Tour of Lisbon in a private tour

Whether on a climb from the Cathedral to the Castle of São Jorge or the other way around, the Portas do Sol viewpoint is a perfectly located spot in the middle of this route for an impromptu break. Visiting the viewpoint is also an excuse to appreciate the genuine features of Lisbon in a fantastic view to the eastern front of the Alfama District and the Tagus River, which extends to the river's edge in a unique maze of streets, staircases and lanes. From the top of the viewpoint it is also possible to admire the various domes and different architectures of the churches of Santo Estêvão, São Miguel and São Vicente de Fora. Being at the Portas do Sol viewpoint is like being on a balcony at home, thanks to its cozy and busy atmosphere. In addition to the postcard-worthy view of Lisbon, at the Portas do Sol viewpoint you can have an authentic Portuguese coffee at the viewpoint kiosk, see the famous tram 28 that passes constantly in front of you and also visit the statue of São Vicente, patron saint of Lisbon, holding the ferry that is the symbol of the capital.

It was once one of the city's biggest secrets, but it has been discovered by tour guides and couples. It offers a panoramic view of Lisbon, which is also seen by a small image of the Virgin that gives the viewpoint its name. Behind the image is a small chapel from the 18th century, which is almost always closed. An old legend has it that pregnant women who sat in the stone chair inside would have easier births. This is one of the highest points in the city, so you can see several monuments, identified on a tile panel. The viewpoint is very popular at sunset, but during the day there are also those who spend hours in the shade of olive trees, cypresses and stone pines. To get here, walk along Rua da Graça from Largo da Graça, and turn left at Rua da Senhora do Monte.

The Lower Lisbon was completely rebuilt in the 18th century, after its destruction by the 1755 earthquake. It was the largest earthquake ever recorded in Europe, but it led to the first neoclassical urban planning and the first large-scale anti-seismic construction in the world. Streets were designed with very specific shapes and measures, which were given the names of the various crafts and craftsmen of the time (cobblers, gilders, brokers, gold and silver). In the 20th century many of the buildings were occupied by banks and offices, pushing residents to Avenidas Novas, and eventually leaving several buildings to be abandoned. However, in recent years the neighborhood has been reborn as a commercial and tourist center. Many of the streets are pedestrian, and connect a set of monumental squares, from Rossio with its cafes to Praça do Comércio with its triumphal arch, to the elegant Praça do Município. There are currently several projects for the major rehabilitation of the area since the 18th century Pombaline reconstruction, and there is hope that it will be recognized as a World Heritage Site.

The Lisbon version of the Parisian Champs-Elysées. It is a tree-lined avenue covered in Portuguese pavement between the Restauradores and Marquês de Pombal squares, and it is where the luxury stores are located, starting at Rua Castilho to the north, and then going down the avenue. This is also an area of theaters and beautiful old buildings, although many others were demolished for new construction in the mid-20th century. However, a few notable examples still survive, many of them winners of the Valmor Prize, an impressive example being found at number 206-218 in Art Nouveau style, today housing a Prada store. Going up the hill on the east side (with the help of the Elevador do Lavra) you reach the old parish of Pena, a more typical neighborhood, where the famous fado singer Amália Rodrigues was born, and where you can find a little-known viewpoint, the Miradouro do Torel.

This medieval neighborhood (which was once a Jewry and a fishing community) is the oldest neighborhood in Europe, after El Pópulo in Cadiz. It is a small village or medina in the middle of the capital, and a relic from the times before the great earthquake of 1755. It escaped the catastrophe thanks to its solid foundations on the highest hill in the city, which extends to the neighborhood of Graça. It is a neighborhood to get lost in alleys and squares, letting yourself be guided by the senses: seeing drying racks on the balconies and fantastic views of the Tagus, smelling fish to roast on the corner, listening to the sounds of Fado from inside a typical restaurant, savoring traditional dishes and touching magnificent tile panels. This is the most picturesque neighborhood in Lisbon and the true soul of the city. Here life continues as it did centuries ago, but going down to the river you enter the 21st century again, with old warehouses now converted into some of the most fashionable spaces in the city.

