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Neighborhood of Lisbon in Misericórdia
Photo: Singa Hitam, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Bairro Alto is a district in Lisbon, Portugal. Beyond Bairro Alto itself, the district includes other neighbourhoods, notably Chiado and Príncipe Real. Bairro Alto is recognized for being Lisbon's centre of trendy, youthful dining and nightlife. Many high-end international shops can be found in Chiado and along Avenida da Liberdade, a wide, tree-lined boulevard.
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The hilltop church of the former convent of Carmo is a towering memorial of the 1755 earthquake, which made the roof of the church collapse, but the Gothic arches of the nave survived. The church was preserved that way and now serves as the Museu Arqueológico in the extant parts of the building. The museum houses a hodgepodge of archaeological artifacts from around Portugal and the world including mummies from South America, tombs of Portuguese rulers, and the Stations of the Cross on 18th-century painted tiles. The assorted artifacts are not well explained, but the church is a sight to see and visitors come to relax in the grassy nave of the church, and draw or photograph the spires.
Mirador
Excellent panorama from the lovely terrace/garden on top of Elevador da Glória and northern corner of Bairro Alto.
Portugal's impressive national art collection, including 14-19th century European painting, artefacts of Portuguese contact with the East and Africa and a collection of ecclesiastical treasures. Highlights include Dürer's St Jerome, Hieronymus Bosch's Temptations of St Antony, Nuno Gonçalves' Adoration of St Vincent, and 16th century Japanese paintings of Portuguese traders.
Puppetry Museum
The museum covers the history of puppetry around the world, with an emphasis on Portugal. Various types of puppets are on display.
This Neoclassical and Baroque basilica, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was built in the late 1700s by Queen Maria I in fulfilment of a vow. The Queen is entombed in the right transept. Among the artworks is a nativity scene made up of over 500 cork and terracotta figures by Joaquim Machado de Castro.
Jardim Guerra Junqueiro
A English-style garden with Romantic inspiration. You can find many plant and bird species here.
Saint Benedict's Palace
Built in 1598, the palace has served as the home of Portugal's parliament since 1834. The adjoining São Bento Mansion serves as the prime minister's residence.
This large cemetery is packed with majestic gravestones and mausoleums, separated by wide, pedestrian, tree-lined "streets". Many graves are marked with icons telling something about the person's role in historical Lisbon. A beautiful respite from the busy city.
This museum is installed in the restored 18th-century former Royal Silk Factory. Its permanent collection covers a wide time period of the works of 20th-century painters Arpad Szenes and Maria Helena Vieira da Silva, and regularly hosts exhibits by their contemporaries.
This is a historic aqueduct in the city of Lisbon, Portugal. It is one of the most remarkable examples of 18th-century Portuguese engineering, including the largest stone arch in the world. The main course of the aqueduct covers 18 km, but the whole network of canals extends through nearly 58 km. The Mãe d'Água (Mother of the Water) reservoir of the Amoreiras, the largest of the water reservoirs, was finished in 1834. This reservoir, with a capacity of 5,500 m³ of water, was designed by Carlos Mardel. It is now deactivated and can be visited as part of the Museu da Água (Water Museum).
Multifunctional space dedicated to contemporary art, especially photography.
Jardim Botânico
A hidden gem. It was created several hundred years ago, by a King of Portugal at the time of the Discoveries. The story goes that this King wanted one of every type of plant in the world, and although that's unlikely, there is a huge collection dating back by three or four centuries which is worth checking out. And there's something quite eerie about seeing plants or huge trees from completely different climates growing next to each other in apparent harmony. A great place to take a picnic: this green oasis is completely surrounded by city but even the city sounds filter out.
Presenting teatro de revista, Portuguese-style comedy revues. The theatre opened in 1922 and was restored in 1990 following a 1986 fire.
Standing-room only, this place serves simple and affordable Portuguese dishes, including grilled sardines. Toilets available.
