In the central region of Portugal lies a historically rich town called Obidos. It is adorned with traditional houses that beautifully decorate the cobbled streets – all surrounded by the castle wall stretching for 1,565 meters. In short, if you ever reach Obidos, you’ll explore an authentic Portuguese city that will take your breath away with its charm!

If you’ve visited Portugal before, you probably already know about Ginja de Obidos, the famous cherry liqueur served in a chocolate cup. Even if it’s sold in other cities as well, tasting it in the source town is definitely an experience one must not miss out on! Well, what if we told you that you can now combine tasting authentic Ginja de Obidos with the most varied chocolate products at the Obidos Chocolate Festival?

This year, the Óbidos International Chocolate Festival is taking place from March 1 to 17. Keep reading to learn more about the festival’s history, this year’s program, and ticket information! We’ve also included a chocolaty bonus at the end!

The Obidos Chocolate Festival

The first edition of the Obidos Chocolate Festival was held in 2002. As such, it is already a 22-year tradition for the city! The 2022 Obidos Chocolate Festival is particularly famous, as it marked 20 years since its first edition!

The Obidos Chocolate Festival is usually held in spring. Each year, the festival has a different theme which the chocolate sculptures and exhibitions are based on. For about a week, locals and tourists have the sweetest time of their lives tasting unique chocolate products and chocolate-based recipes.

In 2024, the Obidos Chocolate Festival will be held from the 1st until the 17th of March, so if you were thinking of visiting Portugal next month (which is an excellent choice, by the way, as it’s not very crowded yet and the weather is pleasant), keep in mind the dates of the festival! You won’t regret it!

This year, the theme of the festival is Celebrar Portugal (“Celebrating Portugal”). The events and workshops aim to highlight the country’s most acclaimed traditions and businesses related to chocolate consumption.

7 Reasons to Visit Obidos, Portugal for the Chocolate Festival

If we haven’t convinced you yet, we’re not giving up! Here are 7 reasons why you should not hesitate to sweeten your Portuguese journey at the Obidos Chocolate Festival!

1. Chocolate sculptures

Portugal is a country that cherishes tradition, art, and culture. How can one not see sculptures or any other pieces of art at a festival held in a historic city that breathes art in and out?!

But wait! That’s not even the best part! You’ll be able to actually observe the artists molding the chocolate sculptures on the spot! You’ll witness their creative process and the techniques they’re using to combine tradition, value, and… well, chocolate!

2. Cooking demonstration

The organizers of the festival have selected the best cooks who will be sharing their secrets in using chocolate for various recipes. Additionally, they’ll cook something on the spot using chocolate, surprising you with the creative results!

3. Competitions

This year, the festival will have six competitions:

• The Chocolate Wedding Cake Star is dedicated to professional cooks who want to create a wedding cake using cocoa or chocolate; it will take place on the 9th of March. 
• The Chocolate Rising Star is dedicated to enthusiasts who want to showcase their cooking talents; it will take place on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 10th of March.
• The Best Chocolate Product will take place on the 8th of March; the jury will select the best chocolate product exhibited at the Obidos, Portugal Chocolate Festival.
• The Best Chocolate Cocktail is dedicated to baristas who will demonstrate their talent by creating a unique beverage using chocolate; it will take place on the 15th of March.
• The Best Homemade Chocolate Cake, dedicated to anyone who wants to participate; will take place on the 16th of March.
• The Best Chocolate Menu is dedicated to restaurants who want to try their hand at outlining a creative menu focusing on chocolate. The menu/dishes will be revealed on the 17th of March.

For further details regarding regulations and registration forms, please visit the Obidos Chocolate Festival official website.

4. Little Chefs Workshops

If you’re visiting Portugal with your children, brace yourself! They’ll probably end up asking if your family can move to Obidos forever! Living in the Chocolate City – what a dream!

However, being constantly surrounded by chocolate isn’t the only reason your kids will enjoy Obidos. There will also be a workshop for the little ones! They’ll be able to decorate eggs with colored cocoa butter, add chocolate, and paint the eggs with fat-soluble colors.

