Belém

Lisbon's showcase of the Age of Discovery

Belém sits around six kilometres west of the centre on the wide Tagus, and it's the quarter where Lisbon celebrates its golden age of seafaring. This is where the caravels once set sail on the great voyages of discovery, and today it's where the finest monuments of that era stand close together: the Jerónimos Monastery (Mosteiro dos Jerónimos), the Belém Tower (Torre de Belém) and the Monument to the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos).

Museums and pastéis

Belém is also a museum quarter: the modern MAAT on the waterfront, the National Coach Museum and the Berardo Museum of modern art. And, of course, the Pastéis de Belém bakery, which has been making the original Pastel de Nata (Portuguese custard tart) to a secret recipe since 1837 - the queue is part of the experience. With so much to see, it's worth setting aside half a day to a full day for Belém.

Spacious and green

Unlike the narrow old-town quarters, Belém is wide and open, with parks, a riverside promenade and plenty of space. It's a relaxed contrast to the bustle of the city centre, ideal for a gentler day of sightseeing.