Belém, in western Lisbon, is one of the city’s most distinctive and important areas to explore. Set along the harbor at the mouth of the Tagus River, the district is packed with an impressive concentration of landmarks and attractions. Its centerpiece is the historic Jerónimos Monastery, whose wings now house a series of fascinating national museums. Not far from the monastery stands the city’s emblematic and photogenic Belém Tower, one of the most beautiful and unusual sights in all of Portugal. The waterfront is also lined with major museums, including the remarkable National Coach Museum and the modern MAAT museum. The neighborhood is also home to a string of beautifully landscaped gardens and parks, among them the distinctive Tropical Botanical Garden beside Belém Palace. Above the waterfront and the district of Belém, up the hill, lies the neighborhood of Ajuda, where you’ll find the impressive royal palace and its tropical garden, one of the loveliest gardens on the Iberian Peninsula.
How much time should you set aside for Belém district?
Belém deserves anywhere from a full day to two days, depending on how many museums you want to visit.
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8 things you shouldn’t miss in Belém
- Climb to the top of Belém Tower | Torre de Belém
- Monument to the Discoveries – the fascist history of the Salazar regime | Padrão dos Descobrimentos
- National Archaeology Museum | Museu Nacional de Arqueologia
- The Maritime Museum at Jerónimos Monastery | Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
- Berardo Museum of Contemporary Art – the great artists of the 20th century | Museu de Arte Contemporânea Berardo
- National Coach Museum with its impressive royal collection – Museu Nacional dos Coches
- MAAT Museum of Art and Architecture in a spectacular building | MAAT
- Ajuda Botanical Garden – the lovely gardens of the palace of the same name | Jardim Botânico d'Ajuda
Planning a visit to Belém
Planning your time in Belém and the sights in Ajuda above it is fairly straightforward. Most of the landmarks and attractions are close together, so it’s easy to get around on foot.
The heart of the district is the vast Jerónimos Monastery complex, surrounded by a large number of museums, gardens, and other worthwhile stops. A short distance west stands the neighborhood’s number-one must-see: the stunning Belém Tower by the city harbor.
East of Jerónimos Monastery, near Belém Palace, you’ll find another cluster of major sights, led by the Coach Museum, the modern MAAT on the waterfront, and the unique Tropical Botanical Garden.
From the palace, you can head uphill into Ajuda toward the royal palace, where the palace gardens from the late 18th century are also worth a visit.
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Sites and attractions in Belém
Belém Tower | Torre de Belém
In complete contrast to the Monument to the Discoveries, Belém Tower is a magnificent expression of Portugal and one of the country’s most beautiful national symbols at the western edge of the Iberian Peninsula. The tower was built in the western section of Lisbon Harbor in 1520 at the initiative of King Manuel I.
It is probably the clearest symbol of Portugal’s great maritime empire of the time, and it remains an extraordinarily impressive structure today. Designed in the style of a Moorish fortified tower, it also features striking Gothic decorative and architectural elements. At its base is a fortified courtyard, while the upper section has a wraparound terrace with watchtowers at the corners of the square building. The best views are from the top of the tower, reached by stairs.
The building’s narrow interior is also fascinating, with Gothic ornamentation and details that have survived since its construction. West of the tower, a small green promenade leads to the modern Monument to the Overseas Combatants (Monumento aos Combatentes do Ultramar).
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Monument to the Discoveries | Padrão dos Descobrimentos
Belém Harbor is home to several striking landmarks, the best known of course being the iconic Belém Tower, one of Lisbon’s defining symbols. The Monument to the Discoveries feels like a kind of echo of that famous tower. It stands right on the waterfront in a beautiful square paved with mosaic stone. At the center of the square is the Rosa dos Ventos, a huge geometric design in the shape of a compass rose.
The monument was built in 1960 to mark 500 years since the death of Prince Henry the Navigator (Infante Dom Henrique), the Portuguese prince whose initiative helped transform the country into a maritime empire. It is one of the clearest surviving symbols of the dictatorship of António de Oliveira Salazar, who was removed from power about eight years after the monument was built, and whose regime collapsed in 1974.
The monument shows tiered statues of national figures associated with the empire’s conquests boarding a ship. The combination of these sculptures, exposed concrete, and the ship’s clean lines creates a sense of unease, making it a clear expression of fascist art.
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Empire Square Garden | Jardim da Praça do Império
This large, formal square park – the Empire Gardens – lies on the southern side of Jerónimos Monastery. Carefully maintained, the garden-square is laid out in a series of geometric paths in a square-within-a-square design, with a large fountain at its center. It makes a pleasant short stop for a break after visiting Jerónimos and the more demanding museums in the area.
To the east of Praça do Império are the Vasco da Gama Gardens (Garden Vasco da Gama), where the green corridor continues. Immediately to the west sits Belém’s impressive cultural center.
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Jerónimos Monastery | Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
Jerónimos Monastery is the main landmark in Belém, in western Lisbon. This immense monastery was built in the early 16th century by King Manuel I. Dominating the entire riverfront along the mouth of the Tagus, it is considered one of the most important sites in all of Lisbon.
It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 together with nearby Belém Tower, and it draws large numbers of visitors every day. The monastery interior is equally vast, filled with impressive ornamentation, sculptures, and reliefs. Its wings surround a large courtyard, and several national museums were established within them.
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National Archaeology Museum | Museu Nacional de Arqueologia
Portugal’s National Archaeology Museum is located in the southern wing of Jerónimos Monastery. Its collection includes a large range of finds from Portugal and across the Iberian Peninsula, and it is considered one of the most important museums for Western Mediterranean archaeology.
The collection features a wealth of early Celtic objects that testify to the advanced cultures that flourished before the Greeks and Phoenicians reached the western Mediterranean shores. It also includes items and discoveries from trading cities founded by the Greeks and Phoenicians, and later by the Romans. The museum opened in 1906 and has since been considered one of the city’s major museums.
