Lisbon Neighborhoods
Discover Lisbon's most interesting neighborhoods.
These are the areas of Lisbon you should include in your visit.
If you're visiting Lisbon for the first time, we recommend not missing its most central area, which includes the neighborhoods of Baixa, Chiado, Bairro Alto and Alfama; you also shouldn't miss the Belém neighborhood, as it is home to some of the city's most important monuments.
If you have more time, you may also want to explore other areas such as Expo (Parque das Nações), Saldanha or Marquês de Pombal.
Either way, we'll tell you all about the most important attractions to see in each of them. To help you decide where to stay, you can find more neighborhood details in our where to sleep.
Lisbon Neighborhoods
Discover Lisbon's most charming neighborhoods in our list:
Alfama
Lisbon's most traditional neighborhood. Alfama is packed with restaurants and typical tascas where you can enjoy authentic Portuguese food and listen to fado. The best viewpoints in Lisbon are found here, including the one at the National Pantheon. It is also home to the São Jorge Castle.
Chiado
In the upper part of central Lisbon lies Chiado: an elegant neighborhood with culture and tradition. Its streets are lined with art shop windows, Portuguese brands, famous cafés, theaters, viewpoints and the Armazéns de Chiado shopping center. As we mention in the "where to stay" section, it is a great neighborhood to base yourself in.
Graça
Located next to Alfama, Graça is a quiet neighborhood, perfect for a stroll or for sitting down at one of its traditional bakeries to enjoy a coffee and a Portuguese pastry. It has two lovely viewpoints and the tram connects it to the city center.
Baixa
Considered the true heart of Lisbon, the Baixa is the riverside area nestled between the hill of São Jorge Castle and that of Bairro Alto. Here you will find Praça do Comércio and the Santa Justa Lift. A must-visit area with the most centrally located hotels.
Bairro Alto
Bairro Alto is another of Lisbon's oldest neighborhoods. It sits alongside Chiado and is a popular gathering spot for locals — and in recent years for visitors too — with a huge number of bars and restaurants. If going out is your thing, you have to explore it after dark.
Príncipe Real
A few steps above Chiado and Bairro Alto lies its more modern and alternative-spirited sibling, Príncipe Real. A neighborhood that has blossomed in recent years with cafés, design shops, and a relaxed atmosphere.
Saldanha
A district of financial buildings and residences housed in beautiful Lisbon-style façades. Wide, lively boulevards buzz with urban energy. It harmoniously blends the traditional and the modern.
Marquês de Pombal
A central square and very well-connected neighborhood in Lisbon. Surrounded by wide streets and modern avenues, it makes an excellent area to stay in Lisbon.
Belém
Situated on the riverbank, this is where you will find the Belém Tower, the Jerónimos Monastery, the Monument to the Discoveries, and the world-famous pastéis de nata from Belém.
Estrela and Campo de Ourique
A quiet residential area, known for the Jardim da Estrela park and the basilica of the same name. You can get here from the city center by tram.
Parque das Nações
The most modern district of Lisbon, featuring an events pavilion, Science Museum for families, a great shopping center, and the must-see Lisbon Oceanarium (don't miss it if you come to Lisbon with kids).