The viewpoints in Lisbon offer their visitors something very special – nowhere is the view the same and everywhere the impressions are simply unique.
During our time in Lisbon, we visited a few viewpoints and realized, nothing is as beautiful as the view of the Tagus River.
Ponte 25 de Abril
Admittedly, the first viewpoint in Lisbon is definitely the most unusual place and also the place that is accessible only once a year. You can actually only cross the Ponte 25 de Abril by car or train. This experience alone offers a wonderful view of the Tagus River. But while driving, the enjoyment is only short and you would have to go back and forth several times to really discover much.
Once a year, however, you have the opportunity to cross the bridge on foot. For this, however, you have to register for the Lisbon Half Marathon or the 10 kilometer run on the same day in March. Of course, if you want to run the whole distance, you won’t pay much attention to the surroundings. But honestly it is worth it! The start is right at the Ponte 25 de Abril and goes over the closed car road on the bridge.
We ran the shorter race. Here, in the beginning, only the ambitious runners were the ones running across the bridge. In the back field it was leisurely. Everyone took pictures, walked quietly across the bridge and enjoyed the view. Many began only at the end of the bridge to really participate in the run – whether really all starters have run the 10 kilometers I would really doubt.
Experiência Pilar 7 – the observation deck on the Ponte 25 de Abril
If you don’t want to participate in a fun run right away or are in town at a completely different time of year, you can enjoy the view over Lisbon from the observation deck on the Ponte 25 de Abril. I didn’t find it quite as impressive compared to crossing the bridge, but it’s definitely worth the visit to Experiência Pilar 7.
At Experiência Pilar 7, you can first learn about the construction of the bridge in an exhibition and are then taken by elevator to the viewing platform at street level.
Even though it is very noisy due to the street traffic, one can enjoy the view. The view over the Tagus and towards the city is great.
The large monument Padrão dos Descobrimentos stands directly on the banks of the Tagus. If you don’t know it, you don’t suspect a viewpoint in Lisbon here, only when you look very closely you discover people on the monument.
The elevator takes you to the viewing platform. From there you can look over the river and see the impressive Ponte 25 de Abril and even up to the Cristo statue. If you turn your gaze in the other direction, you can see the Torre de Belém.
Towards the city, one looks into the Belém district. The Mosteiro dos Jerónimos attracts the view almost magically. Only from the viewing platform I really became aware of the size of the monastery complex.
Castelo de São Jorge – Viewpoints over Lisbon
The Castelo de São Jorge is located on one of the hilltops in the city area. If you like to overlook the city, you will find various viewpoints in Lisbon, which give very different impressions.
From the large open terrace area you look over the old town. What a nested city with small alleys! Nevertheless, places like the famous elevator Santa Justa can be recognized in the cityscape. Also from up here, the Tagus River shows its full width, a dreamlike view that I can hardly get enough of.
You get a slightly different view if you walk along the walls of the Castelo. Here you can also look over the areas where the normal city visitor hardly goes.
Arco da Rua Augusta
At the Praca do Comércio stands the famous Arco da Rua Augusta. On the beautiful archway there is a viewing platform, which can be reached by elevator followed by very narrow stairs.
The parapet is quite high, but you can see quite well. As with the other viewpoints in Lisbon, the view of the Tagus is unbeatable. The large Praca do Comércio is at your feet, you can watch the people and sometimes even spot a ship on the river.
If you look in the other direction, you look into the city center exactly on the street course of the Rua Augusta. Here is almost at any time of day and night business.
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