Housed in a 16th-century convent where noble ladies used to retire (some not so voluntarily), this museum tells the story of Portugal's obsession with tiles. The convent's church is a baroque explosion of gold and tiles, built by a queen who wanted to show off her
Named after Queen Maria II's first born son (who died before becoming king), this is where Lisbon's 19th-century aristocrats built their colorful mansions. The giant cedar tree in the garden has been spreading its branches since 1848 - they had to build iron supports to hold
Built for Expo '98 on land that was once industrial wasteland, this is Europe's largest indoor aquarium. The building looks like a floating aircraft carrier, designed to make you feel like you're walking on water. The central tank is so big it holds 5 million
Under the 25th of April Bridge lies this old fabric factory turned creative hub. Built in 1846 as one of Lisbon's biggest industrial complexes, it made everything from fabric to bread for the entire city. After being abandoned in the 1980s, artists started sneaking in to use the
This neo-Gothic elevator was built by Raul Mesnier, a Portuguese engineer who studied under Gustave Eiffel (yes, that Eiffel). Back in 1902, it was the only way for people in downtown to reach Carmo without climbing the hill. Originally powered by steam, it would puff away like a vertical train.
Lisbon's elegant shopping district since the 1800s, where intellectuals and artists would meet at A Brasileira café to discuss politics over coffee and absinthe. A massive fire nearly wiped it out in 1988, but architect Siza Vieira brought it back to life, keeping the 19th-century charm while sneaking
Sitting on Lisbon's highest hill like a crown, this castle has seen it all. The Visigoths built here first, then the Moors upgraded it, and finally the Portuguese kings turned it into a royal palace. During the 1755 earthquake, people who ran up here for safety had the
The only neighborhood that survived the big earthquake of 1755, mostly because it was built on solid rock. Originally a Moorish quarter (Alfama comes from the Arabic Al-hamma, meaning 'hot fountains'), it's now home to Fado music, sardine-grilling competitions, and elderly ladies chatting from their windows.
The old Mercado da Ribeira got a modern makeover in 2014, turning a traditional fish and veg market into Lisbon's fanciest food court. The ground floor now hosts Lisbon's best restaurants in mini-format, while upstairs the original market still sells fresh produce every morning. This was
Built with "spice money" from Portuguese discoveries, this monastery took 100 years to complete - talk about a long-term project! King Manuel I built it to honor Vasco da Gama's successful trip to India and even gave it the monks' order that had been praying
A UNESCO site that started as a lighthouse and customs house, built to show off Portugal's wealth during the Age of Discovery. King João II wanted a defense system for Lisbon's port, but it was his successor Manuel I who got it built in 1519. Standing