This way, they won’t only sweeten their day but also put their creativity and artistic selves to work! Afterward, the children will, of course, eat their creations!

5. Melgão Station Journey

Melgão Cacau e Chocolates is a famous brand in Portugal that focuses on transforming cocoa beans into high-quality chocolate. The company’s expertise revolves around wild and rare varieties.

This chocolate factory is located in the Montemor-o-Novo railway station building and has preserved its original decorative elements and, therefore, its historical value.

During the Obidos Chocolate Festival, you’ll have the opportunity to visit this factory. You’ll discover how cocoa beans end up being tasty chocolate tablets! During your chocolaty journey, you’ll also learn how the Melgão Cacau e Chocolates brand works toward developing sustainable practices, thus promoting environmental responsibility.

6. Exhibitions

A universe of chocolate – Obidos, Portugal! What a pleasure!

Not only will you witness professional cooks creating exclusive recipes live and artists using chocolate to make sculptures, but you’ll also have the opportunity to explore finished products in all their splendor!

7. Relax with a Cup of Chocolate

Are you a beer or cocktail connoisseur? Perfect! The International Chocolate Festival in Portugal has an excellent spot for you – a Chocolate Pub that serves a myriad of unique craft beer types and chocolate-based cocktails. This is definitely something you shouldn’t miss out on!

If you prefer coffee over beer – that’s not a problem at all! There will be a Portuguese-style terrace where you can delight in the tastiest espresso in the world with a piece of high-quality chocolate! Additionally, since Obidos is filled with tiny stops that offer Ginja in chocolate cups, don’t forget to stop and try some!

Obidos Chocolate Festival Tickets

As mentioned, the Obidos Chocolate Festival 2024 dates are 1st-17th of March. The festival’s schedule is Friday to Sunday, from 11 am to 8 pm.

Tickets cost only 10 EUR for adults and 8 EUR for children aged 3-11. Kids under two years old do not need a ticket. There are also various discounts for students, families, and people with disabilities. However, these tickets can be purchased at the local box office only.

If you’re visiting Portugal with a larger group (more than 25 people), you can contact the organizers at [email protected] to book a group ticket.

Tips on Visiting the International Chocolate Festival in Óbidos

First things first – the weather. Although Portugal can be quite warm in March, it can also be quite rainy (or both!). March is sometimes very sunny and hot; other times, it’s dull and windy. In short, prepare for both. Also, don’t forget that Obidos is located on a hilltop, so if the weather forecast predicts strong winds, you should definitely pack something to protect yourself from the cold.

Additionally, we strongly recommend bringing cash. There are indeed a few ATMs in the city, but we assume you’d rather eat some chocolate than stay in line at an ATM!

Since it will be pretty crowded, make sure to pack all your belongings safely.

How to Get to Óbidos Chocolate Festival

If you’re coming to Obidos by car, you can take the A8, A15, or IP6 motorways. To reach the festival faster, use the A8 North – Exit 17 – Gaeiras/Obidos or the A8 South – Exit 15 – Obidos exits.

If you don’t have a car, you can always take the train or the bus. Locals often use these to reach their destinations, so the train/bus routes are quite well organized and scheduled.

Here’s how to get to Obidos from Lisbon:

• By train. You can take the train from one of the railway stations in Lisbon. For example, the first train to Obidos leaves the Sete Rios station at 5:49 am, arrives at 8:01 am, and costs only 9,05 EUR. There are multiple other trains throughout the day, the last one leaving at 6:50 pm. For further schedule and price information, be sure to check out the official Comboios de Portugal website.
• By bus. Take the bus to Óbidos from Lisboa Campo Grande. Buses to Obidos are scheduled almost hourly, even after 6 pm. For further schedule and price details, check out the official Rodoviária de Oeste website.

How to get to Obidos from Porto:

• By train. Reaching Obidos from Porto is slightly more difficult. There’s no direct train, which is why it will take more time (roughly 5 hours) and cost more (roughly 25 EUR).

If you’re traveling with a larger group, you can always take an Uber or a Bolt and split the costs. Considering that it’s also possible to schedule an Uber drive beforehand, you’ll have the liberty to choose the day/hour yourself.

