If you're looking for Ground Zero in Lisbon, this might be the spot. Located at the crossroads…read morebetween the bohemian atmosphere of Bairro Alto and the elegant commercialism of Chiado, it's a unique public square covered in traditional black-and-white Portuguese cobblestones. Dominated by a bronze statue of Luís de Camões, Portugal's legendary 16th-century epic poet (Photo 3), the plaza is constantly circled by the city's iconic tram cars. There's an outdoor refreshment kiosk here, though Jamie W and I bypassed it for the comfort of a bench when we explored the heart of the city. The people watching was awesome. RELATED - Exploring Lisbon? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/CNwoGTSkL1

This is one of Lisbon's major squares and in the evenings, it's quite crowded. I was here in…read moremid-December and it was decorated with a huge lighted Christmas ball. So very pretty! The trams and buses circle the plaza, the tourists are walking all through and there are restaurants all around. There is underground parking here and a public toilet. I suggest popping in to O Trevo for "bifana e cerveja" - it's a pork sandwich and a small beer. It was one of Anthony Bourdain's stops during his only visit to Lisbon. Pour some peri peri sauce on it for a kick. [Review 18996 overall - 194 in Portugal - 2520 of 2022.]

Lisbon apparently has 20 miradouros, gathering spots with vista points from which panoramic views…read moreof the city can be found and savored. This one is in the historic Graça district on Lisbon's highest hill and offers a breathtaking panorama of the city. Jamie W and I wrapped up our Graça street mural walk here (review: https://yelp.to/sOE0B7X6gL). It turned out to be ideal timing because it was close to sunset and views of landmarks were unobstructed. We could see the Castelo de São Jorge, the Tagus River, the 25 de Abril Bridge, and the terracotta roofs of both the Alfama and Baixa neighborhoods. So significant was this viewpoint that Portugal's first king, Dom Afonso Henriques, built his fortress here and the Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount was erected. It still stands here. It's imperative to be here during witness the sunset hour because the otherwise white stone is bathed in orange and pink hues. CORRESPONDING REVIEWS Graça Murals: https://yelp.to/sOE0B7X6gL Miradouro das Portas do Sol: https://yelp.to/5snB5Xau8U Miradouro de Santa Luzia: https://yelp.to/dosoL9mFbD Miradouro de Santa Catarina: https://yelp.to/X3AgM3QM0j RELATED - Exploring Lisbon? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/Kn-CxzlTze

4.5 stars. Miradouro da Senhora do Monte or "Viewpoint of Our Lady of the Mount" is the highest…read morepoint in the Graca neighborhood and offers beautiful panoramic views of Lisbon. It is named after its statue of Nossa Senhora do Monte, the Virgin, which is in front of a chapel that was built in the 1700s. When my husband and I were on vacation in Lisbon, our tour guide drove us here on a tuk tuk. We spent many minutes viewing the surrounding city--the 25 de Abril Bridge, the Sanctuary of Christ the King, Sao Jorge Castle, the Tagus estuary, the orange rooftops of buildings, and much more. The only negative aspect of this area was two women who were pressuring us to purchase jewelry, and they refused to accept our no's. Our tour guide, however, intervened and told them something in Portuguese to get them to leave us alone.

Avenida da Liberdade is a tree-lined boulevard that was built in the late 1800s and is modeled…read moreafter Paris's Champs-Elysees. It is famous for its luxury hotels, designer stores, upscale restaurants, fountains, and statues. When my husband and I were on vacation, we passed through these blocks. I enjoyed looking at the tree-filled park and cobblestone pavement. We saw stores such as Burberry, Cartier, Furla, and Gucci. In addition, I read that some countries' embassies are located here.

The Avenida da Liberdade where Lisbon pretends she's Paris and mostly pulls it off. Think wide…read moreboulevards, designer stores no one's actually buying from, overpriced cafés with excellent people-watching potential, and tourists loudly mispronouncing bacalhau or miradouro. Come here to stroll like you have generational wealth, grab a €6 espresso, and silently judge other Americans for wearing flip flops or 5 inch heels.

You'll find many shops and restaurants on this street. It starts from the arc Praça do Comércio. A…read morebit touristy but a nice experience. Once a historical commercial hub of Lisbon giving it a great vibe even today.

Rue Augusta was my favorite street in Lisbon. This famous street is a bustling shopping area where…read moreshops and restaurants abound on either side. The street itself is beautiful with intricate tiled patterns throughout. It's also a popular spot for street entertainment. If you walk to the end of the street, you'll end up at the Praca de Comercio. The Rue Augusta makes for a lovely stroll and the site of several attractions. It's a can't miss in Lisbon!

The arch leads to Praça do Comércio. There are six columns with statues of various historical…read morefigures. The figures at the top represent Glory rewarding Valor and Genius. People can also visit the top for views of the city and the river.

"To the winch, wench." ("Neverending Story")…read more The Arco da Rua Augusta/Arch of Triumph is a stone memorial arch at the end of Rua Augusta street that majestically connects Lisbon to the Tagus River. Passing through the arch gateway from Rua Augusta street, one can confidently enter Praça do Comercio square without fear of being annihilated by lasers shot from giant, angry sphinxes. The arch was built to commemorate the reconstruction of Lisbon following the 1755 earthquake and tsunami that leveled the city and took the lives of an estimated 70,000 people. As per "The Neverending Story", "Nothing is lost...Everything is transformed." Lisbon was thereafter beautifully transformed and rebuilt with the world's first anti-seismic architecture, perhaps aided by a little boy's magical wishes. The arch is beautifully crowned by three sculptures that symbolize Glory, Genius, and Valor. The remaining statues are historical figures that include the Marquis of Pombal and Vasco da Gama. Visitors can reach the top of the arch via spiral staircase or elevator for stunning 360° views of the city, including Praça do Comércio and the Tagus River. No need for wenches to be winched up! This arch is a must see landmark when visiting Lisbon--I give it five flying Falkors! *Entrance is free with the Lisbon Card

