My 10 Favorite Lisbon Street Photography Spots
If there’s one place I’ve been in the last few years that I had to point to as the ‘best’ place for photography so far, Lisbon would probably be my choice.
The city is a dream for photographers. With its dramatic hills, golden light, and architectural masterpieces sprinkled through every neighborhood, the city practically begs to be explored with a camera in hand.
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Whether you’re into street photography, sweeping cityscapes, or candid moments of daily life, Lisbon delivers in every way.
After spending so much time photographing all over the city, I’ve assembled this guide to my favorite photography spots. I’ve also made some notes about the best times to visit and what gear to bring, so you’ll be ready to go the moment you step off the plane.
Let’s dive in.
1. Miradouros (Viewpoints)
Before we get anywhere, we have to discuss one key element of Lisbon photography that can’t be fully explained as a single location.
Do yourself a huge favor and type ‘miradouro’ into Google Maps before you head to Lisbon. Bookmark all of them in a list so you can see when you’re nearby during your trip (mine are marked with telescope emojis 🔭).
Miradouro is the Portuguese word for an overlook or viewpoint. Long story short, due to Lisbon’s hills and dramatic, sweeping, landscape they’re all worth visiting, I promise. Squeeze as many into your trip as you can!
Try to head up to these during sunrise/sunset. Light can be pretty harsh in Lisbon, and it’s hot during the summer, so these exposed areas overlooking various points throughout the city are almost certainly best enjoyed at the beginning or end of the day.
Gear to Bring:
Longer prime or zoom for details
Wide angle for dramatic cityscapes
2. Bairro Alto
Bairro Alto is the perfect start to a Lisbon photography trip. I loved shooting here. It’s not as crowded as some of the other districts, and it’s more local-dominant during the day.
At night it’s a party, so if that’s what you’re looking for, this is where you’ll want to be. BUT walking around during the day was a blast as well. It’s the perfect stop on the way up to Príncipe Real (covered later) if you’re looking to build it into a bigger day out.
Gear to Bring:
Easy, versatile, 35mm prime
Get your bearings and worry about bringing a bunch of gear later on!
3. Alfama & Graça
Alfama is a dream. My experience with this neighborhood is two-fold.
Home to Castelo de São Jorge, it’s all winding, narrow streets.
My first time in Alfama was to see the castle and snap some photos on the way up the hill. There is so much architecture and history to see, that I did more looking than photographing, but loved it all the same. The castle can be a bit cliche to photograph, but it offers some fantastic views of the city all the same.
Try to get creative and see if you can push the boundaries a little beyond just shooting the castle itself.
My second experience with Alfama was more Alfama/Graça. I’m honestly not sure which district I was in predominantly. After nightfall, I wandered down the hill through the narrow streets and ended up doing about 50% listening to various musicians play in alleys and corners and 50% night-time street photography.
Lisbon is an incredibly safe and relaxed city, so I had no qualms about wandering around with my gear and snapping photos. I highly recommend at least one night out in the livelier districts to capture the city after dark.
Gear to Bring:
Wide angle prime/zoom
Faster 35-50mm prime for night shots
Travel light, Alfama is all hills and stairs
4. Baixa & Chiado
These central neighborhoods are defined by their plazas, architectural attractions, shops, and busy pedestrian streets. The geometric patterns of tiled sidewalks and the elegant facades of historic buildings provide quite a canvas for photography as well.
Baixa (meaning ‘below’) is kind of the ‘bottom’ of Lisbon. Looking up you’ll see the city stacked upon itself all the way up the surrounding hills.
Beware: The Santa Justa Lift (giant elevator) is a tourist trap. I took one look at the line and decided against taking the lift itself. But, you do not have to pay to get to the top and enjoy the view. Follow the hill up behind the shops near the base of the elevator and you can climb the stairs all the way to the top where the viewpoint is for free.
The only part that’s closed off is the lift itself, but even the observation deck is free.
Also, consider a stop at Ginginha do Carmo for a tiny shot of cherry liqueur, and say yes to the cherry. You’ll have sticky fingers, but Anthony Bourdain would be proud.
Gear to Bring:
Standard zoom to tackle views and cityscapes as well as when things open up in the main shopping areas
5. Príncipe Real
I remember Príncipe Real as the most stately of the neighborhoods I visited. Everything is grand and intricate- from the parks to the streets to the surrounding shops and buildings.
Sitting at the top of one of Lisbon’s hills, there are also a ton of opportunities to photograph slices of the water and surrounding neighborhoods framed by stunning architecture and streets leading out of the district in every direction.
It’s beautiful, and I wish I’d spent more time here.