Porto Chocolate Festival

The Obidos Chocolate Festival isn’t the only event in Portugal that honors the art of producing chocolate and cacao. In October, Porto District hosts another festival called Chocolat Portugal.

Although it is known as the Porto Chocolate Festival, it is actually held at WOW in Vila Nova de Gaia. This city is located south of the city of Porto. It should only take you 15 minutes by car to arrive there.

Similar to the Obidos Chocolate Festival, the Chocolat Portugal has a highly varied program that includes a chocolate market, a chocolate and cacao international forum, showcooking, and workshops. Last year, the festival greeted locals and tourists with Chocoland, an innovative concept designed just for kids that offers access to chocolate-related activities and a kids’ fun zone.

The dates for the 2024 Chocolat Portugal festival haven’t been announced yet, so keep an eye on the festival’s official website.

If you think that Portugal is all about tiles, visual arts, and architectural and historical treasures, we’re here to tell you otherwise – it’s a haven for bibliophiles as well!

So, if you’re worried you won’t be able to satisfy your natural bookish instinct, just add some of the bookstores mentioned in this article to your must-visit list!

Make sure to instruct whoever accompanies you how to convince you in a friendly way to leave without buying too many books and spending hours there! We do know how tempting these atmospheric places can be for bookworms!

Without further ado, let’s set on a bookish journey through Lisbon, unraveling its most beautiful (and quite famous!) bookstores!

11 Bookstores in Lisbon You Need to Visit

Whether you’re looking for a famous bookstore in Lisbon, a tiny hidden bookish gem, or a bookstore with English books – we’ve covered everything! Take your traveling journal out and write down the most intriguing ones!

1. Ler Devagar

Location: R. Rodrigues de Faria 103 – G 0.3, 1300-501 Lisboa, Portugal

Hours: Sunday – Wednesday: 10 am – 10 pm; Thursday – Saturday: 10 am – 12 am

Ler Devagar is not only a bookshop. It’s a whole cultural project that’s been welcoming visitors for almost 25 years. It’s a space where people are free to express themselves and, without a doubt, one of Portugal’s most widely recognized locations for culture enthusiasts.

Over the years, Ler Devagar changed its location several times. Since 2008, though, the store has been located at LX Factory, a creative hub filled to the brim with art, music, fashion, multimedia, and other forms of expression highlighted via unique events. As such, it seems only natural for Ler Devagar to be located in the heart of LX Factory, in the heart of Lisbon’s most famous cultural hub!

This bookshop should undoubtedly be on any bookworm’s list of bookstores to visit in a lifetime. It occupies roughly 600 square meters of space, has a 14-meter high ceiling, and over 40,000 new books. If you prefer buying used books, you can choose one from the 10,000 second-hand titles in the store.

In addition, you’ll be able to see the permanent exhibition gallery for Objectos Cinemáticos, enjoy a cake at O Bolo da Marta, and look through the products at the Ouvir Devagar music shop.

By far the most enchanting part of this bookstore is the fact that it’s intertwined with the old printing press, which fills the building with an atmosphere that makes one feel as if they’ve stepped into the past.

2. Livraria Bertrand

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

Hours: Every day from 9 am to 10 pm

If you go for a walk to explore the neighborhood of Bairro Alto, particularly the Baixa-Chiado region, you cannot not spot Livraria Bertrand. It’s a fascinating building with a charming facade that catches the eye of any book lover!

And if its unique exterior and interior design, as well as its extensive collection of books, aren’t enough – what if we told you that Livraria Bertrand is the world’s oldest operating bookstore? It was, in fact, recognized by Guinness World Records in 2011, so you can check for yourself that we’re not making this up!

The bookstore survived earthquakes, a civil war, and the establishment of the Republic, which is why it’s renowned as a building standing on a rich historical foundation.

If you’re a true bookworm, you’ll probably spend hours in this bookstore – so, we must admit, it’s a bit dangerous if you haven’t planned to spend a whole day in a bookshop!

