Our 5 favorite spots in Lisbon for stunning sunsets

February 28, 2019

After an afternoon discovering and sharing Lisbon’s most delicious hidden gems through one of our walks, experiencing local food and embracing Portuguese culture and its people, it’s time for the golden hour – that magical moment when Lisbon presents those who are lucky to find themselves in the city with one of the most stunning sunsets one has ever seen.

The hard part is choosing the best spot – We recommend all of the bellow ones; One for each day. Whether on the north bank of Tagus river, in Lisbon, or on its south bank, in Cacilhas, from the top of a viewpoint or by the river, all are powerful spots for your to connect with the city’s vibe, nature, friends, family, your soulmate or with yourself.

A magical moment on your day, from which you’ll allow yourself to look away just long enough to snap that photo to share partially what you’re experiencing on Instagram later on. All the rest will be engraved in your memory and in your heart.

1. Ribeira da Naus

a group of people standing next to a body of water

Between Cais do Sodré and Comércio squares, you’ll find Ribeira das Naus – a fantastic spot that is lovingly disputed between locals and tourists. The sunset from here is even more picturesque with the bridge, Cristo Rei statue and the ferries and sailing boats that cross Tagus river creating a beautiful backdrop.

Our tip is to arrive early and settle down in one of the deck chairs facing the bridge or next to the Ribeira wall, with a glass of Portuguese wine in hand you meanwhile order at the kiosk. And then? Then just relax and let the sun cross the bridge and lay down into the Tagus river, showing off their natural intense color palettes in a completely unique twilight spectacle.

Where: Quiosque da Ribeira das Naus
Hours: 10:00 AM – 11:30 PM (every day)

2. Cais do Ginjal

Sunset Cais do Ginjal - Lisboa

Next day, we recommend you to take the ferryboat to Cacilhas, in the south bank of Tagus River. It’s a 10 minutes river journey, followed by 10 minutes walk, all worthy to reach an even more spectacular point, named Cais do Ginjal. Besides the sunset being simply phenomenal from here, it offers you as well the best view of Lisbon city, in our opinion.

Along with several tasty options in terms of restaurants and terrace bars, where you’ll be able to taste delicious Portuguese dishes and drinks while waiting for the sunset. We can’t decide which restaurant there is the best, so we recommend you both Atira-te ao Rio (delicious Portuguese typical tidbits to share) and Ponto Final (make sure you stay in the terrace, the best seats you’ll ever have to to fully enjoy the sunset and twilight natural show about to happen).

Where: Cais do Ginjal, Almada
Hours: 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM (Ponto Final closes on Tuesday)

3. Belém Tower

a large clock tower towering over the city of london with Belém Tower in the background

The area of Belém, right by one of our favorite neighborhoods of Lisbon, Ajuda, is a must visit if you come to our city. The so-called “monument district of Lisbon” has plenty of historical monuments to explore – and we would count Pastéis de Belém (Rua de Belém 84-92), the original home of pastel de nata, as one of those “monuments”. The Belém Tower is a fortification which dates back to the 16th century, and marks the spot from where the Portuguese sailing boats used to depart during the Age of Explorations. As it is facing west, this is a lovely place to see the sun go down, as the warm end of the day colors reflect on the Tagus river, just as it is on its way to meet with the Atlantic ocean, not that much further ahead.

Where: Av. Brasília
Hours: The outside of the tower and the surrounding public gardens are open 24/7. If you wish to visit inside prior to catching a glimpse of the sunset, come visit between 10AM and 5.30PM

4. Graça Viewpoint

a view of a city next to a body of water

One word to describe the Graça Viewpoint: delightful. For those who participated in the Downtown-Mouraria food and cultural walking tour, the invitation is to stick around and say farewell to the sun before it goes off to sleep. Right next door is a kiosk with snacks, coffee and drinks, perfect for toasting to another wonderful day in Lisbon. Afterward, if you feel like dinner, nearby we recommend you Graça 77, to experience Portuguese vegan food, and Pitéu da Graça, for typical Portuguese cuisine.

Where: Largo da Graça
Hours: 10:00 AM – 11:30 PM, Thursday-Tuesday (Graça 77) / 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM – 10:30 PM, Monday-Saturday (Pitéu da Graça)

5. Monte Agudo Viewpoint

a bridge over a body of water

Looking for a open view of Lisbon, with a glorious sunset to match? Look no further: Very popular among the dwellers of Penha de França, Arroios and Intendente neighborhoods, Monte Agudo Viewpoint is the sunset among locals experience you’ve been looking for. There are plenty of benches to sit down and take in the view, or opt for the kiosk terrace and enjoy happy hour during golden hour.

Where: R. Heliodoro Salgado
Hours: 13:00 PM – 7:00 PM (every day)

Do you have another favorite spot to enjoy Lisbon’s spectacular sunset? Please share it with us via Facebook or Instagram! Tag us: @tasteoflisboa #tasteoflisboa.

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