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Discover the Seven Lisbon Hills with ease
A quick overview
What to see?Β Discover the Portuguese capital and find out how to navigate the Lisbon hills.
Costs?Β Many routes in the city are freely accessible, there is no need for a car, and a day pass for public transport costs β¬6.60.
Where?Β Lisbon, the capital of Portugal.
Worth it?Β Walking uphill might sound tedious, but many ways exist to discover Lisbon and all the sights without exhaustion.
The seven hills of Lisbon
The Portuguese capital city was built onΒ seven hills. This results inΒ incredible viewpoints,Β such as Miradouro de Santa Catarina, SΓ£o Pedro de AlcΓ’ntara and Miradoura da GraΓ§a,Β but also some steep stairs up the hills. And although Lisbon might not be the most walking-friendly city at first sight, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to get around without exhaustion! Thanks to the fantastic trams and buses, we canΒ easily explore the seven hills of Lisbon.
The seven hills that the city is famous for areΒ SΓ£o Jorge Hill, SΓ£o Vicente Hill, SΓ£o Roque Hill, Santo AndrΓ© Hill, Santa Catarina Hill, Chagas Hill and Sant’Ana Hill. The seven hills were first mentioned in a book byΒ SΓ£o Nicolau de OliveiraΒ (O Livro das Grandezas de Lisboa), but the writer made one tiny mistake.
He should have mentioned the 8th hill! The hill of Graça lies just behind Castle São Jorge and is even the highest of them all! The hilltop of Graça is 200 meters tall, and Miradouro da Senhora do Monte is the highest viewpoint in the city. You can also find the beautiful Capela de Nossa Senhora do Monte on the top. All hills provide stunning views over the capital, as well as the Tagus River.
Get around by public transport
Thankfully, when you come to Lisbon, you can use the excellentΒ public transport system, which makes it superΒ easy to move between the highlights,Β and youΒ΄ll be en route before you know it! As a matter of fact, the city situated between hilltops is pretty famous for its trams, funiculars, and elevators. They becameΒ top tourist attractions, and most tourists will take a ride with Tram 28, one of the funiculars, or theΒ Santa Justa Elevator. Public transport lets you easily explore the seven hills of Lisbon!
The public transport system isΒ the easiest wayΒ to get up and down the hills, mainly inΒ Alfama and Mouraria. Especially in the summer heat, a walk uphill on cobblestones can be challenging. Before you know it, you’ll spot anotherΒ massive set of stairs to conquer, which is far from ideal! A downside is that theΒ trams and buses can get very full. Specifically, Tram 28 and theΒ Santa Justa LiftΒ are often fully packed, and you’ll have to wait for quite some time to enter. It doesn’t take away the fact that riding these modes of transport isΒ very iconic, unique, and memorable!
Which tram or bus to take to the highlights on the hills?
- To see the famous castleΒ Castelo de SΓ£o Jorge, you can take bus 737, which will take you all the way to the top of SΓ£o Jorge Hill.
- Tram 28 has stops close to Miradouro da Graça, Miradouro de Santa Luzia (from here, you can also head over to the castle Castelo de São Jorge), Lisbon Cathedral, Igreja de São Vicente de Fora, the flea market Feira da Ladra in the area São Vicente, and the National Pantheon. Tram 28 is perfect for visiting the São Jorge Hill and the São Vicente Hill (but it does get VERY busy onboard and can be a spot to encounter pickpockets.
- TakeΒ Elevador de Santa Justa to explore Bairro AltoΒ and enjoy a trip on a historic elevator. The lift is close to Rua Augusta, and from the top of Elevador de Santa Justa, you have an amazing view over the Tagus River.
- Ascensor da Bica will travel to Bairro AltoΒ and let you explore Santa Catarina Hill. Here, you can find Miradouro de Santa Catarina, for example.
- Ascensor da GlΓ³riaΒ travels up towards Miradouro de SΓ£o Pedro de AlcΓ’ntara and PrΓncipe Real.
Using public transport in Lisbon
All trams, funiculars, and buses are part of the Lisbon Public Transport system. But when you enter aΒ Tram 28, aΒ funicular, or theΒ Santa Justa Lift, you’ll pay a higher feeΒ (β¬3.80 one way or β¬5.80 return). To avoid this, you can purchase theΒ Lisboa Card, which also gives youΒ access to over 39 museums, monuments and famous sightsΒ in the city.
