10 Things to See in Chiado

10 Things to See in Chiado

Lisbon’s city center can be broken up into a few different neighborhoods; named Bairro Alto, Rossio, Chiado, Baixa and the Alfama.

Rossio, Baixa and Chiado form a small district that is commonly just referred to collectively as Chiado.

Chiado is a busting collection of slopes and streets that offer dining, theatres, shopping, sight seeing and educational facilities to visitors in Lisbon. It is a distinctly touristic neighborhood and is largely gentrified; the buildings are old Portuguese creations but you won’t find much local life in Chiado.

Chiado – by Joel Filipe – Unsplash

You can do, eat and see quite a lot in Chiado in a single day . Here are 10 attractions not to be missed.

1. The Elevador de Santa Justa in Chiado

The Elevador de Santa Justa is an architectural masterpiece designed with close resemblance to Paris’ Eiffel Tower. It stands proudly in the center of Chiado and takes riders from the ground up to the square directly on top of the the hill behind it.

Riding the lift costs €6.55 for a relatively quick ride. I personally wouldn’t say it’s worth it; simply admiring the structure from afar is sufficient.

Elevador de Santa Justa – by Gilles Messian – Wikimedia Commons

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Opening Hours: Daily

ADDRESS: R. do Ouro, 1150-060 Lisboa, Portugal

Metro STATION: Baixa-Chiado

2. The Praça do Comércio in Chiado

This is the city centers largest and most famous public square. The plaza features three sides bordered by restaurants and beautiful architecture, and a fourth side that overlooks the open waters of the Tagus.

The square is always alive with something to see, eat or watch unfold. This is a great spot from which to watch the sunset in Lisbon.

Praça do Comércio – by Diego Dieso – Wikimedia Commons

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Opening Hours: 24 Hours

ADDRESS: Praça do Comércio, 1100-148 Lisboa, Portugal

Metro STATION: Terreiro do Paço

3. The Arco da Rua Augusta in Chiado

This beautiful archway marks the official entry point into the Baixa district. It was made into a pedestrian accessible area not long ago in 1980, and one can now use it to move between areas of this part of the city centre.

Again, you have to option to taking a lift up to the terrace of the arch but admiring from afar is enjoyable too.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday – 8:30am to 4pm

ADDRESS: Rua da Alfândega 120, 1100-585 Lisboa, Portugal

Metro STATION: Terreiro do Paço

4. The Ruins of Carmo Convent in Chiado

Like a lot of buildings in the city center, Carmo Convent was one of the many churches that saw architectural destruction after the Area Earthquake that shook the city.

While the foundation and walls of the church remain standing, the entire ceiling was lost, and in turn this created a beautifully complex church attraction that was never reconstructed. It’s an astounding thing to see in Chiado.

Carmo Convent – by Aleksandr Zykov – Wikimedia Commons

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Opening Hours: Daily

ADDRESS: Largo do Carmo, 1200-092 Lisboa, Portugal

Metro STATION: Baixa-Chiado

5. Bertrand Bookstore in Chiado

Chiado is home to the world’s oldest bookstore, founded back in 1732.

Bertrands is a must for all book lovers. The history that these walls and book shelves hold is virtually tangible from the minute you step in. The store holds both English and Portuguese works from around the world.

Livraria Bertrand – by Livraria Bertrand – Sourced from their website

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday – 9am to 10pm

ADDRESS: R. Garrett 73-75, 1200-203 Lisboa, Portugal

Metro STATION: Baixa-Chiado

6. São Roque Church in Chiado

The only church that wasn’t left in shambles following the previously mentioned earthquake was the Church of São Roque in Chiado.

This was the first Jesuit church in Portugal, and one of the first Jesuit churches in the world for that matter. In typical style of this society, the interior reflects nothing less than the height of heath and power.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Opening Hours: Daily

ADDRESS: Largo Trindade Coelho, 1200-470 Lisboa, Portugal

Metro STATION: Baixa-Chiado

7. The Shopping Streets in Chiado

The streets of Rossio, Baixa and Chiado all lead to a central hub of parallel alleyways that are lined with retail stores.

Fashion steals the show in Chiado; you find everything from Zara and H&M, to Mango, Gucci and other luxury brands. Souvenir shopping is also popular in these parts. In short, Chiado is a bit of an outdoor mall.

Chiado – by Luca Boldrini – Wikimedia Commons

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PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday – 8:30am to 4pm

ADDRESS: Rua da Alfândega 120, 1100-585 Lisboa, Portugal

Metro STATION: Baixa-Chiado

8. Rua das Portas de Santo Antão in Chiado

Just outside of the shopping hub is another pedestrian street with a unique, vibrant atmosphere.

The Rua das Portas de Santo Antão puts focus on Portuguese seafood and the many restaurants that compete to offer the best menu possible. The street is lined with seafood eateries catering the cuisine in all different ways and interpretations. A fabulous spot for lunch and sangria in the Portuguese capital.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS: R. das Portas de Santo Antão 1150-268 Lisboa, Portugal

Metro STATION: Rossio-Lisboa

9. The Tagus River in Chiado

If your partial to avoiding the chaotic and touristic elements of Chiado, you could opt to keep it simple with a stroll on the edge of the Tagus.

The southmost point of Chiado meets the Tagus. This is where solo travelers sit with their thoughts, couples and friends watch the sunset and strangers come together on their Tinder dates before heading back up into the main Chiado district.

10. Portuguese Tiles in Chiado

Observing the hundreds of tile variations that are used in the construction of Chiado is some of the most fun you can have in this neighborhood.

The best way to see a lot of them in a short space of time would be to opt into a free guided walking tour between Chiado and the Alfama. There are also tile making experiences available in Chiado.

by Laëtitia Buscaylet – Unsplash