12 Most Instagrammable Places in Lisbon!
January 31, 2024
Do you want to find the most iconic, instagrammable spots in Lisbon? Where are the best places in Lisbon to take stunning photos? We've been to Portugal a few times, so know the best secrets. We've visited Lisbon in several seasons, including this warm winter. Yes, Lisbon is full of beautiful landmarks & here are the 12 best instagram photo places. We have the most helpful insider tips on best time to go if your time is short. We started with Pena Palace in Sintra which is Portugal's top MUST SEE site. TIP! We drove from the Algarve to Sintra on the way to Lisbon. I will write more about that soon. What you see and photograph in Lisbon will depend on how long you are there and what season.
1) Pena Palace
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Sintra is only 30 minutes drive from Lisbon, so do not miss it. See it first or do a day trip ( or more) from Lisbon by car or train. Pena Palace is a UNESCO world heritage site, majestic architectural masterpiece and best fairy tale castle in Europe!
2) Miradouro de Santa Luzia
The secret to getting iconic photos in Lisbon, is starting early. We took an uber to save time. Lisbon is known as the city of 7 hills, so it is a fantastic place to get panoramic city and sea views. We had a lot of fun getting our travel angel photos here. Go early because even in January at dawn there was a small crowd. It usually gets very crowded during the day. Even this terrace is Instagram-worthy. Don't miss including the magnificent, blue, typical Portuguese mosaic tiles!
3) Miradouro das Portas do Sol
Very close to Miradouro de Santa Luzia is another famous viewpoint that is also fantastic at sunrise. It is an easy, short walk away, but a different panoramic view of roof tops and sea. It got warmer as the day went on, but we hit a cold spell that morning and Lisbon was in the 40's. Still it was worth it and the big platform allowed for picturesque views & photos over the famous Alfama district, city and the Tagus River.
4)Secret Tunnel of History Lisboa
There is a secret, fun, very instagrammable art tunnel under Miradouro das Portas do Sol that most people miss. There was a Portuguese wedding photographer and couple waiting for it when we were there so early. Wonderful artist Nuno Saraiva has made many colorful illustrations showing the history of Lisbon. From the other viewpoint of the tunnel, you can also see the towers of the São Vicente de Fora church!
5) Torre de Belém
For many the Belém Tower will be the number one stop. The Torre de Belém is a Lisbon classic and one of the most famous landmarks in the city. It is also one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal ( as is Pena Palace). But again, it will depend on where you are staying and much time you have. If you want to see it without crowds you must come very early like 7 or 8 am, even though it opens at 10 am. We loved it the first time we saw it in 2008. Our world schooled daughter Heavenly made a spontaneous, classic drawing of it at 7 years old that we will never forget. But our time was short this time and our airbnb was too far away in Graca , so we chose the panoramic hills at sunrise instead. Travel photography always means choosing what works best for you.
6) Arco da Rua Augusta
There are really endless photo opportunities at this iconic landmark in Lisbon. Beautiful Rua Agusta is the main commercial street in downtown Lisbon ( Baixa). It does get over run with tourists even in the winter, so go very early. We headed there right after our sunrise shots via uber to beat the crowds. This arch is a symbol of Lisbon. Our first photo for this blog post was taken here from the other side.
It is beautiful from every angle and you will want to include the Praça do Comercio ( Commerce Place) the huge pedestrian public square next to it. This area is filled with shops and restaurants and many events are hosted here. The huge Christmas tree was still up when we were there and it was the starting and ending point for a big marathon run. One can even visit the inside of this arch and climb up to the top!
We love arches and beautiful architecture and they go all around this square. The waters edge is at one side and many sculptures. So it is always a lively spot with locals, bike riders, tourists and people enjoying themselves. We got lots of differing and unique travel angel photos here that you will see soon on our Instagram.
7) Lisbon Pink Street
The famous pink street is one of the most photographed spots in Lisbon. So you must get there early. Even on a cold winter morning there were some people and tuktuk tourist trains kept arriving for photo stops. This is primarily a night party hangout, but also a fun instagram photo spot during the day.
8) Elevador da Bica
Lisbon is known for it's iconic cable cars, so of course they are perfect for Instagram photos. The cable cars are some of the most instagrammable photos in Lisbon! Bica elevator is really the very best place to get cable car photos and videos. It is a super short route and stops for a long time at the top, so lets you take many great photos and play with it. Again, going early helps with the crowds and off season as well.
This photo below was taken from inside at the bottom ( where you can catch it if you want a short ride).
9) Miradouro da Senhora do Monte
Miradouro da Senhora do Monte is the highest hill that is the best place to see and celebrate a panoramic Lisbon sunset. Even in January when we were there, the crowd was big and celebration happy with local musicians singing and playing. It is the most popular viewpoint in Lisbon, so not to be missed. I even climbed over the fence for this travel angel photo like the young kids. :) Perfect spot for a photo of Lisboa at sunset. Some hike up or take a tuktuk, but we just took an uber since they are cheap and fast.
