. Spectacular views of the city and River Tagus. One of Lisboa’s monuments that is the first place for visitors.

• WATER AQUEDUCT (Aqueduto das Águas Livres):
  

  

  Construction of this Water Aqueduct began in 1732. From 1748 water from neighbouring areas was pumped into Lisbon. It was distributed to various outlets and fountains.

  

  One of the impressive pieces of engineering of the Lisboa monuments.  It is a long walk around the aqueduct and the attraction is the views over Lisbon, above.  You need to be fit to walk the strip! Calçada da Quintinha, 6. Tel: +351-21-8100215. Open: 10am-5.30pm. Closed Monday.

• LISBOA ZOO:
  

  

  Praça Marechal Humberto Delgado.  Tel: +351-21-7232900. Open daily: 10am-8pm. Opened in 1884.

To reach Lisboa from Cascais or Estoril take the train to the last stop Cais do Sodré. Buses, cabs, and the Metro to other parts of Lisboa start here.  Expect to queue for an hour or more to enter some of the more popular monuments in the high season.