There’s no doubt that you will fall in love with Lisbon as soon as you step foot on its grounds. With seemingly endless rays of sunshine, a unique charm with its trams and cobblestone streets, and an enviable colour palette splashed throughout, the capital city of Portugal is a sight for sore eyes – which is why we have compiled a list of eleven of the best photo spots in Lisbon.
Convento do Carmo
The Convento do Carmo isn’t your normal monastery! Its rooftop was destroyed in an earthquake in 1755, so nowadays the monastery is a museum and eerily beautiful Lisbon hot spot to photograph.
Alfama neighbourhood
If you are after the quintessential photo of Lisbon, you won’t have to look far when exploring the Alfama neighbourhood. As one of Lisbon’s oldest areas, you can bet your bottom dollar that you will find narrow, cobblestone streets, colourful painted or tiled houses and a real local atmosphere, giving you ample opportunity to snap away in multiple photo spots.
Church of Santa Engrácia
The crisp white exterior of Church of Santa Engrácia makes it stand out from the rest of colourful Lisbon, but for all the right reasons! While it was built as a church, it ended up being a national Pantheon instead. The best photo spots are both outside – to capture the church against a blue sky – and inside – by climbing to a viewing platform for views across Lisbon.
Torre de Belém
Even though it is found a little outside of the city centre, the Torre de Belém is one of the most popular photo spots in Lisbon. The tower has a longstanding history from being part of the Tagus estuary defence system between 1514 – 1520 and it remains in surprisingly good condition in its present-day form as a museum.
Any tiled building
The Portuguese tiles are called azulejos and were initially used to keep houses cool during summer. While they still serve this purpose, the tiles also act as artwork in themselves. Found all over the city, any tiled building makes for a great photo op.
Bica neighbourhood
Another one of our favourite neighbourhoods and photo spots, the Bica neighbourhood is extremely popular thanks to the iconic Bica Elevator. Firmly embedded in Lisbon’s history as a means of transport to easily conquer some of Lisbon’s hilly streets, the Bica Elevator has been in operation since 1892!
Praça do Comércio and Rua Augusta Arch
Because these two photo spots are practically one and the same, we couldn’t pick just one!
The Praça do Comércio is surrounded by sunshine yellow buildings, instantly making it a joyful plaza by day and night. The northern end is where the Rua Augusta Arch was built. This grandiose arch is a true testament to the city and how it was rebuilt bigger and better than ever after the earthquake of 1755. In fact, Lisbon is now resistant to seismic waves, so the Rua Augusta Arch is a reminder of the lives and areas lost and of the future ahead for the city.
If you time it right, you can get a photo of both Praça do Comércio and Rua Augusta Arch with an iconic Lisbon tram passing by.
Graça neighbourhood
With less tourists and a big residential community, you’ll get a real feel of a Lisbon neighbourhood when you discover Graça. The best part about the area is the multitude of photo spots to capture street art! Allow yourself the luxury of wandering through at your own pace.
Ponte 25 de Abril
The 25 de Abril bridge, Lisbon’s longest suspension bridge, has an uncanny resemblance to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. Built to connect Lisbon and Almada, getting a good photo of the bridge provides the chance to wander along the water and through to the port area, another picturesque photo spot to reflect on your time in Lisbon.
Elevador de Santa Justa
Likely the most famous elevador in all of Lisbon, the Elevador de Santa Justa connects the lower streets of Baixa with the higher streets of Largo do Carmo. Coupled with a seriously epic view across the skyline, it’s no wonder that people will queue to get a photo for the ‘gram!
Are you a keen photographer or simply love finding all the best photo spots when travelling? Visit Lisbon on a Globus or Cosmos tour to explore this charming city.