A tapas restaurant
Mercado da Ribeira
The late 19th-century market was closed in 2000, and in 2014 the publisher Time Out Portugal transformed the space into a gourmet food court with 40 kiosks, including restaurants, bars, and shops. A number of Lisbon's top chefs have stands here, making this an ideal place to sample some of their food for lower prices than at their established restaurants.
A traditional restaurant offering an interesting mix of Portuguese, Indian, and Cape Verdean flavours. The lunch-time buffet offers excellent value for money and great quality food. Staff are patient with English speakers.
A cozy and affordable restaurant which offers tasty grilled Portuguese specialities of meat and fish.
Cuisine of East Bengal, India, using a tandoor oven.
This excellent restaurant-brewery in a former monastery has several kinds of Sagres beer and Guinness. The appetizer that is charged for each item that is consumed separately. Nice codfish plates.
Vegetarian restaurant affiliated with a Buddhist center. Vegan friendly. Juice bar.
Small Indian restaurant. Reservations can be made online.
Great Brazilian food served by friendly staff.
The second of two restaurants operated by the same owners. Decent Indian food, but far from the best. The location is great though for starting a night out on the town. Ask for the shoot drinks!
A restaurant with a variety of traditional Portuguese dishes very appreciated by the tourists. Friendly environment, great service. Make sure you try the appetizers.
A popular locals' place in palace stables from the 18th-century . The atmosphere and the food are excellent. Service is very good and the recommendations by the staff are outstanding. The writing on the menu is very small and difficult to read in the subdued lighting.
Good traditional Portuguese at reasonable prices.
Probably the best vegetarian restaurant in Lisbon and also the nicest in terms of ambience and service. They have a menu in English and will help with vegan choices or people with other dietary restrictions. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends but you will always be served even if you arrive with the place full and have to wait for a while. Weather permitting try to get a table outside, which means a wonderful and secluded back terrace.
Traditional Italian fresh pasta dishes, various starters, risottos, meats and wood-oven pizzas are produced from a wide selection of prime quality fresh ingredients. Extensive wine list procured from both national and Italian producers and a delightful choice of desserts carefully picked from the Italian classics.
A good and selected combination of cheap and mid range dishes. The owners are very friendly and speak English, as well as Portuguese. It is a good restaurant if you want to eat South American grilled meat.
Contemporary Portuguese cuisine with two Michelin stars.
Two-Michelin-star fine dining by chef Henrique Sá Pessoa, blending traditional Portuguese cuisine with Asian influences. Choose from two tasting menus or order à la carte.
Michelin-starred restaurant offering two tasting menus using local ingredients by chef Alexandre Silva, who won the first series of Top Chef de Portugal.
Michelin-starred restaurant by Bosnian chef Ljubomir Stanisic, who blends influences from his homeland, his adopted country, and elsewhere around the globe.
Michelin-starred restaurant by French chef Vincent Farges, who prepares an edgy surprise menu centred on visual elegance and purity of flavours.
One of Lisbon's remaining classic cafés, with a restaurant in the basement; despite renovation, not much has changed since the 1920s. The café was Fernando Pessoa's favourite place, and a statue of the poet/philosopher stands outside the main entrance on the terrace.
A bakery serving some of the best pastéis de nata in town, arguably the best in Lisbon. You can even watch them make the pasteis de nata. Standing room only.
Perfect place to linger over a glass of wine at this wine bar that is under the arches of the city's former acquaducts. With a great selection of appetizers that are matched perfectly with the wine, it's a pleasant way to spend an evening.
Nice wine bar with an impressive selection of good wines and appetizers. Good place to spend the late afternoon, before going out to dinner.
The superbly located rooftop bar of Tivoli Hotel is a small secret. On warm evenings one of the best places to have an overpriced late drink. Youngish music late night.
Fado In Chiado - Daily show (except on Sundays) at 19:00, with a duration of 50 minutes. Voices that sing the Fado to the sound of Portuguese guitar.
