Now that you know what to do throughout the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, it’s time to find out what Lisbon’s parishes are up to.
Since 2012, when a new administrative map was defined for Lisbon, the city has been divided into 24 parishes (previously 53), which have been given new powers and greater financial autonomy.
The small administrative units that are these Lisbon parishes are central to the dynamics of our city, being responsible for various services such as education, health, sanitation, urban cleaning and, in case you didn’t know, for much of the entertainment that you often enjoy without knowing it.
So if you also want to know where your parish is spending its money to entertain you, follow our guide to some of the most incredible initiatives promoted by these Lisbon parishes.
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Built in the aftermath of the 1755 earthquake and known as Real Barraca, its name is due to the anti-seismic wooden structure it was equipped with.
Highlights in Ajuda: Royal Treasury Museum
The Royal Treasury Museum is one of the main and most incredible places you can visit in Ajuda. If even the Italians say so, you have to go and see for yourself.
ℹ️ Check out the Ajuda Parish Council’s events calendar on the website.
Alcântara
Right on the banks of the Tagus, Alcântara is today a parish with an area of 4.39 km2 and a population of 13,911 people.
Highlights in Alcântara: Climbing the 25 de Abril Bridge
Alcântara, has one of the coolest spots in this part of the city, Escala 25, where you can climb a 12-meter wall. Don’t be scared just yet! There are experts on site to help you overcome this challenge.
ℹ️ Check out the Alcântara Parish Council’s calendar of events on the website.
Alvalade
Alvalade is one of Lisbon’s newest parishes, following the administrative reorganization of 2012. The new parish united the old parishes of Alvalade, Campo Grande and São João de Brito and its history inevitably goes back to the past of these three territories.
Highlights in Alvalade: Balcony Contemporary Art Gallery
Alvalade was once considered one of the 40 best neighborhoods in the world… for us it still is! That’s why there’s no shortage of attractions there, such as the Conchanata ice cream parlor (which only opens on milder days) or the Balcony Contemporary Art Gallery.
ℹ️ Check out the Alvalade Parish Council’s calendar of events on the website.
Arroios
Once upon a time, numerous watercourses ran through this place. The name “Arroios” evokes the watercourses that once existed here and which still survive in the street names of the parish. Arroios was not always a single parish, and the current situation resulted from the merger of the former parishes of Anjos, Pena and São Jorge de Arroios.
Highlights in Arroios: Arroios Market
Arroios is considered to be one of the most multicultural neighborhoods in the city of Lisbon and that’s why we’re betting on a stroll along Rua Morais Soares and, of course, the incredible and lively Arroios Market.
ℹ️ Check out the Alvalade Parish Council’s calendar of events on the website.
Areeiro
The parish of Areeiro is the result of the merger of two parishes: Alto do Pina and São João de Deus, but before they were united, these parishes already had a long history, from historic neighborhoods to the most cosmopolitan and lively spaces, and people who are the heart and soul of the parish.
Areeiro highlights: Alameda Dom Afonso Henriques
Areeiro marks the beginning or end – depending on whether you’re going up or down – of Avenida Almirante Reis, which is one of the most exciting arteries you can visit in the capital.
ℹ️ Check out the Areeiro Parish Council’s calendar of events on the website.
Avenidas Novas
The parish of Avenidas Novas brought together the parishes of S. Sebastião da Pedreira, Nossa Senhora de Fátima and part of the parish of Campolide. The name Avenidas Novas originated at the end of the 19th century with the restructuring of the territory carried out by Ressano Garcia, in which the wide streets and façades with landscaped courtyards, characteristic of Art Nouveau and Art Deco , stand out. This urban renewal was inspired by Georges-Eugène Haussmann ‘s Paris Extension Plan, which Ressano Garcia attended as a student in the French capital.
Highlights in Avenidas Novas: Avenida da República
In Avenidas Novas, it’s Avenida da República that stands out the most, especially some places that are well known to older Lisbon residents, such as Galeto or Pastelaria Versailles.
ℹ️ Check out the Avenidas Novas Parish Council’s events calendar on the website.
Beato
This is one of the oldest parishes in Lisbon, with a distinct and rich reality, from history to heritage, from social dynamics to services, giving the city a riverfront. It is still home to old farms and palaces, and today houses the Beato Creative Hub, a project that will give the parish a renewed urban dynamic.
Highlights in Beato: Beato Creative Hub
In Beato you have to visit its latest point of interest, the Creative Hub. But don’t miss the chance to visit some of the most spectacular craft beer houses .
ℹ️ Check out the Beato Parish Council’s events calendar on the website.
Belém
The current parish of Belém was created in 2012 and is the result of the merger of the former parishes of Santa Maria de Belém and São Francisco Xavier. It is the westernmost parish in the capital and the largest in geographical terms.
