Baixa and Chiado
Vintage trams rumble, buskers perform and
Rua Augusta throngs with shoppers in central Baixa. Here 18th-century townhouses and the neo-Gothic
Santa Justa Elevator rise gracefully above gridlike streets, leading to
Praça do Comércio’s grand arcades and triumphal arch. West of Baixa is literary Chiado, home to gilded Art Deco cafés, the ruptured
Carmo Convent and Rodin works at the
Chiado Museum. Chiado sidles up to the pulsating
Bairro Alto nightlife district and fountain-dotted
Rossio square.
See allhotels near Rossio See allhotels near Chiado Museum See allhotels near Santa Justa Elevator See allhotels near Praça do Comércio Alfama and Graça
Spilling down to the Tagus River, the labyrinthine Moorish Alfama is an appealing choice of where to stay in Lisbon. Strains of
fado ballads and whiffs of barbecued sardines drift from tiny bars and laundry flaps above the red rooftops in alleys fanning out from Romanesque
Sé Cathedral. High above, fortified
St George’s Castle gives
far-reaching views over whole Lisbon. Uphill from Alfama is serene Graça, home to the austerely beautiful
National Pantheon and
the
azulejo-tiled cloisters of
São Vicente de Fora Monastery.
See allhotels near St George’s Castle See allhotels near the National Pantheon Belém and Ajuda
Overlooking the
Tagus River, Belém is a speedy tram ride west of the centre. This leafy district whisks you back to the 15th-century Age of Discovery contemplating
Jerónimos Monastery’s intricate cloisters,
Belém Tower’s
lacy stonework and the caravel-shaped
Monument to the Discoveries. Tourists pile into the
Antiga Confeitaria for moreish
pastéis de nata (custard tarts) before viewing the
Maritime Museum’s galleons and Warhol at the
Berardo Collection. The neoclassical
Ajuda National Palace sits north of Belém.
See allhotels near Belém Tower See allhotels near Ajuda National Palace Estrela and Lapa
The dazzling white dome of neoclassical
Estrela Basilica overshadows Estrela’s genteel, tree-fringed streets. Children feed the ducks in the botanical greenery of
Jardim da Estrela opposite. Estrela’s elegant neighbour is Lapa, where bijou mansions hide romantic Lisbon hotels and art enthusiasts look at Dürer originals in the palatial
Museum of Ancient Art. Slightly south, the
Alcantara Docks’ riverfront warehouses harbour industrial-chic bars, fashionable restaurants and the treasures at the
Orient Museum.
See allhotels near Ponte 25 de Abril See allhotels near Estrela Basilica See allhotels near the Museum of Ancient Art Marquês de Pombal and Parque das Nações
Boutiques, Michelin-starred restaurants and design-driven hotels draw luxury lovers north of the centre to Marquês de Pombal, bisected by the well-heeled
Avenida da Liberdade boulevard. Here strolls in the manicured
Parque Eduardo VII and the world-class collections of
Calouste Gulbenkian Museum and the
Modern Art Centre await. A metro ride north-east brings you to the riverfront Parque das Nações’ open-air art, futuristic architecture and mammoth
Oceanarium See allhotels near Marquês de Pombal See allhotels near the Oceanarium
