Lisboa (Lisbon) will keep you busy for days with its rich culture, historic castle, vibrant nightlife, diverse shopping areas, and, of course, delicious food. However, its surroundings are also not to be missed. Within about an hour by public transportation or tour bus, you can explore beautiful beaches, pristine nature, charming historical towns, grand palaces, and ancient monasteries. And wherever you go, you'll find more mouthwatering food to enjoy.

For places to see inside Lisbon, or the best beaches near Lisbon, there is a list at the end of the article.

Belém

Belém is a civil parish in Lisbon, situated at the city's edge along the northern bank of the Rio Tejo (Tagus River).
This area flourished centuries ago during the Age of Discovery. From here, vessels would set sail on grand journeys along the coasts of Africa and on to India.
The tourist center of Belém is geared towards visitors, with tour buses cruising throughout the day and dropping off passengers. As a result, expect crowds during peak hours.
The monuments are well-preserved, as are most of the building facades.
Belém is also home to the Palácio Nacional de Belém (Presidential Palace), which serves as the official residence of the President of Portugal.

Top experiences in Belém

  • Devour Pastéis de Belém (Belém egg tarts) topped with cinnamon and sugar powder at Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém (Belém Egg Tarts Factory).
  • Visit the massive Manueline-style Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jerónimos Monastery).
  • Take the picture-perfect photo on the Torre de Belém (Belém Tower).
  • At sunset, watch the sun rays reflect on the MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) shiny facades.

Best places to see in Belém

Monuments

Places to see

  • Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém (Belem egg-tarts factory).
  • MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology).
  • Planetário de Marinha (Navy Planetarium).
  • Centro Cultural de Belém .

Museums

  • Museu Nacional dos Coches (National Coach Museum).
  • Museu Nacional de Arqueologia (National Museum Of Archaeology).

Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jerónimos Monastery)

Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jerónimos Monastery), also known Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Belém, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a 30 meters long Gothic Manueline-style monastery standing in front of the park “Jardim da Praça do Império”, the heart of Belém.
The Monastery was built at the end of the XV century by order of King D. Manuel I, hence the architecture style named Manueline.
Its style is best known by marine motifs, a good example are the intertwining stone ropes decorating the facades and windows.
Mosteiro dos Jerónimos holds the tombs of Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer to discover the sea route from Europe to India, and Camões, the Portuguese poet who wrote “Lusiadas”, a book depicting the epic journeys of the Portuguese during the Age of Discovery.

Torre de Belém (Belém Tower)

Torre de Belém , a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a Manueline-style monument, the same style as Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, and it’s located on the mouth of Rio Tejo (Tagus River).
Torre de Belém is a fortification, today it's used only for tourism purposes, it was used as an embarkation point during the Descobrimentos (Age of Discoveries) and later it was used as a prison.
The surrounding area of Torre de Belém offers great photo opportunities at sunset.

Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument to the Discoveries)

Padrão dos Descobrimentos is a monument standing at the river shore in front of  Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. It’s accessible on foot from Jardim da Praça do Império by crossing on the underpass under the train tracks.
Padrão dos Descobrimentos was erected on 1940 and it’s a homage to the epic heroes of Descobrimentos (Age of Discoveries) and it celebrates the 500 years dead of the Infante Don Henrique (Prince Henry, the Navigator).
On its side the stones are in the shape of the sails of the Naus, the vessels used in the Age of Discoveries, and have figures representing heroes of that period of time. The last human figure at the bow is Infante Don Henrique.

Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém (Belém Egg Tarts Factory)

Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém is a Portuguese egg tarts factory opened in 1837. The egg tarts are baked following the original secret egg tarts recipe originated in Mosteiro dos Jerónimos.
Today, every day, thousands of egg tarts are manufactured in this factory.
Buying a package or more of these delicious crispy egg tarts in the factory is a mandatory ritual for anyone visiting Belém. Expect long queues just to buy egg tarts to take away, and bigger waiting lines to sit down, especially on the weekend of this last one.

Sintra

Sintra is an enchanting historical well-preserved town with a medieval vibe.
Sintra has its own microclimate due the proximity of the Sintra mountain range, usually is cooler and more humid than Lisbon.
Sintra is best accessible from Lisbon by train.

Top experiences in Sintra

  • Have a gorgeous landscape view from the perched on top Palácio Nacional da Pena (National Palace of Pena).
  • Enter the initiation well on Palácio da Regaleira (Regaleira Palace).
  • Meaner Rua das Padarias (Bakeries street).
  • Taste Queijadas de Sintra (Sintra tarts) at Rua das Padarias.

Best places to see in Sintra

Monuments

  • Palácio Nacional da Pena (National Palace of Pena).
  • Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish castle).
  • Palácio Nacional de Sintra (Sintra National Palace).
  • Palácio da Regaleira (Regaleira Palace).

Cascais

Cascais is an historical seaside beach town on Lisbon's north river bank packed with monuments dating back to the Descobrimentos (Age of Discovery).
Cascais is the last train stop from the train departing from Cais do Sodré in Lisbon.

Top experiences in Cascais

  • Relax on the fishermen's beach, Baía de Cascais (Cascais Bay) .
  • Stroll in the shopping street Rua Frederico Arouca (Frederico Arouca Street).
  • Sunbathe on the Praia da Ribeira de Cascais (Ribeira de Cascais Beach).
  • Enter Hell's mouth in Boca do Inferno .

Baía de Cascais (Cascais Bay)

Baía de Cascais is a small white sandy beach in the shape of a bay flanked at east by the Palácio Seixas (Seixas Palace) and by upscale houses at west along the Avenida Dom Carlos I.
Although the beach is swimmable, it’s mainly used by anchored fishing boats. If you wish to take a swim, it might be better to go to the nearby Praia da Rainha (Queen beach).
The waterfront walkway is paved with cobblestones with different patterns.
The bay holds notable buildings such as Câmara Municipal de Cascais (Cascais City Hall) and Antigos Paços do Concelho (Ancient City Hall).

Rua Frederico Arouca (Frederico Arouca Street)

Rua Frederico Arouca is a long narrow shopping street, paved with white and black cobblestones forming a wave pattern.
The street starts near the train station and leads to the Baía de Cascais.

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