What to See and Do in the Belém Neighbourhood, Lisbon

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The Belém neighbourhood is without doubt a must if you are visiting the city of Lisbon. Located right at the mouth of the River Tagus, it is home to some of the most emblematic and important monuments of the Portuguese capital and even of the country. Do you want to find out everything you can see in Belém?

Belém Tower

Built in the 16th century at the height of Europe's Age of Discovery, it is one of the symbols of Lisbon and also of Portugal. It was used mainly as a fortress, but also as a port for the expeditions of the Portuguese explorers who set sail for distant lands. In its later years it served as a lighthouse, a prison and a tax-collection centre, until it was turned into a lovely museum where visitors can feel the history in every one of its stones.

Getting there: by bus (727, 28, 729, 714 and 751) or by tram (15)

Price: 6€ per person (discounts for students, families and over-65s). Entry is free on the first Sunday of every month.

Opening hours: October to April (10:00-17:30) and May to September (10:00-18:30)

Website: www.torrebelem.gov.pt

Jerónimos Monastery

Without doubt, one of the most spectacular monuments not only in Lisbon but in the whole country is the Jerónimos Monastery. Founded in 1501 on the remains of a hermitage, it was designed in a beautiful Manueline style by the Spanish architect Juan de Castillo. It was commissioned by King Manuel I of Portugal himself to commemorate Vasco da Gama's return from India. Inside the church are the tombs of two famous figures in Portuguese history: the navigator Vasco da Gama and the poet Luís de Camões. Together with Belém Tower, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

Getting there: by bus (727, 28, 729, 714 and 751) or by tram (15)

Price: 10€ per person (discounts for students, families and over-65s). Entry is free on the first Sunday of every month. Entry to the church is always free.

Opening hours: October to April (10:00-17:30) and May to September (10:00-18:30)

Website: www.mosteirojeronimos.gov.pt

Monument to the Discoveries

Popularly known as Padrão dos Descobrimentos, this monument was built in 1969 on the banks of the River Tagus and commemorates the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry of Portugal, one of the sons of the Portuguese king John I, better known since the 19th century as Henry the Navigator (Henrique O Navegador, in Portuguese). It is roughly 52 metres tall and depicts some of the most important and influential figures of the Age of Discovery, such as kings, navigators, cartographers and writers. You can go inside the monument and climb all the way to the top, which offers one of the best views of the Tagus and the 25 de Abril Bridge.

Getting there: by bus (727, 28, 729, 714 and 751) or by tram (15)

Price: 6€ per person (discounts for students and over-65s, children up to 12 free).

Opening hours: October to February (10:00-18:00, closed on Mondays) and March to September (10:00-19:00)

Website: www.padraodosdescobrimentos.pt

Berardo Museum

The Museu Coleção Berardo is one of the most important and prestigious museums in Lisbon. Opened in 2007, it hosts a range of temporary exhibitions as well as a permanent exhibition of modern and contemporary art from Portugal and beyond its borders. Starting in the 20th century, the museum runs through some of the most representative movements up to the present day and includes works by major artists such as Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and Salvador Dalí.

Getting there: by bus (727, 728, 729, 714 and 751) or by tram (15)

Price: 5€ per person (discounts for students and over-65s). Entry is free on Saturdays.

Opening hours: every day from 10:00 to 19:00

Website: www.museuberardo.pt

Maritime Museum

The Maritime Museum (Museu de Marinha) is located in the west wing of the Jerónimos Monastery, on the remains of a chapel built by Henry the Navigator for the sailors who attended mass before setting out to sea. It holds a large collection of instruments showing the evolution of nautical engineering since the 15th century, as well as various navigation instruments and copies of 15th-century maps. Right in front of the museum you will find an impressive collection of royal boats.

Getting there: by bus (727, 28, 729, 714 and 751) or by tram (15)

Price: 6,50€ per person (discounts for students and over-65s, children up to 12 free). Entry is free for everyone on the first Sunday of every month. It is also free on Navy Day (20 May) and on Sea Day (16 November).

Opening hours: October to February (10:00-18:00, closed on Mondays) and March to September (10:00-19:00)

Website: ccm.marinha.pt

Calouste Gulbenkian Planetarium

An ideal place to visit in Lisbon, especially if you are travelling with children, although adults will have a great time too. Built in the 1960s, its 25-metre-diameter dome was designed by the architect Frederico George. It has an impressive projector that simulates the night sky with more than 9000 stars, as well as the Milky Way, and various attractions to delve deeper into the world of astronomy.

Getting there: by bus (727, 28, 729, 714, 751 and 201) or by tram (15)

Price: 5€ per person (discounts for students and over-65s, children up to 12 free). On the first Sunday of every month entry is free for children aged 4 to 12 and over-65s, and everyone else pays 50%

Opening hours: 9:30 to 12:00 and 13:30 to 16:00 | On Saturdays it stays open until 17:00 and on Sundays it opens from 10:00

Website: ccm.marinha.pt/pt/planetario

MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology)

This museum, opened in 2016, is one of the most modern and original architectural works in the whole city. Located on the banks of the River Tagus, it offers a comprehensive collection of artworks by a range of contemporary artists, both national and international, although it specialises in modern Portuguese art. It also lets visitors go up to its roof, which offers some of the best views of the 25 de Abril Bridge and the Cristo Rei statue.

Getting there: by bus (727, 28, 729, 714 and 751) or by tram (15)

Price: 5€ per person (discounts for students and over-65s, children up to 18 free). On the first Sunday of every month entry is free for everyone.

Opening hours: every day from 11:00 to 19:00 (closed on Tuesdays)

Website: www.maat.pt

I hope you enjoy your visit to one of the prettiest neighbourhoods in Lisbon!

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