Tour of Lisbon in a Private Tour

Take one of the most iconic elevators in Lisbon. A unique structure and a phenomenal view from the top make it one of the city's most sought-after attractions. The Santa Justa elevator is one of the most famous historical monuments in downtown Lisbon. Designed by Mesnier du Ponsard, it was originally called Ascensor Ouro-Carmo. It connects Rua do Ouro to Largo do Carmo, in a neo-Gothic style structure completely different from the other elevators in the city. The wooden cabins themselves, elegantly decorated with brass, evoke a journey through time as you ascend and descend towards the city's most exclusive areas. At the top of the tower you will find one of the best viewpoints in the city, which provides a splendid view of the Baixa, the Castle, the Tagus River and the impressive ruins of the Igreja do Convento do Carmo. It's worth climbing up and feeling a shiver of emotion with the landscape that stretches out before your eyes.

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 of the eastern front of the Alfama district and the Tagus River, which stretches to the riverbank in a unique labyrinth of streets, staircases and alleyways. 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 welcoming and lively 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's kiosk, see the famous tram 28 that constantly passes by the stop in front, and also see the statue of Saint Vincent, patron saint of Lisbon.

This medieval neighborhood (which was once a Jewish quarter and a fishing community) is the oldest neighborhood in Europe, after El Pópulo in Cádiz. 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 Graça neighborhood. It is a neighborhood to get lost in alleys and squares, letting yourself be guided by your senses: seeing clotheslines on balconies and fantastic views of the Tagus River, smelling fish grilling 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 trendiest

It was once one of the city's best-kept secrets, but it has been gradually discovered by tour guides and couples in love. It offers a panoramic view of Lisbon, which can also be seen from a small image of the Virgin Mary that gives the viewpoint its name. Behind the image is a small 18th-century chapel, which is almost always closed. An old legend says that pregnant women who sat in the stone chair inside would have easier childbirths. This is one of the highest points in the city, so several monuments can be seen, 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 the olive trees, cypresses and stone pines. To get here, walk along Rua da Graça from Largo da Graça, and turn left onto Rua da Senhora do Monte.

The Church of Santo António is a building located in the parish of Santa Maria Maior (Sé), in the municipality of Lisbon, Portugal. It is supposedly located on the site of the house where Saint Anthony was born, next to the old Porta do Mar, which existed in the wall leading to the interior of medieval Lisbon, and is considered to be his sanctuary. Next to it is a small museum dedicated to him.

The Lisbon Cathedral, is located in the city of the same name in Portugal. It is the seat of the Patriarchate of Lisbon and the Parish of the Cathedral. Its construction began in the second half of the 12th century, after the conquest of the city from the Moors by D. Afonso Henriques, and today it presents a mixture of architectural styles. It has been classified as a National Monument since 1910.

The Baixa district of 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 earthquake-resistant construction in the world. Streets were designed with very specific shapes and measurements, and named after the various trades and artisans of the time (shoemakers, gilders, saddlers, gold and silver workers). In the 20th century, many of the buildings were occupied by banks and offices, pushing residents to the Avenidas Novas (New Avenues), and eventually leaving several buildings abandoned. However, in recent years the neighborhood has been reborn as a commercial and tourist center. Many of the streets are pedestrianized, and they connect a series of monumental squares, from Rossio Square with its cafes to Commerce Square with its triumphal arch, to the elegant Municipal Square.

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 Lisbon version of the Parisian Champs-Elysées. It is a tree-lined avenue covered in Portuguese cobblestones between Restauradores and Marquês de Pombal squares, and is where the large luxury shops are located, starting on Rua Castilho to the north and then descending the avenue. This is also an area of theaters and beautiful old buildings, although many others were demolished for new constructions in the mid-20th century. However, some remarkable examples still survive, many of them winners of the Valmor Prize, with an impressive example at number 206-218 in Art Nouveau style, now housing a Prada store. Climbing the hill on the eastern side (with the help of the Lavra Elevator) you reach the old parish of Pena, a more typical neighborhood, where the famous fado singer Amália Rodrigues was born, and where you will find a little-known viewpoint, the Miradouro do Torel.

The National Sanctuary of Christ the King is situated at an altitude of 133 meters above the Tagus River. It consists of a portico designed by the architect António Lino, standing 75 meters high, topped by a 28-meter-high statue of the Holy Redeemer with open arms facing the city of Lisbon, a work by the Portuguese sculptor Francisco Franco de Sousa. The pedestal, including the portico, rises to 82 meters in height. The sanctuary and monument to Christ the King is the biggest tourist attraction in the municipality of Almada. This monument offers the best viewpoint overlooking the city of Lisbon, providing a wide view of the capital and the 25th of April Bridge. Numerous tourist reports about Lisbon feature the sanctuary and monument to Christ the King, a landmark of Almada. It is one of the tallest buildings in Portugal, standing 110 meters high.

A panoramic visit to the Monument to the Discoveries evokes the Portuguese overseas expansion, synthesizes a glorious past, and symbolizes the greatness of the work of Prince Henry the Navigator, the driving force behind the discoveries. A stylized caravel sets sail, carrying at its prow Prince Henry the Navigator and some of the protagonists (32) of the overseas exploits and the culture of the time: navigators, cartographers, warriors, colonizers, evangelizers, chroniclers, and artists, are portrayed with the symbols that individualize them. A stylized mast, oriented North-South, has on each face two Portuguese shields, with five quinas (five shields), surrounded by a band with 12 castles and in the center several fleurs-de-lis. Attached to the mast, on each face, are three curved triangular structures, giving the illusion of sails billowing in the wind.

Visit only the Monastery Church. The extraordinary stonework 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 closer together -- Vasco da Gama -- is buried inside the church.

Panoramic tour. Lisbon's landmark looks like a small castle straight out of a fairy tale. It's an architectural gem from the Age of Discoveries, now classified as a World Heritage Site.