Lisbon is built on hills, which means viewpoints are everywhere. The city's miradouros (viewpoints) are free, the historic neighbourhoods are free to walk, and the riverfront stretches for kilometres without a ticket in sight. Here is what to put on the list.

Miradouro da Graca

We rate this as the best viewpoint in Lisbon for the overall panorama. It sits above the Alfama and gives a clear view over the castle, the rooftops, and the Tagus estuary without the crowds that gather at the more famous spots. Go at sunset for the light on the water. Completely free.

Miradouro das Portas do Sol

Set into the wall of the Alfama hillside, Portas do Sol faces directly east over the terracotta rooftops toward the Tagus. The Monastery of São Vicente de Fora and the dome of the National Pantheon frame the right side of the view. Free to access, with a small terrace and a statue of São Vicente.

Miradouro da Senhora do Monte

The highest of Lisbon's main viewpoints, with a wide panorama that takes in the castle, the Graca church, the Tejo, and on clear days the hills of the Serra da Arrábida to the south. Quieter than the central miradouros and entirely free.

Alfama

The oldest neighbourhood in Lisbon runs downhill from the castle toward the river. The streets are too narrow for most vehicles, the tiles are chipped and beautiful, and fado music spills out of windows. Walking the Alfama costs nothing. Start at the top near the castle and let the hill take you down through Rua das Escolas Gerais and Rua de São Miguel to the waterfront.

Mouraria

Immediately below the castle on the other side from Alfama, Mouraria is Lisbon's most diverse neighbourhood and one of its oldest. The Intendente square, the street murals, and the daily life visible in the lanes and courtyards make it a better walk than almost anywhere in the city. Free.

Ribeira Waterfront

The Tagus riverfront from Cais do Sodré to the Praça do Comercio is one of Europe's great urban waterfronts. The wide esplanade, the moored sailing boats, the view across to the south bank, and the 18th-century Praça at the eastern end are all free. The Praça do Comercio itself — the large square open to the river — is free to walk and sit in.

LX Factory (Sunday Market)

The repurposed industrial complex in Alcântara is free to enter any day of the week. On Sundays a market runs through the courtyards, with books, vintage clothing, ceramics, and food stalls. The complex itself — old textile factory buildings with exposed iron structures and street art — is worth visiting regardless of the market. Free entry.

Belém Riverfront

The Tagus waterfront at Belém, west of the city, holds the Jerónimos Monastery and the Torre de Belém (both charge entry fees), but the riverfront walk between them is free. The garden terrace, the monument plaza, and the views across the water cost nothing. The walk from the tram stop to the river takes five minutes.

São Jorge Castle (Exterior)

The Moorish castle above the Alfama charges an entry fee for the interior. The route up through the castle neighbourhood and the views from the streets immediately outside the walls — Rua do Chao da Feira and the surrounding lanes — are free. Most of the best exterior views of the castle are actually from the Alfama below.

Parque das Nações

The former Expo 98 site in the eastern part of the city has been redeveloped into a riverfront neighbourhood of glass towers, promenades, and public sculpture. The waterfront esplanade, the cable car station area, and the views back across the Tagus are all free to walk. The Oceanarium charges entry; everything outside it does not.

Príncipe Real

The elegant hilltop neighbourhood above Bairro Alto has some of the best 19th-century architecture in the city, a weekend antiques market in the gardens on Saturdays, and a slow-paced atmosphere that contrasts with the tourist-heavy Alfama. The Jardim do Príncipe Real at the centre of the neighbourhood is free and shaded by a large cedar tree. Worth an afternoon.

Tram 28 Route (On Foot)

Tram 28 charges a fare. The route it follows — through Graça, down through the Alfama, around the castle hill, through Baixa, and up to Estrela — is equally rewarding on foot and free. The route passes most of Lisbon's historic core. Walk sections of it rather than the whole thing if time is short.

Jardim da Estrela

The Victorian gardens next to the Basílica da Estrela in the western part of the city are free to enter and one of Lisbon's most pleasant green spaces. The bandstand, the ornamental lake, the peacocks, and the mature trees make it a good stop after the Bairro Alto.