The main districts of Lisbon

Are you planning to go on holiday, business trip or scouting for a move to Lisbon soon? Perhaps you would like to learn more about the city’s emblematic places and get to know some good addresses? This article will be a starting point and will tell you a little bit about the main areas of the Portuguese capital where you can live or stay during your stay.

Discover or rediscover a surprising city, made up of multiple working-class districts, each with its own identity. I already wish you an excellent stay in the heart of the privileged destination for tourists, artists but also for English-speaking expatriates! If you wish, you can click on the link opposite and choose a guided tour of Lisbon to book. It will allow you to discover the city in a new light and why not find the district that really suits you!

For your information, the Lisboa Card offers discounts on transport, tickets to monuments and even free entry for certain visits of Lisbon lasting 24, 48 or 72 hours. Find out all you need to know about the card by consulting the Lisboa Card guide, or click on the map below to order it directly online.

Click on the Lisboa Card to order it online

Baixa-Chiado district of Lisbon

If you want to start your visit to Lisbon with its dynamic heart, you will certainly appreciate a detour through Baixa-Chiado. The place is really ideal for those who wish to immerse themselves in the historical culture of the city. For example, the Baixa district, which was completely renovated after the 1755 earthquake, boasts beautiful buildings dating back to the 18th century. Considered as the city centre of Lisbon, Baixa stretches from the Tagus quays to the Avenue of Liberty. For lovers of cultural visits, for example, we recommend the historic centre as well as the museums and lively streets of Chiado. The centre of Lisbon also hosts a traditionally inspired market, which marks the entrance to the capital. The “Terreiro do Paço” is considered to be the most commercial district in Lisbon, where traditional shops and big name brands are found side by side.

Wondering what there is to do in Lisbon, apart from sightseeing and cultural visits? The Baixa district has a very lively and friendly nightlife. So, for those who wish to move to Portugal, we can’t recommend too much the numerous activities available in the evenings. Among these, you will note for example :

•  The “Silk Club”: this is a rather chic bar/restaurant address with a magnificent 270 degree view of the surroundings. Located on the top floor of a historic building in the trendy Chiado district, the Silk Club recommends that its visitors dress appropriately before enjoying the Japanese menu.
• Le Park: If you are looking for a hipster/boho atmosphere in a bohemian district, Le Park is the place to be. It’s quite simple: here you can enjoy the best burgers in town! Located on the 6th floor of a car park in the Bairro Alto district, this rooftop offers you a panoramic view, from where you can see the Santa-Catarina church and the 25th April Bridge.
• The Lux Frágil nightclub: a reference nightclub for lively evenings for many years, the place is located on the docks of Santa Apolónia. You can enjoy a varied programme, with the presence of international artists in an establishment whose owner is none other than John Malkovitch!

Bairro Alto district of Lisbon

The Bairro Alto district is the centre of Lisbon’s nightlife, especially during the summer season. If you like to go out and live in the heart of the party, this is certainly the first place to carry out your real estate search in Lisbon! A typical and lively district full of small bars and establishments, giving you access to playful or intimate atmospheres depending on the location.

Among the sights to visit urgently in Bairro-Alto, we recommend the following:

•  A visit to the Church of St. Roch – or Igreja de Sao Roque – allows you to discover a remarkable religious art of Portuguese Baroque inspiration. The site, with its breathtaking interior, even has one of the most expensive altars ever built!
• The belvedere of St. Peter’s Garden of Alcantara: located to the east of Bairro Alto, the site will give you a magnificent view of the centre of La Baixa, as well as some historic buildings such as the Lisbon Castle.
• The café in Brasileira: for those who wish to combine business with pleasure, a short visit to this establishment will be welcome. The Café a Brasileia is even considered by many to be a real institution, since it was already in place in the 19th century and served as a flagship for many intellectuals.

Alfama district

This is a district of Lisbon that deserves to be known, especially thanks to its historical monuments and its old quarter. It’s simple: you’ll be quickly won over by the “oldest quarter” of the city, with its narrow, labyrinthine streets and its buildings considered the most important in Lisbon. Once a district reserved for the poorest people, Alfama has literally transformed itself into a young and fashionable district. Rest assured, however, that the place has lost none of its charm and history.

To find out more about the district and its history, nothing better than taking tram line 28, which allows you to enjoy a historic tramway model from the 1930s – the latest models can’t run in these narrow, winding streets that were never intended for such use.

Come on, I give you some good addresses of the Alfama district of Lisbon that could be useful as a landmark for your installation or your holidays :

• La Sé, Lisbon Cathedral: If you want to discover an authentic Portuguese cathedral, then this is the place to go. It won’t be easy to photograph as it is located on a small square full of Tuk Tuk but it is majestic, often hosts weddings and is really worth a look.
• Not far from there, a few hundred meters away, you can make a detour by the miradouro of Santa Luzia. This is one of the places where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city. As Lisbon is built on seven different hills, there are many viewpoints, but this one is particularly nice.
• The castle of Saint George is also one of the places to visit in this area.
• Many hotels offer rooftop bars so why not take advantage of the Memmo Alfama Hotel’s rooftop bar? The view is magnificent, as is the terrace and the friendly staff will be happy to serve you a cocktail in the sun and always with a smile!

