Disclaimer: Lisbon, like any metropolitan city, is always changing. All times, prices, and other details shared in the following post were accurate at the time of our visit. As always, we highly recommend you check out the place online or give them a call to confirm details prior to your visit.
To say Lisbon is very hilly is an understatement. The topography is a crazy calf killer but with those rolling hills comes several breathtaking viewpoints or miradouros located all over the city.
If you’re anything like us, you can never get enough of a great view. From the miradouros you can enjoy spectacular lookout points that offer grand views overlooking the city’s cobbled hilltop horizon and its maze of red-tiled rooftops, lively street scenes, the Tagus River and iconic plazas and structures. You’ll be amazed at all you can see. Whether you’re looking for a quiet spot to take in a view and reflect or the prime place to enjoy a sunset, Lisbon has a viewpoint just for you.
Why visit a miradouro while in Lisbon?
For the photos. You will find the most spectacular city views at miradouros. It’s the place to go for iconic photographs of the city, the best selfies and will leave you awestruck, humbled and buzzing with excitement – all at the same time. Be sure to seek out these viewpoints with your camera at the ready!
For the memories. Some miradouros have the most romantic vibes. A sunrise or sunset experience at a miradouro is sure to make for a remarkable moment in Lisbon. Regardless of when you visit, the view is sure to have a lasting impression on you.
For the experience. Miradouros are unique gathering spots that attract people of all ages – locals and tourists alike. Most are free to visit, open to the public and oftentimes adorned with traditional Portuguese tiles with a coffee cart conveniently located nearby. Sometimes you will discover a miradouro by chance just wandering around a neighborhood and others are quite famous and well-known stops on any Lisbon itinerary.
Which miradouros are the best to visit?
There are many miradouros all over Lisbon and while determining which are “the best” is highly subjective, below we share a few of our personal favorites. If you are short on time while exploring Lisbon, the City of Seven Hills, keep reading to find out our top five recommendations for viewpointsthat provide fantastic, scenic views alongside a classic miradouro experience:
Miradouro de Santa Luzia
Located by the Church of Santa Luzia, this romantic viewpoint offers a charming, azulejo-bedazzled terrace overlooking the Tagus River and the Alfama neighborhood. It has a dreamy pergola draped in bougainvillea that provides some shade protection during a sun-filled day and appeared to be a popular spot for older locals to dabble in a game of cards or chess. It was the very first miradouro we visited while in Lisbon and was an atmospheric place for us to become acquainted with the captivating Alfama district. Some of the landmarks you can see from this spot include the cupola of Santa Engracia and the white towers of Sao Miguel. We also saw a large cruise ship docked on the river which is a regular sighting.
Good to know: This miradouro is completely free to visit and can easily be accessed via Tram 28.
What is an azulejo?
An Azulejo is a hand-painted, decorative tile. These tiles can be found everywhere in the streets of Lisbon – especially on the facades of buildings and along walls at many popular miraduros. These tiles played a very practical purpose in the construction of the city for they helped to repel rain and humidity which prevented water and structural damage. The style and look of Azulejos have changed through time- all of which you can observe at the Museu Nacional do Azulejo. The most classic or traditional Portuguese Azulejo is the geometric, blue, and white painted tiles.
Check out our blog post The Best Museum in Lisbon for People Who Hate Museums to learn more about azulejos and the best place to find them in the city!
Miradouro da Senhora do Monte (Address: 39 Calcada Do Monte)
This is the highest viewpoint in Lisbon and what we would consider to be the best miradouro in the city! It’s a very popular sunset and classic date spot. Rumor has it that young lovers used to sneak up to this viewpoint to avoid pesky interference from their parents or neighbors.
At the top of the viewpoint, you can see several major city landmarks including the Castelo de Sao Jorge in Alfama and Cristo Rei on the other side of the Tagus River. The steel suspension bridge, Ponte 25 de Abril, is also visible in the distance. Around the viewpoint, you will see a church and a small, enclosed Virgin Mary statue. Close by, on the ascent or decent from the viewpoint, is a fun Aperol Spritz themed bar and a lovely modern-day tile art piece called “The Sophia’s World”. The mural was created in 2021 by Jorge Romao and consists of 705, 15 cm x 15 cm tiles. It was finished in 8 days (96 hours)!