Address: Praça do Império
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Maritime Museum | Museu de Marinha
Portugal’s National Maritime Museum is housed in the western wing of Jerónimos Monastery, not far from the church entrance and the National Archaeology Museum. The museum opened in 1962 with the aim of documenting and presenting the achievements of the Portuguese nation, which was once a major maritime power.
The museum tells the story of local seafaring, shipbuilding methods, and the history of exploration. Portuguese sailors were among the world’s most important explorers, including Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, and Afonso de Albuquerque.
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Lisbon Planetarium | Planetário de Marinha
Lisbon’s planetarium is another important institution located within the Jerónimos Monastery complex. It opened in 1965 in a modern building on the northern side of the old monastery.
The complex features engaging displays about the stars and the solar system, and it’s certainly a nice place to visit with children. Explanations are also available in English, though much of the venue’s purpose is geared toward domestic education within Portugal.
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Belém Cultural Center | Centro Cultural de Belém
Belém’s major cultural center opened in 1993 as part of Portugal’s term holding the presidency of the European Union. The building’s main purpose was to symbolize the strength and renewal of modern Portugal while attracting and supporting the creation of art, music, and performances.
The complex includes a theater, rotating exhibition spaces, classrooms, a cafeteria, restaurants, and more. On its western side is the Berardo Museum of Contemporary Art.
Address: Praça do Império
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Berardo Museum of Contemporary Art | Museu de Arte Contemporânea Berardo
The Berardo Museum of Contemporary Art hosts rotating exhibitions of contemporary art and supports postmodern artists, while also presenting a highly impressive permanent collection of modern art.
The museum was created at the initiative of collector José Manuel Rodrigues Berardo and is based on the businessman’s remarkable private collection. The permanent collection includes works by many of the leading artists of the early 20th century, including the Surrealists René Magritte and Giorgio de Chirico, as well as Pablo Picasso, Francis Bacon, Willem de Kooning, Joan Miró, Marcel Duchamp, and many others.
Berardo’s collection is especially precise in its quality, with a clear focus on groundbreaking works that led into the postmodern era.
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National Coach Museum | Museu Nacional dos Coches
The National Coach Museum is one of the most wonderful places in all of Lisbon. It presents a rich and surprising collection of historic carriages from Portugal and across Europe. It stands near Afonso de Albuquerque Garden and Belém Palace, close to the waterfront of Lisbon Harbor and the Belém ferry terminal.
The museum holds impressive collections of items from the 16th century onward related to carriage culture, including the royal carriages of Portugal’s kings. You can trace the evolution of carriage design beginning in the 16th century, along with historic vehicles used by Portuguese monarchs for specific events.
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Belém National Palace | Palácio Nacional de Belém
Belém National Palace is one of the neighborhood’s most impressive landmarks. The palace gardens are named after Afonso de Albuquerque (Jardim Afonso de Albuquerque), and the palace stands just north of them.
The palace served as the residence of the royal family in the area. It was originally built in 1559, but like much of the city it was severely damaged in the 1755 earthquake. Afterward it was restored and renovated, and today it is the official residence of the President of Portugal.
In the southern section of the palace is a wing of the National Coach Museum, where you can see the royal riding arena (Antigo Picadeiro Real).
Address: Praça Afonso de Albuquerque
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Tropical Botanical Garden | Jardim Botânico Tropical
The tropical botanical gardens occupy the northwestern edge of pink-toned Belém Palace. The Tropical Garden is one of the most beautiful urban parks in Lisbon. It was first established in the early 20th century as a conservation space for tropical trees and plants originating in Cape Verde and on Madeira.
Today, the garden is filled with lovely walking paths, carefully labeled trees (more or less), noisy peacocks, trickling streams, and small ponds – everything you need for a relaxed breath of fresh air.
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MAAT – Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology | Museu de Arte, Arquitetura e Tecnologia MAAT
A little east of the Coach Museum, along the waterfront of the Tagus estuary and Lisbon Harbor, stands the striking MAAT building. The Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology is one of the city’s most distinctive modern structures. It was built in 2016 to a design by British architect Amanda Levete. The building is notably eco-conscious and resembles a concrete wave, with a window at its center looking out toward the water. It stands beside the Tejo Power Station to the east, and the contrast between the two buildings is especially striking and intriguing.
The museum sits at the end of a long, popular promenade along the harborfront. Inside are rotating exhibitions, usually by local artists, or shows focused on science and technology, but the real highlight is, of course, the building’s unique form.
Address: Av. Brasília
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Ajuda
Ajuda Botanical Garden | Jardim Botânico d'Ajuda
Above the eastern part of Belém lies the pleasant residential neighborhood of Ajuda. At its heart is the impressive Ajuda Palace, next to the appealing Parque dos Moinhos de Santana, which offers sweeping views toward the river estuary. South of the palace is the Ajuda Botanical Garden, one of the loveliest places in all of Lisbon.
The beautifully maintained garden was laid out in 1768 in the style of Italian Baroque gardens, and it contains a rich variety of plants and flowers from around the world. The park is an essential part of a visit to the nearby palace, and it is also not far from the beautiful Igreja da Memória in the streets below.
Ajuda Palace | Palácio Nacional da Ajuda
Ajuda National Palace is one of the most impressive palaces in all of Portugal. It stands on the hillside above the neighborhood’s houses, close to the excellent botanical garden.
The royal palace was destroyed in 1795 and rebuilt in the early 19th century in an impressive Neoclassical style. You can wander through its rooms and see displays preserving the lives of Portugal’s royals. The palace contains dozens of rooms with displays of objects, furniture, and countless fascinating period details.
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