Lisbon to Belém
Belém, Lisbon’s historic district is one of the best things to see in Lisbon and is featured on most tourist routes.
In this area located in the west of Lisbon, there are more than 10 cultural sites, some of which are listed as World Heritage by UNESCO.
It is, therefore, an essential step when visiting the Portuguese capital but how do you get there?
First of all, know that it is not difficult to get there. Indeed it is an easily accessible area however each means of transport is not worth.
How to get to Belém?
By Public Transport
It is probably the most basic way but not necessarily the most economical. From Comercio Square (the central area serves most of Lisbon), you can take:
- tram 15 towards Alges and stop at “Mosteiro dos Jeronimos” (the Monastery of Belém)
- bus 728 towards Restelo and stop at “Mosteiro dos Jeronimos” (the Monastery of Belém)
- bus 714 towards Outurela and stop at “Mosteiro dos Jeronimos” (the Monastery of Belém)
Although simple and quick, public transportation is not the most advisable option. First of all, public transport to get to Belém is mostly saturated, with sometimes overlong waits at stops, bus and tram crowded (imagined the ordeal in summer) and a cost that can be excessive.
For example, the tram ticket costs 3 euros on board (less if you take the Lisboa Card) which can quickly become expensive for a group of 3-4 people. Indeed by taking an Uber you can even save money!
Get to Belém by Uber
If your time in Lisbon is limited and you are in a hurry, taking an Uber can be an effective solution to get to Belém. It is certainly not typical or charming but it is the quickest and often economical way to get there.
We recommend that you use Uber when you are more than 2. When you estimate for a ride from the Lisbon center to Belém, the average price is around 6 euros (photo above) whereas if you would have taken public transport with a ticket at 3 euros per person or 6 euros in total, you get by for the same price.
So it is up to you to make your choice, either paying more for being squeezed into a tram filled with unbearable heat or you choose to take an Uber with a car that has air conditioning and that won’t have to stop all the 200m as the bus and will bring you directly to your destination.
Or even better than these two solutions, you can opt for a bike trip to Bélem via one of our organized bike tours.
Get to Belém by Bike
Do you know that a cycle track connects the downtown Lisbon to Belém and that it is, therefore, possible to get there by bicycle? This 7km long track created in 2010 runs along the Tagus and offers you an incredible ride from Lisbon to Belém. This is the best way to go to Belém.
Our company RideLisbon saw the potential of this place directly and therefore created a tour to discover the two emblematic districts of Lisbon: Alfama and Belém. We are the only tour in Lisbon to make you discover these two districts of Lisbon during the same visit (check for yourself, they offer either Belém or Alfama). So why these two districts? The Alfama and Bélem are the two largest historic districts of the city, both have an important story and yet they are two different stories.
Alfama represents the domination of the Moors over the Portuguese while Belém brings together the vestiges of the Portuguese empire during its glorious centuries (XV and XVIth centuries). We show you the history of Lisbon chronologically, step by step from Alfama to Belém.
During approximately 3h30 we will explore these different neighborhoods to soak up the local culture and even greet the locals.
It is a unique and unforgettable experience to do in Lisbon.
What to see in Belém?
Being the cradle of the greatest explorations in the world, Belém harbors many cultural sites. Portuguese economic power in the 16th century made it possible to construct buildings such as the Jeronimos Monastery and the Tower of Belém, two monuments listed as World Heritage by UNESCO. Here is a list of the main cultural sites in the area:
- Jeronimos Monastery
- Belém Tower
- Belém Culture Center and its museum (Museu Berardo)
- Museum of Modern Art – MAAT
- Coach Museum
- Presidential Palace
- Palace of Ajuda
- Maritime Museum
- Military Museum
- Discovery Museum
- Folk art museum
Where to eat in Belém?
Above all, Belém, like all the other tourist districts of Lisbon, is not the best place to eat because the tourist traps are numerous. Most restaurants are either bad or too expensive and often both at the same time.
If you have time in front of you, we recommend that you finish your visit to Belém at LX Factory, an artistic village located 20 minutes walk from Belém. This area between Lisbon and Belém has very good restaurants. If the distance can discourage you, here are the few restaurants we recommend in Belém:
- Pao Pao Queijo Queijo
- Belem 28
- Jeronimos
- Portugalia Cervejaria
Some useful informations
Anticipate your visit:
Belém being a very visited area, be sure to get there early, early in the morning to avoid the crowds and long queues. We advise you to get there by 9 a.m. when the ticket offices open.
Buy tickets:
If you do not have a Lisboa Card (recommended), you will have to buy your tickets for the museums directly on site. Few have online ticketing.
Watch out for pickpockets:
Thieves are often there. Generally, they blend into the mass and it is quite complicated to spot them in advance. The only advice we can give you is to take care of your belongings in all circumstances.