You’ll delve into the history of Portuguese literature while exploring the spaces dedicated to Aquilino Ribeiro (where the writer actually spent time reading), José Saramago, Almada Negreiros, Sophia de Mello Breyner, Alexandre Herculano, and Eça de Queiroz. In fact, the store was once the meeting point of various literary gatherings attended by some authors mentioned above.

Furthermore, the entrance from Café Bertrand (where you can savor Portuguese and international dishes) takes you to a mural depicting Fernando Pessoa, signed by Tamara Alvers.

Is there anything to add? Of course! But we won’t – you’ll have to experience the charm of Livraria Bertrand yourself during your next visit to Lisbon!

3. Livraria Trindade – Alfarrabista

Location: R. do Alecrim 36, 1200-018 Lisboa, Portugal

Hours: Sunday – Friday: 10:30 am – 7 pm; Saturday – Closed

We must warn you – Livraria Trindade – Alfarrabista is not just another bookstore in town. If you want to enjoy the nicely designed covers of contemporary books, go for the other options we’ve mentioned.

On the other hand, if you want to travel back in time by flipping through old and extremely rare books, Livraria Trindade – Alfarrabista is your go-to choice. However, you won’t only delight in awe-inspiring old books but also other antique pieces, like rare paintings or vintage decorative elements.

Ever since you set foot inside the store, you’ll find yourself immersed in a completely different atmosphere, as if you’re not even surrounded by the busyness of Lisbon’s historical center!

4. Mundo do Livro

Location: Largo da Trindade 11 13, 1200-466 Lisboa, Portugal

Hours: Sunday – Friday: 10 am – 6:30 pm; Saturday: 11 am – 7 pm

Located in Bairro Alto, close to Teatro da Trindade INATEL, Mundo do Livro is yet another century-old bookstore that focuses on old books, documents about Portugal’s history and culture, as well as antique maps, postcards, and prints.

Some of the books, if you’re lucky enough to find them, are even signed by their authors – a few even bear their dedications!

Prepare yourself – you may end up spending hours looking through the store’s collection, trying to find hidden gems you may want to take back home! 

5. Livraria da Travessa

Location: R. da Escola Politécnica 46, 1250-096 Lisboa, Portugal

Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10 am – 10 pm; Sunday: 11 am – 8 pm

Livraria da Travessa is located right next to the National Museum of Science & Natural History on Rua da Escola Politécnica, close to Rato metro station.

The history of this bookstore dates back to 1975 when it was called Muro. Back then, it was located in a mall in Rio de Janeiro. Over the years, the bookstore chain extended nationally and overseas, the Lisbon store being the first to open abroad.

Livraria da Travessa is one of Lisbon’s most notorious bookshops. It brought to Portugal hundreds of Brazilian titles that have never been on the Portuguese market.

So, if your reading challenge includes exploring less-known books written by foreign authors, give Livraria da Travessa a go – we’re sure you’ll find some bookish jewels there!

6. Menina e Moça

Location: R. Nova do Carvalho 40-42, 1200-000 Lisboa, Portugal

Hours: Monday – Friday: 3 pm – 2 am; Saturday – Sunday: 4 pm – 3 am

If you’re a bookworm but also enjoy spending your evenings out, do not miss out on Menina e Moça – a bar-bookstore. Sounds a bit odd, right? This is its charm!

According to the owners, the bar-bookstore pays tribute to the Portuguese authors and the country’s gastronomy. The staff strives to connect locals and internationals through various reading and cultural events and, after all, represent a provocation for anyone walking past it.

In the end, it’s not quite common to see a bookish place on a so-called night street, right? Let’s not forget about the design of this bar-bookstore, which conquers anyone stepping inside it.

7. Stuffout

Location: R. Quintinha 70c, 1200-368 Lisboa, Portugal

Hours: Closed on Tuesday and Wednesday; open from 11 am to 7 pm on other days

A tiny yet incredibly cozy bookstore located between Bairro Alto and Principe Real neighborhoods in Lisbon. It primarily sells second-hand books, but rest assured – many of them are in excellent shape!

By focusing on used books, the store aims to promote sustainability and encourage readers to give these books a second chance, as they are perhaps even more valuable than new ones.

