World City Guide

Key Attractions

Castelo de So Jorge (Castle of St George)
The Castle of St George is perched on the highest of Lisbon’s seven hills, high above the Baixa and the Mouraria (the Moorish Quarter). The site was occupied by Romans, Visigoths and Moors and was the royal residence until the late-15th century – it was rebuilt in the 1940s. Within the castle, tourists can visit multimedia presentations or just wander around the walls, towers and gardens. During summer, there are frequent festivals in the castle grounds. There is also a small restaurant (summer only). Perhaps the greatest attraction is the panoramic view from the ramparts.

Largo do Cho da Feira
Tel: (21) 887 7244. Fax: (21) 887 5695.
Transport: Tram 12 or 28; bus 37.
Opening hours: Daily 0900-2100 (Apr-Sep); daily 0900-1800 (Oct-Mar).
Admission: Free.

Tram 28
The legendary tram 28 is a tourist attraction within itself. Vintage trams still ply the well-worn route from the city centre on sea level, right up through the jumble of streets towards the heights of the Castle of St George. On the way, the tram slices open the city, providing insights into the Lisbon way of life, as well as offering sweeping views back towards the city and out over the River Tagus. One word of warning – the tram is increasingly as popular with pickpockets as it is with savvy tourists.

Campo Ourique-Martim Moniz
Tel: (21) 361 3000.
Website: www.carris.pt
Opening hours: Daily 0600-0100.
Admission: 1.

Torre de Belm (Belm Tower)
One of the city’s most famous sights is more impressive on the outside than it is on the inside. This white stone tower (built in the early-16th century to defend the river) was the last thing that the seafaring adventurers saw before setting off on their epic adventures. It is an excellent example of the Manueline style of architecture, with fanciful naval themes. A gangway leads to a very average museum within the tower.

Avenida de Braslia
Tel: (21) 362 0034. Fax: (21) 363 9145.
Transport: Tram 15; bus 27, 28, 29, 43, 49 or 51; train to Belm station.
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1000-1700.
Admission: 3.

Mosteiro dos Jernimos (Hieronimite Monastery)
This 16th-century monastery is one of the few surviving examples of medieval Manueline architecture (named after Manuel I and featuring naval motifs) and is listed, along with the Torre de Belm, as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also the resting place of Vasco da Gama and the nation’s most famous writer, Lus de Cames.

Praa do Imprio
Tel: (21) 362 0034. Fax: (21) 363 9145.
Transport: Tram 15; bus 27, 28, 29, 43, 49, 51 or 112; train to Belm station.
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1000-1700 (Oct-Apr); Tues-Sun 1000-1830 (May-Sep).
Admission: 3.

Parque das Naes (Nations Park)
The former Expo98 site has been converted into a leisure oasis, with a shopping centre, a string of attractions, concert halls, bars, restaurants and a walkway along the River Tagus. The Torre Vasco da Gama (the site’s landmark tower and Lisbon’s tallest building) has an observation platform and restaurant, two-thirds of the way up. The Oceanrio (Europe’s second largest aquarium) has huge pools that are home to manta rays, penguins and sharks, as well as adorable otters floating around on their backs. Designed for all manner of public events, the Atlntico Pavilion is a highly successful venue for concert, fairs and other functions. The waterside cable car, connecting the tower and oceanarium, offers excellent views over the site. Summer weekends are best avoided for visits, however, as every family in Portugal seems to descend on the site. A three-day carto do parque (park card), costing 14, entitles visitors to discounted admission to many of the park’s attractions, as well as discounts in shops, restaurants and car parks.

Parque das Naes
Tel: (21) 891 9333.
E-mail: info@parquedasnacoes.pt
Website: www.parquedasnacoes.pt
Transport: Rail or metro to Estao do Oriente station; bus 5, 10, 21, 25, 50, 68 or 114.
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours.
Admission: Free.

Atlntico Pavilion
Rossio dos Olivais
Tel: (21) 891 8409. Fax: (21) 891 8413.
E-mail: info@atlantico-multiusos.pt
Website: www.atlantico-multiusos.pt
Opening hours: Daily 1300-1900 (ticket office).
Admission: Free; event prices vary.

