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I was born in Belém, grew up in Belém and live in Belém! It is a neighborhood full of charming and beautiful places! For me, Belem is the most beautiful place in the city of Lisbon! Because I know this place like the back of my hand, I will guide you on this journey. Come along!
BELÉM, LISBON
Maybe my opinion is “slightly” biased, I admit. But I consider this to be the most beautiful area of our entire city of Lisbon. Beyond the many tourist attractions (the Jerónimos Monastery, the Belem Tower, the Monument to the Discoveries, the Tagus River, etc, etc), in Belem you breathe calm and tranquility! A feeling that I don’t find anywhere else in the city (at least with the same intensity). There is much to say about Belém. Let’s start with its history.
BELEM – A WORD FULL OF HISTORY
Belém (in Palestine) is the name of the place where Jesus Christ was born a little over 2 thousand years ago. 1977 years later I was born (also in Belém in Lisbon), another event of great importance (at least to me!). How does this name come from so far away to Lisbon? The place called Belém today was formerly called “Restelo Velho”.
It was in the “Restelo Velho” that King Dom Manuel had a tower built (today called the Belém tower). But it was the Infante Dom Henrique who had a chapel built by the sea, an evocation of Santa Maria de Belém, the lady of the crib. The chapel ordered by the Infante had the purpose of helping the sailors who landed there. They often arrived dead or dying and were buried like animals in pits in the sand by the Tagus River. And it was this connection between the chapel and Santa Maria de Belém that led to the name change from “Restelo velho” to Belém.
WHERE IS BELÉM? (Lisbon)
If you travel by car, in only 10 minutes you will be in the historic center of the capital. There are many options to get there: bicycles, scooters, buses, trains and the famous trams are the most common possibilities.
WHAT TO VISIT OR DO IN BELÉM?
We chose 16 attractions! We chose the most emblematic ones. Before you “dive” into the attractions, take a look at the map below so that you can judge the distances and then choose the sequence of your tour. Have a nice tour!
WALK AROUND BELÉM
As always, we suggest you start by walking around! Take your time and take your time to feel the peaceful atmosphere of Belém! Besides the many monuments, Belem has some very beautiful streets and many gardens. The street in the picture below is the main street of Belem. On the left side you will find the pasteis de Belém (blue awning). On the right side of this street you will find several very nice gardens. Walk aimlessly for 20 to 30 minutes.
There are several streets (some perpendicular and others parallel to the Belém street) that are worth walking and admiring calmly. Here are some examples.
VISIT BELEM TOWER
One of the symbols of Lisbon but also of Portugal! It is a monument with more than 500 years. It was once a fort to defend the city, a first line of attack against invading enemies. We are talking about a fort with five floors and ending in a terrace with a spectacular panoramic view. It was from the beach next to the Belém tower that many ships of the Portuguese Discoveries departed and arrived. If you want to know everything about this monument be sure to read our article about the Tower of Belem on our travel site in Portugal – TORRE DE BELÉM: EMBLEMATIC AND IMPOSING!
BELEM DISCOVERIES MONUMENT
Many people believe that the Padrão dos Descobrimentos (discoveries monument) is, like the Torre de Belém, a very old monument. Incorrect! The Monument to the Discoveries, as well as the entire area of the garden of the fountain of light (garden of the empire), was commissioned by Salazar for the great exhibition of the Portuguese world (1940). On each side of this emblematic monument, there are statues of the most notable Portuguese from all of Portugal’s history. If you want to know exactly everything about this magnificent monument, be sure to read this article: DISCOVERIES MONUMENT: IMPOSING AND CONTROVERSIAL!.
FAMOUS PASTRY SHOP IN BELÉM
It began operating in 1837 and even today thousands of pastries are sold every day! It is said that the recipe for pasteis de Belém is a hidden secret. What is certain is that the pastries are delicious and the endless lines of people looking for them are unequivocal proof of their quality. I only have one problem… It is impossible to eat just one! Even if you are not a sweet tooth lover, this place is worth a visit. Inside the Pasteis de Belém you will find magnificent tile panels spread across the walls of the many rooms. The panels are very old and allude to the history of the city of Lisbon and the Belém area in particular.
JERONIMOS MONASTERY
Imposing and beautiful! The Jerónimos Monastery is a monument that is more than 400 years old (it was built in the 16th century). It was built by order of King Dom Manuel I and its construction spanned more than 100 years. It has the status of National Pantheon and inside its impressive nave (church) we can find the tombs of the great poet Luiz de Camões and the no less remarkable navigator Vasco da Gama. It is, since 1983, considered by Unesco a World Heritage Site.
COLONIAL GARDEN OR OVERSEAS GARDEN
The botanical garden is also known as the “garden of Ultramar”. It is a unique garden because of its specialization in tropical/sub-tropical flora. There we can find more than seven hundred (700!) species from all continents of the planet earth. The garden was ordered built as a “colonial garden” in 1906 by King Dom Carlos I and had as its first “home” the space that is today occupied by the Lisbon Zoo.
It occupies a huge space that goes from Belém to the beginning of Ajuda (all the way along the Calçada do Galvão). It has a total area of 7 hectares (i.e., an area equivalent to 7 soccer fields). Part of the garden are greenhouses, gardens, lakes, support buildings, huge storage spaces, and a library. The garden’s birds are its trademark. There you will find chickens, geese, ducks, and of course the peacocks (one of the garden’s hallmarks). In my childhood I lived very close to this garden and encountered “escaped” peacocks almost daily. To be more precise, I still live nearby today and still see them frequently in the streets near the garden… A spectacle!