Stuffout has books in both Portuguese and other languages, and all are at affordable prices. For example, an edition from 1970 of a book by Herman Hesse costs only 5 EUR, and it’s still in quite good shape.

8. Under the Cover

Location: R. Marquês Sá da Bandeira 88B, 1050-060 Lisboa, Portugal

Hours: Monday-Friday: 11 am – 7 pm; Saturday: 12 pm – 6 pm

If you’re looking for an unconventional bookshop, Under the Cover should definitely be on your list. It’s located near the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum – a tiny shop with an unmistakably blue facade that sells international magazines, books, journals, and artworks.

It provides visitors with any type of printed material – from art and fashion to food, architecture, and music. However, we must warn you that you probably won’t find too many fiction books there. Non-fiction pieces, on the other hand – there are plenty!

9. Salted Books

Location: Calçada Marquês Abrantes 96, 1200-720 Lisboa, Portugal

Hours: to be confirmed with the store

Salted Books is a bookish gem well hidden in the heart of Lisbon. It is located close to Museu da Marioneta and is a little haven for any bibliophile, even more so because all the books are in English.

Although it has opened its doors only recently, the store gained instant recognition among both locals and foreigners due to its authenticity and transparency. If you’re lucky enough, you may even attend some of their events, so don’t miss out on this one!

10. Livraria Sá da Costa

Location: R. Garrett 100, 1200-273 Lisboa, Portugal

Hours: Every day from 9:30 am to 12 am

Livraria Sá da Costa is the highlight of Baixa-Chiado. Located right next to A Brasileira, the famous cafe that breathes Portuguese history and culture, Livraria Sá da Costa complements it with its own charm and piece of history dating from the 1920s.

Since it’s a second-hand bookshop, you’d expect it to have books in Portuguese only, right?! Well, we’re here to tell you otherwise. You’d be surprised how many there are in other languages – rare editions even!

Once you enter the bookshop, you find yourself surrounded by antique pieces – paintings, vinyl records, old, authentic azulejo tiles, postcards, and many other collectible objects.

Then, as you advance through its many rooms, you’ll discover quite impressive collections of books. One small room, for instance, is dedicated to classics – they’re in Portuguese but the editions are absolutely fascinating. A true bibliophile will experience the greatest joy only by admiring them!

11. FNAC

Location: there are multiple FNAC stores in Lisbon, but you can go for the one in the Baixa-Chiado – Armazéns do Chiado, R. do Carmo nº 2 Loja 407, 1200-094 Lisboa, Portugal

Hours: Every day from 10 am to 10 pm

FNAC is another store where you risk spending at least a few hours browsing through the hundreds of books that may soon become new titles on your TBR list.

What we like about FNAC is that it has multiple editions of various titles, particularly classics, which never cease to impress us. We’re sure you’ll find some that will fit perfectly on your shelves back home!

And, luckily for bookworms, FNAC is also an electronics store, so you can even check out the latest Kindles – there’s no harm in having a tiny Kindle, right?! It’s always a good idea to have an ebook waiting for you to finish a physical book, isn’t it?!

Staying in Lisbon for a few days and looking for something new to do? I’ve got a great place for you to visit just a 10-minute ferry ride from Cais do Sodré, one of the largest transportation hubs in the city and right in the middle of all the tourist action. It’s called Cacilhas!

Taking the Ferry to Cacilhas

Ferries leave from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas every 15 minutes from 5:35 am to 1:40 am. These are commuter ferries so taking a ride will make you feel like one of the locals. The last train back from Cacilhas is at 11:30 pm. You can try to get a photo of the Ponte 25 de Abril during your crossing, but it’s honestly best to save your pictures until you reach the other side.

The ferry drops you off right at the intersection of all the fun. Locals often connect to a regional train here that travels further into Almada while a lively mix of tourists and Lisbon residents either turn right and begin walking down the Tagus along the pier or head towards Cacilhas’s main street known as Rua Cândido dos Reis.