10) Miradouro da Graça
Another beautiful, but more mellow, peaceful spot for sunset all inclusive viewing of Lisbon, is Miradouro da Graca. It is very close by to Miradouro da Senhora do Monte. Which you can see a bit in this photo to the right. There are places to eat and drink nearby. Truly a perfect way to end a day of touring Lisbon and taking photos!
11) Monument of the Discoveries
If you are doing family travel or stay nearby or visit the famous Belém Tower, then make sure you see this area as well. We didn't have time this recent short visit, but there are tons of great places here to get Instagram photos.
We loved visiting them last time. The monument is massive and so is the beautiful compass rose and to me they both not only celebrate Portugals Age of Discovery, but really that aspect in all of us travelers. So very inspiring for kids and all of us to celebrate our beautiful world & spirit of adventure.
12) Belem pastries food porn
Of course, one also needs some food porn photos on Instagram. You really can not come to Lisbon and not eat the famous pastries.
There are bakeries and pastry shops all over this city and all over Portugal. This pastry was truly to die for so we stopped twice and I could have eaten them all day long. We bought it at this shop below as we loved watching them make them in front of us.
These were cute bakeries or Pastelarias too, but we couldn't stop at every one, could we? At least we got photos and that was fun too. The most famous bakery shop for these are Pasteis de Belem! We loved them on our first visit to Lisbon, so I could not wait to have them again. We did not get back to that area, but the ones we had seemed just as good. Yum!! Get an instagram photo while you eat a bunch! These are worth going off your diet for!!
Do you want to find the most iconic, instagrammable spots in Lisbon? Where are the best places in Lisbon to take stunning photos? We've been to Portugal a few times, so know the best secrets. We've visited Lisbon in several seasons, including this warm winter. Yes, Lisbon is full of beautiful landmarks & here are the 12 best instagram photo places. We have the most helpful insider tips on best time to go if your time is short. We started with Pena Palace in Sintra which is Portugal's top MUST SEE site. TIP! We drove from the Algarve to Sintra on the way to Lisbon. I will write more about that soon. What you see and photograph in Lisbon will depend on how long you are there and what season.
1) Pena Palace
/>
Sintra is only 30 minutes drive from Lisbon, so do not miss it. See it first or do a day trip ( or more) from Lisbon by car or train. Pena Palace is a UNESCO world heritage site, majestic architectural masterpiece and best fairy tale castle in Europe!
2) Miradouro de Santa Luzia
The secret to getting iconic photos in Lisbon, is starting early. We took an uber to save time. Lisbon is known as the city of 7 hills, so it is a fantastic place to get panoramic city and sea views. We had a lot of fun getting our travel angel photos here. Go early because even in January at dawn there was a small crowd. It usually gets very crowded during the day. Even this terrace is Instagram-worthy. Don't miss including the magnificent, blue, typical Portuguese mosaic tiles!
3) Miradouro das Portas do Sol
Very close to Miradouro de Santa Luzia is another famous viewpoint that is also fantastic at sunrise. It is an easy, short walk away, but a different panoramic view of roof tops and sea. It got warmer as the day went on, but we hit a cold spell that morning and Lisbon was in the 40's. Still it was worth it and the big platform allowed for picturesque views & photos over the famous Alfama district, city and the Tagus River.
4)Secret Tunnel of History Lisboa
There is a secret, fun, very instagrammable art tunnel under Miradouro das Portas do Sol that most people miss. There was a Portuguese wedding photographer and couple waiting for it when we were there so early. Wonderful artist Nuno Saraiva has made many colorful illustrations showing the history of Lisbon. From the other viewpoint of the tunnel, you can also see the towers of the São Vicente de Fora church!
5) Torre de Belém
For many the Belém Tower will be the number one stop. The Torre de Belém is a Lisbon classic and one of the most famous landmarks in the city. It is also one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal ( as is Pena Palace). But again, it will depend on where you are staying and much time you have. If you want to see it without crowds you must come very early like 7 or 8 am, even though it opens at 10 am. We loved it the first time we saw it in 2008. Our world schooled daughter Heavenly made a spontaneous, classic drawing of it at 7 years old that we will never forget. But our time was short this time and our airbnb was too far away in Graca , so we chose the panoramic hills at sunrise instead. Travel photography always means choosing what works best for you.
6) Arco da Rua Augusta
There are really endless photo opportunities at this iconic landmark in Lisbon. Beautiful Rua Agusta is the main commercial street in downtown Lisbon ( Baixa). It does get over run with tourists even in the winter, so go very early. We headed there right after our sunrise shots via uber to beat the crowds. This arch is a symbol of Lisbon. Our first photo for this blog post was taken here from the other side.
It is beautiful from every angle and you will want to include the Praça do Comercio ( Commerce Place) the huge pedestrian public square next to it. This area is filled with shops and restaurants and many events are hosted here. The huge Christmas tree was still up when we were there and it was the starting and ending point for a big marathon run. One can even visit the inside of this arch and climb up to the top!
