Travel Guide of Belém in Portugal by Influencers and Travelers

Belém is a freguesia and district of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Belém is located in western Lisbon, to the west of Ajuda and Alcântara and directly east of Lisbon's border with Oeiras.

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The Best Things to Do and Visit in Belém

TRAVELERS TOP 10 :

1 - Praça do Comércio

   6 km away

The Praça do Comércio is located in the city of Lisbon, Portugal. Situated near the Tagus river, the square is still commonly known as Terreiro do Paço, because it was the location of the Paços da Ribeira until it was destroyed by the great 1755 Lisbon earthquake.

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2 - Jerónimos Monastery

The Jerónimos Monastery or Hieronymites Monastery, is a former monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome near the Tagus river in the parish of Belém, in the Lisbon Municipality, Portugal; it was secularised on 28 December 1833 by state decree and its ownership transferred to the charitable institution, Real Casa Pia de Lisboa.

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3 - Tours & Sightseeing | Sintra Day trips from Lisbon

   18 km away

Tour some of Portugal's most magical cultural heritage, and enjoy the lush gardens, lakes, grottoes and enigmatic constructions of Quinta da Regaleira. Visit the famous Initiation Well, and other places that hide mysterious meanings evoked by orders such as Freemasonry and the Knights Templar! Stop for a lunch break in old Sintra, and enjoy some free time to explore the historical charm of old Sintra, and the opportunity to taste the traditional pastry from Sintra, Travesseiro! Feel like royalty as you enter the romantic Pena Palace and Park, a unique expression of the architectural Romanticism. Like something out of a fairy tale, it's breathtaking architecture blends many styles together: Gothic, neo-Manuelin, neo-Islamic and neo-Renaissance. With an astonishing variety of plants and trees, amazing views of the Moorish castle, and the Atlantic Ocean, it's a perfect way to end the day before returning to Lisbon.

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4 - Rossio

   6 km away

The Rossio is the popular name of the King Pedro IV Square in the city of Lisbon, in Portugal. It is located in the Pombaline Downtown of Lisbon and has been one of its main squares since the Middle Ages.

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5 - Lisbon Baixa

   6 km away

The Baixa, also known as the Baixa Pombalina is a neighborhood in the historic center of Lisbon, Portugal. It consists of the grid of streets north of the Praça do Comércio, roughly between the Cais do Sodré and the Alfama district beneath the Lisbon Castle, and extends northwards towards the Rossio and Figueira squares and the Avenida da Liberdade, a tree-lined boulevard noted for its tailoring shops and cafes.

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6 - Surfing in Lisbon

   13 km away

Learn how to surf in Sao Pedro beach near Lisbon or improve your skills with a certified surfing instructor! The essential part when learning how to surf, is to have a good instructor... and the instructors of Surf in Sao Pedro are not simply good -t...

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7 - Padrão dos Descobrimentos

Padrão dos Descobrimentos is a monument on the northern bank of the Tagus River estuary, in the civil parish of Santa Maria de Belém, Lisbon.

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8 - Queluz National Palace

   7 km away

The Palace of Queluz is an 18th-century palace located at Queluz, a city of the Sintra Municipality, in the Lisbon District, on the Portuguese Riviera.

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9 - Sightseeing | Barreiro

   13 km away

Beach horseback riding in group 20 min from Lisbon Tour recommended for people with no experience

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10 - Belém Tower

Belém Tower, officially the Tower of Saint Vincent is a 16th-century fortification located in Lisbon that served as a point of embarkation and disembarkation for Portuguese explorers and as a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon.

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11 - Lisbon

   8 km away

Lisbon is the capital and the largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 505,526 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km².

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12 - Paragliding in Lisbon

   10 km away

Paragliding over the skies of Portugal, having a fantastic view of Lisbon and their unique landscape is an experience you will never forget. Come and enjoy! Not so long ago flying was just a dream for the "crazy" people. Nowadays there is a...

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13 - Bairro Alto

   6 km away

Bairro Alto is a central district of the city of Lisbon, the Portuguese capital. Unlike many of the civil parishes of Lisbon, this region can be commonly explained as a loose association of neighbourhoods, with no formal local political authority but social and historical significance to the urban community of Lisbon and of Portugal as a whole.

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14 - Lisbon Cathedral

   7 km away

The Lisbon Cathedral, often called simply the Sé, is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in Lisbon, Portugal. The oldest church in the city is the seat of the Patriarchate of Lisbon.

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15 - Morning | Jerónimos Monastery

The Jerónimos Monastery is a National Monument and was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Step onto these significant grounds for a snoop around inside, where you can explore the whole place and ponder its homage to Portuguese identity and culture. Don't forget to look up at the frescoed vaulted ceilings! Take a seat in the 16th-century cloister and peer inside the former monks’ refectory. Not only is this a thrilling trip through Lisbon's history, the views over the Tagus River from the grounds are exceptional.