Another way is using theΒ Viva Viagem travel card, which costs only β¬0.50. You can top this card up (zapping) to pay for public transport. You can also buy aΒ 24-hour ticketΒ with Viva Viagem for only β¬6.60. For more information about using public transport in Lisbon, click here.
A Tuk-Tuk Tour in Lisbon
AΒ favourite way to explore Lisbon’s hillsΒ is by tuk-tuk. It’s a fantastic way to see the city,Β especially if you’re short on time. All tuk-tuks in Lisbon are electric, which makes them even moreΒ climate-friendly and sustainable! A tour guide will drive you toΒ all the major sights in a tuk-tuk, saving you a lot of walking!
There are evenΒ special interest tuk-tuk tours, such as street art tuk-tuk tours and tuk-tuk tours with snacks. You will be able to easily see the city without having to claim or navigate public transport. Enjoy fabulous views along the way and see the Tagus River up close.
Lisbon Hills Tramcar Tour
Another fabulous way to discover the town by tram is by taking theΒ Lisbon Hills Tramcar Tour. This allows you toΒ explore the city at your own pace, as the ticket is valid for 24 hours. The best thing? It’sΒ not overcrowded, and you can get on and off whenever you want. Remember, Tram 28 is part of the public transport system, whereas the redΒ Historic Hills TramΒ is an actual tour.
So, although you pay more, you also enjoyΒ more comfort, an actual seat, andΒ fewer waiting times for the tram. Besides,Β audio guides are availableΒ in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish!
A ticket for the Historic Hills Tram also includes the following:
Valid for 24 hours
Free access to the Santa Justa elevator
24-hour access to Bica, GlΓ³ria and Lavra funiculars
24-hour access to the red βYellow Bus’ trams
Free access to the regular yellow Carris trams
Free βYellow Bus’ discount bookΒ
Please note: Tram 28 is NOT included on this ticket.
Free escalators and lifts in Lisbon
Lisbon is also very walkable; the seven hills shouldn’t scare you off!Β Good walking shoesΒ are, however, advisable. Especially if it rains, the Portuguese pavements (CalΓ§ada PortuguesaΒ is the typical walkway with a black and white pattern on the streets)Β get pretty slippery. Thankfully, there is an entirelyΒ free way to navigate through the city!
On the hills are, after all, many sights to visit that shouldn’t be missed, including the wonderful views over the city. You canΒ conquer the heights without too much effortΒ using escalators and lifts. Below are the entry points of the escalators and elevators,Β including Google Maps links. The cable cars are also included, but these are paid.
AtΒ Martim Moniz Square, an escalator will take you all the way toΒ Moreira.Β Escadinhas da SaΓΊde 2Β is close to the Tram 28 boarding stop.
As the name suggests,Β Elevador CasteloΒ will bring you pretty muchΒ all the way to the castle Castelo de SΓ£o Jorge. The first elevator will take you fromΒ Rua dos FanqueirosΒ in Baixa halfway up toΒ Rua da Madalena. When you exit the elevator, it’s only a short walk toΒ Elevador da BaixaΒ onΒ Largo ChΓ£o do Loureiro, which will take you very close to the castle. The lifts are next to the supermarket Pingo Doce.
FromΒ Lift Castelo, you reachΒ the castle Castelo de SΔo Jorge in 5 to 10 minutes, but don’t forget to look at the panoramic view over the city! The castle has an entrance fee, but it’s well worth a visit! Besides, the camera obscura is a giant periscope which allows you to discover Lisbon from all angles! You can use the elevatorsΒ daily between 7 AM and 9 PM.
TheΒ Elevador de Santa LuziaΒ will take you from a lower point in Alfama to the famousΒ Santa Luzia viewpoint,Β andΒ Portas do Sol.Β It might not be the longest walk, but it’sΒ definitely a shortcut, and you won’t be out of breath. This wonderful view is one to take advantage of!
