THE BELÉM DISTRICT Belém is a picturesque district to the west of Lisbon, which is the location of many of the capital s most notable and important tourist attractions. Belem is situated on the northern banks of the River Tagus and from the ancient harbours of Belem, ships set sail around the world, and many of the 14th century voyages of discovery departed from here. Historically the Belem district was where Lisbon's elite resided, to escape the poverty and depravity of the inner city. This combination of history, scenery and varied tourist attractions makes Belem one of the most enjoyable areas of the Lisbon to visit. This guide will provide an overview of Belem and will detail the main tourist attractions of the district. TRAVEL TO BELEM Belem is 5km to the west of the Baixa district and downtown Lisbon. The easiest method to travel to Belem is by the number 15E tram, which departs from Praça do Comércio. The journey takes 15 minutes and a single ticket purchased on the tram costs 2.85. The unlimited public transport ticket for 24h costs 6.00 and can be purchased from any metro station (but not on the tram). The tram stop for Belem is very obvious being called Belém Jerónimos and is next to the vast Jerónimos monastery. BELEM OVERVIEW A typical visit to Belém takes half a day but this can be easily extended just by including all of the museums or a walk through the botanical gardens. The main tourist attractions can get very busy during the height of the summer season or at the weekends, so plan to visit them either earlier or later in the day. There are numerous cafes and restaurants, but it is highly recommended to try a Pastel de Nata from Pastéis de Belém, the traditional home of the delicious cakes that go by the same name. THE BELÉM DISTRICT P1
THE BEST ACTIVITY OF BELEM The best activity in Belém is the 30 minute walk from Pastéis de Belém to the Torre de Belém. This route passes the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, the Discoveries Monument and goes through carefully maintained parks (namely, the Jardim da Praça do Império and the Jardim da Torre de Belém) while following the banks of the Tejo Estuary. On a bright sunny day, there is no better walk than this in Lisbon. You can also have a saililng trip! (see last page of this document) The MOSTEIRO DOS JERÓNIMOS is the extravagant monastery that was funded by the wealth and trade that flowed from the Portugal s colonies during the 16th century. The site was closely associated with the early Portuguese explores, as it was the location that Vasco da Gama spent his last night before his epic voyage to India. Later, wives of sailors would come and pray here for the safe return of their loved ones. The monastery is simply breath taking, with beautiful stone carvings throughout the vast religious building. THE BELÉM DISTRICT P2
TORRE DE BELÉM (Belem Tower) The Belém Tower was constructed to guard Lisbon from sea bound attacks and was positioned in the centre of the Tejo Estuary but today, due to changes of river flow, the fort is now located on the banks of the Tejo River. The design of the Torre de Belém was heavily influenced by North African styles, with Moorish watch towers, decorative battlements and the first European stone carving of a Rhinoceros. PADRÃO AOS DESCOBRIMENTOS (Discoveries Monument) The Discoveries Monument is an imposing concrete monument that celebrates Portugal s explorers and the era of discovery. There is an observation deck at the top of the monument which provides wonderful panoramic views over Belem. THE BELÉM DISTRICT P3
CENTRO CULTURAL DE BELÉM (CCB) The Belém Cultural Centre was constructed to host the 1992 European presidency and today houses Lisbon s finest free museum, the Coleção Berardo Museum. BELEM PALACE The pink Belem Palace is the official residence of the President of Portugal. THE BELÉM DISTRICT P4
PASTÉIS DE BELÉM The Pastéis de Belém bakery is the traditional home of the delicious Portuguese cake, and no trip to Belém is complete without trying one. MUSEU DA MARINHA (Navy Museum) The Museu da Marinha details Portugal's maritime history and is housed in the western end of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. The museum contains many exhibits including ships, maps and historic navigational equipment. The Monumento aos Combatentes do Ultramar is the war memorial which remembers all of the Portuguese soldiers who died in Africa during the 1960 1970s. MONUMENTO AOS COMBATENTES DO ULTRAMAR THE BELÉM DISTRICT P5
WHERE TO EAT PORTUGÁLIA and ESPELHO D AGUA MARISQUEIRA DE ALGÉS (SEA FOOD) THE BELÉM DISTRICT P6
SAILING ON TAGUS RIVER: YACHT CHARTER AND SAILING TRIPS For couples, families or small groups it is now possible to board on a fantastic sailing trip in the Tagus river and see Lisbon s main monuments from the best perspective. Our sailing partner s office is right in Belem. Contact us and we can book you a trip! Choose the boat you want to rent, the time of departure and your destination. Our partner s yachts are yours to discover the magnificent sights of Lisbon or the surrounding coast from Cascais to Tróia. Open from 10h00 to 19h00, 7 days / week, all year. SUNSET LISBON BOAT TOUR: Every day / All Year // from 15h30 to 19h00 (seasonal) // 45 per person For groups above 6 persons please consider the group tour prices DAY SAILING LISBON BOAT TOUR: Every day / All year // 15h00 // 38 per person For groups above 6 persons please consider the group tour prices ROMANTIC SUNSET: Every day / All Year // from 15h30 to 19h00 (seasonal) // 150 Private Yacht charter With 1 bottle of sparkling wine Night aboard: + 100 LISBON PRIVATE TOUR: Departures at any time // Up to 40 people 195 Sailing Yacht charter up to 6 guests 250 Sailing Yacht charter up to 12 guests 550 Power Boat charter up to 40 guests All tour prices on sailing yacht include soft drink, skipper, insurance, fuel and taxes. BOOKING You just need to call or email reservas@ohmm.pt, and you should be able to board the same day. There are 2 daily departures leaving from 15h00 to 19h00. You can also book a private charter and leave at any time of the day. THE BELÉM DISTRICT P7