A few fortunate souls may inadvertently stumble upon Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara on a drunken night out in Lisbon’s famous bar & restaurant quarter, Bairro Alto. But if you don’t want to leave one of Lisbon’s best views to chance, I recommend you plan a quick stop at this lovely belvedere.
If you’re downtown in the Baixa area and don’t want an uphill work-out, the Elevador da Glória will take you straight up to the belvedere. And yes, it’s fun for kids and adults! Once you’re at the top, take a few minutes to soak in all of Lisbon spread out before you. Holding on to the decorative iron and stone railing, you can spot the river Tagus, the cathedral, the castle (visible in the picture above) and all the rooftops of downtown Lisbon. It’s absolutely breathtaking!
Directly below you is a well-maintained little garden and behind you is a whole area with a café, picnic tables and benches, a fountain and trees for shade. It’s hard to resist the temptation of sitting down with a bica or a cold drink there and think about how privileged you are to witness such a beautiful sight.
If you like it by day, then be prepared: it’s just as impressive by night. The castle is even more visible then and the entire city is illuminated; it looks like a scene from a movie. Even the belvedere itself is lit with old-fashioned-looking street lamps! The whole experience is incredibly romantic. I can’t recommend it enough.
[…] My Favorite Belvedere in Lisbon […]