Good to know: While taking in the view and snapping selfies, be prepared to be approached multiple times by women trying to sell jewelry. A simple and polite, “no thank you” seemed to dispel further advances.
Coffee and even a fresh lemonade cart were waiting for us at the top of our climb. For a less congested and more leisurely rest stop or break, walk down to Jardim da Cerca da Graca, a dog-friendly park with a playground and a quaint coffee kiosk and outdoor tables and chairs. The Jardim is also a lookout point.
The walk to this miradouro is steep – especially depending on which way you travel up from. A popular way to reach the top is via a tuk tuk.
Miradouro Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen (also called Miradouro de Graca)
This pine-shaded viewpoint got its name from a Portuguese poet who spent many of her days admiring Lisbon from this miradouro. It’s a lovely little spot with an open-air café to enjoy with your special someone. But you’ll find an even better view from atop the Baroque style, Igreja da Graca or Church of our Lady of Grace.
To access the terrace requires a ticket which cost us 5 Euro each and it included our choice of a beverage once we reached the top – lemonade, a beer, a glass of wine or water were a few of the popular options. The admission also granted us access to the inside of the covenant which had a collection of religious art displayed throughout alongside classic Portuguese tile work.
At this viewpoint you are right next to/under the main belltower which rings every 15 minutes. Be prepared for the ringing of the bell as it might startle you and cause you to drop your phone if you are using it to take photos and it starts to ring!
You will also see most of the same landmarks visible from Miradouro da Senhora do Monte (Castelo de Sao Jorge, Cristo Rei, Ponte 25 de Abril).
If you do not want to venture to the Church’s terrace, we do recommend you step inside the church proper accessible from free/public miradouro. Inside you will find a beautiful cloister, gilded woodwork, and 18th century tiles. You can also light a candle and place before a Saint/say a prayer. No flash photography is allowed inside the church.
Good to know: You can also access this miradouro via Tram 28 (take it to the Graça stop).
Miradouro das Portas do Sol
This miradouro is often considered to be the most popular viewpoint in all of Lisbon. It has an incredible open-air patio where you can sip um café (an espresso) and enjoy live street performances while basking in warm sun rays. It’s easy to access and certainly worth a stop if you happen to be passing by.
Arco da Rua Augusta Viewpoint
For unbeatable views of the sprawling Praca do Comercio and the Tagus River, look no further than the Arco da Rua Augusta, the triumphal arch built after the devastating 1755 earthquake. This viewpoint has only been open to the public since 2013!
The highlight at this viewpoint is two-fold. First, you’ll get a spectacular bird-eye views of the downtown Baixa district which is the main sight of Lisbon’s sightseeing action. You’ll also get to soar above the crowds to admire the lively plaza and Rua Augusta (the main tourist thoroughfare). Second, you’ll get up close to the highly ornate statues that sit atop the Arco da Rua Augusta.
Good to know: Paid admission is required to access the top of the arch. We spent about 30 minutes (start to finish) here.
After you purchase your admission ticket you need to scan it and then take a lift part of the way and then climb a short, narrow staircase to the tippy top. At the midpoint, where the lift stops, there is some information on display that talks about how the arch came to be. You can expect to see some of the original proposed designs and challenges faced when building the arch.
We wish you a lovely afternoon exploring dreaming miradouros in Lisbon. Let us know your favorite viewpoints in Lisbon and other cities around the world in the comments below!
~ Justin and Alyssa
Great round up of a lovely city. Portugal keeps getting dropped from our agenda….we need to change that!
Thanks and Portugal is kind of still a little hidden gem in some regards 🙂
Portugal seems to be high on many people’s list these days and I can see why after reading another of your posts! We hope to return and stay for a lot longer than we did on our first trip!
I hope you’re able to return for a longer period of time – there is so much to see and the more we learn about the hiking in Portugal the sooner we want to get back over there!
loved the views of Lisbon from Sao Jorge castle
Truly spectacular views all around and esp. from the castle.