You won't get the most spectacular city landscape views here, but this miradouro does provide…read morepanoramic views over the Tagus River and the 25 de Abril Bridge (Video). With a wide open concrete platform, it's a lot more laid back than the more crowded vista points at Miradouro das Portas do Sol and Miradouro de Santa Luzia in Alfama. I presume tourists are less inclined to scale the hillside streets that lead here because it definitely feels more like a locals' spot. Fortunately there's an adjacent kiosk cafe (Quiosque do Adamastor) should you need nourishment for your trekking efforts. It'll help make your climb down easier. CORRESPONDING REVIEWS Miradouro das Portas do Sol: https://yelp.to/pdn6dAdjN5 Miradouro de Santa Luzia: https://yelp.to/tEeimT9V6H RELATED - Exploring Lisbon? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/5pEUTw6es1

I am SO glad someone from our hostel took us here! Not only is the view absolutely amazing, but…read moreit's a perfect place to hang out with a couple of beers and enjoy the live music. Even though it was packed, everyone seemed to find a place to sit, perch, or dance, and there were just generally good vibes all the way around. Don't be surprised if you run into familiar faces! Sunset seems to be the most popular time to be there, so if you're looking to get a bit more space to sit or are with a larger group, definitely get there early. It got cooler at night, also, so you could always just layer up and bring a sweater with you. I would also recommend a mini stash of toilet paper/tissue and some hand sanitizer, as the washrooms are pretty gnarly if you plan on squatting :)

Although I wouldn't characterize Lisbon as a symmetrical city due to its hilly terrain, the one…read moretruly symmetrical area in the city is this waterfront plaza, a model of balance between land and sea in its clean layout and openness to the Tagus River. It defined my first impression of Lisbon on my first visit, and enhanced my awareness of the city's rich maritime history on my most recent visit with Jamie W. Built after the 1755 earthquake destroyed the Royal Palace that stood on the grounds, this public square is anchored by the majestic Augusta Street Arch, the stone gateway through which people enter from downtown (Photo 2). In front at the center of the plaza is the equestrian statue of King José I (Photo 8). Surrounding us were bright yellow arcades framing three sides of the plaza in a U shape. The arcades were lit up in appropriately dramatic fashion at night. We eventually made our way to the waterfront where we looked back on the panoramic view of the square from the Cais das Colunas columns and marble steps (Photo 6). You can picture how visiting dignitaries must have arrived by boat and got their first impression of the city. If there's a single snapshot that defines Lisbon, it's this one. RELATED - Exploring Lisbon? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/ayZwwRJHQd

This is a popular site in Lisbon. It's a big plaza with lots of little shops and restaurants…read morenearby. Three sides of the square are surrounded with bright yellow walls/buildings, while the fourth side of the square is made up by the water! I think that's a cool feature! You enter it through a big, pretty stone arch, and in the very center of the plaza is a statue. When I went, I enjoyed hearing a man sing opera under the arch. It contributed to a nice atmosphere. It felt fitting. I came across this location more than once so it's relatively easy to get to depending on where you are/where you're going. I had sardines for the first time at a restaurant in the plaza, and I wish I could remember the name of the restaurant! They were so good!!! They had a nicer flavor than I expected- mild and salty with maybe a bit of sweetness too. Crispy thin texture on the outside, too. And much larger sized fish than I expected. I was lucky to be there during sardine season/festival, so I'm sure that helped.

Jamie W and I knew this historic neighborhood was a bit off the beaten track for rookie tourists…read morebecause we needed an Uber to guide us through the labyrinth of narrow hillside roads to get us here. When we arrived at the foot of Caracol da Graça, we were immersed in a succession of street art as we climbed the stairs (review: https://yelp.to/FyeWqG0P2X). This was only the beginning because the neighborhood as a whole felt like an open-air museum. Striking murals are scattered throughout on the sides of buildings. They reflect specific chapters in local history, an appreciation of an artist, impassioned political memories, or some intersection of those elements. Two miradouros bookend the 1-1/2-mile self-guided stroll: Miradouro de Graça and the highest viewpoint in Lisbon, Miradouro da Senhora do Monte. Rua da Senhora da Gloria is where we found murals by renowned street artists. The standout was a dramatic collaborative piece by two of the most famous, Shepard Fairey and Vhils (Photo 5). Half painted and half carved, this mural vividly evokes the discrimination against women's rights in Arab countries. Of particular interest was an intimate piece by Bordalo II, the artist well-known for his gigantic installations made of trash (Photo 8). On Rua Josefa de Obidos, portraits honor classic Portuguese writers and poets like Natalia Correia (Photo 2). Three of the most striking murals can be seen on this residential street. There is "Tropical Fado in RGB Tones," an explosion of bright colors painted in 2021 by Lisbon-based muralist OzeArv, who specializes in nature and portraits (Photo 6). Artist Isa Silva produced "Once upon a time", a more fanciful mural featuring characters from famous fairy tales (Photo 9). Perhaps the most famous mural is Fairey's 2017 "Peace Guard" (Photo 7). It features a girl holding a gun with a red carnation, a symbolic reference to the 1974 Carnation Revolution. Fairey is the same artist who created Obama's "Hope" poster. There was much more to see on various side streets including a long wall of discrete graffiti works (Photo 10). All these works create a visual dialogue between Lisbon's rich cultural heritage and audacious contemporary expression, and it doesn't require a separate admission fee to see. RELATED - Exploring Lisbon? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/BDqfSvTJxK