Baixa District Guide in Lisbon

You booked your ticket for Lisbon? Discover our tips to visit the Baixa, the most central part of Portuguese capital.

On the shores of the Tage Lisbon expands and unveils many neighbourhoods with different atmospheres and architectures. Visiting the Baixa, in the heart of the city, is a dive in the history of Lisbon. Its particular architecture and its location by the river make it one of the most interesting areas to visit in the city of the 7 hills.

Are you going on a trip to the Portuguese capital? Discover our complete guide to visit the Baixa and prepare for your stay at best!

The Baixa in a few words

On the day of the Toussaint 1755, the city of Lisbon was struck by a huge earthquake. It follows a tsunami and fires, which destroy much of the city. The Baixa district, in the lower part of the city along the river, is deeply affected.

The Marquis de Pombal , Prime Minister of the time, decides to rebuild it according to a new plan. With architects, he draws a grid pattern with large avenues that will become the Baixa Pombalina . The first anti-seismic buildings in Europe were erected in this neighborhood according to a symmetrical truncated structure, the pombaline cage. The result is a pleasant and airy area where it makes a good stroll.

Today, tourists flock to visit the Baixa and discover this particular architecture. The neighbourhood has been a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage Registration since 2017.

What to see and what to do at the Baixa?

Elevador de Santa Justa

This original building was first designed to connect the low and high parts of the city. There are other lifts of this type but this one is the most plebiscited by the tourists who come to visit the Baixa. It makes it easy to reach the neighbourhood of Chiado , while enjoying a breathtaking view of the Baixa and the rest of the city.

The elevator is 45 metres high and ends with a spiral staircase that allows access to the window. If the elevator is open daily from 7am to 9pm , we advise you to go there early morning (before 10:00) or evening to avoid the crowd.

There is an unlimited public transport ticket for 24 hours at the price of 6€ which gives access to the Elevador de Santa Justa .

Praça do Comercio and Arco da Rua Augusta

Visiting the Baixa will first allow you to discover the Praça do Comercio , more beautiful place in the city. Open on the banks of the Tage and impressive dimensions, it reminds us of the Place Saint Mark of Venice. Surrounded by superb arcades, it was the central point of Lisbon for maritime trade. You can admire a statue Dom José Ier , as well as the magnificent Arc de Triomphe that supervises the arrival of the Rua Augusta .

This arc of triumph is one of the emblematic monuments of Lisbon and a must if you will visit the Baixa. Its construction began in 1759 after the earthquake. With only one floor at the base, it was inaugurated in its present form in 1873. Its summit has been accessible since 2013. The observation platform allows to admire the place and the Rua Augusta , but also the configuration of the neighborhoods perched on the surrounding hills. Statues representing important figures in Portugal’s history complete the building, such as the Marquis de Pombal or Vasco de Gama.

Praça do Rossio

Also known as Praça Dom Pedro IV , the Place du Rossio is a central point when you visit the Baixa. It was a place of market and fair from the Middle Ages, and today you will find stands of crafts and local products. You will also admire beautiful paved patterns with undulating motifs of all beauty. A statue of a statue Dom Pedro IV is peached about 27 meters high, and two beautiful fountains end up beautifying this magnificent square.

Praça dos Restauradores

This place is the northernmost point when you visit the Baixa. It is dedicated to the independence of Portugal acquired in 1940 after 60 years of Spanish domination. An obelisk sits in the centre of the square, surrounded by two statues representing Liberty and Victory. But the most interesting element of the square is its paved, a magnificent example of pavement to Portuguese or calçada portuguesa .

Guided tours to the Baixa

Autour street art

You're passionate about street-art ? Then choose for this theme the time of a guided tour in the Baixa district. Lisbon is indeed a reference to street art in the world. From now on, urban art is present and is available through beautiful frescoes of all kinds!

These activities may last 1h30 to 4h depending on the path chosen. The longest ones are obviously the deepest. Some also mix street art and historic buildings. Finally, there are several guided tours in French.

Food tour

Marre des Musées et des Monuments historiques? Why not participate in a food tour that will appeal to both the curious and the greedy! If you want to discover all local dishes and learn more about Portuguese cuisine? So, don't miss a guided tour on the theme of gastronomy in the Baixa district!

In French or English , your culinary guide will make you discover local wines and dishes like tasting nata pasteis but also all specialties based on cod or sardines. In short, there is one for every taste!

Historical tour

On the side visits (guidées) in the Baixa district, you will only have the embarrassment of choice! In particular, you can choose a discovery of the main monuments of the city. These visits are usually on foot and tram. Walking in the Baixa allows you to discover all the most beautiful monuments and places to be missed:

• Praça do Comercio
• Arco da Rua Augusta
• Elevador de Santa Justa

Guided walking tour

Many associations offer to visit the Baixa on foot. The towers usually last 3 hours , and you can choose which neighborhoods you want to visit. For the Baixa Tower, the guides focus on the history of the city centre and its reconstruction after the earthquake. You will learn more about neo-classical architecture and the way of building antisismic buildings. It's easy to find French or French guides , to maximize the explanations given.