Gear to Bring:
35 or 50mm prime should be just fine about 90% of the time
There are some famous streets, like I mentioned, that look all the way out to the water or the bridge in the distance. If you’re a cityscape fan, account for this with a long-ish zoom
6. Belém
While famous for Belém Tower, the waterfront and parks also provide opportunities for capturing art, history, and the casual life of locals enjoying a sunny day.
Oh and… The MAAT. The MAAT. The MAAT.
Any photographer who’s ever been to Lisbon will tell you to visit this architectural masterpiece. You can walk along the water between the bridge (Ponte 26 de Abril), and Torre Belém to get the full experience.
I would highly recommend heading to this area at midday, visiting the interior of the MAAT, soaking in the art, and then once the sun is lower in the sky moving between the different points of interest.
You’ll get golden-hour views of the bridge, the modern angles and curves of the MAAT, the marina, and plenty of miradouros if you head away from the water, too.
Gear to Bring:
Standard or wide-angle zoom lens
Too many locations with varying conditions to be switching between primes constantly
7. Praça do Comércio
Praça do Comércio offers sweeping views of the Tagus River and a spacious square that serves as a gathering place for waves upon waves of people all day long.
The square itself is ringed with the cheesier variety of touristy restaurants and shops, but a confluence of trains, both old and new, make for a really cool, bustling feeling in photos.
I hung around during sunset and made use of the passersby to frame the bridge in the distance during blue hour.
Gear to Bring:
Longer primes or a zoom
This is a very open area compared to most of Lisbon
8. Cascais
Although not within Lisbon proper, Cascais is just a short train ride away and offers a bit of a coastal escape.
It’s full of winding, charming streets, seaside views, beaches, museums, and plenty of vendors and food stands pulling crowds in like a magnet.
You’ll also get some time on the train.
If you so choose, the windows offer some great views of the bridge on the way out of Lisbon, Belém, and the coast on the way to Cascais. You can take advantage of this time to get some much-beloved (by me, at least) transit shots.
Gear to Bring:
Film camera, or a 35mm prime
Travel light and go to the beach. Cascais is well worth photographing, but it’s even more fun to throw a day in your itinerary to relax and take it a little slower
9. Cais do Sodré
I stayed just a few streets up from Cais do Sodré while I was in the city, so in some ways, I’m the most familiar with this neighborhood.
The area just up the hill is very touristy and VERY lively at night. Lots of cool streets to shoot for sure, but definitely a massive party after dark. I’m not against it by any means, but I had much more luck shooting in the central districts.
Cais do Sodré is home to a fairly large train station, and possibly the one you’ll arrive at from the airport if you take the subway in. It’s also the station where you’ll head out to Cascais if you so choose.
For this reason, it’s a central gathering spot and has a magnificent park. I remember how much I enjoyed sipping an espresso here more than the photos I took, but as you’ll likely stumble upon Cais do Sodré at some point during a Lisbon stay, you should know it’s worth a look around!
Gear to Bring:
35-50mm prime and/or a standard zoom lens should do just fine
10. Tram 28E
Last but most definitely not least, Tram 28.
This is not really a ‘spot’, but rather an experience. Tram 28 is the famous route that runs all through the city and chauffeurs you through all the greatest hits, neighborhoods, and viewpoints. Hop on in Baixa and get off at the last stop in Graça, or vice versa, though I like shooting around the Martim Moniz and the square at the tail end of sunrise, so I personally recommend finishing up there.
I adore shooting on boats, trains, cars, etc., and had an absolute field day on the tram. Some classic Lisbon shots, for sure.
The only way to tackle this one is to go first thing in the morning.
Anytime after about 9:30 am during the spring or summer, you’ll be waiting in line (I’ve heard up to two hours) to get on the tram only to fight for elbow space.
Even early in the morning, there will be plenty of early risers on the tram to serve as subjects, but you can thank me later for sparing you from the hordes of mid-day crowds.
Gear to Bring:
Wide-angle zoom would be preferable!
You won’t be changing lenses. It’s a very bumpy ride, and you’ll want to be on high alert for photo opportunities, not digging through your bag for a lens.
Wrapping Up
That’s going to do it for this article!
Lisbon is one of those cities where you can’t really go wrong, so don’t worry too much if you can’t hit every one of these spots. Use my photos posted above to get an idea of what kinds of photos you can expect, and choose the places that most closely align with your style.
The best advice I can give is to bring snacks and keep your camera ready.
If you’ve been to Lisbon and have favorite spots I didn’t mention, leave them in the comments. I’m always looking for new places to explore next time I’m back in the city!
Thanks, as always, for reading!
