Best Miradouros (Viewpoints) of Lisbon

The Miradouros de Lisboa (Viewpoints) are one of the most pleasant tourist attractions in the Portuguese capital and are also the most visited.

Viewpoints in Portugal are called “Miradouro”. The city of Lisbon being located on the 7 hills, it has many of them to offer, each with specific characteristics that you will find in this article. You will officially find 16 viewpoints scattered all over the capital, you won’t find them all here but only the 5 most popular ones.

When visiting and discovering Lisbon, it is therefore strongly advised to spot some of them and stop there whether on foot or even by Tuk Tuk. This way you will be able to fully admire all the capital, with a little height to see the architectural beauty of the city. With a bit of luck, you will have good weather during your holidays in Portugal and will have the chance to admire these views of Lisbon under a blue sky or in front of magnificent sunsets.

Guided tours of Lisbon and its Miradouros

Some of you may prefer to visit and stroll around the Portuguese capital on your own. This is an option but in this case I advise you to organize your trip well to make sure you don’t miss anything. I personally find that to be accompanied always allows to have additional information, to note the good addresses and to really have all the information which make the importance of such a monument or such a point of view. This is the role of the local guide who knows the city, its history and culture better than anyone else.

That’s why for the others who prefer to organize their holidays around guided tours of Lisbon, you will find below a selection and a set of tours of the city by tuk tuk, on foot, by bus, by tram, by segway or by bike to discover the main monuments of the city, its gastronomy, its museums, its main districts but also its viewpoints or even Fado, its traditional music. My selection below and the other visits to be discovered by clicking on the button are made by English speaking guides of Lisbon, have been very well rated by those who have passed before you and can be cancelled up to 24 hours before the start of the visit. All you need to do is book in peace and quiet and simply focus on the joy of being in Portugal!

The best viewpoints, Miradouros of Lisbon

The most popular viewpoints in the Portuguese capital, for both residents and tourists, include Portas do Sol in the Alfama district, the Miradouro de Santa Luzia, a viewpoint over the Elevador Santa Justa de Lisboa, the Miradouro da Graca offering a view of the districts of Baixa, Chiado, Bairro Alto and the newer part of the city.

Another of Lisbon’s best viewpoints is Nossa Senhora do Monte, from where you can enjoy a view of the entire city centre of the capital. You can get there by Lisbon’s famous tram 28 or even by tuk tuk.

Below you will find a complete list of the best viewpoints of Lisbon with maps to locate them in the city but also practical information to help you get there easily: a short guide to the Miradouros em Lisboa where you will also find information about what you can visit around these viewpoints so that you don’t lose time and make the most of your holiday in Lisbon. Some of these observation points in the capital are subject to a fee and specific opening hours, which you can also find out about.

viewpoint in Alcantara : Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara in Lisbon

One of the most popular viewpoints in Lisbon is the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint in Portuguese. It offers a magnificent view over the entire centre of Lisbon (Baixa, Alfama, Graca and Avenida da Liberdade districts). This viewpoint has two terraces, one quieter and the other more lively almost all day long.

The Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara is an unmissable viewpoint of Lisbon. Below you will find its description, photos and information on how to get there from different parts of the capital. This observation point is really worth it and you should definitely include it in your visit to Lisbon. It is a very good place to rest, admire the eastern part of the city, enjoy a good glass of wine, a good coffee or meet other equally amazed tourists.

Miradouro of Sao Pedro de Alcantara: description

The observation deck of Sao Pedro de Alcantara, as it is sometimes called in Lisbon guidebooks, was inaugurated in its present form in 2008, after several months of renovation, giving it its current appearance and function. The architect Agostinho da Silva was responsible for the construction of the garden’s infrastructure and it is to him that we owe, among other things, the connection of the two existing terraces by stairs on each side. The tradition of the garden refers to the style of French gardens: geometrical forms, sandy paths between the green spaces and fountains.

The viewpoint of St. Peter of Alcantara in Lisbon consists of two terraces. The upper terrace has several dozen trees that provide shade all day long, numerous benches and a kiosk where you can have a coffee, drink wine or eat simple dishes and snacks. There is also a monument dedicated to Eduardo Coelho, the founder of the newspaper Diário de Notícias, which is very important here. From here you can see the Castle of St. George, the Church of St. Vincent, the whole Baixa district, the viewpoint of Nossa Senhora do Monte and the Church of Graca. For an even more impressive view, you can use one of the pay telescopes located next to the Azulejos (Portuguese mosaics) panel.

The lower terrace from the viewpoint of Sao Pedro de Alcantara is much quieter and more exposed, allowing you to enjoy the sun for much of the day in summer. In the northern part there is a rose garden and a kiosk with drinks, as well as a number of sculptures referring to Greek and Roman mythology. It is here that you can often see street artists or music groups.

How to get to the Miradouro of Sao Pedro de Alcantara: itinerary

Unlike others, this viewpoint is open 24 hours a day and there are no restrictions on entry or visiting hours. The point is not limited by any fence and you can have the most beautiful view in the afternoon, when the sun illuminates the whole eastern part of Lisbon. As this viewpoint of Lisbon is accessible at all hours of the day and night so enjoy it, you will be able to see the capital illuminated in the middle of the night,

There are several ways to get to the belvedere of Saint Peter of Alcantara. :

• Right next to the terrace stops the Gloria lift, which connects Bairro Alto with the Baixa district. The lift runs until 11.55pm from Sunday to Thursday and until 00.25am on Fridays and Saturdays.
• You can also take the metro to the Baixa-Chiado station (exit “Largo do Chiado”) and then walk along Rua da Misericórdia street (about 5 minutes on foot).
• The Carris bus number 758 from Cais to Sodre also stops at the belvedere.

