Lisboa, Baixa and Bairro Alto

Europe / Portugal / Lisbon / Bairro Alto

How to get here
Metro (€ 1.45) is, by far, the simplest way to get to this areas, probably the busiest in the capital. Try to get off at Baixa-Chiado, Rossio or even Terreiro do Paço, so you can take a walk. The car, due to traffic and the difficulties to find parking, is the last option to consider...

What to do
During the day, enjoy strolling in the Baixa - it's one of the must-see places in Lisbon. Cafes full of history, museums, shops, street performers... You will always have something to see and to do. Lisbon - Bairro Alto - does not sleep at night. The largest diversity of bars in the city is here, some with live music. You will also easily find places for wine-tasting. Or bars where to try cocktails.

What to see
From the marvelous Rossio Square, pass the Figueira Square, which is just next door, and then take the famous Rua Augusta to the end where you will reach the Triumphal Arch of Rua Augusta. This arc, besides being a prodigious passage to the Praça do Comércio (Terreiro do Paço), is also, at its top, a belvedere that provides a breathtaking view of the city! From Baixa, take the emblematic Santa Justa Elevator that will take you directly to Largo do Carmo. Bairro Alto is not just a place to visit in the evening. During the day, venture through the narrow streets of this typical neighborhood, and enjoy the traditional colorful balconies with clothes in the outlets. At the end of the afternoon, there is nothing more beautiful than the view of the sunset over Lisbon, from the Miradouro de Santa Catarina, or that of São Pedro de Alcântara. When descending from the Bairro Alto, go through Rua Cor de Rosa, and enter a fantasy world. Yes, the street is painted in pink, even to the ground! This is one of Europe's favorite streets, voted by the New York Times.

Where to eat
The streets of Baixa are full of restaurants, where you can eat inside or on the terraces in good weather. If you are thinking of dining in the Bairro Alto area, enjoy it in one of the traditional Fado houses - you will find several options, with dinner for two from 60 €! You can also go to Armazéns do Chiado and find several restaurants. If you do not feel like going to a restaurant to eat, then buy a traditional chorizo ​​bread from the vendors you will find on the neighborhood streets!

Smart tips
As soon as you arrive at Terreiro do Paço, you will find yourself next to Rio Tejo. This area is beautiful and has a pedestrian path along the river, where many people enjoy running or cycling. Rent a bike and do the same! Already by the Bairro Alto and since the streets are narrow, the circulation by car is a little complicated, as well as the parking. Especially at night, when there are a lot of people on the street, it is not advisable to drive in the area. The night at Bairro Alto lasts only until 3 o'clock, when the bars close by law. Come before that, and then continue the night in one of the nightclubs near Cais do Sodré!