Miradouros de Lisboa: Where To Watch Sunsets in Lisbon for Free

The best way to enjoy scenic sunsets in Lisbon is to seek for the nearest miradouro and get there about one hour before the sun goes down. This is a surefire recipe for awesome photos for your Instagram. Even better, you can include a few of these red roofs panorama spots in your Lisbon itinerary, in order to make the most out of your time in Portugal’s capital city.

In Lisbon, just like in Porto, Rome or any other hilly city for that matter, these miradouros or miradores are popular not only with tourists but also with locals. They all have slumber spaces designed to make your sunset viewing experience more comfortable.

Many of them have small cafes that sell coffee, snacks and various other refreshments. Some have comfy lounges and chairs. Others have stone benches.

There’s even a miradouro built right in the backyard of a church. The common point of these places is that they get extremely crowded by sunset. This gives them a special vibe, a charm that even those who hate crowds would feel.

Watching the sun setting over the Tagus river, Ponte 25 de Abril, Vasco da Gama bridge and the orange rooftops of Lisbon houses is best when shared with others.

Besides, you can take lovely photos of dark silhouettes on a river sunset background.

Sunset at my favorite Lisbon miradouro, with Ponte 25 de Abril and Cristo Rei by the skyline

This is my list of the best miradouros de Lisboa, a list of spots where you can watch amazing Lisbon sunsets for free. There are many scenic spots in Lisbon that are not a miradouro, though.

They are usually on top of various monuments, castles and elevators. More often than not you need to pay to access these viewpoints. This is a topic for a future article in the Portugal series.

For now, let’s see some of the best miradouros Lisbon has to offer.

Busy Lisboa miradouro viewpoint – this doesn’t make it less awesome, though

You can thank me later.

Miradouro da Senhora do Monte (Mirador Nuestra Senora del Monte)

Miradouro da Senhora do Monte is, in my opinion, the best panoramic view of Lisbon.

Apparently, it sits on the highest hill of Lisbon (I didn’t check this information, but I had the exact feeling while watching the sunset from this spot).

Located in a churchyard of the Chapel of Our Lady of the Mountain, on the hill opposite to Castelo de Sao Jorge, this viewpoint offers unobstructed view of the castle, looking over the red roofs, with Ponte Vasco da Gama by the skyline.

The Lisbon views from this miradouro are equally beautiful by day and by night, as you can see the entire waterfront line. I highly recommend that you come to this mirador for the sunset, as the atmosphere is vibrant and warm, with refreshment vendors, tuk-tuk vehicles, and cool music played by street artists.

Once the sun goes down, you can head over to Rossio Square to end your day in the city center.

Saint George Castle on the river sunset backdrop as viewed from miradouro da Senhora do Monte

Arrive early to grab one of the best sunset viewing spots – then stare at your phone instead of the panorama

Address: Largo Monte, 1170-107 Lisboa, Portugal

Directions: take tram 28 to Rua da Graca stop, and then walk for a few minutes to get to the top of the hill. The viewpoint is very close to the tram stop.

Miradouro da Graca

Located in Jardim da Cerca da Graca, this scenic Lisbon panorama viewpoint features a kiosk cafe, picnic areas and a playground. The Graca viewpoint is very popular, even though it requires climbing some flights of stairs to get there.

Igreja da Graca and a cool graffiti of a lizard on the wall to this miradouro

Lisbon’s steep streets that lead to these miradouros are beautiful, as well

Address: Calçada da Graça, 1100-265 Lisboa, Portugal

Directions: take tram 28 to Rua da Graca stop, then climb the cobbled stairs to the top.

Miradouro da Penha de Franca

This is probably one of the lesser-known miradouros of Lisbon, but this doesn’t make it less interesting.

There’s no cafe at Miradouro do Penha de Franca – there’s only this tower and a church, but the views over Lisbon’s rooftops are beautiful

Address: R. Marques da Silva, 1170-318 Lisboa, Portugal

Directions: from Avenida Almirante Reis, between Anjos and Arroios metro stations (Green line), take the narrow streets uphill and brace yourself for a steep climb that should take you to the top of the hill in less than 10 minutes.

Miradouro do Monte Agudo

Located close to Avenida Almirante Reis, by Anjos (subway stop on the Green line), Miradouro do Monte Agudo sits in the middle of a small park. There are deck chairs and tables where you can relax, have a drink and enjoy the views over Lisbon.

How cool is it to wait for the sunset in a chair like that?

Address: PC Novas Nacoes 42, 1170-175 Lisboa, Portugal

Directions: from Avenida Almirante Reis, at Anjos metro station (Green line), take Rua de Angola, then Rua de Heliodoro Salgado, then the narrow alleyway to the left that takes you to Cafe Esplanada do Miradouro do Monte Agudo.

On rainy days the cafe is closed. Keep this in mind for your next trip to Lisbon.

Miradouro dos Barros

This is a less crowded viewpoint that offers a lovely view over the Tagus river and the bridge. Located between two more famous Lisbon panorama spots, Miradouro da Senhora do Monte and Miradouro Da Graca, Mradouro dos Barros is the perfect place to watch sunsets in Lisbon for those who want silence and a peaceful atmosphere.

Click here to see the location of Miradouro dos Barros on the map and some photos from people who have been there.

Miradouro Santa Luzia

Miradouro Santa Luzia is a great place for digital creators seeking to make Instagram reels. Most of the time there’s soft music played by street artists, so you’ll have a neat soundtrack for your videos right off the bat. There’s also a bar nearby for those who want to enjoy a drink while watching the sunset.

That’s the best photo I could take. It was almost dark and the place was bustling with people trying to capture the last sun rays of the day over the river.

The tram line is right nearby. If you follow Rua Limoeiro, you arrive to Se de Lisboa, the 12-th Century cathedral in Alfama.

Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara

This is yet another romantic place to visit either during daytime, by sunset or by night. There’s a snack bar nearby. If you don’t want to climb, you can take the tram to get up here.

Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara is located near Elevador da Gloria and it offers unobstructed views of Miradouro da Graca, Castelo de Sao Jorge, and the old neighborhood of Baixa.

Miradouro de Santa Catarina

This viewpoint sits in the middle of a park, Jardim do Alto de Santa Catarina / Adamastor. Many people come here to listen to music, to relax and to have a drink or two at Quiosque do Adamastor while watching the sunset. This public square is located near the Bica Elevator and Praca Luis de Camoes.

Miradouro das Portas do Sol

Located in Largo Portas do Sol, 1100-411 Lisboa, Portugal, this scenic viewpoint offer panoramic views of Alfama and of Lisbon’s shoreline. Tram 28 and tram 12 have a stop nearby.

This miradouro is near Santa Luzia. Visit both of them and decide which would do best for sunset views over the red rooftops, white churches and iconic monuments.

Miradouro do Recolhimento

This last miradouro on my list is located in a park with benches and a children’s playground. Beautiful and peaceful, this scenic spot is the favorite of many Lisbon locals. Nonetheless, some tourists consider that other miradouros offer better views.