The 7 most instagrammable places in Lisbon

Eating on buses is usually frowned upon, but in this case the double-decker is the café of Village Underground Lisboa. Even better, it is perched on top of a shipping container – and serves daily specials and other dishes for the whole family. Most Sundays there is an inflatable castle near the outdoor tables for the kids to bounce around on. There is also music and various parties throughout the rest of the week.

Lisbon’s latest viewpoint is almost 50 years old. In the past, it was a luxury restaurant, a bingo hall, a nightclub, an office building and a warehouse. Now, this architectural UFO designed by Chaves da Costa has been given a new lease of life – and a much more peaceful one: it is a viewpoint, which was always its second calling anyway. The 360º view of the city and great location, in Alto da Serafina Recreational Park, make this derelict building the best place to check out the sights in Monsanto. We won’t lie: it’s the best view of the whole city. Abandoned since 2001, the Panoramic received only sporadic visits from urban explorers, tourists, curious onlookers and people armed with spray paint, who went there to do what people generally do with spray paint. Since September 2017, it can be visited legally and safely.

Almada’s Cristo Rei is far from being the main attraction at this rooftop bar that’s part of Lx Factory (a former industrial complex that’s also rather Instagrammable). The statue of Crista Rainha, a feminine and colourful version of the famous monument on the other side of the bridge, probably features on 95% of Instagram posts in the city and beyond.

If you want to escape Baixa’s crowds, queues, slow terrace service and multitude of tourist traps, Taberna da Casa do Alentejo is the perfect spot. Located in the indoor patio of the old Alverca Palace – which deserves a visit in and of itself – this terrace may not have amazing views, but its petiscos from the Alentejo region, as well as the peace and quiet it offers, are a great compensation. Not to mention the welcoming decor that seems straight out of an Arabian nights movie, which screams Instagram. 

The 25 de Abril bridge, inaugurated in 1966, has 14 pillars, but the one we’re interested in right now is on Avenida da Índia, at the back of Village Underground. This new tourist attraction takes visitors inside this pillar for a sensory immersion, lifting them up to the level of the cars to observe the river and city from above. Needless to say, we don’t recommend it for people with a fear of heights.

The viewing platform of Lisbon’s own Arc de Triomphe only opened to the public in 2013 – the arch built in the aftermath of the 1755 earthquake to symbolise the birth of a new city - and this is the date that marked the birth of a new photo angle from which to capture Terreiro do Paço. You will need endurance to go up the many flights of stairs leading to the viewpoint (and to the clock), but when you get up there, it’s the 360-degree view that will take your breath away. At the top of the viewpoint is a Latin inscription that reads: The virtues of the greatest.

Did we really put a bathroom on this list full of rooftops and other wonders? Well, why not? No one goes to the toilet at Flamingo, the small and friendly Mouraria bar that stays open until 4am, without their smartphone. The psychedelic lighting could compete with the city’s best-equipped nightclubs, so you’ll definitely want to capture the moment. The cocktails and good vibes also make the trip worth it.