OChiado is the most elegant neighborhood in Lisbon and is always in fashion. It is where everyone makes an appointment for a coffee, to go shopping, or as a meeting point before a dinner in Bairro Alto. Most of the buildings were originally built in the 18th century, and many were rehabilitated in the 90s by the architect Álvaro Siza Vieira, after a devastating fire in 1988. It is a neighborhood that takes us on a journey through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. XX, the "Belle Époque" when writers like Fernando Pessoa and Eça de Queiroz frequented their cafes. It is also the district of theaters, old bookstores and international brands, giving it a lively and cosmopolitan atmosphere at any time of the day.

Praça do Comércio, Commerce Square in English, is Lisbon’s main square. It was built on the site where the old Royal Palace used to exist before it was destroyed by the earthquake of 1755. The southern end of the plaza is open and looks out onto the Tagus River. The other three sides have yellow-coloured buildings with arcades all along the façade. When the square was first built, the commercial ships would unload their goods directly onto this square, as it was considered the “door” to Lisbon.

The Bairro Alto, a neighborhood created in 1513, truly changes overnight. During the day it is a dormant neighborhood, hung over from the night before, with very little happening except in the shops on Rua do Norte. Wake up when the sun goes down, with restaurants opening their doors and young people getting ready for another night from bar to bar. The bars are small, forcing night owls to spread out through the narrow streets, creating a street festival atmosphere. Rua da Atalaia, Rua do Diário de Notícias and Rua da Barroca are full of young people with caipirinha in their hands, mixing different urban, hetero and gay tribes. It is a neighborhood inhabited by the elderly and bohemians, giving it an atmosphere that is both traditional and avant-garde, a place that does not need a name - it is simply "the neighborhood" where everything happens - at night. Crossing the Calçada do Combro one enters the small neighborhood of Bica, known for its famous elevator. It is another picturesque neighborhood that goes down the hill, together with the neighborhood of Santa Catarina right next door, this one known for its viewpoint.

The ex-libris of Lisbon looks like a small castle out of a fairy tale. It is an architectural jewel from the Age of Discovery, now classified as a World Heritage Site.

Located at the north end of Avenida da Liberdade, at the top of Praça Marquês do Pombal, this is the largest park in Lisbon. Initially called Parque da Liberdade, it was renamed after the King of England who, in 1903, came to Lisbon to reaffirm the alliance between the two countries. With twenty-five hectares, it develops along a central axis materialized in the great avenue with a large lawn, offering unique corners and several valences. In the Northwest corner, there is the Cold Greenhouse. Nearby, a lake with large carp and a park for children in the shape of a galleon.

isolated and highlighted on the wall by the Tagus, the Padrão dos Descobrimentos evokes the Portuguese overseas expansion, synthesizes a glorious past and symbolizes the greatness of the work of Infante D. Henrique, the driver of the discoveries. A stylized caravel takes to the sea, leading Infante D. Henrique to the bow and some of the protagonists (32) of the overseas gesture and culture of the time, navigators, cartographers, warriors, colonizers, evangelizers, chroniclers and artists, are portrayed with the symbols that individualize them. A stylized mast, with North - South orientation, has two Portuguese shields on each side, with five corners, surrounded by a strip with 12 castles and in the center several fleur-de-lis. To the mast, three triangular, curved structures are sweetened on each face, giving the illusion of sails blown by the wind.

The extraordinary stone carved in the cloisters of this monastery glorifies the times when the West and the East met, and the man who managed to bring these worlds together - Vasco da Gama - is buried inside the church.

The National Sanctuary of Cristo Rei is located at an altitude of 133 meters above the level of the Tagus, being constituted by a portico designed by the architect António Lino, with 75 meters of height, surmounted by the statue of the Most Holy Redeemer with open arms facing the city of Lisbon, 28 meters high, by the Portuguese sculptor Francisco Franco de Sousa. The pedestal, including the portico, rises to 82 meters in height. The sanctuary and monument to Cristo Rei is the biggest tourist attraction in the municipality of Almada. This monument is the best viewpoint overlooking the city of Lisbon, offering a wide view over the capital and over the 25 de Abril Bridge. Numerous tourist reports about Lisbon include the sanctuary and monument to Cristo Rei, ex-libris of Almada. It is one of the tallest buildings in Portugal, 110 meters high.