Highlights in Belém: Jerónimos Monastery
Belém is one of Lisbon’s most touristic areas, with several places of interest that arouse the curiosity of visitors and locals alike. That’s why we‘ re highlighting one of the places we love to visit every time we go there: the Jerónimos Monastery.
ℹ️ Check out the Belém Parish Council’s calendar of events on the website.
Benfica
The parish of Benfica covers an area of around 8.03 km2, including two thirds of the Monsanto Forest Park, and has more than 35,000 inhabitants.
Highlights in Benfica: Cine-Teatro Turim
In Benfica there is a venue that has reopened to the public after being closed for many years. We’re talking about the famous Cine-Teatro Turim cultural venue, which has reopened its doors 40 years later.
ℹ️ Check out the Benfica Parish Council’s calendar of events on the website.
Campo de Ourique
The parish of Campo de Ourique was named after the neighborhood of Campo de Ourique, former farmland belonging to Campolide, designed by Frederico Ressano Garcia after the establishment of the Republic in 1910, and comprises the rectangle between the streets Ferreira Borges and Tomás de Anunciação, Campo de Ourique and Saraiva de Carvalho.
Highlights in Campo de Ourique: strolling through the green streets
Wandering through the green streets of Campo de Ourique is the best thing you can do in this characteristic Lisbon neighborhood, known for being one of the most charismatic in the city, where you can still see a lot of traditional commerce.
ℹ️ Check out the Campo de Ourique Parish Council’s events calendar on the website.
Campolide
Today’s Campolide is the result of the many people needed to build the monumental Águas Livres Aqueduct. The road and urban transformations of recent decades have significantly altered the condition of the latter, without taking away the character of the old Campolide site, whose history and traditions deserve to be better known and revalued.
Highlights in Campolide: Valencian roast chicken
With so much to discover in Campolide, suggesting a churrascaria may seem strange, but wait until you taste what comes out of these embers, which is one of our favorite roast chickens in the city.
ℹ️ Check out the Campolide Parish Council’s calendar of events on the website.
Carnide
Located in the far north of the municipality of Lisbon, Carnide is one of the largest parishes in the city, both in terms of size and population. Despite being one of the oldest, it was only incorporated into the urban perimeter in 1885. It lies between Pontinha and Casal Falcão.
Carnide highlights: visit the bandstand
Carnide is an authentic village within the country’s capital, and the square where the bandstand is located is very special indeed , as it is the place where most events are held in this part of the city.
ℹ️ Check out the Carnide Parish Council’s calendar of events on the website.
Estrela
With an unparalleled cultural, gastronomic and human offer, the parish of Estrela welcomes visitors and offers a unique journey through a rich heritage that reflects a parish full of identity. It includes the former parishes of Lapa, Santos-o-Velho and Prazeres.
Highlights in Estrela: Jardim and Basílica da Estrela
The highlights of the Estrela neighborhood are, without a doubt, the beautiful garden and the distinctive Basílica da Estrela, which we’re sure you’ll love getting to know in more detail.
ℹ️ Check out the Carnide Parish Council’s calendar of events on the website.
Lumiar
Lumiar is one of the oldest parishes in Lisbon, over 750 years old. Created in 1266, it has reached the 21st century with very different characteristics. Today it comprises an extensive and diverse territory with around 46,000 inhabitants and 39,000 voters.
Highlights in Lumiar: Encosta do Olival Park
The Encosta do Olival Park is one of the most recent official viewpoints in the city of Lisbon, and also one of those that offers one of the greatest unobstructed views, accompanied by a very green area.
ℹ️ Check out the Lumiar Parish Council’s calendar of events on the website.
Marvila
Situated between the airport and the River Tagus, Marvila presents great contrasts, with narrow lanes and wide avenues, along with recent architectural experiments, small vegetable gardens and modern industrial facilities, on land that dates back to 1959.
Highlights in Marvila: 8 Marvila
If there’s a new trendy place in town, it can only be 8 Marvila, Lisbon’s new multicultural space. Here you’ll find almost everything, from gastronomy, fashion, special music and arts events, and even sports such as paddle tennis.
ℹ️ Check out the Marvila Parish Council’s calendar of events on the website.
Misericórdia
The parish of Misericórdia is the result of the merger of the former parishes of Encarnação, Mercês, Santa Catarina and São Paulo. The origin of the name is essentially due to the location of the headquarters of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia, in the Church and Professed House of São Roque, since 1768, in Bairro Alto, one of the liveliest places in Lisbon at night.
Misericórdia highlights: Bairro Alto
Bairro Alto is our choice when it comes to touring some of the city’s liveliest arteries, especially at night, which is when this area gets even more exciting, with restaurants and bars offering everyone plenty of entertainment, especially around Santos Populares.
ℹ️ Check out the Misericórdia Parish Council’s calendar of events on the website.
