Saint George’s Castle (Castelo de São Jorge)

Built by the Visigoths in the 5th century and enlarged by the Moors in the 9th century, the Castle demonstrates the early history of the city, while offering to its visitors a spectacular panoramic view of Lisbon and Tagus River.

Convent and Church of Carmo

The ruins of this Gothic church are evocative reminders of the devastation left by the 1755 earthquake. At the time of the earthquake it was the largest church in Lisbon, but today the roofless nave open to the sky is all that remains of the arches and rubble that caved in on the congregation as they were attending mass.

Rossio Square

Rossio is the liveliest square in the city. On either side of the square are two baroque fountains, and in the center is a monument measuring 27 meters in height. It consists of a pedestal with marble allegories of Justice, Wisdom, Strength, and Moderation, qualities attributed to Dom Pedro IV, whose statue stands on top of the monument. On the north side of the square is the Dona Maria II National Theater, a monumental neoclassical building built in the 1840s.  

Saint Justa Elevator (Elevador de Santa Justa)

Opened to the public in 1902, The Elevador de Santa Justa designed in neo-Gothic style by Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard who was said to have been an apprentice to Gustave Eiffel (the designer of famous Eiffel Tower in Paris). Rising vertically 45 meters from the Rua de Santa Justa in Baixa, the Elevator provides views of the city and the River Tagus.

Commerce Square (Praca do Comercio)

This is one of the most majestic squares of Lisbon and was once the main maritime entrance to Lisbon. You can still see the old marble steps leading up to Commerce Square from the River Tagus. The name Palace Square is clearly a reference to the Palace that was located here for 400 years, until the 1755 earthquake that almost completely destroyed it.

Tram 28

No visit to Lisbon is complete without a ride on these old marvels, especially number 28 which is said to have the most picturesque route. They've been in operation since 1901, and all of them (except modern tram 15) still have their original wood paneling.

Jeronimos Monastery (Mosteiro dos Jerónimos)

Built in a fascinating combination of late-baroque and the Renaissance styles in the 16th century, the Monastery celebrates the country’s Age of Discovery. Interiors present a unique masterpieces of “Manueline” decoration along with the symbolic tombs of world wide famous poet Luis de Camoes and the navigator Vasco de Gama. The Monastery was classified a “Cultural Heritage of All Humanity” by UNESCO in 1984.

Belem Tower (Torre de Belem)

Built in Manueline style during the Age of Discoveries, in 1520, the Tower served to defend the Tagus River bank. Once a symbol of King João II’s power, as the new centuries passed, the tower had been given different functions such as a customs control point, a telegraph station, a lighthouse and even a political prison. UNESCO classified it as a World Heritage Site in 1983.

Discoveries Monument (Padrão dos descobrimentos)

Across from Jeronimos Monastery, reached via an underpass by its gardens, is the Discoveries Monument, built on the north bank of the Tagus River in 1960 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator.

It represents a three-sailed ship ready to depart, with sculptures of important historical figures.