Top attractions and hidden gems for Belem, Lisbon itinerary

Belem is one of the fun districts in Lisbon to visit. It’s very beautiful, and it holds many old era but well maintained attractions that are really worth visiting.

Planning an itinerary to Belem can be tricky if you have one day only to spear on your Lisbon trip, and you already allocated your time to Lisbon Itinerary. There are just so many things to do in Belem, from just walking, enjoying its authentic streets and large parks with lavish trees, and eating famous custard tards in Pasteis de Nata de Belem.

However, Belem, Portugal, is better known for its top class museums. In this post I want to highlight all the options you have to choose from when visiting Belem to help you create your perfect itinerary to Belem area of Lisbon.

Why there are so many attractions in Belem and how Belem’s history explains it

When I was planning my first trip to Belem while visiting Lisbon, I noticed the unusual concentration of famous places to visit there, outside of Lisbon. That made me wonder about the history of Belem and why the Royal Portuguese Palace was there, and not in Lisbon.

I’ve discovered, there was a reason for that, and it has to do with the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. Read about it in detail in my Royal Portuguese Palace in Belem post. I promise you that if you like history, you will find that chain of events interesting, just as I did!

And if you’re lucky, you will find a horse rider in a beautiful 18th-century costume swinging by while you admire the palace, like I did.

But let’s go back to all the places that were created during that time and that can can visit now in Belem. I will highlight them in order they are popular, though my personal favorites might surprise you.

Top Museums and monuments in Belem, district of Lisbon, Portugal

Here are the highlights of these top attractions.

Monastery of St. Jerome (Mosteiro dos Jeronimos)

Jeronimos Monastery is a fine example of Manueline architecture with some Mudejar style elements and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It seems everyone knows about it, and everyone visits it. You should as well, it’s interesting!

St. Jerome is indeed interesting to explore. It has two parts: one is free – the church, and the second one, the monastery itself, you have to pay for. As this is just the highlights post, I will cover my visit there in another post. Just know to reserve at least 1 hour slot for it: I spent 2 hours!

The Monastery is a short 2-minute walk from the Belem Palace. You can use these two museums for your morning itinerary in Lisbon, Belem area. Or, you could visit the Lisbon’s Museum of Carriages instead of the Belem Palace.

National Coach Museum (Museu Nacional dos Coches)

Located near the Belem palace, within 2-minute walk, and withing 5-minute walk from the Jeronimo Monastery, it is a very fun museum to visit for both kids and adults.

I covered my visit of this museum with a picture of every coach or a horse-drawn carriage in National Coach Museum extensively in another post. Read the carriages description to tell me if you agree with my assessment of them (or not!;).

Now, a lot of people go to this place (below), instead. And yes, it’s beautiful as well…

Belem Tower (Torre de Belém)

Belem Tower is a fortified tower built in 1515-1521 as part of a defense system at the mouth of the Tagus River. Be prepared to wait to get in. I had to wait 40 minutes until my time slot, but it was worth it, so I didn’t complain.

At some point, I will post a video of my visit; it’s on my list to do.

Pasteis de Belem

Pasteis de Belem is another famous spot, and for good reason! It serves the best Pastel de Nata in Portugal! It’s a next door to Belem Palace, walking towards Jeronimo’s Monastery, so you can visit it between visiting those two places!

This is the original place that later has expanded and now have some new locations, including the downtown area of Lisbon, or Baixa Pombalina.

Monument to the Discoveries or Padrão dos Descobrimentos

Monument to the Discoveries seems to be another place that everyone knows. At least, it pops up on everyone’s itinerary.

Personally, I thought it was a bit boring, and you need to do some extra walking. So, unless you have 2 days to spare, I don’t recommend going there. Besides, it’s closed at the moment (as of April 2025; so check the website).

This list concludes the famous places to visit in Belém. But it misses a few of my personal favorite attractions I often visit, located right next to this neighborhood. Should I call them hidden gems? I’m not sure as they are not small places and are well known to the local population.

Two of my favorite attractions in Ajuda, Lisbon district, next to Belem

This is just a highlight of these two wonderful places; I will cover them in detail soon.

Botanical Garden of Ajuda is a hidden gem

Botanical Garden of Ajuda or Jardim Botânico d’Ajuda is a hidden gem. Do not confuse this garden with Tropical Garden of Ajuda, though they do sound like one and the same.

Ajuda Botanical Garden is an outstanding private botanical garden with fountains, plants & species from Portugal’s former colonies. It is located about a 20-minute walk from Belem Palace and is well worth visiting.

The entrance is 2 euros, and it’s not complimentary even with the Lisbon card, because it is a private garden.

I made many friends there, and I have videos to prove it! 🙂 My friends walk on legs and are oh so beautiful. This is all I will share for now! 🙂

Palace of Ajuda (Palácio Nacional da Ajuda)

Palace of Ajuda is a beautiful neoclassical palace in Ajuda, the neighborhood of Lisbon, Portugal. While not technically in Belem, Ajuda is right next to Belem (25-minute walk), close enough to include on the same itinerary.

The palace was the 19th-century residence of the royal family. It is the museum of decorative arts now.

I visited it 3 times and enjoyed it on every visit. It is included in your Lisboa card, so don’t miss it!

Other less known options to visit in Belem

Now, I want to highlight other options you can visit, or add to your afternoon itinerary.

• Memorial Church of St. Jerome (Igreja da Memória)
• MAAT – Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (Museu de Arte, Arquitetura e Tecnologia): A museum housed in a former power station that showcases contemporary art, architecture, and technology.
• Garden of Afonso de Albuquerque (Jardim Afonso de Albuquerque) – a small, well maintained garden right in front of the Belem Palace with a tall statue of Alfonso Albuquerque. It’s a great place to rest in the shade in the middle of the day in summer. 
• Garden Vasco da Gama, a lovely park, a 3-minutes walk from the Belem Palace. It has Thai gazebo, a gift from Thailand, and a statue of Vasco da Gama. The park is hidden behind the buildings right across from the Pasteis de Belem. The address of the Garden Vasco da Gama is here. 
•  Ultramar Garden (Jardim do Ultramar): A garden located south of the palace close to the River Tagus.
•  Planetário de Lisboa: A planetarium that offers educational programs on astronomy and space science.
•  Cultural Center of Belem (Centro Cultural de Belém – CCB): A cultural center that hosts exhibitions, concerts, theater performances, and other events.
•  Jardim da Praça do Império: A garden located near the Belém Palace that offers a panoramic view of the Tagus river and its surroundings.
•  Electricity Museum (Museu da Electricidade): A museum dedicated to electricity and energy.

I also want to add this attraction as an option. Museum of Ancient Art (Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga) is the best museum in Lisbon for me! While technically not in Ajuda – it’s nearby, around 25 walk from Belem.

So, here are all the options for visiting attractions in Belem and nearby. Don’t skip the gardens and their wonderful shade, especially in summer!

I also love to just walk on the streets in Belem, but visitors rarely have time left for that.

Come back for my more detailed posts about the attractions in Belem and Ajuda I talked about here!