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When you think of Lisbon as a Muslim traveller, you probably don’t consider it to be a Muslim-friendly destination.
Portugal’s beautiful coastal capital city, Lisbon not only offers fascinating tourist attractions full of history, but it also caters to Muslims looking for halal food and places to pray.
Despite being overlooked by many travelers visiting Europe, Lisbon offers pleasant year-round weather, spectacular hilltop vistas in Alfama or at St. George’s Castle, and a colonialist history that will spellbound you.
Read more to find out what’s in store for you at this stunning capital of Portugal.
1. Lisbon Cathedral
The oldest building in Lisbon, the ancient cathedral was built by Portugal’s first king on the site of an old mosque in 1150 for the city’s first bishop, the English crusader Gilbert of Hastings. It is one of the most famous icons of the city, locally it is known as Sé de Lisboa.
2. Central Mosque of Lisbon
The Central Mosque of Lisbon (Portuguese: Mesquita Central de Lisboa) is the main mosque of Lisbon, Portugal, serving the capital city’s Islamic community. Designed by architects António Maria Braga and João Paulo Conceição, it was inaugurated in 1985 and contains reception halls, a prayer hall and an auditorium.
3. Oceanario de Lisboa (Lisbon Aquarium)
Lisbon’s Oceanarium is the world’s largest salt water Oceanarium and is a fantastic tourist attraction especially for families. Constructed as a central feature for Expo ’98, the Oceanarium features over 450 different species of animals including two delightful sea otters, shark rays and penguins.
4. The National Museum of Ancient Art
With over 40,000 items spanning a vast collection of painting, sculpture, goldware, ceramics and prints, the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (the National Museum of Ancient Art) has one of the largest collections in the world. Housed in the former residence of the 1st Marquis of Pombal which was expanded when it was converted into a museum—the collection spans more than a millennium of art from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.
5. Torre de Belém
Built between 1514 and 1520 in a Manuelino style by the Portuguese architect and sculptor Francisco de Arruda, Torre de Belém stands on the waterfront at Belém, near the mouth of the River Tagus. The most iconic symbol of Lisbon, was originally conceived as a lighthouse but was eventually built as a defensive fortress on the orders of King Manuel I.
6. National Palace of Pena
This national monuments constitutes one of the major expressions of 19th-century Romanticism in the world. Perched high atop a lush hill in São Pedro de Penaferrim, this UNESCO World Heritage Site was built on the site of an old monastery belonging to the Order of St. Jerome. The interior of the palace is still decorated according to the tastes of the kings and queens who lived there, and its great highlight is the chapel, where it is still possible to see a magnificent alabaster altarpiece attributed to Nicolau Chanterenne (one of the architects of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, in Lisbon).
7. Free-walking tour
Explore and immerse yourself in the past and present of the city of Lisbon, and discover its culture, incredible sites, stories & legends with entertaining and passionate local guides. Join a free-walking tour and learn more about what Lisbon has to offer.
