Belém

Belém - Lisbon's westernmost district is its portal to the sea, with rich historic heritage and a sweet topping

This monument-packed area is a must-see place, and it contains Lisbon's two World Heritage Sites; the Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery.

Take bus 28 to the west (Restelo direction), which follows the coast line and provides an express service with few stops. Train Cascais suburban train (line "Cascais todos" or "Oeiras"; the express trains don't stop in Belém) to Belém and walk to the attractions. Tram 15 to the west (Algés direction), which follows the Junqueira residencial line. Check the route map inside the tram: it helps to find a right station for most famous of Belém attractions. The extensive bus network also serves Belém from various departure points around the city and can be less busy than the tram.

Note that to reach the waterfront attractions such as Belem Tower and Padrão dos Descobrimentos from the town centre/tram line, it is necessary to cross over the railway line by the footbridges - there is one at the railway station and another near Belem Tower.

The neighbourhood features:

• Belem Tower (Torre de Belém). Open 10AM-5PM in winter, 10AM-6:30PM in summer (with the last entry allowed 30 minutes before closure). A ticket package for both the Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery is offered for €10. Entry fee for the tower only is €6 adults, €3 reduced rate.
• Jerónimos Monastery, Praça do Império, 1400-206 Lisboa,  ☎ +351 213 620034. Open 10AM-5:30PM from October to May, 10AM-6:30PM from May to September (last admission 30 minutes before closing. Closed on Mondays, January 1st, Easter Sunday, May 1st, June 13th and December 25th. Free entry to the church, €10 for the rest of the monastery.
• Monument to the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos). Entry fee €4.
• Statue to Afonso de Albuquerque. In front of the former Royal Palace of Belém, now the Presidential Palace, there is a massive statue looking out to sea, representing Afonso de Albuquerque, second ruler of Portuguese India in the early 16th century.
• Museu da Marinha (Maritime Museum), Centro Cultural de Belém,  ☎ +351 213 620019. Open 10AM-5PM in winter, 10AM-6PM in summer. One of the most important in Europe, evoking Portugal's domination of the seas. Its colossal 17,000 items are installed in the west wing of Jerónimos Monastery, and include model ships from the Age of Discovery onward. The oldest exhibit is a wooden figure representing the Archangel Raphael that accompanied Vasco da Gama on his voyage to India. Entry fee €4.
• Museu Nacional dos Coches (National Coach Museum), Praça Afonso de Albuquerque, Belem (Tram or train to Belem). 10:00-18:00. Housed in the former riding school of the palace, don't miss the world's largest collection of horse-drawn coaches and other royal vehicles. One of Lisbon's many unusual museums. Located in the "Museum street", Belem. €5.
• Museu Colecção Berardo, Centro Cultural de Belém. 10AM - 7PM. The permanent collection of the museum consist of the Berardo Collection, which is made up of modern en contemporary art, with major art movements like abstract expressionism, Abstraction-Création, action painting, body Art, constructivism, cubism, De Stijl, digital art, experimental art, geometric abstraction, kinetic art, minimal art, neo-expressionism, neo-plasticism, neo-Realism, op art, photography, photorealism, pop art, realism, suprematism, surrealism. Includes artists like Piet Mondrian, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Pablo Picasso and Jackson Polock. Free admission.
• Museu da Electricidade (Electricity Museum), Av. de Brasília, Central Tejo,  ☎ +351 210 028130,  Tu-Su 10AM-6PM. Excellent interactive exposition in a building of former power station, an example how a perfect museum should look. Free.
• ⊙Ajuda Botanical Gardens (Jardim Botânico da Ajuda). Daily 9AM - 8PM (Summer) 9AM - 6PM (Winter). The botanical garden of Ajuda is one of the oldest gardens in Europe and is considered the first in Portugal. After the earthquake that occurred in 1755, the homeless Portuguese royal family decided to build a new royal residence at Ajuda but also gardens around it. This 10 acre garden was laid out in from 1858-1873. €2. 

Useful

Inside the range of 4 km:

• ⊙   Ponte 25 de Abril, Lisboa