BaixaΒ is one of the lower-located neighbourhoods, and getting to the top can be a challenge. The easiest way is to enter theΒ Metro station Baixa-ChiadoΒ and take the escalators inside to the top. YouΒ don’t need a metro ticketΒ to cross the station, which will save you many steps!
BetweenΒ RossioΒ andΒ RestauradoresΒ Metro station, you’ll find a stunning building where a Starbucks chain is located. WithinΒ Estação do RossioΒ is also a set of escalators which will take you toΒ CalΓ§ada do Carmo. A quick but sweet shortcut that gets you halfway up! On the top, you can see sights such as theΒ Carmo Convent, which is located only a short walk from here.
Please let me know in the comments if I need to add any missing shortcuts!Β Β
Summary of elevators to take in Lisbon
- Take Escadinhas da SaΓΊde from Martim Moniz Square to explore the neighbourhood of Mouraria.
- At Rossio Station, take the escalators towards Calçada do Carmo to visit Bairro Alto. You can also take a shortcut at Baixa Chiado metro station.
- Take Elevador Castelo plus Elevador da Baixa on Largo ChΓ£o do Loureiro to see Lisbon Castle.
- Elevador de Santa Luzia in Alfama to reach Portas do Sol.
Take a taxi
Does all this sound like too much walking and too much hassle? Getting around town by taxi is super easy. Uber and Bolt are widely available but can only drive in some places. For example, when you want to be dropped off at the castle Castelo de SΓ£o Jorge, they will drop you off close, but they canΒ΄t enter the car-free zone in Alfama. Taxis are relatively cheap and easy to get, especially with the apps.
What to do on the seven hills
Walking up the seven hills may not be worth it if there isn’t anything to see or do. But wow, is it worth getting up and down to see the sights! Let’s take a look at what you can expect during your stay.
SΓ£o JorgeΒ
SΓ£o JorgeΒ is probably the most famous hill, and here you’ll find sights likeΒ SΓ£o Jorge Castle, Portas do Sol and theΒ Cathedral SΓ©. The districtsΒ Alfama and MourariaΒ are fantastic to walk around, and you’ll discover plenty of small streets and fado restaurants. Discover all the tiny streets, visit the Fado Museum or enjoy the fabulous views from one of the miradouros.
Santo AndrΓ©
Behind the castle, you’ll find Santo AndrΓ© close to theΒ GraΓ§a district. Santo AndrΓ© is the perfect spot for a lovely sunset over Lisbon. The GraΓ§a district is full of excellent restaurants, street art and parks. Check out Jardim da Cerca da GraΓ§a for a chill moment in nature, or discover the azulejo tiles in the church Igreja Paroquial da GraΓ§a. Miradouro da GraΓ§a is a must-see during your holiday, and currently, a new cable car is being built here to make it easier to reach.
The official name is MiradouroΒ Sophia de Mello BreynerΒ Andresen, named after the poet who died in 2004. Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen was the first woman to win the prestigious CamΓ΅es price in 1999. Right now, Tram 28 will be the easiest way. Tip: Santo AndrΓ© is also the name of a restaurant!
SΓ£o Vicente
SΓ£o Vicente (formerly Santa EngrΓ‘cia) lies on Alfama’s outskirts; famous sights are theΒ Monastery SΓ£o Vicente de ForaΒ and theΒ National Pantheon. You can visit theΒ flea market Feira da LadraΒ every Tuesday and Saturday. You can find all these highlights around Campo de Santa Clara.Β SΓ£o Vicente is named after the patron saint of Lisbon, “Saint Vincent”. This area stretches out into Alfama and Santa Maria Maior.
SΓ£o Roque
SΓ£o Roque is the opposite hilltop close toΒ Elevador da GlΓ³ria, and taking the cable tram is the easiest way to reach SΓ£o Pedro de AlcΓ’ntara and the surrounding areas. On top of SΓ£o Roque Hill, you find the fabulousΒ neighbourhoodΒ PrΓncipe RealΒ with plenty of concept stores, restaurants and bars. There is even a cafe called SΓ£o Roque, famous for its beautiful architecture.
It’s also worth visiting theΒ Botanical Garden in Lisbon, a little oasis within the bustling city. SΓ£o Roque is the central area in Lisbon, and one view not to miss isΒ Miradouro de SΓ£o Pedro de AlcΓ’ntara. In the evening, SΓ£o Roque becomes a fun place with wine bars and fabulous places to eat.
