Continuing our Lisbon travel guide, I will now share the must-see sights and tips from our second day, spent exploring the Belém District with my family.
Lisbon travel guide : Let’s Begin with Tips for Visiting the Belém District must-see sights.
Lisbon was our first destination for a free-style trip in Europe. On the third day after our arrival, we decided to visit the Belem district, known for the Jeronimos Monastery.
Getting to Belém District must-see sights
While taking a taxi to Belem is an option, Lisbon has a well-developed public transportation system.
Using Google Maps, you can easily find detailed directions and public transportation options from your current location to your destination.
Lisbon Travel Guide : Lisboa Card
If you’re planning a trip to Lisbon, we recommend using the Lisboa Card for public transportation instead of taking a taxi.
Lisbon’s public transport is as easy and convenient to use as in our home country.
With the Lisboa Card, you can access various public transportation options, including the famous Tram 28, and gain free entry to many tourist attractions.
The card is available for different durations—24, 48, or 72 hours. You can purchase it in advance through platforms like Klook and exchange your online voucher for a physical card at Lisbon Airport.
- After you exit the arrivals hall at the airport, you’ll find the Lisboa Card desk to your right, where you can exchange your voucher for the actual card.
The card’s validity starts counting down from the first time you use it. So, for instance, a 24-hour card will expire 24 hours after its initial use, meaning you should purchase the card that best fits your travel itinerary to maximize its use.
Exploring Belém District must-see sights
From our accommodation, we walked about 8 minutes to a bus stop and then took a bus to Belem.
The bus ride to Belem took about 40 minutes. Along the way, we got a glimpse of the Christ the King statue in the distance and the scenic views along the riverbank, making the journey less monotonous than expected.
Here are some of the notable attractions we visited in Belem
- Pastéis de Belém – The original home of Portugal’s famous egg tarts.
- Jeronimos Monastery – The centerpiece of Belem’s attractions.
- Monument to the Discoveries – A tribute to the Age of Exploration.
- Belem Tower – Celebrating Vasco da Gama’s discoveries.
Belém District must-see sights 1. Jeronimos Monastery
The Jeronimos Monastery is a masterpiece of Portuguese architecture, built in 1502. The scale of the monastery is impressive—it’s about the size of a football field.
Despite the heat in mid-July, many tourists were eager to get inside, making it a must-see attraction in Lisbon.
If you want to avoid confusion when entering, note that the line on the left side, when facing the monastery, is for monastery entry, while the line on the right is for the church.
If you plan to visit both, it doesn’t matter which line you join. But if you’re only interested in the monastery, go left.
The line for the monastery can be quite long, easily taking more than 30 minutes if you don’t arrive early.
However, families with children can skip the line and enter immediately.
We found this out while waiting in line and could enter without further delay.
Touring the monastery took less time than expected—around an hour. According to their website, the average stay is 2-3 hours, which likely includes visiting the church.
After our tour, we were hungry and headed to the famous Pastéis de Belém just across the street.
Belém District must-see sights 2. Pastéis de Belém
Pastéis de Belém is renowned as the birthplace of the Portuguese egg tart, and there’s always a line. Fortunately, the line wasn’t as long during our visit.
There are two lines: the left one is for dine-in, and the right is for takeout.
Although the dine-in line may look long, it usually moves quickly.
Once inside, you pass through a narrow seating area to a larger, more comfortable dining hall, perfect for enjoying egg tarts in a cool environment.
We ordered five egg tarts, an Americano, a latte, and an orange juice.
Note that iced Americano is not common in Portugal; even if you request one, they usually just provide a cup with ice.
The egg tarts were the best we’ve ever tasted in Portugal—crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, just perfect.
Belém District must-see sights 3. Monument to the Discoveries
The Monument to the Discoveries is a short 5-minute walk diagonally across a park from Pastéis de Belém.
It was built to celebrate the Age of Exploration during Portugal’s peak and stands along the Tagus River in Belem.
Statues of historical figures are carved into the monument, much like those of famous historical figures in other countries.
One popular activity here is to find and take pictures of your home country’s map etched on the pavement in front of the monument.
This is a common trend on social media.
Belém District must-see sights 4. Belem Tower
We had heard about the long lines for Belem Tower before our visit, but the line wasn’t as long as expected. Even so, it seemed like at least an hour-long wait to enter. We decided not to go inside due to the heat and opted to take photos outside instead.
There’s also a model of the tower in front of the actual structure, and many people take pictures with it.
We, too, took photos and then explored the nearby park before leaving Belem.
Evening in Lisbon City Center
The following day, we were scheduled to move to Porto, so we spent our final evening exploring the city center around the arch of Rua Augusta.
Lisbon’s typical city view. In mid-July, the sunset was around 9 PM, so it was still bright at 8 PM.
While exploring the city center, we came across the famous Santa Justa Elevator.
As expected, the evening crowd was large, and the line was long.
We chose not to go inside due to the underwhelming reviews and long wait times.
Walking towards the Arch, we saw street performances, including B-boys dancing and interacting with the audience.
Despite not understanding what they were saying, it was fun watching them entertain the crowd.
Though we had explored the city center before, this was our first time seeing the arch.
Unlike the grand arch in Paris, Lisbon’s version felt more modest and integrated with surrounding buildings, giving it more of an entrance-like feel.
Passing through the arch, we arrived at Praca do Comercio, Lisbon’s largest square.
Maybe because it was evening, the square didn’t feel as big as expected.
A daytime visit might provide a different impression, but our schedule didn’t allow us to come back during the day.
We only stayed briefly because the wind coming off the water was quite strong and cold, so we returned to our accommodation.
Key Takeaways from Our Lisbon travel guide Trip
- Families with children can skip the line at Jeronimos Monastery.
The monastery entrance is on the left when facing the building; the right line is for the church. - At Pastéis de Belém, the dine-in area is more spacious inside.
The lines outside the store are for dine-in (left) and takeout (right). - Belem Tower lines are long; expect to wait at least an hour if you don’t arrive early.
- To get a seat on Tram 28, it’s best to board at the terminal.
Early morning or late evening trips are less crowded. - Restaurants along main roads with people trying to lure you in are often overpriced and not great.
Explore side streets for hidden gems. - When taking taxis, using Bolt instead of Uber is faster and more reliable.
Drivers are generally friendly. - Major grocery chains like Pingo Doce and Continente offer a wide range of fresh products, including baked goods, fresh-squeezed orange juice, pork, and beef.
- Eating out can be more expensive than in our home country.
Buying groceries and cooking at your accommodation can save money. - There’s a wide selection of affordable beer and wine.
Beer can be under 1 Euro for a 330ml can, and decent wine can be found for 2-3 Euros. - Lisbon in mid-July can be hot during the day (around 30°C), but mornings and evenings are cool.
Pack cardigans or long sleeves. - The area around the arch is lively at night with street performances and busking.
During the day, you’ll find many shops and restaurants. - Lisbon is a hilly city, with many uphill walks.
Comfortable shoes are recommended. - Despite some concerns about safety, we felt secure walking around the city, even in narrow alleys late at night.
Our Accommodation Location
R. Nova da Trindade 19, 1200-468 Lisboa, Portugal
- Public restrooms are scarce, and even when available, they are often in cafes, restaurants, or paid facilities (around 0.5 Euros per use).
Plan bathroom breaks, especially with children. - Smoking is prevalent across Europe, including Portugal.
Smoking is allowed almost everywhere, which may be bothersome for families with children.
This wraps up our second installment of our Lisbon travel experience, focusing on our trip to the Belem district
Related Travel Post
A Family of Three’s Portugal Adventure : Lisbon Travel Review