Visits around the terrace Sao Pedro de Alcantara

• Botanical Garden of Lisboa (Jardim Botânico de Lisboa)
• Saint-Roch Church with Saint-Jean-Baptiste Chapel
• The Port Wine Institute in Lisbon (Solar to Vinho to Porto), with more than 150 different Port wines, including some vintages.
• The Elevador da Glória (Elevator da Glória)
• Monastery of São Pedro de Alcântara from the 17th century

Graça viewpoint : Miradouro da Graça in Lisbon

The Miradouro da Graca is also a very popular viewpoint. Its name simply comes from its location, between the Lisbon districts of Graca and Alfama. It is a popular meeting place for students, young people and lovers. Here you can see the historic centre of Lisbon, the Baixa district and the river Tagus.

At the Miradouro de Graça you will find a kiosk for a drink or a coffee, a dozen tables and benches surrounded by shady trees and the beautiful church of Igreja da Graça. Although this viewpoint of Lisbon is called by all Miradouro da Graça, its real name is Miradouro Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen. It is named after the famous Portuguese writer whose favorite place it was.

How to get to the Miradouro da Graça: itinerary

To get to this Miradouro:

• You can take tram 28 and stop at Largo da Graca station.
• If you are not far from Portas do Sol, then you can get there on foot in 3 minutes by the São Tomé street and Calçada da Graça.
• From Matrim Moniz Square, you can take bus 734.

Viewpoint from the Sun Gate: Miradouro das Portas do Sol in Lisbon

The Miradouro das Portas do Sol is one of Lisbon’s main viewpoints and also one of the best known. It is therefore very visited and the majority of tourists who visit the Alfama (Oldest district of Lisbon) are used to come here for a tour. Its location is very easy to find, so you will have no problem to get there by walking around this area. You will therefore logically have the most beautiful view of Alfama at the Miradouro de la Porte du Soleil.

There you will discover a typical postcard setting of Lisbon with red roofs, narrow winding streets but also the church of St. Vincent, the dome of the National Pantheon, St. Stephen’s church or the other bank of the Tagus.

On this viewpoint of Lisbon you will find a kiosk with tables to drink coffee and admire the view and just below the viewpoint you will find the Café Portas do Sol with a large terrace, footstools and umbrellas.

If you wish to continue your guided tour of Lisbon, you can :

• Take tramway 12 or 28
• You can walk directly and in only 10 minutes to the Castle of St. George (Castelo de São Jorge).
• Visit another great viewpoint of Lisbon: the Miradouro de Santa Luzia

How to get to the Miradouro das Portas do Sol: itinerary

To get to the Sun Gate viewpoint:

• Take tramway 28 from Martim Moniz square to the Portas do Sol stop.
• Take tram 12 from Praca da Figueira to the same stop.
• Walking from the Baixa district (about 10 minutes on foot): follow the tramway 28 that crosses the main street, Rua Augustus.
• Take bus 737, which goes from Praca da Figueira to St. George’s Castle, then walk 10 minutes to the Miradouro das Portas do sol

Viewpoint Santa Luzia : Miradouro of Santa Luzia in Lisbon

Miradouro de Santa Luzia is the second most important viewpoint in the Alfama district after the Miradouro das Portas do Sol. It offers a beautiful view of the Tagus River that runs through Lisbon and several places where you can relax in the shade and admire the red roofs of the historic centre.

The Miradouro de Santa Luzia is a relatively small but very nice and pleasant viewpoint of Lisbon that you can find without any problem as it is located in the centre of the district (where some of the best hotels in Lisbon are located), in the main street and right next to a stop of the famous tram 28. Next to the viewpoint is the small white church of Saint Lucia.

On the walls of the church of St. Lucia you can admire two beautiful panels of azulejos (ceramic tiles) depicting scenes from the history of Lisbon :

• One of the panels shows the square of Terreiro do Paco or Praça do Comercio, before the 1755 earthquake.
• The second panel shows the crusaders besieging the Castle of St. George or Castelo de Sao Jorge in Portuguese, during the conquest of Lisbon in 1147.

The viewpoint Santa Luzia de Lisboa is a popular meeting place not only for tourists but also for the inhabitants of the capital, who come here to relax or talk in the shade of the pergola. At this place there is a garden which is divided by a small hedge and right next to it a closed paddling pool, behind which there is another panel of blue azulejos tiles. There is also a typical Portuguese restaurant where you can eat and have a drink or coffee.

Getting to the Miradouro Santa Luzia: itinerary

To get to the Miradouro Santa Luzia de lisbon, there are several options:

• Tramway 12 or 28 from the Baixa district.
• Directly on foot from the Baixa district (about 10 minutes walk)
• With the bus 737 that stops at the Castle of St. George, from where it will take you 5 minutes walk to reach the Miradouro.

Miradouro Nossa Senhora do Monte in Lisbon

Is the Miradouro de Nossa Senhora in Lisbon the balcony of Europe? That’s what we sometimes call the Portuguese capital because of the many points of view of the city that allow us to discover it from all angles. The Miradouro de Nossa Senhora do Monte is undoubtedly one of the best viewpoints in Lisbon. It is the highest in the city and offers a magnificent view of the Alfama district and the Castle of Saint George.

This viewpoint is located in the Graca district, right next to Miradouro da Graca but it is not as popular as the latter despite the panoramic view of Lisbon which is probably the most spectacular. You will surely be able to take some very nice pictures.

There you will find the chapel of Nossa Senhora do Monte which would bring health and ensure a happy birth: it is therefore visited a lot by pregnant women.

How to get to the Miradouro da Nossa Senhora do Monte

To get to this panoramic viewpoint, nothing could be easier:

• Take tramway 28
• Walk from the Alfama district.