4 Best Sights in Lisbon, Portugal

Almada's eye-catching elevator is a fun, free, and extremely photogenic way to travel between Almada's Old Town and the pretty gardens and noteworthy restaurants on the riverfront of Cais do Gingal. Enjoy the views from the glass-fronted cabin as you ascend or descend. It runs every day between 10 am and 9 pm.

The Santa Justa Elevator is one of Lisbon's more extraordinary structures. Designed by Raul Mésnier, who studied under French engineer Gustave Eiffel, the Gothic-style tower was built in 1902. Queues are often frustratingly long in high season, but it's an enjoyable ride up to the top. The return ticket sold on board includes access to the miradouro, but at €5.30 it's a poor value—a 24-hour Viva Viagem public transportation card costs €6.45 and is valid on the elevator as well as all of the city's buses, trams, and subways.

To skip the queues and the fare, you can access the viewpoint at the upper level via the walkway from Largo do Carmo.

Notable for its pretty terrace with blue-and-yellow azulejo tiles, the Miradouro de Santa Luzia has great views of the rooftops of Alfama and the boats along the Tagus River. Street musicians draw crowds with jazz and samba performances, and artists sell reasonably priced etchings of the scene. There's a pleasant kiosk serving coffee, cocktails, and snacks that you can enjoy at the nearby tables as you savor the views.