If you choose Lisbon as your school trip destination, you will discover that it is an open-air museum: full of great squares, beautiful viewpoints and neighbourhoods bursting with character. The atmosphere that breathes through this city was made for groups of students: street music, markets, viewpoints, bars and shops full of life — a city that is easy to visit… It is the perfect city in which to immerse yourself fully in Lusitanian culture. We show you the monuments and places to visit on your end-of-year trip to Lisbon.
The end-of-year trip to Lisbon is perfect for students from secondary school, sixth form and university alike. At these ages there is already a cultural curiosity that can be channelled into original city walks: exploring the most charming neighbourhoods, visiting the most famous flea market, getting the best Instagram shot at the viewpoints… Discover the Portuguese capital with Natuaventura!
Essential Monuments and Places to Visit in Lisbon
Here is a brief overview of the most important monuments and tourist attractions in the Portuguese capital:
Lisbon Cathedral
Santa Maria Maior is the most important cathedral in all of Lisbon. Known as the Sé de Lisboa, it is one of the city’s must-see sights. The Lisbon Cathedral — or Sé Cathedral — in Romanesque style, is one of the unmissable visits in the Alfama neighbourhood. It is one of the few monuments to have survived the successive earthquakes and fires that have struck the city.
Jerónimos Monastery
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon is one of the capital’s principal monuments. It is a tribute to the golden age of exploration, having been built to commemorate Vasco da Gama’s return from India.
Tower of Belém
The Tower of Belém served for many years as Lisbon’s defensive fortification. The tower dates from the sixteenth century, the Age of Discovery, when it was built as a fortress to protect the entrance to the harbour via the Tagus. Over time its defensive role faded and it came to be used as a tax-collecting post and even a prison.
Santa Justa Lift
Standing 45 metres tall, the Santa Justa Lift (originally known as the Elevador do Carmo) connects the Baixa with the Chiado neighbourhood and is one of Lisbon’s must-visit tourist attractions.
Commerce Square
Commerce Square is Lisbon’s most important square. It stands on the site of the Royal Palace before it was destroyed by the Great Earthquake. It is an unmissable stop on your visit to Lisbon, offering views of the River Tagus, a wide open space for strolling, and cafés and restaurants where you can stop for a drink.
Castle of São Jorge
With more than eight centuries of history, the Castle of São Jorge (Castelo de São Jorge) is visible from almost every point in the city. Inside the complex you must visit the Torre de Ulisses, from which you can enjoy a 360° panoramic view of the city.
25 de Abril Bridge
The 25 de Abril Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in Europe. It is named after the revolution that, on that same date in 1974, restored democracy to Portugal.
Feira da Ladra
The “Feira da Ladra” — roughly translated as the “Thieves’ Market” — is a flea market offering a wide variety of items ranging from antique cameras to second-hand clothing. It is held every Tuesday and Saturday from the morning onwards. In the surrounding area we recommend visiting Parque Clara, also known as Jardim Botto Machado.
Fado Museum
The Lisbon Fado Museum is located in Alfama, the neighbourhood where this traditional Portuguese singing style was born and developed — it has since become Lisbon’s most popular tourist experience. At this museum you will learn the history of fado from its origins and its evolution right up to the present day.
Viewpoints
Another of Lisbon’s greatest attractions is its viewpoints. Due to the city’s location and setting, built on a hillside, each viewpoint offers a fresh perspective:
- Graça Viewpoint
- Senhora do Monte Viewpoint
- Santa Luzia
- Santo Estêvão
- San Pedro de Alcántara
- Castle Viewpoint
- Eduardo VII Park Viewpoint
- Portas do Sol
Neighbourhoods
We have already covered the best monuments and places to visit on your end-of-year trip to Lisbon. We discuss the neighbourhoods of the Portuguese capital in depth in another of our posts dedicated to Lisbon. As a taster, here is a list of the most important ones:
- Baixa
- Chiado and Bairro Alto
- Alfama
- Belém
- Parque das Nações
Guide to Organising Your School Trip to Lisbon
If you are thinking about organising your end-of-year trip to Lisbon, you have come to the right place — this guide contains all the information you need before and during the trip: accommodation, gastronomy, transport, possible itineraries, excursions…
Plan your school trip to Lisbon with Natuaventura. We offer as many possibilities as you can imagine, along with a team of activity leaders with more than 15 years of experience in end-of-year trips. Don’t miss a thing!
- Organising the end-of-year trip to Lisbon
- What to visit on your school trip to Lisbon
- What are the most important neighbourhoods in Lisbon?
- Portuguese gastronomy: what to eat in Lisbon?
- Where to stay on your end-of-year trip to Lisbon
- A 3-day itinerary in Lisbon
For more information about your end-of-year trip to Lisbon, contact us at info@natuaventura.com or by calling 91 714 06 36.