A cramped but authentic Fado bar.
A hostel, opened in 2007, catering to the young hip crowd with event listings on their website, free computer and internet access in the lobby and WiFi throughout the hostel.
The building is next the Chiado exit of the Baixa-Chiado metro station. Very helpful staff, clean rooms, dinners and activities are organized by the hostel. Big common room with TV and free internet. Dorms and privates available.
In the center of the Chiado, these apartments have 1 and 2 bedrooms.
Luxury apartments in the historical Chiado, Lisbon center, with 3 bedrooms.
Good rooms in a very central bed-and-breakfast with views all over Lisbon and the river.
Basic, clean and affordable.
Backpackers rave about this hotel, often noting the friendly staff, large clean rooms, fun atmosphere and great dinners. It is a great place for a budget traveler to meet up with other travelers and feel safe when they go to bed at night - if they go to bed.
Small cosy pension on a beautiful small square.
formerly Pensão Residencial Portuense
A fun, fresh and friendly place to stay in the heart of city in Marques de Pombal and Avenida da Liberdade. This international hostel provides a good base for sight-seeing by day and partying by night. All of Lisbon’s major night spots are easily accessible on foot.
Vila Nova Guest House
Two-star, 30-room, modern guest house close to Marques de Pombal station.
Three-star, 100-room hotel. Spacious rooms with satellite TV. Very central, but somewhat expensive for the service.
Nice four-star, 108-room hotel in the center of the city. Seasonal rooftop pool, lawned terrace, bar, free Wi-Fi.
Three-star, 108-room modern hotel with compact but efficient rooms, with kettle and mini-fridge. Near Avenida da Liberdade and the view from Parque Eduardo VII, and within walking distance of the old town. Nearby shops and restaurants are less crowded with tourists than those further south. Two metro lines give access to most areas of the city, and frequent bus 727 runs directly to the Belém museum district. Price includes breakfast and reliable wireless Internet access.
Five-star, 109-room hotel, property of Orient-Express Hotels, Trains & Cruises. A luxury palace hotel in one of Lisbon's seven hills, with gardens and pools, heated all year long. Member of the Leading Hotels of the World. With one of the best spas in Lisbon, gourmet food (its restaurant is considered by the Zagat Guide as one of the best in Lisbon) and one of the best concierge services in the country.
Five-star, 107-room modern hotel in the central Rato district. The hotel offers free wireless internet for guests along with two laptops with internet access.
Five-star, 163-room hotel. Perhaps not particularly outstanding in standards or appointments among other Sofitels in Europe (meaning though that the standards are very high), the Lisbon Sofitel boasts a very central location on the Avenida da Liberdade, smack right at the entrance to the namesake metro station.
The five-star, 285-room flagship of the Portuguese Tivoli hotel chain is most known for its rooftop terrace bar with splendid views.
Five-star, 295 room hotel with swimming pool, spa, gym, business centre, conference facilities, bar, and free Wi-Fi.
Autograph Collection
Striking postmodern architecture and interior appointments are on the menu throughout this Marriott's luxury, five-star, 72-room boutique hotel.
This upscale and trendy shopping centre was developed inside Lisbon's historic grand department store which burnt down in 1988. The food court on the top floor has a terrace with a brilliant view over Baixa and Chiado.
The city's oldest mall in eye-catching post-modern towers housing international chains.
An indoor market selling wide selection of fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, and jewelry. A perfect break while Tram 28 turns around, it's calmer and less crowded than other markets listed.
Vintage and nostalgic products and brands.
Founded in 1732, it is the oldest operating bookstore in the world. If you want they can stamp the books you buy, certifying that they were bought there. While most books are in Portuguese there is a full shelf of English language literature, including many notable Portuguese titles translated to English. There's a small coffee-shop/bar area at the back of the shop with very helpful staff.
A shop that has been selling beautiful homemade candles since 1789.
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