Neighbourhood of Lisbon, Portugal
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Baixa is a district in Lisbon, Portugal. The Baixa has many squares and monuments, offering numerous photo opportunities. The area suffered devastating destruction in the Great Earthquake on All Saints' Day, 1 November 1755. Lisbon's "downtown" was rebuilt under the guiding hand of the Marquis of Pombal (Marquês de Pombal), who introduced a grid street plan to organize the chaos.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Museum of Design and Fashion
The collection has about 1,000 items of furniture and accessories and over 1,200 pieces of haute couture clothing.
Old Church of Our Lady of the Conception
18th-century Manueline-style church, a national monument.
Antigo Palácio Pais do Amaral, Antigo Palácio São Luís, Casa do Alentejo
Unassuming from the outside, the interior combines neo-Gothic, neo-Arab, neo-Renaissance, neo-Rococo, Art Nouveau, and baroque elements.
A palace constructed in the 18th and 19th centuries. Visits can be arranged in advance via email. Concerts (some of them free) are offered.
This magnificent plaza, facing the river, is the beginning of Lisboa's downtown. It is also known as 'Terreiro do Paço', meaning 'Grounds of the Palace', relating to its function before the Great Earthquake of 1755. The upper floors of the yellow buildings surrounding the square are mainly used as government offices, while the lower floors often contains cafés and restaurants. King Josef I, who ruled during the reconstruction of Lisbon, is seen as a mounted statue in the middle of the square, while the arch facing north is a tribute to the explorer Vasco da Gama.
Rossio
One of Lisbon's principal squares. A statue of King Pedro IV stands on a column in the centre. The square, a popular meeting point for local and tourists, is known for its wavy black-and-white stone pavement.
This large square has an equestrian statue of King João I. An important transport hub, the square is surrounded by hotels, cafés, and shops in four-storey buildings dating back to the rebuilding after the 1755 Great Earthquake.
This major square lies at the southeast end of Avenida da Liberdade. The Monument to the Restorers, a 30 m obelisk commemorating the 1640 restoration of Portugal as a kingdom separate from Spain, sits in the middle of the square.
Built in 1890 as the Estação Central (Central Station), it was the main railway hub until 1957. It provides a direct connection to Sintra in about 40 min. The trains access the station through a 2.6-km long tunnel. The main facade is an example of the Neo-Manueline style, a revival of Gothic style in Portugal during the mid-19th century.
Excellent vertical view of the Baixa streets, next to Igreja do Carmo. The line can be quite long, you may want to consider walking up and riding it down instead.
Queen Maria II National Theatre
The most famous live theatre stage in Lisbon. The Neoclassical and Palladian building was built in the 1840s and has been a national monument since 2003.
Fado in Lisbon
A typical Portuguese Fado concert hall with daily evening shows. Run by a young Fado guitarist from Lisbon. The show lasts about one hour.
On the location of a historical café (the leitaria), this place focuses on only a short number of dishes (meats, fish and seafood) but makes up for this in quality and portion size. For an atmospheric presentation ask for one of their espetadas. The wines complement the dishes and you can end the meal with a dessert. For someone looking for great value for their buck (no compromises on quality), it's a good place to start or end an evening.
From the pavement looks like a small convenience shop, on walking in you realize the deception when confronted by the large cavernous meandering interior space, replete with everything expected from a well stocked supermarket. Although there isn't a restaurant as such, the ready to eat items on offer are tasty, fresh, inexpensive and varied. The sandwiches and hamburgers are superb.
Supermercado Oriental - Amanhecer
A food court serving Asian street food and the only place in Lisbon where you can try Macanese cuisine (at a stall called "Taberna Macau").
A place dedicated to the promotion of Portugal's wine and gastronomic culture, and featuring a daily lunch menu of Portuguese and Mediterranean cuisine. The wine list comprises – in its vast majority – a selection of Portuguese wines which best represent the country. Wine can be bought by the glass, and it is served at the appropriate temperatures and in suitable glasses. Dishes – served in portions for 2 – easily replace a main course meal. Homemade-style desserts, for which sweet wines can be suggested. A modern and cosy atmosphere.
Appropriately nicknamed Rei dos Frangos, this is home to the best greasy spit-roasted chicken this side of Louisiana.
A restaurant-bar which is one of the most chic places in the city. Highly recognized in Lisbon as something of an institution, it attracts an eclectic crowd where the appeal is food and a great selection of beers, wines and spirits. Features smoking room, private parking with a doorman.
Medieval bar in downtown with a cozy atmosphere and a diverse range of traditional Portuguese delicacies. National and international beers.
Established in 1782, this is the oldest continuously-operating café in Lisbon and throughout its history has been associated with important politicians, writers, and intellectuals. Writer Fernando Pessoa had a permanent table reservation, as did the late Nobel laureate José Saramago.
A great location, but with few amenities.
Very clean, quiet, and comfortable. Helpful and sweet English-speaking staff.
It's in the emblematic Restauradores Square in a neoclassical building.
The interior design looks a bit like IKEA show-room, the staff know where the good places to go out dancing and drinking are and the location works for a budget traveler.
B&B style pension with friendly and accommodating staff in a quiet area.
Great location, great staff, great free cooked breakfast, great hostel. The hostel offers dorms and privates. Free internet, TV room, lounge.
Nice hostel with lots of extras. Friendly staff and easy to meet people with their nightly activities. Free WiFi, breakfast, coffee and tea, maps and city advice, lots of guide books to look at and a book exchange for travelers who are tired of reading the same book over and over again.
Relaxed and comfortable hostel with an excellent location. One of the largest hostels in Lisbon; opened in July 2009. Comfortable beds in large dorms, key operated lockers, free computer access as well as WiFi in every room, free breakfast, complimentary coffee and tea, 24 hour bar, access to their professional kitchen. Very friendly and accommodating staff. 3-course Portuguese dinners for €8 by their in-house chef.
Chocolates, truffles, and barks that are as beautiful as they are delicious. Try the hot chocolate, served elegantly with a chocolate covered cherry.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Lisbon · International · LIS
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Baixa and Portugal.
Discover the cheapest countries to visit in Europe in 2026. Compare daily budgets for Albania, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Portugal with real costs.
8 min read
Find the cheapest countries to fly to from the US and UK in 2026. Compare realistic round-trip flight deals, budget airlines, and prime booking windows.
8 min read
Explore Lisbon, Sintra, and Porto with this 7-day Portugal itinerary for 2026. Practical train tips, palace timings, wine tastings, and costs.
8 min read
Decide between São Miguel and Terceira in the Azores. Compare crater lakes, thermal hot springs, UNESCO heritage, local cuisine, and direct flights.
8 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.