Cable Car
Between Torre Vasco da Gama and the Marina locks
Tel: (21) 896 5823.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1100-1900, Sat-Sun 1000-2000.
Admission: 1.50.

Oceanrio
Esplanada D Carlos I-Doca dos Olivais
Tel: (21) 891 9898 or 7002. Fax: (21) 891 9003 or 895 5762
Website: www.oceanario.pt
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1900.
Admission: 9.

Torre Vasco da Gama
Cais das Naus
Tel: (21) 891 8000. Fax: (21) 891 8005.
Opening hours: Daily 1000-2000.
Admission: 2.50.

Museu Calouste Gulbenkian (Calouste Gulbenkian Museum)
This treasure house of art, covering almost every significant epoch, benefited greatly from a major revamp in 2001. Egyptian, Greco-Roman, Islamic and Oriental art comprise half the exhibition rooms and the remainder is devoted to European art from medieval times to the early 20th century. The sequence continues with the foundation’s Centro de Arte Moderna, which is part of the same complex.

Avenida de Berna 45
Tel: (21) 782 3000. Fax: (21) 782 3032
E-mail: museu@gulbenkian.pt
Website: www.gulbenkian.pt
Transport: Metro So Sebastio or Praa de Espanha; bus 16, 26, 31, 46 or 56.
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1000-1745.
Admission: 3; free Sun; concessions available.

Centro Cultural de Belm (Belm Cultural Centre)
This modern complex is home to the Museu do Design (Museum of Design) as well as performance and exhibition spaces. The museum features 20th-century design (divided into ‘luxury’, ‘pop’ and ‘cool’ themes) supplemented by temporary exhibitions. The courtyards and rooftop gardens make a great place to relax in between sightseeing.

Praa do Imprio
Tel: (21) 361 2400. Fax: (21) 361 2500.
E-mail: ccb@ccb.pt
Website: www.ccb.pt
Transport: Tram 15 or 17; bus 27, 28, 29, 43, 49 or 51; train to Belm station.
Opening hours: Daily 0800-2130.
Admission: 3.

Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (National Museum of Ancient Art)
Essentially Portugal’s national gallery, this museum’s collections of painting and sculpture date from the 12th century and include a wide range of works by Portuguese and international artists.

Rua das Janelas Verdes 9
Tel: (21) 391 2800. Fax: (21) 397 3703.
E-mail: mnarteantiga@ipmuseus.pt
Website: www.ipmuseus.pt
Transport: Tram 15 or 18; bus 27, 40, 49, 51 or 60.
Opening hours: Tues 1400-1800, Wed-Sun 1000-1300 and 1400-1800.
Admission: 3.

S (Cathedral)
Built by Dom Alfonso Henriques, Portugal’s first king, in the 12th century, Lisbon’s cathedral is primarily Romanesque in style, although later styles were incorporated when earthquake damage was repaired. The cloister dates from the 13th century, while the Baroque sacristy houses the remains of St Anthony (Lisbon’s patron saint) and other treasures. The cathedral also houses a small museum.

Largo da S
Tel: (21) 886 6752.
Transport: Tram 28; bus 37.
Opening hours: Tues-Sat 1000-1700.
Admission: Free (cathedral and museum); 1 (cloister); 2.50 (treasury).

Museu Da qua O Aqueduto Das Aqua Livres (Water Museum and Aqua Livres Aqueduct)
Situated close to the historic wall of the Convento dos Barbadinhos, where the first elevated steam-operated water station was constructed in 1884, the Museu Da qua itself is average. The main reason for visitors to come here is to visit the impressive Aqueduto das guas Livres, which achieved the much-deserved status of a national monument in February 2002. The aqueduct’s startling Baroque stone arches were erected by architects Manuel da Maia and Custodio Jos Vieira in 1748; they survived the 1755 earthquake, which rocked and all but crumbled the city. The 18km (11-mile) journey makes this an attraction only for those with a keen interest in architecture.

Rua do Alviela, 12
Tel: (21) 813 5522.
Transport: Bus 35, 104 or 105 to the Museu Da qua.
Opening hours: Tues-Sat 1000-1800 (Mar-Nov).
Admission: 2.