When I got off the ferry for the first time in Cacilhas, I honestly wasn’t that impressed with the immediate surroundings. It looks like the pauper compared to the prince across the Tagus in Cais do Sodré. But, as you start walking down the pier and watch the fisherman stare out at the river holding their poles or peek into the abandoned factories and warehouses on your left-hand side, the water just far enough away to not spray up into your face, you will discover the raw charm of Cacilhas. This place feels like a rough-and-tumble adventure with plenty of jaw-dropping beauty along the way.

Let me bring you back to where we got off the ferry because this is the order that I would do things on your day trip to Cacilhas.

1) Lunch First on Rua Cândido dos Reis

There is nothing quite like Cacilhas’s main street in the center of Lisbon. Each time that I visit Cacilhas, I feel like I’m visiting a Greek Island that packs all of its restaurants closest to the harbor in order to make the biggest impression on hungry tourists. Unlike Greece and even the center of Lisbon, the variety of different cuisines on Rua Cândido dos Reis is impressive for a single street and leaves visitors spoiled for choice.

So do you go local and try Portuguese cuisine or do you try one of the many different ethnic cuisines? Of course, it’s entirely up to you, but I prefer Portuguese fusion, which I will recommend in the list below. The great news here is that there is something for everyone. If one of you feels like pizza, another wants octopus, and someone else wants sushi, no one will go home hungry! Let’s take a look at some of the best restaurants on this street.

Restaurante Farol de Cacilhas

“Farol” means “Lighthouse” in Portuguese and sits at the edge of Cacilhas, as the name might suggest, close to where you alight from the ferry. It offers a range of traditional Portuguese dishes including bacalhau assado à lagareiro (codfish with olive oil and baked potatoes) and other fresh seafood dishes. This restaurant provides adequate service, but it is not the best Cacilhas has to offer, in my opinion. So, if you’re looking for something more unique, keep walking down the main thoroughfare.  

Os Cunhados

Os Cunhados stands out for its delicious roasted chicken with homemade sauces. Roasted chicken served with piri piri sauce is a favorite meal for the Portuguese people. If you’re a chicken fan and also love a bit of spice, tuck in for some of the best chicken in Lisbon.

Boteco.47

When I mentioned Portuguese fusion earlier, this is actually one of the places that I had in mind. You can choose from a selection of tapas served with an interesting mix of ingredients from friendly, knowledgeable staff. Be sure to try the ceviche, sardines, and a dessert called brigadeiros. The menu changes slightly every day and the staff can explain each dish to you. Try to book ahead if possible.

Kamikaze

So your friend that wants sushi? This is the place. Mind you, it’s not great sushi, but it will do the job. Pad Thai here is another favorite, but it’s not going to taste exactly like you expect in Thailand. Still, it’s impressive that sushi has made it to Cacilhas and you have the option.

Pita Gourmet

This is a Greek chain in Lisbon that has its own branch next door to Kamikaze. Perhaps it opened here because the owners also felt like they had just landed on a Greek Island when they first walked up Rua Cândido dos Reis. If walking around Cacilhas has made you hungry for Greek food, this is the place.

Máfia das Pizzas

If you passed on the Japanese and the Greek, why not try something even more familiar right next to Pita Gourmet – Máfia das Pizzas. That’s right – the mafia have also made it to Cacilhas – and they brought the pizza. Choose from a number of different pizzas and pastas here and have a familiar favorite. I do like the name and, hey, there’s always that moment when you feel like pizza.

Arco Bistro

Keep walking a few buildings past Máfia das Pizzas and you will find Arco Bistro on the right-hand side, one of the newest and highest-quality restaurants on the street. Ladies and gentlemen, we have returned once again…to Portuguese fusion. If you like your food inventive and delicious while also keeping it local, this is the place for you. Try the seabass or octopus with potatoes. You can’t go wrong with the price/quality ratio and the friendly service here.

The Corkman Irish Pub

At the other end of the spectrum and also at the end of the line of restaurants on Cacilhas’ main street lies the Corkman Irish Pub. What more can I say except that they have typical Irish pub food and drinks along with a cheery pub quiz on Sundays? This recommendation is more for those staying in Lisbon for a while. I wouldn’t stop in if it was my first time in Cacilhas.  

