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Alfama

Neighbourhood

Alfama

Lisbon's oldest quarter: steep lanes below the castle, the cathedral, the Santa Luzia and Portas do Sol viewpoints and the Fado Museum.

experiences to book
3
typical visit
2–3 hours on foot
lowest price
€15

Things to do at Alfama

Tickets

Guided tours · 2

About Alfama

Alfama is Lisbon's oldest and most traditional neighbourhood. Its lanes climb from the river to the castle past the Sé, the cathedral begun in 1147 after Afonso Henriques took the city, whose Romanesque front with two towers and a rose window still faces the street.

At the Miradouro de Santa Luzia, tile panels show Praça do Comércio as it looked before the 1755 earthquake, and the cafés of Portas do Sol look out over the rooftops to the Tagus. Down by the river, the Fado Museum tells the story of the song UNESCO listed as intangible heritage in 2011.

Know before you go

  • Steep, cobbled lanes and steps: wear comfortable shoes
  • The Sé's ticket covers the naves, the high choir and the Treasury; prayer is free
  • The Fado Museum is at Largo do Chafariz de Dentro 1, near Santa Apolónia