Where to Go in Lisbon City Center

Lisbon City is Portugal’s capital and sits 10 miles from the Atlantic. It is full of attractions which can be accessed easily by foot. Otherwise you can use Lisbon City sightseeing tour buses or trams. When you visit Lisbon City Center make sure you visit these places first; these are the must see places in the town center. After exploring the town center, people usually head over to Belem, located a short drive from Lisbon City Center.

The neighborhood of Chiado

Chiado is undeniably one of the beautiful places in Lisbon City. It perfectly reflects the Lisbon that is portrayed in post cards and movies. You will encounter the famous yellow trams as you turn corners of streets. The colors of the buildings, mostly white, and some bright daring shades, blend well together. It is just different and interesting over there.

Rua Garrett is the main shopping street in Chiado; it has shops, restaurants/ cafés and book shops and goes all the way to Baixa.

Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo

Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo is probably the most photographed street in Lisbon. It’s in the historic and picturesque neighborhood of Bica. Here you will be greeted with a fusion of strong colors and graffiti. Artistic graffiti and colorful flowers will blow your mind away as you stroll down this majestic street.

Be aware that there are so many tourists / travelers like you at the top of this street trying to get a perfect picture, it can get over crowded. You will want to plan your day well; going there early in the morning is the smart move if you are serious about taking good pictures of the place.

From here you can walk down to the coast road and enjoy the beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean. Sit on the colorful benches near Cais Sodre road and take in the refreshing breeze.

Baixa District in Lisbon City Center

The Baixa is the lower town and commercial hub of Lisbon. The nearest metro stations are Baixa/Chiado, Rossio and Restauradores. The place is served by buses and trains as well as ferries just further down the coast line.

Praca do Comercio (Triumphal Arch & Statue of King Jose I)

Praca do comercio is a palace square in Lisbon known by the locals as ‘Torreiro do Paco’. For 400 years the square was a royal palace site; the first palace had a library with 70,000 books but got destroyed by earthquake in 1755. In 1908 king Carlos and his son were assassinated as they passed through the square. The triumphal arch leads into Rua Augusta Street.

Rua Augusta Street is a shopping street that is also full of restaurants. The street has a distinctive architectural design and the colors are just magnificent.

It is said that the best view of this part of Lisbon will be viewed from the top of the Arco da Rua Augusta. You can see the beautiful view of buildings that surround the area and the view of Rua Augusta Street which connects to the arch.

Rossio Square

Rossio is a very lively place in Lisbon; formally known as Praca de Dom Pedro IV. It seems to be where people meet as the central place full of cafés, theatres and restaurants. You will find Rossio Train Station around this area.

The large square was the city’s center for six centuries. In the past it has been the center of military parades, festivals and some cruel activities such as bull fighting. Towards the north side of Rossio is the ‘Teatro Nacional Dona Maria II; this was named after the daughter of Dom Pedro. The structure was built in the 1840’s by the Italian architect Fortunato Lodi.

Campo Pequeno Stadium

The Campo Pequeno stadium is the official home of Portuguese bullfighting and during the summer season visitors are able to watch the spectacle of Portuguese bullfighting. It also holds an underground shopping center, where you will also find restaurants. There is a parking lot as well, the address is : R. Chaby Pinheiro 11, Lisboa, Portugal. For more information on the upcoming events visit their website.

Street Art & Graffiti

In Lisbon City Center you will come across very impressive street art displayed on numerous buildings. The one that impressed me was graffiti in ‘Av Fontes Pereira de Melo’. The green crocodile was painted by Erica II Cane from Italy; the birds were painted by Lucy McLauchlan from Britain.

Eduardo VII Park

Parque Eduardo VII is a public park in Lisbon City Center that occupies 26 hectares. It is located to the north of Avenida de Liberdade and Marquess of Pombal square. The statue in the park is that of Edward VII who visited Portugal from the United Kingdom in 1902.

The Elevador de Santa Justa (Santa Justa Lift)

This is a lift also known as ‘Elevator of Carmo’ that will take you to one of the steepest hills in Lisbon, all the way to the ruins of Carmo church. Carmo church was destroyed as the result of the 1755 earthquake. You will find a museum in the church with the history of the place. The elevator connects the Baixa district with Bairro Alto district. The address is: R. do Ouro, 1150-060 Lisboa, Portugal.

Praca dos Restauradores

This is a square in Lisbon with a very nice pinkish Art deco Eden Theatre built in the 1930’s. The obelisk that stands at the center of the square symbolizes the independence from Spain in the 15th century.

Night life in Lisbon

People looking for a good night life while in Lisbon City will not be disappointed.

Hard Rock Cafe Lisboan is a Rock ’n’ roll-themed chain with a high-energy vibe serving burgers & American classics. The address is: Av. da Liberdade 2, 1250-144 Lisboan, Portugal.

Near hard rock you will find Cinco Lounge. This is an Upmarket cocktail bar with trendy international feel & impressive drinks menu and courses.

From Lisbon City Center Go to Belem

Once you finish seeing places in the town center you must visit Belem district in Lisbon. Here you will find recommended top attractions in Lisbon, such as Belem Tower. Click here for Top Attractions in Belem, Lisbon.

For more information on Lisbon City Center attractions please visit Lisbon Tourism Official Website.