Things to do in Belém

Belém Tower is an impressive structure on the shore of the Tagus River in Lisbon. The ornate fortification was built here over 500 years ago to fight off any hostile craft that came up the river. Gaze straight across the river from the top of the Tower Terrace to see St. Sebastian’s Fort, another fortification on the opposite shore. With the two towers in place, enemy warships could not achieve success in attacking the city.

The Jeronimos Monastery is an impressive monument with ornate façades and pointed spirals. The architecture is typical of the Portuguese late-gothic style and has Renaissance influences. The austere Hieronymite monks once worshipped here and prayed for the safety of Lisbon’s explorers.

Pastéis de Belem is one of the busiest and best known pastry shops in a country known for mouth-watering sweets. No matter when you arrive, you’ll likely find lines out the door. It’s well worth the wait when you bite into the thin flaky crust and warm egg-custard center of a pastel de nata, Lisbon’s signature pastry.

Lisbon’s Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument to the Discoveries) points out over the Tagus River. From this spot many sailing vessels followed the river out to the Atlantic Ocean to explore uncharted waters and discover new lands. View this concrete-and-limestone monument to study a 3-D mural of maritime figures. These people are recognized as Portugal’s leading individuals for introducing European customs and trade to distant regions.

Lisbon’s Maritime Museum pays homage to the pioneering role of Portugal’s nautical explorers. Anyone interested in history, boating or cartography will enjoy spending time here. This is one of the largest collections of maritime artifacts in Europe, with about 17,000 items covering the middle ages through modern times.