Alfama & the Castle
Alfama and the castle: lanes, fado and the river
Neighbourhood guide
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Massimo Catarinella · CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Alfama and the castle: lanes, fado and the river
Alfama is the oldest quarter of Lisbon, a maze of stairways and small squares that tumbles from the Castelo de São Jorge to the river. Graça rises above it, and on the waterfront below, the Jardim do Tabaco dock has become a place to eat.
Sights
The Castelo de São Jorge, the Sé, the Miradouros of Santa Luzia and Portas do Sol, the Museu do Fado and Tram 28.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Jakub Hałun · CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsEating
Grenache, SÁLA de João Sá and Marlene, (One MICHELIN Star), Zunzum Gastrobar (Bib Gourmand), Prado and Plano.
Climb to the castle in the late afternoon and come down for fado.
Staying
Memmo Alfama and Santiago de Alfama.
Our advice: wear flat shoes; the cobbles are steep and polished.
Why it's on our list
- Sights
- Eating
- Staying
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Alfama and the castle: lanes, fado and the river before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from Alfama and the castle: lanes, fado and the river are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 12 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest metro stations
- Santa ApolóniaBlue550 m7 min walk
- Terreiro do PaçoBlue750 m9 min walk
- RossioGreen850 m11 min walk
Key sights
- The Castelo de São Jorge500 mWalk 6 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 7 min
- The Praça do Comércio850 mWalk 10 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 8 min
- The Gulbenkian3.6 kmWalk 45 minCycle 18 minCar or taxi 17 min
- The Oceanário6.5 kmCycle 32 minCar or taxi 27 min
- The Jerónimos Monastery6.9 kmCycle 34 minCar or taxi 28 min
- Lisbon Airport7.7 kmCycle 39 minCar or taxi 31 min
- The Tower of Belém7.9 kmCycle 40 minCar or taxi 31 min
Railway stations
- Santa Apolónia station650 mWalk 8 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Rossio station1.2 kmWalk 15 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 9 min
- Cais do Sodré station1.5 kmWalk 19 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 10 min
- Gare do Oriente6.7 kmCycle 34 minCar or taxi 27 min