1
Torre de Belem
A UNESCO-listed monument from the 16th century, the Belem Tower was built to defend Lisbon from enemy ships. Around 1515, architect Francisco de Arruda designed the iconic monument and it served the purpose of being a fort that protected Lisbon from incoming raids along the Tagus River. It also marked the beginning of voyages for sailors.
2
MAAT - Museu de Arte, Arquitetura e Tecnologia
Located on the riverfront in Lisbon’s historical Belém district, MAAT comprises a former power station built in 1908 – MAAT Central – and a contemporary building – MAAT Gallery – connected via a park that extends along the River Tagus.
3
Praca do Comercio (Terreiro do Paco)
Praça do Comércio, also known as Commerce Square, stands as one of Lisbon's most iconic landmarks, situated along the Tagus River. Better known by locals as Terreiro do Paço since it was once where the paço, or palace, used to stand before the earthquake in 1755, it is one of the largest squares in Europe.
As a symbol of the city, it provides access to various attractions that mustn’t be missed: Pátio da Galé; Cais das Colunas; and the innovative Lisbon Story Centre.
4
Santuario Nacional de Cristo Rei
Visible from most parts of Lisbon and beyond, the imposing statue of Christ the King (Cristo Rei) stands a striking 82 meters (270 feet) high on its angular pedestal overlooking the south bank of the River Tagus.
Standing tall with its robed arms outstretched, it was erected in 1959 and modeled on the famous Cristo Redentor in Rio de Janeiro.
One of Portugal’s most iconic landmarks, Cristo Rei is said to have been built by the Portuguese government as a symbol of thanks for not having suffered any casualties during World War II, in honor of a promise made by the Portuguese bishops.
5
Ponte 25 de Abril
Inspired by Leon Moisseiff's Golden Gate Bridge design, Ponte 25 de Abril mirrors its iconic coloring and exceeds its length by 100m. Although the bridge spanned the river Tejo (Tagus) at its narrowest point in Lisbon, it still traverses more than a kilometre over water making it the largest suspension bridge in Europe and the 20th longest in the world. The design choice was influenced by San Francisco's seismic activity, a shared concern with Lisbon. With foundations reaching 80m below the riverbed into basalt rock, the bridge stands 70 meters above the water, allowing shipping access to Lisbon's docks. Expanded from four to six lanes in the 1990s, it also accommodates a lower deck railway line, stretching over two kilometers with the viaduct on the northern bank.
