5 Places to Fall in Love with Lisbon
Filled with fabulous places, Lisbon is a city that is easy to fall in love with. In every corner, you can find rustic old buildings full of history, green gardens, cultural spaces, and art. Therefore, Hotel Portuense selected, and in this article, we give you 5 places that will make you fall in love with Lisbon and why you should visit them!
Cais das Colunas
Located in Lisbons’ historic center, in Praça do Comércio, Cais das Colunas was built after the 1755 earthquake, during the reconstruction of downtown Lisbon. In the past, this pier was the noblest entrance of the city and the place chosen by several relevant figures that visited Portugal, such as Isabel II of England. It was also the place that allowed access to the ferries and other boats to the city.
Its name comes, logically, from the two columns mounted on the marble step of the pier. Eugénio dos Santos was the architect who designed the work. His inspiration comes from masonry and represents the two columns of Solomon’s temple (wisdom and devotion). Just for curiosity, these columns were removed in 1997. They were out of place for 11 years due to the expansion works of the Lisbon subway. Only in 2008 were they reconstituted.
Go to Cais das Colunas to relax and watch the breathtaking sunset. You surely won’t regret it.
Lisbon’s Oceanarium
If you are an enthusiast of aquatic life, the Oceanarium is for sure one of the places that will make you fall in love with Lisbon. It is in Parque das Nações and was voted the “Best Aquarium in the World” by TripAdvisor’s Travellers Choice in 2018.
Lisbon’s Oceanarium is one of the largest closed aquariums in Europe. It has a program for the whole family, as it encompasses activities for the little ones and the older ones.
Aside from the permanent and temporary exhibits, the Oceanarium offers a variety of other activities. The permanent exhibition is called “One Planet, One Ocean”. There you will see an aquarium with 5 million liters of saltwater and four marine habitats that create the illusion that you are only looking at an ocean and an aquarium. In the temporary exhibition, you will find “Submerged Forests by Takashi Amano”. In the first author-signed exhibit at Lisbon’s Oceanarium, tropical forests are presented through a beautiful aquarium.
Seeing the rays, sharks, and tropical fish swimming right in front of you is a surreal experience. Take a visit to this giant aquarium, inhabited by a great diversity of species of fish and mammals, and enjoy a magical time full of fun and knowledge!
Lisbon Botanical Garden
Situated in the heart of Lisbon and overlooking the Tagus River, the Botanical Garden is a real Eden for plant lovers. With more than 140 years, this garden is home to approximately 1500 species from the most varied places in the world, some of them quite rare.
The collections on display benefit various branches of botanical research. They present an enormous variety of plant forms and diverse ecological processes while also being a relevant and effective way to conserve endangered plants.
There is an interesting fact about the Lisbon Botanical Garden: researchers believe it results in a positive impact on pollution caused by vehicles in the Avenida da Liberdade area. Just don’t forget to look out for the cones from the Bunia-bunia tree, which is quite large and of Australian origin. Each of these pinecones weighs 10 kilos and can cause serious damage if they hit you on the head!
Portas do Sol Viewpoint
Located in Portas do Sol square, Portas do Sol viewpoint is one of those places you really don’t want to miss. The name given to this place comes from a door that belonged to medieval times that was destroyed by the 1755 earthquake.
Portas do Sol is known for the best sunrise views in Lisbon and is the perfect place to start a tour of Alfama. There you have a privileged perspective of the neighborhood from which you can see the small houses with their reddish roofs, the Santo Estevão Church, the National Pantheon, and even the São Vicente de Fora Monastery.
The cozy atmosphere of this viewpoint makes it a special place to relax. Have an authentic Portuguese coffee, watch the path of the well-known 28 streetcar, and enjoy the postcard-worthy view.
Jardim da Estrela
The Guerra Junqueiro Garden, more commonly known by its former name of Jardim da Estrela, is in the Estrela neighborhood. A beautiful oasis in the middle of Lisbon, it was built with the style of English gardens, with romantic inspiration. It is even said that it was one of D. Maria II’s favorite places to take her infants for a walk.
Open to the public every day, the Jardim da Estrela covers 4.6 hectares. It features a bandstand built in 1884 that was formerly on the Passeio Público before the Avenida da Liberdade was constructed and was moved there in 1936. It also has a lake with ducks, swans, geese, and carp; a café; playgrounds; peacocks displayed with and without plumage; and parakeets. There are as well countless unique plant species, such as jacarandas, dragon trees, and araucarias.
Whether you want a relaxing afternoon with a cup of coffee on the terrace or a moment of meditation on the lawns, you’ll find it here.
Did you enjoy reading about the 5 places to fall in love with Lisbon? Hotel Portuense offers a tourist service that can provide recommendations for the best spots you can visit in Lisbon. Enjoy our city and let yourself fall in love!