Top 10 attractions in Belém: Lisbon travel guide
Belém is the prime area of the city of Lisbon where the best attractions of the capital of Portugal can be found in a short space. Discover what to see in Belém.
Set out to discover history and modernity in Belém. Place of departure for ships and navigators during the Age of Discovery, the Belém area offers one of the most irresistible tours in the capital of Portugal. If you are going to visit Lisbon, do not miss the 10 suggestions from All About Portugal and, from sunrise to sunset, go out to discover the monuments, museums and gardens of this noble area of Lisbon. And you can rest assured that those who visit Belém never say goodbye, they can only say "see you soon!".
Belém Tower
It is perhaps the most famous monument in Lisbon. The Belém Tower is one of the architectural wonders of the city. It was built in the 16th century for military use, then served as a dungeon and today is the crowning jewel of the capital city. Try to visit it during high tide, when it gets even more beautiful!
Belém Cultural Centre
A stage for great cultural events in the last 25 years, the Belém Cultural Centre is the bastion of Culture in Lisbon. It is divided into three large spaces: meeting centre, show centre and exhibition centre. It also integrates the Berardo Collection Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. It has at the top a pleasant terrace with incredible views over the Tagus.
Monument of the Discoveries
One of Lisbon's most beloved monuments, the Monument of the Discoveries attracts crowds of tourists every day. It was built in 1960 to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator and to evoke the glorious past of Portuguese maritime discoveries.
Navy Museum
Integrated in the Jerónimos Monastery since 1962, the Navy Museum's main mission is to disseminate the Portuguese maritime past, with thousands of exhibition pieces, such as navigational instruments and vessels.
Popular Art Museum
Between two icons of Lisbon (the Belém Tower and the Monument of the Discoveries) is the Popular Art Museum. Overlooking the Tagus and inaugurated in 1948, it hosts exhibitions, seminars, workshops and all kinds of manifestations of folk art.
Jerónimos Monastery
A Manueline-style masterpiece, this architectural marvel was built in the area from which the Portuguese Discoveries' ships and caravels departed. The South Portal, the main Church, and the Vasco da Gama and Luís de Camões tombs stand out.
National Coach Museum
One of the most sought after museums in Lisbon, it has the world's most important collection of royal coaches and carriages from the 16th to the 19th centuries, and it is located within the Picadeiro Real (Royal Riding Hall, former museum).
Tropical Botanical Garden
It was once known as Colonial Garden, later as Overseas Garden and also as Tropical Agricultural Garden. Today it is one of the most pleasant green spaces of Lisbon, with more than 500 species of tropical and subtropical flora spread over gardens and greenhouses.
MAAT - Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology
It is the latest hub of contemporary art in Lisbon, joining the former Museum of Electricity and a new building of contemporary design. The panoramic terrace offers a breathtaking view of the Tagus.
Portuguese Custard Tart
It can be found everywhere today, but they were born in Belém. There is always a good excuse to eat the famous Portuguese Custard Tarts (Pastéis de Belém). At breakfast or as a snack, these pastries, sprinkled with powdered sugar and cinnamon, are the gastronomic crowning jewel of Lisbon.
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