Olivais
This is the parish where Lisbon Airport is located, and part of its territory was given over for the creation of the Parque das Nações Parish Council after Expo 98.
Highlights in Olivais: Quinta Pedagógica dos Olivais
It’s time for the little ones to enjoy something they’re sure to love at Quinta Pedagógica dos Olivais, where they can come into direct contact with a wide variety of farm animals.
ℹ️ Check out the Olivais Parish Council’s calendar of events on the website.
Parque das Nações
The territory of Parque das Nações has always had a duality between rural areas – with farms and palaces where the monarchy came and went for their vacations not far from the hustle and bustle of Lisbon – and industrial development, as early as the end of the 18th century. The parish of Parque das Nações was created from land “taken” from the parishes of Olivais, Sacavém and Moscavide, and is located in the east of Lisbon.
Highlights of Parque das Nações: Lisbon Oceanarium
Parque das Nações is currently one of the city’s most attractive areas, with many places to visit and many gardens and parks to stroll around. Highlights include the Knowledge Pavilion and, of course, the Lisbon Oceanarium.
ℹ️ Check out the events calendar of the Parque das Nações Parish Council on the website.
Penha de França
The parish owes its name to the hermitage in honor of Our Lady of Penha de França, founded in 1598 on the site of the Church of Our Lady of Penha de França. The current territory, which stretches from the River Tagus to the hill of Penha de França, has been populated for many hundreds of years , both on the riverside and in the hills .
Highlights in Penha de França: Penha Snail Garden
Inaugurated on July 14, 2023, having been the most voted Participatory Budget project ever, worth around two million euros, this new leisure space stands out for its community garden, an amphitheatre, a viewpoint, a children’s playground and a sports park, which extend over around a hectare of land that is laid out in terraces.
ℹ️ Check out the Penha de França Parish Council’s calendar of events on the website.
Santa Clara
Formerly an agricultural area that supplied the capital, it has now replaced the parishes of Charneca and Ameixoeira. It is located in the north of Lisbon.
Highlights in Santa Clara: Professor Moniz Pereira Municipal Athletics Track
This area has been growing rapidly, with more and more apartment buildings, making it one of the most desirable areas to live in the city. Next door, for those who like sport and running, there is the Professor Moniz Pereira Municipal Athletics Track, considered one of the great training centers in the capital.
ℹ️ Check out the Santa Clara Parish Council’s calendar of events on the website.
Santa Maria Maior
Santa Maria Maior is right in the heart of Lisbon, and is where Lisbon’s most emblematic neighborhoods, such as Alfama , Baixa, Castelo, Chiado, Mouraria and Sé come together.
Highlights in Santa Maior Maior: Lisbon Cathedral
Also known as the Basilica or Cathedral of Santa Maria Maior, the Lisbon Cathedral is considered to be the oldest church in Lisbon, having been built at the beginning of the second half of the 12th century, after the city was reconquered from the Moors by King Afonso Henriques.
ℹ️ Check out the Santa Maria Maior Parish Council’s calendar of events on the website.
Saint Anthony
The parish of Santo António is the result of the merger of three Lisbon parishes: São José, Coração de Jesus and São Mamede, but the history of these parishes goes back much further and is full of stories.
Santo António highlight: Parque Mayer
This parish is home to one of Lisbon’s main artistic hubs, or were we not talking about the place where Parque Mayer has always been located, with some of the city’s most important theaters and concert halls, such as Teatro Maria Vitória or Capitólio.
ℹ️ Check out the agenda of events of the Santo António Parish Council on the website.
São Domingos de Benfica
The parish of São Domingos de Benfica was created by the transfer of land from the parish of Benfica and is located in the west of Lisbon. The parish of São Domingos de Benfica encompasses Lisbon’s largest green area, Monsanto.
Spotlight on São Domingos de Benfica: Monsanto Forest Park
Benfica shares with six other parishes the “lung” of the city of Lisbon, the Monsanto Forest Park, which has almost 1,000 hectares of nature where there is plenty to do, from picnics to sports activities, children’s playgrounds and socializing with family and friends, including the Monsanto Panoramic Viewpoint .
ℹ️ Check out the São Domingos de Benfica Parish Council’s calendar of events on the website.
São Vicente
The parish of São Vicente, in the north-eastern part of central Lisbon, is the result of the merger of the former parishes of São Vicente de Fora, Graça and Santa Engrácia.
São Vicente highlights: Monastery of São Vicente de Fora
In the parish of São Vicente , we can’t fail to recommend a visit to the Graça neighborhood, one of the most typical in the capital. But the truth is that there is one monument that should be seen very carefully, and that is the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora, which has over 900 years of history that you’ll want to explore to the full.
ℹ️ Check out the São Vicente Parish Council’s calendar of events on the website.
