Did you know that there are many beautiful squares in Lisbon, Portugal? Each of them is a great place to relax and enjoy the views.
Praça do Comércio
Praça do Comércio is probably the most famous square in Lisbon. It’s located at the bank of the Tagus river. In the center of the square, you can see a large statue of the former king Joseph I of Portugal. From the gorgeous Arco da Rua Augusta, you can walk straight into the main shopping street (Rua Augusta) in Lisbon.
Praça Dom Pedro IV
Praça Dom Pedro IV is also known as Rossio, and this used to be the place for executions, bullfighting, and demonstrations. Nowadays, it’s one of the best squares in Lisbon to relax. There are some trees that provide some shade and there are a couple of beautiful fountains to be found on the square. In the center, you can see a very tall column with a statue of King Pedro I of Brazil.
Largo de São Domingos
Close to Praça Dom Pedro IV, you can find a small square called Largo de São Domingos. This is one of the main meeting points for the local community. Therefore, it’s always crowded. On the square, you’ll find a monument that refers to tolerance in Lisbon.
Located on the square is also an interesting church which is worth visiting: Igreja de São Domingos. It was destroyed by a fire in the fifties, and it was never completely restored. Very interesting to see.
Praça Luís de Camões
Praça Luís de Camões is a small square and has a statue of the famous Portuguese poet Luís de Camões. The square is a perfect spot to take pictures of the famous yellow trams because they go around the square in circles.
Praça du Municipio
Praça du Municipio is a nice small square at the city hall. In the center, you won’t see a statue of a king, but an interesting turned column.
Rosa-dos-Ventos
A must-see for travel lovers is Rosa-dos-Ventos (Rose Compass). You can find it right next to the enormous monument Padrão dos Descobrimentos along the Tagus River. The square is a large compass and it has a map of the world in the center. This square was a gift to Lisbon from the South African government.
Jardim de São Pedro de Alcântara
The many great viewpoints (miradouros) are one of the reasons why people visit Lisbon, and here you can also find some great squares. Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara consists of two parts, a higher level, and a lower level. From both squares, you’ll have a great overview of Lisbon. There are also many benches which makes it a great place to relax.
Campo das Cebolas
Campo das Cebolas is a square at the food of Alfama. Alfama is the oldest neighborhood and has a lot of height differences, which you can see really well from this square. In the square, you can find some benches which are perfect for people watching. Also, on the square, you see a large building with an interesting grey and spikey exterior. This used to be the house of the famous Portuguese writer José Saramago. He won the noble prize for literature in 1998 and in front of his house, you can read a sentence from one of his books.
Praça da Figueira
Praça da Figueira is a crowded square, which seems to be the central point where all the buses and taxis connect in Lisbon. On the square you can see a statue of een druk plein waar alle bussen en taxi’s bij elkaar lijken te komen. Op het plein staat een standbeeld van John I of Portugal. From here you have a clear view of Castelo de São Jorge, the castle on the highest hill of the city.
Jardim Augusto Gil
Jardim Augusto Gil is a small square right next to Miradouro da Graça. You can see the tourists enjoying the view and the locals can be found on the benches on the square. A great place to read a book.
Escadinhas de São Miguel
Officially, this is not a square but a collection of stairs behind Igreja de São Miguel in Alfama. There are some benches, a couple of orange trees and you’ll see some of the authentic Portuguese tiles with blue painted images. Fun fact: the pink-red house on the corner is the oldest house in Lisbon. It’s narrow on the bottom and has a larger top. That way, people had to pay fewer taxes.
For me, these were the most beautiful squares I’ve seen in Lisbon. Do you also like to chill and relax in a square during a city trip?
Travel guides Lisbon
During my trips to Lisbon, I used several great travel guides. These are my favorites:
In addition, check out these articles I wrote about Lisbon:
- The top things to do in Lisbon
- 5 Easy ways to travel from Lisbon to the Algarve
- Video: a week in Lisbon
Where to stay in Lisbon
My favorite neighborhood in Lisbon is Alfama and this is also a great place to stay. From here you can walk to most of the main highlights in Lisbon. There are many restaurants to be found in this area and you can hear the fado music everywhere. I usually book my hotel rooms on Booking.com.
Would you like to stay in an apartment? It might be smart to check out Airbnb. Have you never booked anything through Airbnb? Use this link for a great discount on your first reservation.
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