So you’ve planned your trip to Lisbon, Portugal and you want to take some incredible pictures but don’t know where to go for that? Worry not, I have you covered! For my 4 days in Lisbon itinerary, I’ve made sure to check off my list some of the most perfect Lisbon Instagram spots.
No matter if you are planning to go on a backpacking tour of Portugal on a budget, or you are on your honeymoon or a special vacation, beautiful pictures should always be on your list of things to do.
And Lisbon, with its colorful buildings, blue tile walls, impressive hills, delicious food, and whatnot, is just the place to cater to any photographer’s needs. Even the most demanding of you will find at least a few appealing places for your pictures.
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You don’t have to travel much to get some charming corners, all you have to do is simply step outside!
Extra tip: when you don’t want to worry too much about the quality of your pictures, hire a local professional photographer and get some remarkable memories! Flytographer matches you with some of the best phorographers from Lisbon! The best thing? They know how to work the light and you can check out their past work before booking!
But if you don’t have the time or budget for that, here is where you will need to go in order to take some perfect Instagram-worthy pictures in Lisbon.
The perfect Lisbon Instagram spots
To make it easier for you to find them in town, I’ve included all the Instagrammable places I’ve chosen on the map below. I know how hard it can be to create your itinerary, even if it’s for one day, 2 days, or more, and keep in mind all the picturesque places you want to get to.
But before we start talking about the Instagrammable places in Lisbon, you need to check out my other Lisbon travel guides that will make your vacation so much easy to plan:
Make sure you also have a look at some of the most popular guided tours of Portugal’s capital:
Other things worth knowing for your Lisbon trip
Where to stay in Lisbon
No matter how you choose to travel, my suggestion is to book a hotel or apartment in the old town area. This way, you will be close to most of the important attractions and photo spots of Lisbon, and you won’t have to waste time commuting.
During our stay, we chose an apartment with a stunning terrace offering a view over the city and the sea. Because that’s what I’m usually looking for, here are a few of my accommodation recommendations.
All these apartments can be easily considered as Instagram spots, and you can have some incredible pictures without even leaving your house:
- Marino Lisboa Boutique Hotel – in the very heart of Lisbon, walking distance from Martin Moniz and Rossio station, this place caught my eye because of its beautiful, clean, simple design yet blending in traditional Portuguese patterns. What I’ve also liked is the rooftop terrace where breakfast is served.
- Feeling Chiado 15 – I like everything about this place, and the reviews are certainly there to support my statement. The design, the rooms with a view over Lisbon, the location right in the Chiado area, with all the stores and singing streets at your feet. Also, I’ve seen that some of the rooms are in the attic, and I’ve always had a soft spot for this kind of room, with a window in the ceiling making me feel like I can lay in my bed and stare at the stars.
See availability and prices here!
- River View Alfama Historic Lisbon – One word can describe this place: royal! It is, in fact, a whole apartment, tucked on the streets in the Alfama area, with a pretty little balcony overlooking the river, and an amazing interior design.
- Casa do Jasmim by Shiadu – with a very special design, I think you can either love this place or not like it that much. I personally like it a lot, and if you are lucky to have the top floor, oh wow what a view! It can challenge any miradouro out there.
Getting around Lisbon
Even though public transportation is available, we chose to mainly walk around and occasionally use Uber – it is fast and relatively affordable in Lisbon.
Lisbon Instagrammable places
BELEM TOWER
Start your day with a trip to the Belem Tower when you want to skip the crowds. It is worth going 30 minutes before they open the gates and you can actually see it without people on the main bridge.
Its beautiful architecture and perfect location, make it one of the most important tourist attractions of Lisbon.
I must admit that the inside is not as impressive as the outside, but it is worth a visit since you’re already here.
Book your skip-the-line ticket for Belem Tower and make the best out of your time!
Other Instagram spots in the area:
- Padrão dos Descobrimentos
- The Rose Compass
THE JERONIMOS MONASTERY
With its remarkable architecture, surrounded by a park, with some impressive water fountains just across the street from the sea, the Jeronimos Monastery is yet another photo spot in Lisbon.
Part of the UNESCO World Heritage, the Monastery dates from the 16th century and I would recommend booking a ticket and seeing it also from the inside.
PASTEIS DE BELEM
Enter the world of one of the most delicious sweets you will ever taste!
The Pastéis de Belém is the best place to go to when you are looking for the best pasteis de nata in town. Trust me, we’ve tasted the sweet egg tart as often as we could!
Stop here also for some pictures with the beautiful and iconic blue and white tiles.
