From cafés, restaurants and historic stores to monuments and emblematic churches, there’s plenty to (re)discover in downtown Lisbon, which still retains the charm of the past.
What if you took a walk there? Check out our guide and get ready to wander from street to street and square to square, always with the river in sight and a new story around every corner.
Table Of Contents
- Swiss pastry shop
- Rossio Station
- QOSQO Peruvian restaurant
- D. Maria II National Theatre
- D. Pedro IV Square
- Bizzarro Gelataria
- Citrón
- São Domingos Church
- Figueira Square
- Santa Justa Elevator
- Rua Augusta
- Pizzico
- Rua Augusta Arch
- STO Mercearia
- Commerce Square
- La Romana Ice Cream Parlor
- Map of the best places in Baixa, and a list for your cell phone!
Swiss pastry shop
Renovated and more beautiful than ever, Pastelaria Suíça has reopened at a new address downtown, very close to the place that Lisboners miss so much, in Rossio.
Now you’ll find it in Praça da Figueira and with many of the iconic treats from the first version, such as the Duchesses, the Russians, the Eskimos, the Babas, the Tibias and the Jesuits, as well as many other new items. And have you seen the size of the terrace?
Address: Praça da Figueira 5C
Hours: every day from 8am to 10pm
Rossio Station
Inaugurated at the end of the 19th century (1891), Rossio Station, Lisbon’s most central station, stands out for its harmonious main façade with eight doors and 18 windows decorated with Manueline arches.
Inside, the boarding pier is an example of the iron architecture that was widely used at the time.
In the past, it served as a station for regional and international trains, but today it is the departure and arrival point for the Sintra Line.
QOSQO Peruvian restaurant
If you’re looking for a good Peruvian spot in Lisbon, QOSQO is the oldest and most traditional Peruvian restaurant in the city, with incredible menus that you’ll love!
Address: Rua dos Bacalhoeiros 26A (near Campo das Cebolas)
Opening hours: every day from 1pm to 11pm
Menu suggestions: at Fever
D. Maria II National Theatre
Built between 1842 and 1846 in neoclassical style, it is Lisbon’s most imposing (and important) theater.
It owes its name to Queen Maria II, a passionate theatergoer. At the top of the façade is a statue of Gil Vicente.
Address: Praça Dom Pedro IV
Opening hours: Monday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Tuesdays and Sundays, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesday to Saturday, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
D. Pedro IV Square
Everyone knows it as Rossio, but the original name evokes D. Pedro IV, a king who also has the right to a statue right in the center of the square.
Around this monument, built in 1870, the Portuguese sidewalk and two fountains stand out.
Bizzarro Gelataria
Lisbon is a sunny city and the question of eating ice cream in any season is an unavoidable reality.
That’s why, so that you can try something really different in the city, we’ve discovered an ice cream shop with the strangest flavors you’ll ever taste.
Address: Rua de São Julião 54
Opening hours: every day from 12 noon to 7:30 p.m.
Prices: €3.80 one flavor (cup or cone); €5.20 two flavors (cup or cone); and €5.30 three flavors (cup); takeaway boxes between €14 (0.5l) and €24 (1l)
Citrón
Also located in downtown Lisbon, Citrón is one of the newest restaurants specializing in Lebanese food in the capital.
Known for offering an authentic Middle Eastern dining experience, we had an incredible time there, where we had the chance to sample a variety of dishes, including hot and cold mezzes, as well as the house specialties.
The restaurant follows the concept of sharing, which makes it a pleasant space to enjoy with friends and family.
In short, Citrón is an excellent option for those looking for the true richness of Lebanese cuisine.
Address: Rua da Padaria 30 (Baixa)
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, from 12 noon to 10.30 p.m.
Reservations: call 96 579 01 96; or takeaway and delivery on the website
São Domingos Church
Located in the square of the same name, between Rossio and Praça da Figueira, it dates back to the 13th century, but has undergone several renovations and even survived the 1755 earthquake and a fire in 1959.
Since then, it has never been fully restored and still bears traces of that episode.
Right next door is A Ginjinha, also a must-see in this part of town.
Address: Largo de São Domingos
Opening hours: every day between 07h30 and 19h
Figueira Square
Located between Praça D. Pedro IV and Martim Moniz, Praça da Figueira is a large square that once housed a hospital (before the 1755 earthquake) and a covered market between 1885 and 1950.
In the center is a bronze equestrian statue of King João I.
Santa Justa Elevator
Since June 10, 1902, the Santa Justa Elevator has connected Rua do Ouro, in downtown Lisbon, to Largo do Carmo. At 45 meters high, it was designed by the Portuguese engineer (of French origin) Raoul Mesnier de Ponsard, a disciple of Gustave Eiffel.
At the top of this neo-Gothic tower, made of cast iron and decorated with filigree elements, there is a viewpoint with incredible views of the city. A stone’s throw away, the Carmo Archaeological Museum is also worth a visit.
Address: Rua do Ouro
Opening hours: every day between 7am and 11pm
Rua Augusta
Rua Augusta is the most emblematic street in Baixa (and one of the most famous in the city) and invites locals and tourists to walk from Praça D. Pedro IV to Praça do Comércio.
With its Portuguese cobbled floors, it mixes historic stores with megastores of major international brands. The entertainment is provided by street artists.
Pizzico
If you’re looking for a pizzeria with the best Neapolitan pizzas, in downtown Lisbon you’ll find Pizzico, which is also one of the newest in the city.
Here, in addition to 14 options full of flavor, you’ll also be able to try some of the best natural and organic wines, which we suggest to accompany a Maciste or a Marini, which are the pizzas we’ve tried from this place.
Address: Rua dos Correeiros 113 (Baixa)
Rua Augusta Arch
The triumphal arch of Rua Augusta was designed during the reconstruction of Baixa after the 1755 earthquake, but it wasn’t completed until a century later.
The sculptures at the top symbolize Glory crowning Genius and Valor, while below are Vasco da Gama, Marquês de Pombal, Viriato and Nuno Álvares Pereira.
In 2013, this monument also became an incredible viewpoint, where you can see Praça do Comércio and the Tagus on one side and Rua Augusta and much of the Baixa on the other.
Address: Rua Augusta 2
Opening hours: every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tickets: 3€; free for children up to 5 years old
STO Mercearia
There’s a new store in the neighborhood, one of those where you can only buy Portuguese products, either to eat in the friendly space or to take home.
STO Mercearia is an “old-fashioned” store and the owners are passionate about Portuguese gastronomy, having even launched a Portuguese Brunch that covers various Portuguese geographies. Shall we take a look?
Address: Rua dos Fanqueiros 83
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm
Commerce Square
Also known as Terreiro do Paço, this is the city’s living room, surrounded by Baixa and the Tagus river.
In the center is the statue of D. José and in one of the corners is the historic Café Martinho da Arcada, one of the oldest in the city.
La Romana Ice Cream Parlor
While you’re strolling around downtown Lisbon, relax for a while at the La Romana ice cream parlor, where you can taste the unique flavors of real Italian ice cream.
It’s located at Rua de São Nicolau 44 and boasts a sizeable restaurant area with a generous terrace that is sure to delight those who want to relax a little after strolling around the city.
Address: Rua de São Nicolau 44
Hours: every day from 1pm to 11pm