In tuk-tuk

Even if this may seem surprising, the tuk-tuk is a widely used means of transport to visit Baixa and the rest of Lisbon. It allows to easily reach the heights of the city and to infiltrate the narrow streets of certain areas. Guided tours of Lisbon in tuk-tuk usually involve several neighbourhoods. You will be accompanied by a experienced driver and a French speaking guide , and compose with them your ideal itinerary.

By tram

The mythical tram 28 allows you to visit the Baixa aboard an emblematic transport of Lisbon. If the line passes through the neighborhood, it will not allow you to discover all the secrets. We advise you to ask your guide to include a tram part when you book to visit the Baixa on foot or in tuk-tuk for example.

A bike

Visiting the Baixa by bike allows you to see even more things for the same duration of visits. Des bike tours already defined are offered, but nothing prevents you from creating your own circuit with your guide.

If you're planning to get out of the Baixa and get high on the surrounding neighborhoods, think about electric bike . The ribs can be very inclined, but you will easily swallow them on an electric bike. And to force even less, some agencies offer electric scooter rides.

The best hotels to stay in the Baixa district

The Baixa district has many hotel establishments, ranging from the pension to the grand palace. Here is a selection of our best places to put your suitcases:

• Hotel da Baixa : This 4-star hotel is a boutique hotel that makes the city a beautiful part of the past. All the decoration and architecture of the building bring you back to the past, keeping a luxurious and refined atmosphere. The 66 rooms are spacious and offer all the comforts to visit the Baixa in all serenity.
• Lisbon Art Stay Apartments : This hotel is a real museum, with an art-centred decoration. Today this charming building has several ideal studios and apartments to visit the Baixa family. The terrace allows you to enjoy a beautiful view of the city.
• Pousada de Lisboa : ideally located on the famous Praça do Comercio, this 5-star hotel is part of the Small Luxury Hotels Of The World hotel chain. The historic building has been transformed into a luxury hotel and has a terrace overlooking the square and the Tage, and an indoor pool. The decoration includes art objects lent by nearby museums, giving an authentic character to the whole.

Where to eat in the Baixa district?

After having started visiting the Baixa, cut off the day at Fado Ao Carmo. This restaurant has the particularity of combining two activities in one place. You can listen to fado , traditional Portuguese music, while enjoying your taste buds. We recommend the garlic shrimp and the croquetes duck in. For the main dish, the traditional cod or black pork are safe values, but the whole card is worth the detour.

Other connected address: Fabrica de Nata . Located on the Praça dos Restauradores the speciality of this establishment is nata pasteis , the famous pie from Lisbon. A tasting formula allows you to try one of these treats with a glass of Porto.

To go for a drink in the evening, direction A Ginjinha . Ginja is a cherry liqueur, very popular in Portuguese. In this bar you will taste the drink according to the traditional recipe, accessed at the counter. We'll ask you if you wish. com elas (with them) or sem elas (without them), that is to say with or without cherries at the bottom of the glass.

How to go to the Baixa?

• Tram: the mythical line 28 of the tram passes through the Baixa and stops at the station Rua Conceição. You will easily reach the foot Praça do Comercio and Rua Augusta. In addition to being a means of transport, remodelados are a very popular way to visit the Baixa. Line 28 crosses Lisbon and passes close to all the city's emblematic monuments.
• Bus: visiting the Baixa by bus is simple because the neighborhood is very well served by the lisboet bus system. Line 737 passes by Rua da Conceiçaõ. The stop Praça do Comércio is a major hub and sees lines 206, 210, 706, 728, 735, 774, 781 and 782. Praça dos Restauradores is also a neuralgic point with the passage of buses 207, 709, 711, 732, 736, 746, 759 and 783.
• Metro: the station Baixa-Chiado allows you to easily reach the Baixa district. It is located at the intersection of blue and green lines. From this station you can reach the Baixa in the east or the Chiado in the west. The metro also allows you to visit the Baixa from the airport. You will join the stations Baixa-Chiado, Rossio or Restauradores A little over 30 minutes.
• Train: the railway station Cais do Sodré is the closest if you are going to visit the Baixa by train. From this station, take the bus, the metro, or join the Praça do Comércio walk in just 10 minutes.
• Funicular: even if you will probably use it more in the direction of climbing,Elevador da Glória connects the Praça dos Restauradores with the Rua São Pedro de Alcantâra in Barrio Alto.

Enjoy your stay in Lisbon!