Belem is a neighbourhood that is packed with monuments and a great day trip to take from Lisbon. I made a day out of it and this was my route. I took a bus to the area and started my adventure with a stop at MAAT, the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology, which has an amazing rooftop viewpoint. Stop here and enjoy the river and city views and take that obligatory tourist selfie.
The next stop is the Garden of Alfonso de Albuquerque, where you can leisurely stroll through and enjoy the views of the presidents pink palace and the lovely fountain.
Then grab a snack from the Pastéis de Belém, the original Pasteis in Portugal, which has been making these delicious custard tarts since 1837. There are two lines, so don’t be afraid when you see the mass of people outside, those are the ones who want to sit in the bakery. There is an option to grab and go.
I opted for the grab and go option and made my way to the Tropical Botanical Garden, which are supposed to be beautiful. It was closed when I was there, so I was unable to walk through it, but what I could see from the closed gates looked gorgeous.
Next stop was the Igreja Santa Maria de Belém, the church is free to walk through and a very beautiful piece of art and architecture. Right next door is the famous Jerónimos Monastery, I didn’t choose to go in, but it’s an option.
From there, you can cross the street and head towards the waters to the Padrão dos Descobrimentos. It’s actually quite beautiful and on either side there was someone playing music creating two separate vibes. It was actually quite nice and very peaceful to just hangout by the water and take everything.
When you’ve recouped some of your energy, take a walk along the water. There are quite a few spots where you can stop for a picture, starting with the Belem Lighthouse, around the Doca do Bom Sucesso, then past the Monument Gago Coutinho e Sacadura Cabral until you finally reach the Belém Tower!
Pro Tip: Once you’re done here, grab some food and make your way back. It was such a lovely day I opted to rent a scooter and make my way back towards Time Out Market. It’s so much fun and not very expensive.
Sans Sandee 