We love arches and beautiful architecture and they go all around this square. The waters edge is at one side and many sculptures. So it is always a lively spot with locals, bike riders, tourists and people enjoying themselves. We got lots of differing and unique travel angel photos here that you will see soon on our Instagram.
7) Lisbon Pink Street
The famous pink street is one of the most photographed spots in Lisbon. So you must get there early. Even on a cold winter morning there were some people and tuktuk tourist trains kept arriving for photo stops. This is primarily a night party hangout, but also a fun instagram photo spot during the day.
8) Elevador da Bica
Lisbon is known for it's iconic cable cars, so of course they are perfect for Instagram photos. The cable cars are some of the most instagrammable photos in Lisbon! Bica elevator is really the very best place to get cable car photos and videos. It is a super short route and stops for a long time at the top, so lets you take many great photos and play with it. Again, going early helps with the crowds and off season as well.
This photo below was taken from inside at the bottom ( where you can catch it if you want a short ride).
9) Miradouro da Senhora do Monte
Miradouro da Senhora do Monte is the highest hill that is the best place to see and celebrate a panoramic Lisbon sunset. Even in January when we were there, the crowd was big and celebration happy with local musicians singing and playing. It is the most popular viewpoint in Lisbon, so not to be missed. I even climbed over the fence for this travel angel photo like the young kids. :) Perfect spot for a photo of Lisboa at sunset. Some hike up or take a tuktuk, but we just took an uber since they are cheap and fast.
10) Miradouro da Graça
Another beautiful, but more mellow, peaceful spot for sunset all inclusive viewing of Lisbon, is Miradouro da Graca. It is very close by to Miradouro da Senhora do Monte. Which you can see a bit in this photo to the right. There are places to eat and drink nearby. Truly a perfect way to end a day of touring Lisbon and taking photos!
11) Monument of the Discoveries
If you are doing family travel or stay nearby or visit the famous Belém Tower, then make sure you see this area as well. We didn't have time this recent short visit, but there are tons of great places here to get Instagram photos.
We loved visiting them last time. The monument is massive and so is the beautiful compass rose and to me they both not only celebrate Portugals Age of Discovery, but really that aspect in all of us travelers. So very inspiring for kids and all of us to celebrate our beautiful world & spirit of adventure.
12) Belem pastries food porn
Of course, one also needs some food porn photos on Instagram. You really can not come to Lisbon and not eat the famous pastries.
There are bakeries and pastry shops all over this city and all over Portugal. This pastry was truly to die for so we stopped twice and I could have eaten them all day long. We bought it at this shop below as we loved watching them make them in front of us.
These were cute bakeries or Pastelarias too, but we couldn't stop at every one, could we? At least we got photos and that was fun too. The most famous bakery shop for these are Pasteis de Belem! We loved them on our first visit to Lisbon, so I could not wait to have them again. We did not get back to that area, but the ones we had seemed just as good. Yum!! Get an instagram photo while you eat a bunch! These are worth going off your diet for!!
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So many beautiful Instagrammable spots for photo ops in Lisbon. And not only are they pretty, but I want to visit and learn more about them.
Posted by: Karen | January 31, 2024 at 06:41 PM
So true Karen and thanks!! I am glad I have been to Lisbon a few times because there is always more to see and photograph. Even in winter it was sunny and beautiful!!
Posted by: jeanne dee | February 01, 2024 at 01:17 AM
Great article! You've wonderfully highlighted Lisbon's beauty with insightful tips and captivating visuals, making it a must-visit for every Instagram enthusiast.
Posted by: April | Dreaming in French | February 01, 2024 at 06:41 AM
Wow, thanks so much April! Lisbon is such a special destination and winter is surprisingly a fun time to see it without the crowds. Last time we were in Lisbon is was summer, so very different. But every season is fun there & more to see and re see! :)
Posted by: jeanne dee | February 01, 2024 at 07:09 AM
I absolutely love the colours and sunsets in your photos! Lisbon is a dream destination for me and your post is really helpful!
Posted by: Jaquline | February 01, 2024 at 02:40 PM
I love the Miradouro da Graça! So many beautiful views in Lisbon. It is one of my favorite cities in Europe.
Posted by: Taylor | February 01, 2024 at 03:59 PM
Aw, thanks so much Jaquline! Lisbon is so cool and it is amazing that one can see both sunrises and sunsets of the whole city and sea/river from different hills!!
Posted by: jeanne dee | February 01, 2024 at 04:23 PM
Me too Taylor and I could not agree with you more!! Lisbon is special and one of my faves as well!
Posted by: jeanne dee | February 01, 2024 at 05:00 PM
I've always wanted to visit Portugal! I enjoy your blog so much and will need to get one of the many pastries! YUM
Posted by: Jenn | February 03, 2024 at 11:41 AM
You will love it Jenn! Portugal has a lot of variety and do many beautiful spots. Oh and that pastry is to die for. :) Thanks so much for your kind words! I always admire your LA blog ( as I have lived there on and off for many years) and even pass on some of your posts to my 23 year old daughter who lives in LA.
Posted by: jeanne dee | February 03, 2024 at 01:54 PM