2) Time to Put on Your Walking Shoes

Once you’ve finished lunch on Rua Cândido dos Reis, it’s time for a walk and some gorgeous views. Walk back towards where you arrived on the ferry and head down the path along the pier. This is where you will see a few fishermen and a line of abandoned warehouses.

In case you’re wondering, the area where these warehouses sit has been deemed unsafe for new construction so the buildings remain as remnants of times gone by. Some enterprising people have set up small shops inside these buildings including one vintage/antique shop with a man often trying to bring people in to make a donation. Keep walking and you will reach two restaurants at what appears to be the end of path. Walk past these restaurants for the next stop in our itinerary. We will come back to them later for dinner.

Elevador Panorâmico da Boca do Vento

Just beyond Ponto Final, which you have now discovered is not the Final Point, you will see a huge elevator called the Elevador Panorâmico da Boca do Vento. It is free to take the elevator although there can sometimes be a wait. Once at the top, you are greeted with breathtaking views of the river and Lisbon’s skyline. The elevator’s upper platform is an ideal spot for capturing the beauty of Lisbon from a unique perspective.

From the top of the elevator, it is possible to walk to Cristo Rei, the famous statue of Jesus Christ with his arms outstretched facing Lisbon. This statue of Christ was patterned after the more famous one in Rio de Janeiro and expresses gratitude for Lisbon and its people escaping the perils of WWII.

Be forewarned, however, that the walk to the statue is around 2 km one way and takes longer than you think. You might want to stop at the elevator itself and arrange to take a car later from the ferry point to reach the statue.

Jardim do Rio

 After you get back down the elevator, sprawl out in the lush grass of the Jardim do Rio at its base. Take a break and watch the boats go by along the Tagus River, pull out a book, or enjoy a quiet conversation. You might even be offered a caipirinha by a street vendor or hear a guitarist practicing a new song.

3) Time for Dinner with Beautiful Sunset Views

After you’ve recovered from your walk in Jardim do Rio, it’s time for dinner and the biggest attraction in Cacilhas – the gorgeous sunset views. There is something so relaxing and inspiring about enjoying a glass of Portuguese wine sitting at the edge of the Tagus with the incredible Ponte Abril de 25 in the background. Let’s dive into your two dinner options.  

Atira-te ao Rio

The first is called “Atira-te ao Rio,” which translates to “Throw Yourself in the River.” While it has the opposite of a romantic name compared to its more famous neighbor “Ponto Final” (Final Point), the views here are still quite nice and it’s easy enough to walk around the edge of the restaurant and see the views that everyone is getting at Ponto Final. The insider tip here is that it’s much easier to get a reservation at Atira-te ao Rio, which can be done on their website compared to Ponto Final, which only takes phone calls and books out well in advance.

Atira-te ao Rio is celebrated for its rustic charm and dining here feels like a serene escape, with the gentle sounds of the river complementing the tasty dishes. Although you can see Lisbon on the other side of the river, you feel like a world away.

Ponto Final

A short walk beyond Atira-te ao Rio leads to Ponto Final, a restaurant with one of the most romantic sunset views of Lisbon. The terrace seating of Ponto Final juts directly over the river, offering diners a unique experience as they enjoy the fresh local cuisine. While the food is delicious, the incredible views and element of discovery when you first turn the corner along the path and spot this restaurant are what give it its cachet. Try to book at least two weeks in advance if you’re trying for the golden hour, which is usually around 8:00-8:30 pm in summer. You might have more luck on a weekday or a slightly earlier dinner time.

Final Thoughts

Cacilhas is so close to the heart of Lisbon and yet seems like a world away. It has a raw yet traditional vibe that brings you much closer to the river and provides a different experience to the tile-lined narrow streets of central Lisbon. Although it is touristy in its own right, the journey on the ferry and the walk along its abandoned piers will make you feel like one of the locals. I would recommend that you wait for a sunny day to enjoy this day trip to the fullest. For those looking to explore beyond the well-trodden paths of Lisbon, Cacilhas is a destination that should not be missed.