Miradouro da Senhora do Monte

Lisbon is a city of miradouros, the public viewpoints that crown its hills, and the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte is the one many residents rate the best. It sits at the top of the Graça neighbourhood, higher than the castle opposite, and its terrace, shaded by pine trees and edged with a low wall, opens onto an almost complete panorama of the old city. To the left, São Jorge Castle sits on its hill with Alfama tumbling below; straight ahead lies the orderly grid of the Baixa running down to the river and the Praça do Comércio; beyond it the Tagus spreads wide, with the 25 de Abril bridge and the Cristo Rei statue on the far bank; and to the right the city climbs again towards the Bairro Alto, Príncipe Real and the green slopes of Monsanto. Because it faces west, the viewpoint is at its most beautiful at sunset, when the light turns the city gold and pink. Beside the terrace stands the small chapel of Nossa Senhora do Monte, a place of local devotion, and the square has the quiet feel of a neighbourhood space rather than a tourist sight. It is free and always open. The flip side of its fame is that it fills up at sunset, especially in summer, when musicians and couples claim the wall early. Come for sunrise or mid-morning and you may have it almost to yourself. The climb is the other catch: Graça is one of the highest parts of Lisbon, and every route up is steep.

Getting up the hill is part of the plan. Tram 28 climbs to Graça, and the stop on Rua da Graça leaves only a short final climb. Bus routes also serve the area. The most charming option is the Graça funicular, which reopened in 2026 and climbs from the Mouraria district to the edge of Graça. Walkers can climb from the Mouraria or the Martim Moniz area through steep lanes and stairways, which takes around twenty minutes and is rewarding if you take it slowly. Tuk-tuks also run up constantly, though you will pay a premium.

Making the most of it: for sunset, arrive well before the sun goes down to get a place on the wall, and bring a drink and a layer, as it can be windy. For photography, mornings bring clearer air and fewer people; the castle catches the early light beautifully. There is no café on the terrace itself, but Graça has plenty of neighbourhood cafés and the busier Miradouro da Graça, also called Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen, with a kiosk bar under the trees, is a few minutes' walk downhill. Visiting both makes a lovely evening.

Fitting it in: Senhora do Monte pairs well with the eastern side of the old city. Start at the castle or in Alfama, walk up through Graça, watch the sunset here and then go down for dinner in Alfama or the Mouraria, or combine it with a Tuesday or Saturday visit to the Feira da Ladra and the National Pantheon, both a short walk downhill.