Lisbon Photo Spots: The 11 Best Places to Take Photos in Lisbon

Colorful Neighborhood: Alfama

Alfama is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Lisbon and has plenty of charm to show for it. The little houses are painted in bright colors, freshly washed laundry hangs between the alleyways, and through some windows you’ll be handed the famous cherry liqueur.

It’s a real paradise for street photography fans. Just let yourself drift through the lanes for a while and you’ll come away with countless great shots.

Head uphill and there’s a good chance you’ll pass one of the many Miradouros — rewarding you with a stunning panorama across the rooftops of Alfama all the way to the Tagus.

If you’d like to explore more of these Miradouros, check out our article on the most beautiful viewpoints in Lisbon.

Photo tip: With a small mirrorless or compact camera, you can shoot more discreetly and capture candid, real-life scenes.

Photo spots along the Tagus Promenade

As you stroll along the Tagus Promenade, you can tick off several photo highlights in one go. It starts with the famous bridge, the Ponte 25 de Abril.

Right at the beginning of the promenade, you get an unusual perspective on the Ponte 25 de Abril — you can walk directly underneath it and photograph the bridge from below.

Or, take a boat tour in Lisbon — you’ll cruise right under the bridge.

The many struts of the bridge invite you to play with perspective and find unusual angles.

We highly recommend heading there just before sunrise. You’ll get gorgeous light as the sun comes up, and you can always treat yourself to breakfast afterward.

Photo tip: Tripods can seem bulky and inconvenient — but don’t be fooled! A tripod brings a real sense of calm to your photography and lets you think more deliberately about the best composition.

MAAT: Museu de Arte, Arquitetura e Tecnologia

Walk a little further along the Tagus Promenade and you’ll reach the MAAT, the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology.

The name says it all. From the outside, the building looks extraordinary and offers many different angles for photography. You can even walk up a sweeping staircase to the museum’s rooftop, which gives you a vantage point over the Tagus and Lisbon.

Photo tip: This is clearly a subject for architecture enthusiasts. Check out our article on architectural photography before you head out.

Street Photography at the LX Factory

The LX Factory is set on a former industrial site and is probably one of the hippest spots in Lisbon. It’s only been used as a non-industrial venue since 2012, and it’s absolutely worth a stop on any weekend trip to Lisbon.

Industrial charm now meets bars, cafés, pubs, and street art. Every Sunday there’s also a flea market, which brings even more photo opportunities.

You’ll have more than enough to fill up your camera’s memory cards. Just don’t let the abundance of subjects overwhelm you — focus on the details that really stand out.

Photo tip: Use a prime lens for street shots. Committing to a single focal length makes you shoot more intentionally. You can’t change the framing by zooming — you have to physically move to find the perfect shot.

Photography at the Old Expo Site: Parque das Nações

In 1998, Lisbon hosted the Expo at the Parque das Nações. The site still exists and has been continuously expanded since then. The whole area feels very modern and stands in stark contrast to Lisbon’s historic center.

Extraordinary buildings, beautiful green spaces, and as a standout feature, another breathtaking bridge — the Ponte Vasco da Gama.

To get a first overview of the Parque das Nações, hop on the cable car. From there you’ll have a fantastic view over the entire neighborhood.

Photo tip: Throughout the Expo site, you’ll encounter a huge variety of subjects — flowers in the park, interesting people, all kinds of architecture. A travel zoom lens is perfectly suited for this. Our comprehensive lens guide includes options for your camera model too.

Photo Highlight: Tram 28E

Lisbon’s tram line 28E is already a great subject in its own right. But hop on board and keep your camera ready — you’ll pass an endless number of beautiful buildings while exploring the city at the same time.

Your best bet is to board at the terminus Campo Ourique, as the tram fills up quickly. To avoid the biggest crowds, the early morning hours are ideal for a relaxed photo session.

Photo tip: Try a long exposure with a shutter speed of around 1/30s while photographing the tram as it passes by. This gives the tram a dynamic blur that conveys a real sense of speed.

Mysterious Photo Spot: Cemitério dos Prazeres

One of the terminal stops of tram line 28E is, in fact, the Cemitério dos Prazeres cemetery — one of our genuine Lisbon insider tips.

Translated, Cemitério dos Prazeres means Cemetery of Pleasures. Wild, right?

The cemetery is nothing like the ones you’d find in most of Europe. Instead of the usual graves, there are mausoleums — small, colorfully decorated little houses where the coffins rest. In some cases, you can even peek inside.

Beyond the unusual subjects, the western cemetery wall gives you a great view of the Ponte 25 de Abril and Cristo Rei.

Photo tip: When photographing from the cemetery toward the Ponte 25 de Abril, the air can be a bit hazy due to traffic and the waterfront location. A polarizing filter for your lens can help counteract this by enhancing contrast. See how it works in our article on lens filters.

Food Photography at the Mercado da Ribeira

Besides photography, food is our passion — and we can combine both perfectly at the Mercado da Ribeira. The market is also known as the Time Out Market, and that name fits well: it’s a place where you can take a real break from the city.

The Time Out Market has since become one of the most popular attractions in Lisbon.

Inside the market hall, you’ll find a huge selection of delicacies from Lisbon and all of Portugal. But the hall itself already makes for a great photo subject.

Once you’ve grabbed something to eat, have some fun and try your hand at food photography. There are plenty of specialties to experiment with.

Nature Photos in the Parque Florestal de Monsanto

Here’s a lesser-known spot worth knowing about. In the west of Lisbon lies a fairly large park — the Parque Florestal de Monsanto. It’s a wonderful recreational area that, alongside all the photo opportunities of a parkland setting, also offers some beautiful viewpoints.

The Panorâmico de Monsanto is one of them. It was once a restaurant and is now a viewpoint with a 360-degree view over Lisbon. The somewhat weathered building is itself a great photo subject, covered as it is in graffiti art.

Photo tip: While you’re in this park, take a few quiet minutes to review your photos from the day. Deleting blurry or failed shots along the way will save you a lot of time and frustration later when you’re back at your computer.

A Photo Spot with Potential: Rua do Ginjal

If you take the ferry over to Almada to visit the Cristo Rei statue, skip the bus up the hill.

You can easily get there on foot. The most scenic route, the Rua do Ginjal, runs right along the waterfront. Along the way, you’ll pass an old harbor area where you’ll mainly spot fishermen today — a fantastic photo subject.

At the end of the Rua do Ginjal, you’ll have to decide whether to climb the hill on foot or take an elevator instead. Both options have their appeal.

Walk up and you’ll pass through a charming little village. Take the elevator and you’ll arrive at a small viewing platform with a vista over Lisbon. It’s one of our favorite day trips from Lisbon.

Street Art in Lisbon

Street art is everywhere in Lisbon and always makes for a great addition to your travel photos. Because the street art scene here is so lively, it’s hard to pin down one exact location.

One place where you’re guaranteed to find it is the Bairro Alto neighborhood. In this already colorful district, you’ll find street art on many walls.

Head on foot toward Alfama from there and you’ll also pass by plenty of creative artwork. Seriously remarkable stuff.

Your best bet is to join a guided tour of Lisbon that specializes in street art — you’ll learn so much more about the scene that way.

Photo tip: Use the GPS function on your camera. That way, you can look up exactly where you took which shots after the fact — even months later, you’ll be able to pinpoint precisely where your favorite Lisbon photo spot was.