A CITY TO DISCOVER
The Green Heart Hostel is the ideal place to discover Lisbon, its monuments, its typical neighborhoods, its gastronomy, its hills and fabulous views, its beaches and its parks.
Let yourself be conquered by Lisbon.
Walking in Bairro Alto
Whoever is looking for a genuine local experience only has to walk the streets of this Lisbon neighborhood with over 500 years, where you will find traditional, alternative and touristic stores. At night, its bohemian side settles in with gourmet restaurants, typical taverns, bars and discos.
Explore the LX Factory
Located in Alcântara, this old industrial complex is now the home of many creative companies, eclectic stores, "one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world", restaurants, bars, workshops, weekend craft fairs and an always lively cultural agenda.
The view from the hill on an elevator
Lisbon's elevators are basically funiculars that serve to climb the long, steep streets of the Portuguese capital. The Lavra Elevator was inaugurated in 1884 and is the oldest in Lisbon. Currently, the most used is the Bica Elevator, to go from Cais Sodré to Bairro Alto. The best known is the Glória Elevator, which connects the Praça dos Restauradores with Rua São Pedro de Alcântara, where you will find the viewpoint over the city and the Tagus River.
Getting to know the viewpoints
The seven hills of Lisbon and the river Tagus come together to conjure a city of breathtaking views. At the top of the hills there are belvederes, a series of pedestrian squares that offer a magnificent view of the city. Take a look.
Get a tan in one of the beaches
Lisbon is the only European capital with Atlantic beaches. A walk along the coast is mandatory, or even a few hours on the beach. With golden dunes and mountains as a backdrop, there are the beaches of Cascais for those who follow the Tagus to the Atlantic, the fabulous beaches of Sintra and the Costa da Caparica on the south bank, which extends to the Alentejo coast.
Walking in Chiado
The heart of urban and cosmopolitan glamour has been in Chiado for centuries. Characterized by the casual-chic atmosphere, with streets full of stores, exquisite restaurants, beautiful Portuguese sidewalks and churches, and timeless cafés.
Visit the Convent of Carmo
The Convent of Carmo is a powerful reminder of the 1755 earthquake. The walls of this Gothic church remained standing, but the roof and arches succumbed. It is best to visit the church in the morning while the sun shines on the floor, giving it a contemplative demeanor.
Walk in Terreiro do Paço
The largest square in Lisbon and also one of the most emblematic, a symbol of the city and its reconstruction after the great earthquake of 1755. It is a pleasant area, where you can walk on the banks of the river Tagus and feel the city.
Relax in the Gulbenkian Foundation Garden
The Garden is an oasis of nature and tranquility in the city. It occupies an area of about 8 hectares and is a reference for landscape architecture in Portugal. Take the opportunity to rest, picnic or walk along the footpaths, always in the company of birds and the soothing sound of the waterfalls.
Go to Cais do Sodré
To go out at night and dance, Cais do Sodré is one of the most popular options. It is one of the most relaxed at night in Lisbon, with cultural spaces, restaurants, bars, clubs and discos. The music is very varied — you can hear reggae, African music, new wave, indie and gothic rock, the programming of the clubs is appealing and the environment is eclectic.
Streetcar Riding
The streetcars arrived in Lisbon in 1901 and are the ex libris of the city, crossing narrow, ingrained and winding streets. It's one of the best ways to travel through the historic districts. Streetcar number 28 is the best known, but there are many others.
Visit the Tower of Belém
It is one of the highlights of Lisbon and one of the most picturesque monuments in Europe. Apart from the fact that the stone vaults are an admirable work of engineering, the richness of the decorative elements linked to maritime aspects and navigators' journeys is fascinating. It is considered an icon of the architecture built during the the reign of King Manuel I and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
Visit the Padrão dos Descobrimentos
Built in 1960, on the occasion of the Commemorations of the 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator. With its 52 meters of height, the monument symbolizes a caravel, led by Prince Henry the Navigator, followed in parade by 32 personalities who contributed to the Age of Discovery. You can visit the permanent exhibition about the Portuguese maritime adventure or climb to the top to enjoy a magnificent view.
Visit the Monastery of Jerónimos
This stunning monument, classified as World Heritage by UNESCO, portrays the richness of the Portuguese Crown, as well as the creative capacity of King Manuel I and the architect Diogo de Boitaca, this 300 meter long monument is one of the most impressive examples of religious architecture in the world.
Explore the Oceanarium
To meet one of the greatest oceanariums in Europe is a never-ending joy, filled with emotion and excitement. Inhabited by more than 16,000 animals and plants that represent more than 450 different species, from several oceans of our planet. It is a unique experience.
Listen to Fado
Whether you like the music style or not, listening to fado in Lisbon is unavoidable. If you're lucky enough to hear it singing when you walk down any street in Alfama, Mouraria or Madragoa, you should enjoy the opportunity. Amateur fado or “fado vadio” is just like that, whenever you feel like singing, you do and the guitars go along.
Get to know the National Coach Museum
It is a collection of coaches unparalleled in the world, composed of gala cars and passenger cars from the 16th to 19th centuries, from the Portuguese Royal House, Church and private collections.
Visit the National Tile Museum
A unique museum in the world that tells the history of the tile in Portugal, since its first uses in the wall, in the 16th century, to the present day.
The view from the Santa Justa Elevator
Unexpected and iconic, this elevator is over a hundred years old and was designed by Ponsard, a disciple of the great master of iron works, Gustave Eiffel. It has an enviable view over this ancient part of Lisbon. It makes the connection between downtown and Bairro Alto.
Walking in Parque Eduardo VII
It is the largest park in Lisbon, with twenty-five hectares, offering unique nooks. If you visit Estufa Fria you will have the feeling of being in a mini-forest. At the top you will find the emblematic Monument to the Portuguese Revolution, followed by Jardim Amália Rodrigues and a monumental belvedere with spectacular views over the São Jorge castle, Baixa Pombalina and the Tagus River.
Discover Olissipo
Olisipo was one of the most important cities in Roman Lusitania. Today Olisipo is Lisbon and Lusitania is called Portugal. From a Roman Theatre, museum, exhibitions and ruins you will find several traces of Roman presence between Alfama and the downtown areas.
Stroll through Alfama
To get to know the most traditional side of Lisbon, a walk in Alfama is mandatory. It's easy to get lost in the maze of narrow streets of the neighborhood that survived the 1755 earthquake. At each bend you will find alleys, plazas and patios, such as the Calçadinha de Santo Estêvão and also the oldest fountains in the city, such as Chafariz Real and Chafariz de Dentro.
The view from the Castle of São Jorge
São Jorge Castle dominates the city's landscape. The impressive fortress that surrounds it was built in the 11th century during the Moorish occupation. In the middle of one of the most typical neighborhoods, Alfama, is the highest point of the city where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the city and the river.