VASCO DA GAMA GARDEN
It is located between the jardim do Império and the jardim Afonso de Albuquerque. It has a fairly large rectangular lawn where I played soccer when I was little. Perfect for walking, playing ball, having a picnic, running or just strolling around. There we can also find a playground and a Thai pavilion at one of the tops of the garden.
AFONSO DE ALBUQUERQUE GARDEN
It is in front of the palace of the republic. It is a garden in a circular shape and very nice. In the center is a huge obelisk. At the top we can see a statue of Afonso de Albuquerque (former governor of India in the 16th century).
IMPÉRIO GARDEN, BELÉM
It is my favorite garden! It was ordered built by Salazar for the great exhibition of the “Portuguese World” in the 1940s. The garden has kept its layout since then. Every time I go there (and I go at least once a week), I feel like I’m traveling back in time towards the past. In the center of the garden is a water fountain that is often lit up at night providing a picture of great beauty. Since January 2022 it has been under renovation.
CALOUSTE GULBENKIAN PLANETARIUM
It is a magical place that I have frequented since childhood! I still feel the same enthusiasm and passion for the mysteries of the universe that the planetarium shows us so well. It is near the Jerónimos Monastery and in front of the Belém cultural center. It opened its doors in 1965 and is part of the Navy Museum (next to the Planetarium building). Its name is explained by the donation made by Calouste Gulbenkian to help build the planetarium facilities.
In 1976, former U.S. President Richard Nixon, gave the planetarium a small moon rock (collected by an American astronaut). Sadly, the rock was stolen in 1985 and has not been recovered. Today, the planetarium has a powerful star projector that can represent over 9000 stars and our entire galaxy. The planetarium has attractions for everyone: adults and also children have special sessions for their ages and levels of understanding. Its facilities include a large auditorium, a gallery with temporary exhibitions, and also a specialized library.
BELENENSES” FOOTBALL STADIUM
The Restelo soccer stadium is said to be the biggest stadium in the world! Do you know why? Because it has never been full! This is a joke that may annoy a little those who, like me, suffer for their heart club, Belenenses! The stadium of the soccer club “Belenenses” is located in Restelo (next to Belém). From there we have a magnificent view of the Tagus River and the south bank. Often the quality of the soccer played in the stadium is not the best… In that case we can always enjoy the view!
COACHES MUSEUM
The coach museum is next to the presidential palace in Belém. The space that today houses the magnificent carriages, was in the past a military installation (general workshops of the army). The museum has been modernizing and today it is supported by 28 screens (some of them interactive) and two projections that will tell you all about the carriages on display.
Your visit will be even richer if you install the “App” that will give you the possibility to see inside the carriages. If you purchase the museum guide, you will have all the information about the vehicles at your disposal and you will become an authentic expert on the subject. Schedule: 10:00 – 18:00 (closed on Mondays)
NAVY MUSEUM, BELÉM
The Museu de Marinha opened its doors in 1863. It was Dom Luís who decided to gather a set of pieces related to Portugal’s great connection with the sea. The museum went through different spaces before settling in Belém, in the North and West wing of the magnificent Jerónimos Monastery. Its mission is to preserve the memory and the Portuguese maritime history. Part of the museum is the Galleons pavilion where you can see real vessels built several centuries ago.
The museum has a permanent exhibition with more than 16 thousand square meters. There are more than 20,000 pieces of which only 6000 can be seen by the public. The museum also has a documentation center with about 15,000 documents and more than 120,000 images gathered in an image archive.
VISIT THE TAVORAS PILLORY
Marquis of Pombal became famous in history for having led the reconstruction of Lisbon after the great earthquake of 1755. What few remember (and should remember), is that the Marquis had the Távora family killed with the utmost evil. A crime that was (almost) erased from history and that should be more remembered and famous than the reconstruction of the city of Lisbon. The barbaric and cruel execution took place in Belém next to this pillory.
MAAT
It opened its doors in 2016. It is the newest attraction in Belém and is known simply as MAAT. The Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT) building is a piece of architectural art in itself. Even if you don’t visit its interior, it’s worth going to Belem just to see how its bold, modern design “fits” perfectly in this part of town. If you go up to the museum’s belvedere, you will be able to enjoy one of the most impressive views of Lisbon! The museum hosts national and international exhibitions and counts on the contributions of artists and thinkers. The works (exhibitions) reflect on major current topics.
ELECTRICITY MUSEUM
Next to MAAT we find the also spectacular Electricity Museum, the once Tejo Power Plant. This is where the old Lisbon power plant used to operate between 1909 and 1972. Inside we find a permanent exhibition where we can see the structures and equipment that were used in the beginning of the last century in the production of energy. This museum formally became part of MAAT.
VIRTUAL TOUR TO BELÉM
MUST-DO ACTIVITIES IN BELÉM AND LISBON
LISBON CARD: 24,48 OR 72-HOUR PASS
An excellent option to save time and money! Perfect for those who will spend a few days in Lisbon and want to visit the maximum number of tourist attractions. Besides the access to the monuments (and other attractions) it also allows you to access the entire public transport system of the city of Lisbon.
CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO BOOK YOUR RIDE WITH US! VALUE OUR WORK AND HELP US TO HELP ANIMALS. 25% OF OUR COMMISSIONS GO TO AN ANIMAL SUPPORT INSTITUTION.
3-HOUR EXCURSION ON ELECTRIC BICYCLE
Ride through Lisbon’s most beautiful areas and corners on comfortable electric bikes and see the fantastic sights from a privileged angle. You will still have time to see the Parliament and the most sophisticated stores of the city.
Lisbon Essential Tour: History and Lifestyle
A walking tour with a duration of 3 hours. You will have the opportunity to know the most important places in Lisbon. A walk through ALFAMA, Chiado, Bairro Alto and the São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint. An experience that includes a streetcar ride! It sells out very quickly!
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