Principe Real district

Would you like to know more about the Principe Real district in Lisbon? In any case, you should know that the area is considered a popular and dynamic district of the Portuguese capital, thanks to its many antique shops, galleries and boutiques. So if you particularly appreciate authentic and offbeat shopping away from the big traditional shops, it is highly recommended that you stroll through the main artery of the district, before stopping at the most beautiful garden in the area – where you will find some of the oldest trees in Portugal! And if you are particularly fond of flower-filled squares and tree-lined environments, you should know that the Principe Real district lacks nothing in this respect! For example, the people from Lisbon love to get to the very charming “Plaza de los Fiores” (Flower Square), as they walk down the sloping street en pente de São Marçal.

To continue in the same vein, a few good addresses in the Principe Real district of Lisbon:

• The Copenhagen Coffee Lab is recommended for tasting good Portuguese coffee. In spite of its name and Dutch owners, it does honour to the famous Portuguese coffee. The atmosphere is very friendly and the coffee is often taken by storm at weekends by expatriates and locals alike. Recommended for breakfast.
• Lovers of Portuguese food and wine? Then I recommend the Carinho do vino. A wine cellar where you can taste typical Portuguese dishes and be advised by experts on the best wines to combine with your dishes to make your taste buds wriggle.
• If you’re a pizza lover, then you should visit one of the only organic pizzerias in Lisbon. It is also located in the Principe Real district and opened in 2012. In line with the Italian & Portuguese culture and still in the same area of Lisbon, you will find Nanarella the Italian ice-cream parlour or Baretto to taste excellent Italian espresso.

District Campo de Santana

Among Lisbon’s lesser-known district is the Campo de Santana, which has much to offer visitors. To begin with, you will appreciate the uniqueness of this place, which is home to many local shops and traditional gastronomic establishments. Among the most popular walks, we recommend a visit to the Jardim do Torrel, which offers a panoramic view of the whole of Lisbon. The Campo de Santana district, by its nature a little out of the way from the rest of the city, will make you feel what the true Portuguese art of living is all about. If you’re looking for a good table in an unusual restaurant, hurry to the Casa do Alentejo. This is a Moroccan gastronomic establishment with a history dating back to the end of the 19th century.

Parque das Naçoes District

During your real estate search in Lisbon, you may have chosen new residential areas. The modern district of Parque das Naçoes is one of them. Literally, the “Park of Nations” is an integral part of the capital, with an old industrial past that has since been converted into a highly sought-after site. Today, we discover important buildings as well as luxurious and refined condominiums that are the basis of the new image of the district. In terms of shops and services, you will find everything in Parque das Naçoes, from restaurants to boutiques. If you are travelling in Lisbon for a few days and want to settle down in Parque das Naçoes, don’t hesitate to visit the Myriad Hotel, a luxury establishment located in the highest tower of Lisbon.

For good addresses and things to see, here are a few examples:

• For the entertainment part, it is in this part of Lisbon that you can visit the Lisbon Aquarium or take a trip to the casino. Two places that are not very far from each other and whose route from one to the other will allow you to stroll along the Tagus and take a break on one of the many public benches. It’s very nice!
• This area also offers you a little ride in the cable car that goes from one end to the other. Take it from the side of the aquarium and it will take you to the heart of the food court. The ride costs only a few euros, I recommend it if you are with your family.
• As for the restaurants, I have two here that I really liked but there are so many more to discover. A piece of advice, avoid the big tourist sites like Tripadvisor and prefer blogs to select your good addresses. The “Restaurant d’Bacalhau” will allow you to discover the authentic Portuguese cod in all its forms and the restaurant “A Avó Tinha” will allow you to eat very good meats.

Santos and Belem district

The district of Santos, in the heart of the city of Lisbon, is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque. Its centuries-old history can be found in every walk, allowing you to appreciate old structures converted into exhibition halls, embassies or even a discotheque! One particularly appreciates the living environment in Santos, a stone’s throw from the banks of the Tagus River. On this subject, it is necessary to note the pleasant walks to be carried out along the quays. These have been refurbished and now offer pedestrian sites between the Plaza del Comercio and Belém, a pretty district located further west in the heart of Lisbon.

One cannot evoke the Belém district without conveying the feeling of being really in the heart of the city. Even if the district is a little further away from historical tourism, it is quite possible to admire an architectural richness often dating back 5 centuries. Nevertheless, the site remains lively and conducive to beautiful sunny walks. Just as with the period tramway 28 in Lisbon, you can take line 15 and discover on the way the Praça da Figueira – a large square square in the heart of the Portuguese capital.

Property search: which area of Lisbon?

All these areas of Lisbon are absolutely indisputable when it comes to short stays and if you come on holiday to the country. The same goes for your scouting session in order to have a first contact with the city and to know if you want to come and live there or not.

As far as real estate is concerned, these are of course areas that are becoming more and more expensive and in which it will be difficult for you to find good deals without being on the spot, knowing the market or speaking the language. Since this is my case, I propose that you play the role of a real estate hunter in Lisbon.

My advantages? No affiliation with real estate agencies or law firms, low structure costs for a more affordable service, a free electron for a neutral, independent and always in your interest:

• Collect your criteria, your desires and learn more about your project
• Scan the real estate market in Lisbon to find the best opportunities (Internet, real estate agencies, individuals, construction projects…)
• Contact the different parties to validate the availability of the properties.
• To propose you a list of properties corresponding to your criteria “coup de coeur”.
• Organise useful property visits when you come to Lisbon
• Helping you to deal with notaries, lawyers (self-employed) and administrations to finalise your purchase

If you would like to know more and discuss it, I invite you to fill in the form below, which I will forward to trusted real estate agencies to set up your project.