Chagas
Chagas is the home of theΒ Carmo Convent, and it’s where theΒ Santa Justa ElevatorΒ will take you. If you want to skip the queue, you can take the escalators in the metro stationΒ Baixa-ChiadoΒ as mentioned above. From Chagas, you have a great view of the opposite hill where the castle is located.
Santa Catarina
Further west, Santa Catarina is a hilltop with a lovely view fromΒ Miradouro Santa Catarina. Around the viewpoint are plenty of restaurants, and theΒ bustling nightlifeΒ is one of the highlights ofΒ Bairro Alto. At the bottom, you’ll findΒ Pink StreetΒ andΒ Cais do SodrΓ©. You can travel further west from this station to places like BelΓ©m and Cascais. Don’t forget to check out Green Street, a lovely street filled with restaurants (and plants!).
Sant'Ana
Sant’Ana might be less known and a perfect hideaway if you want to chill. Here in the parish of Santo AntΓ³nio, you’ll find hidden gems likeΒ Jardim do TorelΒ for a fanatic view or discover theΒ lovely and quiet restaurantsΒ in the parallel streets of Avenida da Liberdade. Some favourites areΒ ZenithΒ for brunch andΒ Sr. LisboaΒ for dinner. A beautiful park to visit is located on Campo MΓ‘rtires da PΓ‘tria.
FAQ
Yes! The city is built on seven hills, but thankfully, Lisbon is easy to navigate by public transport and elevators.
You can find the highest point in Lisbon, Miradouro de Nossa Senhora do Monte. It´s a climb, but you´ll be rewarded with the best view! The Graça is the highest top in Lisbon.
It depends a little on your fitness levels, but good shoes are definitely recommended. You can reach most hilltops by public transport or taxi. There are also cable trams and elevators to some of the tops.
Conclusion
When you visit Lisbon, you’ll inevitably come across the hills! But as you can see, there are many ways to get around in town. Even when you cannot walk far, you can easily find all the highlights. Hopefully, this post willΒ help you navigate the hills of Lisbon. As you can see, many free ways exist to get to the top. If you like, you canΒ take some iconic trams or funicularsΒ that will make your city trip to Lisbon complete.
And remember to discover the lower parts of Lisbon also!Β Baixa, Cais do SodrΓ©,Β BelΓ©mΒ and OrienteΒ are just as charming and well worth a visit! TheseΒ neighbourhoods are flatΒ and aΒ fantastic location to cycle alongΒ the river Tagus!
10 Responses
Lisbon looks like a beautiful city and one I would love to explore! It looks so lovely to walk around, but so good to know that there are trams as well. This is especially helpful for the hills!
Talk about a city hike! This journey looks amazing, and thank goodness for all the beauty you’ll see along the way!
This is so important when traveling! Thank you so much for sharing
I am big into exercise, so the cool thing about the stairs and huffing it up to the top is that you would get your exercise in for the day while sightseeing! Perhaps if I made the trek two times in a day I would take the “transport” the second time. (Love the pic of the trolley)
I would love the challenge of climbing the stairs (Makes the view at the top all the more worthwhile). It’s good to know that there are alternate routes for those who aren’t able (or don’t want) to climb.
Lisbon is such a beautiful city and I am glad that I was able to cover most of the spots during my visit, although I missed a few. So much useful info and after all the huffing and puffing I enjoyed climbing so much stairs.
First off, Miradouro da GraΓ§a at night – WOW! So stunning! Lisbon is very high on my list, and it’s great to know all the options to get around the city easily. I love taking the train or public transit when I travel, which is extremely helpful. I also loved all the hidden gems you shared π
Lisbon looks like a lovely place to visit. The entrance of Estação do Rossio is stunning! I bet it would be knackering to climb up those stairs but such a rewarding feeling once you are at the top!
Canβt wait to visit Lisbon ! This was really great information to know ahead of time.
these alternatives are super useful – i’m so bad with slopes and stairs, i imagine this will come in handy when portugal makes it on my plans! (hopefully soon! π€)