Lisbon is an exciting city in which landscape, heritage and history come together. The Portuguese capital smells like cream pie, brims with melancholic fado melodies and hides authentic bars among narrow, cobbled streets. Full of neighborhoods with a unique spirit, the small effort of going up and down its many steep slopes will be rewarded by the magnificent views of the city. We tell you which neighborhoods are most important and worth making this effort.
Getting lost in the streets of Alfama is necessary. It is the oldest neighborhood in Lisbon that preserves the traditional soul and has fado as its soundtrack. It boasts of being one of the neighborhoods of the Portuguese capital that best survived the devastating earthquake of 1755. Within Alfama are the most famous fado houses, historical buildings that preserve the medieval essence of Lisbon, such as the Castle of Saint George, the Sé cathedral, and the panoramic terraces. It is the ideal starting point to get to know the heart of the city and stretch your legs by strolling through its steep streets.
The star recipe and the most popular dish in Lisbon, bacalhau à brás, seems to have its origins in Bairro Alto. It is a neighborhood that represents the most bohemian and alternative atmosphere in the city. Throughout the day its streets reveal impressive urban art murals and original design shops. When night comes, it begins to fill with people from all over the world, becoming the main attraction for drinking beers, listening to music or dancing in a club.
Far from the center but very well connected, downstream where the Tagus merges with the sea, is the Belém neighborhood. Being the sweetest neighborhood, there you can try the famous Belém cakes, visit the Jerónimos monastery (where the tombs of Luis de Camoes, Vasco Da Gama and Fernando Pessoa are), take a photo next to the monument to the Discoveries and enjoy of the sunset near the Belém tower.
Mouraria is the birthplace of fado, considered intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO, and one of the most multicultural neighborhoods in Lisbon with more than 50 nationalities that coexist there. Despite being less touristy than its neighbor the Alfama neighborhood, it has a lot of history and is very authentic with its majestic palaces, baroque churches and tiled facades.
Once a meeting place for writers, Chiado, known as the "Montmartre" of Lisbon, invites you to shop, visit galleries, bookstores and spend the afternoon in the city's most emblematic museums. This intellectual neighborhood was completely rebuilt after the fire of 1988. Although Chiado can be reached by going up the steep Rua do Carmo, we recommend taking the Santa Justa elevator, which is considered a historical monument of national importance from Lisbon's industrial era.
Parque das Nações is a modern and vibrant area of the city that was built for Expo '98. It is characterized by architecture inspired by maritime and marine themes, and not by chance. In this area is located the Oceanário de Lisboa, the second largest aquarium in Europe, where more than 15,000 animals and plants of more than 450 species coexist. It is a mandatory visit, especially if you like to live the experience of feeling like a mermaid or a merman, surrounded by fish of all kinds.
Located on one of the hills on which Lisbon was born, Graça is a perfect place to have a glass of wine with views of the center of Lisbon in the late afternoon. This neighborhood has multiple viewpoints, such as the Miradouro da Graça and the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, where young lovers once went to take refuge from the prying eyes of their parents. Now it still retains that romantic charm and attracts many couples to enjoy the magnificent views.
