Five things you need to know about the Time Out Lisboa Card

The construction of this arch of triumph was scheduled in 1759, in the midst of rebuilding the city after the 1755 earthquake. But the Arco da Rua Augusta was only completed in its current form in 1873. It celebrates the grandeur of what was then the Portuguese Empire. At the top of the arch, you can read "VIRTVTIBVS MAIORVM VT SIT OMNIBVS DOCVMENTO.PPD”, which, roughly translated, means “To the Virtues of the Greatest, so they may serve as an example to us all. Dedicated to public expenses”. In 2013, an elevator was inaugurated to go up to the top of the arch via an exhibition on the history of the monument.

Ordered by King Manuel I in memory of Prince Henry the Navigator, this has been a National Monument since 1907, and a World Heritage Site since 1983. Erected in the 16th century, it was donated at the time to the monks of the Order of Saint Jerome, and in 2016 it earned the status of national pantheon. In the monastery’s church (Santa Maria de Belém Church), you can find, amongst others, the tombs of Luís de Camões, Vasco da Gama and King Sebastian, whose remains were brought there by King Philip I in an attempt to annihilate the messianic myth according to which King Sebastian would return to save Portugal. But few people actually believe the body resting at Jerónimos is that of the Desired King.

A National Monument since 1910, this building is a former royal residence turned decorative arts museum, as well as the headquarters of various Portuguese cultural institutions and the setting of many official ceremonies. Guided tours are available, and the museum regularly receives exhibitions that take visitors on a stroll through history. To trace the origins of this palace, we need to go back to 1755: the royal family was staying in its habitual Quinta de Belém residence when the great earthquake happened. After that, King José I refused to live in old “brick and mortar” buildings, so another, safer location had to be selected. And it’s not hard to see why they picked the Ajuda National Palace in the end. 

Considered one of the most recognisable Lisbon landmarks, Belém Tower started out as part of a defence system on the Tagus river, and today it is an architectural icon of the reign of King Manuel I. Classified as a World Heritage Site in 1983 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), it was also elected one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal in 2007.

Before it became the final resting place of Portuguese cultural icons, the Pantheon was the Santa Engrácia Church, a religious site ordered in 1568 by Princess Maria, daughter of King Manuel I. Construction stretched over several centuries and it was only in the 1960s that the building’s cupola was completed - it was imagined by architectural engineer Edgar Cardoso, who is also responsible for the Arrábida Bridge, in Porto. The Pantheon was finally inaugurated in August 1966, and today it holds the cenotaphs (tombs without a body) of people linked to the Portuguese Discoveries, such as Saint Constable Nuno Álvares Pereira, and the tombs of many writers and former presidents. The only woman there is fado singer Amália Rodrigues, and the only footballer is Eusébio - a decision the caused quite a bit of controversy. Don’t miss the views from the top of the building.

The never-ending lines of tourists would almost make you forget that this is part of the public transport network, and therefore compatible with VIVA cards. This National Monument inaugurated in 1902 is the work of Porto engineer Raoul Mesnier de Ponsard, and it is beautiful on the outside, where you can admire the cast iron filigree work that’s different on every floor, and on the inside, with a wood and brass cabin.

About 40 km from Lisbon is a piece of history of almost four hectares that’s over 300 years old, believe it or not. Mafra National Palace dates back to the 18th century and was ordered by the eccentric King João V, quickly becoming the most significant baroque construction in Portugal. The visit includes a walk through the Convent, which holds a large collection of sacred art, and the famous Mafra National Library, which counts almost 36,000 books. You can also visit the Basilica that occupies the central part of the building: inside you’ll find a unique collection of six historic organs, a special order made when the king ordered the construction of the Palace. 

This National Monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site dates back to the 12th century, which makes it the first example of gothic architecture in Portugal. It was built for Cistercian monks (also known as white monks), and it’s impossible to go to the town of Alcobaça without entering it. Inside the church you’ll find various royal tombs, but the most symbolic ones are that of King Pedro I and Queen Inês de Castro, which are traditionally visited by couples in love. Getting there from Lisbon is easy: take the A8 to the Alcobaça/Nazaré/Valado dos Frades exit, and then the EN 8-5 towards Alcobaça. It’s 117 km by car and takes about an hour and a half.

This landmark is located just over an hour and a half away from Lisbon - much shorter than the two centuries it took to build it. Construction of the Santa Maria da Vitória Monastery, better known as Batalha Monastery, started in 1386 and ended in 1563. Associated with the Dominican Order, it was ordered by King João I as an homage to the Virgin Mary after the victory against the Castilians in the Battle of Aljubarrota. This late gothic and Manueline-style building is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and achieved the status of national pantheon in 2016. It houses the sepultures of King João, Queen Isabel, King Fernando, King Afonso V, King João II, King Duarte and the Unknown Soldier.

The most famous part of the Convent of Christ is a Manueline-style window full of ropes, seaweed and armillary spheres, all typical of the Manueline way of representing the discoveries. All the mysticism that surrounds the Knights Templar can be found here, since it was linked to this order when construction began in the 12th century. Later, when the Knights Templar disappeared and was turned into the Order of Christ in Portugal, it remained located in this convent. It was expanded and reconfigured many times, therefore the hour-and-a-half trip from Lisbon and the added walk up from the town centre to the hill of the convent take you to a building that bears the distinctive signs of many centuries.