Lisbon's viewpoints: the miradouros, and how to reach them while the funiculars rest
Lisbon is built on hills, and every hill ends in a miradouro: a terrace, a garden or a small square left open so that the city can look at itself. They are free, they are everywhere, and they are the reason the old funiculars were built in the first place.
Those funiculars are resting for now. The Glória, Bica and Lavra lifts and the Santa Justa elevator have been closed since the Glória derailment in September 2025, while independent engineers inspect them (we keep the latest in our guide to Lisbon’s funiculars). The views have not gone anywhere. Here are the ones we return to, the hour each is at its best, and how to reach them today.
São Pedro de Alcântara: the sunset terrace
On the edge of Bairro Alto, a two-tier garden looks straight across the valley to the castle and the old town tumbling down to the Baixa. It is the viewpoint the Glória funicular was built to serve, and the one we would choose for the last light of the day.
How to reach it now: walk up the Calçada da Glória from Restauradores, the same short, steep street the funicular climbs. A few minutes at an easy pace, and the garden opens at the top.
Santa Catarina: the river at your feet
Just above the Bica street, the terrace of Santa Catarina faces south-west, straight down the Tagus to the 25 de Abril bridge and the open water beyond. The statue of Adamastor, the sea giant of Camões’s epic, keeps watch. It is young, relaxed and best at sunset, when the river turns to copper.
How to reach it now: walk up the Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo from near Cais do Sodré, the street of the famous yellow car, then two minutes more to the terrace.
Graça and Senhora do Monte: the whole city
In Graça, the Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen viewpoint looks west over the castle and the Baixa, with a kiosk and pine trees for shade. A short walk further up, Senhora do Monte is the highest viewpoint in the old city, and the one that shows you all of Lisbon at once: the castle, the river, the bridge and the hills in every direction.
How to reach it now: this is the easy one. The modern Graça funicular, which reopened in April 2026, climbs from Rua dos Lagares in the Mouraria to Largo da Graça in about ninety seconds. Senhora do Monte is a gentle walk on from there.
Santa Luzia and Portas do Sol: Alfama from above
Halfway up Alfama, two viewpoints sit side by side. Santa Luzia has the tiled walls and the bougainvillea pergola; Portas do Sol, a few steps on, has the open terrace over the rooftops, the domes of São Vicente and the river behind. This is the postcard, and it is at its finest in the early morning, before the day has properly begun.
How to reach them: on foot up through Alfama’s lanes from the cathedral, or by taxi to Largo das Portas do Sol and then down the hill on foot, which is the gentler way to explore the quarter.
Jardim do Torel: the quiet one
At the top of the Lavra funicular’s route, a small hillside garden looks west over the Avenida da Liberdade and the city centre. Few visitors find it, which is precisely its charm: a bench, a little shade, and the city spread out below without a crowd in sight.
How to reach it now: the climb from Largo da Anunciada is short and steep, through a part of town that sees few visitors.
A day of viewpoints, done well
The viewpoints reward a little planning: the east-facing terraces in the morning, the west-facing ones at sunset, and a long lunch somewhere in between. When we design a day in Lisbon, we build it around the light rather than the transport: Portas do Sol before the city wakes, the Graça funicular and Senhora do Monte in the afternoon, a glass at São Pedro de Alcântara as the sun goes down, and a driver waiting for the moments when you would rather not climb.
If a Lisbon holiday shaped around moments like these appeals, see how we design tailor-made journeys through Portugal, or start a conversation.
Questions we are asked about Lisbon’s viewpoints
What is the best viewpoint in Lisbon?
For the widest panorama, Senhora do Monte in Graça, the highest of the city’s viewpoints. For sunset, São Pedro de Alcântara or Santa Catarina. For the classic view over Alfama’s rooftops to the river, Santa Luzia and Portas do Sol. Each is at its best at a different hour, which is why we rarely send anyone to just one.
How do I get to the Graça viewpoints without climbing?
Take the modern Graça funicular, which reopened in April 2026 and climbs from Rua dos Lagares in the Mouraria to Largo da Graça in about ninety seconds. From there, the Graça viewpoint is a few steps away and Senhora do Monte a short walk uphill.
Are Lisbon’s viewpoints free?
Yes. The miradouros are public squares and gardens, open to everyone and free at any hour. Only the castle walls of São Jorge, a viewpoint in their own right, charge for entry.
When is the best time to visit Lisbon’s viewpoints?
Early morning for Alfama and the river, when the light is soft and the terraces are quiet, and the last hour before sunset for the west-facing viewpoints of São Pedro de Alcântara and Santa Catarina. Graça and Senhora do Monte are lovely in the late afternoon, with the whole city lit from the side.