Also in the area:
- Palacio Nacional de Belem
- Jardim Botanico Tropical
LISBON CONGRESS CENTER
Boasting impressive views whichever way you choose to look, I feel like this is one of the hidden gems of Lisbon when it comes to photography spots.
Even though most of the other places were crowded as we explored them, we had this particular one all to ourselves when we got there!
Choose to bring some food and maybe a bottle of wine and just chill while taking in the beauty of Lisbon.
PONTE 25 DE ABRIL
You don’t have to cross the bridge in order to capture the best photo with it.
Walk the road along the Tagus, stop at the Museum of Art, Architecture, and Technology, and look for the best spot from where you will capture your dream photo.
LX FACTORY
LX Factory is such a vibrant area that you will find it hard to leave it behind and go somewhere else.
Packed with colorful graffiti paintings, cool cafes and restaurants serving delicious food, this awesome library, and much more, LX Factory will give you a laid-back vibe you’ll absolutely love!
CAIS DO SODRE
The famous pink street with the blue and yellow buildings as the background is for sure one of the most popular Instagram places in Lisbon.
It is worth knowing that this is an area packed with bars that gets crowded as night falls, and when we got there early in the morning there were people washing the sidewalks. That’s why, you might see the color of the pink street varies from one picture to the other, but I still think it is a beautiful place worth exploring for some pretty pictures.
RUA DA BICA DE DUARTE BELO
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Maybe one of the most iconic pictures you’ll see from Lisbon – catching the yellow tram on the hills of Portugal’s capital. This is the right place to come just for that!
BAIXA – CHIADO
There’s not just one particular place in the Baixa-Chiado area where you will go for pictures. The whole area is filled with colorful buildings, small gardens, inspired graffitis, tiles, and so much more – any photographer’s dream!
ARCO DA RUA AUGUSTA
If you want to catch this place without the crowds, make your way here early in the morning and get the time to walk around and find your perfect spot!
As you make your way towards the other attractions of the area, you’ll find so many photography opportunities.
Other Instagram spots in the area:
- Carmo Convent
-
Elevadot de
Santa Justa
CASA DO ALENTEJO
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Don’t be fooled by the exterior of this house, because the interior will take your breath away!
The impressive courtyard has such a strong Moorish flavor to it that it will be hard to leave without at least a set of stunning pictures!
MIRADOURO DA GRACA
No matter the time of the day you choose to climb the stairs and get to the Miradouro da Graça you won’t be disappointed by the breathtaking views Lisbon will reward you with.
My favorite moment to come here was for sunset when we would enjoy a glass of wine at one of the terraces located in the small square while enjoying nature’s stunning show!
MIRADOURO DAS PORTAS DO SOL
One of the most vibrant viewpoints over the city, the Miradouro das Portas do Sol is where almost everyone goes the first time they get to Lisbon.
Even though it will be hard sometimes to get a perfect spot, it is well worth the waiting!
MIRADOURO DE SANTA LUIZA
Almost torn from a painting, this is the most beautiful miradouro of Lisbon!
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AZULEJO
For people passionate about color and tiles, if you are looking for inspiration or to learn about the history of tiles in Portugal, it is worth walking all the way to the Azulejo Museum.
We really enjoyed the time spent here, and even though the light might not always be the greatest, I’m sure you can work with that.
The restaurant and coffee place inside the museum is as lovely as the inside garden.
PENA PALACE
Yes, the next few points and places are not in Lisbon per se. However, Sintra and all the other places are only a short drive away from Lisbon, and most people who travel in the area will include at least one day trip in their itinerary.
The Pena Palace is the closest thing to a fairytale palace I’ve ever seen! Its location on the top of the hill, all the pretty colorful tiles, the impressive interiors – everything about this places puts it top of any the list!
From any corner you might look at it you will find it easy to discover a photogenic angle.
QUINTA DA REGALEIRA
A less popular attraction in Sintra, I found Quinta da Regaleira maybe more charming than Pena Palace, if that can be possible. It has a very different architecture, and its gardens hide other impressive photography spots – especially the well you might have seen in many pictures until now.
AZENHAS DO MAR
We knew nothing about this place and most probably we would have missed it if it wasn’t for our driver and guide. He understood what we were looking for and took us to this less explored beach not far from Sintra.
As we approached it and saw the beautiful white buildings perched on the top of a hill, the natural pool, and the sandy beach bathed by the ocean’s waves we knew this place was a winner!
CABO DA ROCA
The westernmost point of Europe, this is one popular place but you shouldn’t find it hard to find a tranquil spot.
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