Lisbon

Belem Tower, a World Heritage Site with Jeronimos Monastery

Above: Belem Tower in Lisbon (photo by Fred Lopes).

The position of Lisbon (Portuguese: Lisboa) on seven low hills beside a river once lured traders and settlers, and it's still a stunning site. Add to that its cultural diversity, laid-back feel and architectural time warp, and you have one of the most enjoyable cities in Europe - and one of the more economical.

Thanks to its rich history and great power during the Age of Discovery, Lisbon is packed with historical, cultureal and religious sites. In addition to the architectural masterpieces at Belém like the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, Lisbon has over 50 museums!

Lisbon bears the mark of an incredible heritage with laid-back pride. The city also presents an intriguing variety of faces to those who negotiate its switchback streets. In the oldest neighborhoods, stepped alleys are lined with pastel-color houses and crossed by laundry hung out to dry; here and there miradouros (vantage points) afford spectacular river or city views. In the grand 18th-century center, black-and-white mosaic cobblestone sidewalks border wide boulevards. Elétricos (trams) clank through the streets, and blue-and-white azulejos (painted and glazed ceramic tiles) adorn churches, restaurants, and fountains.

Lisbon Map
Our own detailed, interactive satellite map of Lisbon, plus links to more Lisbon maps.

Lisbon Hotel Reviews
Unbiased reviews, ratings and price comparisons on hotels in Lisbon from fellow travelers.

Lisbon Travel Forum
Travel advice and insider tips on Lima from those in the know.

Lisbon Car Rentals
Explore Portugal's many magnificent sights in the freedom of your own rental car.

Cheap Flights to Lisbon
Compare a dozen airfares at once and find the cheapest flight to Lisbon.

	Cathedral (Sé) Lisbon's cathedral was built in the 12th century over the site of a former mosque. Resembling a fortress on the outside, it has some interesting treasures on the inside.
	Convento do Carmo This partially ruined Carmelite Convent was once Lisbon's largest, but it was severely damaged in the 1755 earthquake.
	Igreja de São Roque (St. Roque Church) The church with the plainest façade in Lisbon has one of the city's richest interiors. Each of the chapels is a masterpiece of Baroque art but the showpiece is the fourth one on the left, the world's most expensive chapel.
	Igreja da São Vicente de Fora This Renaissance church in Lisbon used primarily as a royal pantheon for the Portugese monarchy. Originally part of a 12th-century convent, the church was erected between 1582 and 1627.
	Jeronimos Monastery This spectacular Manueline monastery represents the wealth that poured into Lisbon during the Age of Discovery. It became a World Heritage Site in 1983.

Sources for introductory text: Fodor's Portugal, 7th edition, and Lonely Planet Portugal, 5th edition.

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