
Nowadays, many tourists “invade” Belém, impressed by the history and monumentality of this strip by the river, as well as its major attractions: Belém Tower, Monument to the Discoveries and Jerónimos Monastery.
How long has it been since you’ve been a tourist in this part of the Portuguese capital? Check out our itinerary and prepare a visit now.
Table Of Contents
Belém Tower
An icon of Lisbon and the country, the Belém Tower was built at the beginning of the 16th century (between 1514 and 1521) on a basalt islet next to the old Restelo beach.
At the time, it was an important bastion for defending the river, but over the five centuries of its life it has had other functions, including that of a dungeon.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, it is a jewel of Manueline architecture, with various decorative elements associated with the Discoveries, such as the royal arms, the armillary sphere or the cross of the Order of Christ.
Among the images it houses are the one of Our Lady of Good Success, which was said to protect sailors, and that of a rhinoceros, considered to be the first representation of this animal in the West.
Inside, it’s worth climbing to the top floor to admire the incredible views of the Tagus, the Belém area and the South Bank.
Monument to the Discoveries
The Monument to the Discoveries was built in 1960 to mark the 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator.
This imposing caravel-shaped monument is 56 meters high and 46 meters long.
Its central feature is Prince Henry the Navigator, accompanied by 32 figures associated with the Discoveries, such as King Afonso V, Vasco da Gama, Pedro Ávares Cabral and Fernão de Magalhães.
At the top there is a viewpoint with unique views of the Tagus, Praça do Império and the Rose of the Winds at the entrance to the Monument.
Belém Cultural Center
The Centro Cultural de Belém, or CCB, as the locals call it, was built on the occasion of the Portuguese presidency of the European Union in 1992.
Since then, it has been one of the city’s main cultural dynamos, hosting exhibitions, shows of all arts and festivals that attract thousands of visitors, especially the Music Days.
It also includes the Berardo Collection Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, as well as stores and restaurants facing the Tagus.
Jerónimos Monastery
The Jerónimos Monastery has been a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site since 1983 and is one of the greatest symbols of Portuguese Manueline architecture, built in the 16th century.
It owes its name to the monks of the Order of St. Jerome who inhabited it.
Among the many things to admire are the façades, especially the South Door, the church, the cloisters and the chancel, where kings Manuel I and his son João III are buried.
The monastery also houses the tombs of the navigator Vasco da Gama and the poet Luís de Camões.
Marine Museum
In a wing of the Jerónimos Monastery, this museum reveals Portugal’s incredible maritime past with the help of thousands of pieces.
Among them are ships, antique globes, sea charts and navigational instruments. It also exhibits an image of the archangel St. Raphael, who accompanied Vasco da Gama to India.
The Portuguese Navy has a wide range of cultural and entertainment activities on offer, from the Navy Museum to the Navy Planetarium, among others.
Navy Planetarium
Inaugurated in 1965, next to the Navy Museum, the Planetarium immediately catches the eye with its semi-spherical dome that can be seen from the outside.
Inside, it serves as a screen for a projector that recreates more than 9,000 stars, as well as the Milky Way, the constellations and much more.
Visitors can also visit an exhibition on astronomy and space adventure.
Tropical Botanical Garden
Founded over a century ago (in 1912), next to the Jerónimos Monastery, it has been called the Colonial Garden, the Overseas Garden and the Tropical Agricultural Garden.
Its five hectares are home to more than 500 species of flora, most of which are tropical or subtropical in origin.
Museum of Popular Art
Inaugurated in 1948, in a building next to the Tagus, this museum showcases the popular and ethnographic art of the various regions of the country, bringing together a collection gathered since 1935, during the Estado Novo Universal Exhibitions.
Reopened in 2016, it also hosts various temporary exhibitions.
MAAT – Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology
MAAT is one of the city’s newest (and most vibrant) museums, and its modern architecture and surroundings, right on the Tagus River, make it stand out from the crowd.
Inside, you’ll find numerous exhibitions related to art, architecture and technology, but also a vast program of events and activities for the whole family.
In addition to the new building, which covers almost three thousand square meters, the museum also includes the old Lisbon Thermoelectric Power Station, one of the most important examples of industrial architecture in Portugal from the first half of the 20th century.
National Coach Museum
It’s no coincidence that this is one of the most visited museums in the country.
It was already so in the old Royal Riding Arena and continues to be so in the new, modern building, inaugurated in 2015.
It houses the world’s most important collection of royal coaches and carriages, with pieces dating from the 16th to the 19th century.
Among them are the coaches of Philip II and the embassy of King João V to Pope Clement XI.
Pastéis de Belém
Going to Belém and not eating one of its famous pastries is almost like going to Rome and not seeing the Pope.
This house has been delighting locals and tourists since 1837, thanks to an ancient (and secret) recipe from the nearby monastery.
Don’t be intimidated by the queues and buy one (maybe a box would be better) because these pastries really are delicious.
Pastelaria Careca
It used to be called Pastelaria Restelo, but nowadays it’s better known as Pastelaria Careca.
Some people cross the city from one end to the other just for the croissants (yes, we’re among them) and when you taste them you’ll understand why.
Sugary (very sugary!) and undercooked, they ‘ve already been copied by other pastry shops in the city, but nobody beats the originals.
As well as croissants, this pastry shop (open since 1954) also sells some of the best palmiers and king cakes in Lisbon.
Address: Rua Duarte Pacheco Pereira 11D (Restelo)