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16 - Parque das Nações

   15 km away

The Parque das Nações, colloquially known as Expo, is a freguesia and district of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Located in eastern Lisbon, Parque das Nações is to the east of Olivais, north of Marvila, and directly south of Lisbon's border with Loures.

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17 - Vasco da Gama Bridge

   16 km away

The Vasco da Gama Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge flanked by viaducts that spans the Tagus River in Parque das Nações in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal.

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18 - Boca de Inferno

   18 km away

Boca do Inferno is a chasm located in the seaside cliffs close to the Portuguese city of Cascais, in the District of Lisbon. The seawater has access to the deep bottom of the chasm and vigorously strikes its rocky walls, making it a popular tourist attraction.

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19 - Sintra

   21 km away

Sintra is a town and municipality in the Greater Lisbon region of Portugal, located on the Portuguese Riviera. The population of the municipality in 2011 was 377,835, in an area of 319.23 square kilometres.

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20 - Sintra-Cascais Natural Park

   23 km away

The Sintra-Cascais Natural Park is a park on the Portuguese Riviera, one of the 13 Natural Parks of Portugal. While only established in 1994 as a Natural Park by the Portuguese Government, it has been protected since 1981.

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21 - Praia do Guincho

   23 km away

Praia do Guincho is a popular Atlantic beach located on Portugal's Estoril coast, 5 km from the town of Cascais, and is located in the municipality of Cascais, more precisely in the parishes of Cascais and Alcabideche, in the District of Lisbon.

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22 - Azenhas do Mar

   26 km away

Azenhas do Mar is a seaside town in the municipality of Sintra, Portugal. It is part of Colares civil parish. It is located just 30 km away from Lisboa, near Cabo da Roca, Palácio da Pena, and other attractions.

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23 - Colares

   26 km away

Colares is a civil parish along the coast of the municipality of Sintra. The population in 2011 was 7,628, in an area of 33.37 square kilometres.

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24 - Praia da Ursa

   26 km away
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25 - Cabo da Roca

   27 km away

Cabo da Roca or Cape Roca is a cape which forms the westernmost point of the Sintra Mountain Range, of mainland Portugal, of continental Europe, and of the Eurasian land mass.

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Pictures and Stories of Belém from Influencers

9 pictures of Belém from Mathias Wichmann, Amanda Yeung, Louis Mornaud and other travelers

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Why should you visit Belém ?

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Learn More about Belém

The Belém district is one of the most emblematic in Lisbon and is one of the places that must be visited when staying in the Portuguese capital. It was the place from which the great Portuguese explorers who set out to discover the world were greeted. Visiting the Belém district in Lisbon is like walking back in time to the era of the great explorers who made Portugal and its ancient empire famous. The last stop of the ancient ships before the Atlantic Ocean, the Belém district is full of places to visit, museums, and places to taste delicious Lisbon specialities.

A former major seaport, it was from Belém that Vasco de Gama set out to conquer the Indies. Apart from its complete openness to the Tagus, it is the wealth of its monuments that strikes you when you arrive in the district. Located west of the 25th of April bridge, it will take you about fifteen minutes to reach this UNESCO World Heritage site.

You can start by visiting the Hieronymites monastery, a Portuguese monastery of the order of Saint Jerome, founded in the 16th century. The cloister, beautifully worked, constitutes the major part of the visit to the monastery. Then the adjoining church, which is free to enter, takes you even further into the world of the Hieronymites. Vasco da Gama and the famous Portuguese poet Luis de Camões are buried in their tombs here. 

Also, don't pass by the famous Monument of the Discoveries without stopping by. Built in 1960 on the banks of the Tagus River in the Belém district as a tribute to the Portuguese explorers, the Monument of the Discoveries is reminiscent of the shape of caravels. More than 50 metres high, the bow of the ship is turned towards the sea as if ready for new adventures. Among the sculptures that adorn the sides of the monument are a multitude of historical figures linked to the history of the Great Portuguese Maritime Discoveries: Vasco de Gama but also Magellan, Camoes, etc. It is possible to go to the top of the Padrão dos Descobrimentos by lift to admire the panorama of the Belém area and beyond. 

Of course, how can you visit the Belém district without visiting the Torre de Belém, the famous tower built in the 16th century? It was built to defend the city's port and is dedicated to the glory of the Portuguese maritime conquests. 

After your afternoon visit, don't hesitate to go to the historical bakery Pastéis de Belém where you can relax and enjoy the famous pastéis de nata, the emblematic pastry of the district and of Portugal.

There is much more to discover in Bélem.

Frequently Asked Questions by Travelers planning a trip to Belém

What is the easiest way to get to Belém?

Belém is 5km from the centre of Lisbon, so the easiest way to get there is by car or tram. 
This will give you the opportunity to admire the landscapes of the capital. 

Is there an ideal day to visit Belém?

In Belém, on weekends, there can be many tourists and therefore long queues to visit certain monuments.
This is why it seems better to visit the area during the week. 

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