Lisbon · Portugal
Miradouro da Graça
A practical guide to the Miradouro da Graça in Lisbon: the pine-shaded viewpoint with a kiosk and São Jorge Castle in the foreground, when to go, how to get there from the castle and how to pair it with Senhora do Monte.
Yes, it's worth it: it's free, it has shade and it gives you the best photo of the castle with the city behind it. Come mid-afternoon to get a table at the kiosk; at sunset it fills up.
The Miradouro da Graça is the Lisboetas’ viewpoint: a pine-shaded esplanade in front of the Convento da Graça, with a kiosk for a drink and a terrace that looks over São Jorge Castle toward the Baixa and the Tagus. Its official name is Miradouro Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen. It’s free and always open.
Our experience
We got there at 16:45, walking from São Jorge Castle. It was the first of two viewpoints in a row: twenty minutes later we were at Senhora do Monte, five minutes uphill, and from there we took an Uber back to the hotel to rest before the fado night. We put it at that hour because mid-afternoon light falls straight on the castle and there are still free tables at the kiosk. Earlier we’d had lunch at Zé da Mouraria, at the foot of the hill. The full day is in our day of Belém, the castle and fado.
A bit of history
The Convento da Graça is the oldest building on this hill. It was founded in the 13th century, a few decades after the Christian conquest of Lisbon in 1147, and the Augustinians ran it for most of its history. The 1755 earthquake damaged it badly, and when the religious orders were dissolved in 1834 it passed to the state and became a military barracks for much of the 19th and 20th centuries.
The terrace became a public viewpoint in the 20th century: the pines were planted and the kiosk was added. In 2004, when the poet Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen died, the city named it after her, because she used to come and sit here at dusk and wrote about this view. The convent was restored and opened to the public in 2012.
What to see, in order
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The bust of Sophia de Mello Breyner
Next to the convent entrance. The poet lived nearby and wrote about this view; the viewpoint has carried her name since 2004.
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The southwest wall
São Jorge Castle in the foreground, the Baixa tumbling toward the river and, in the distance, the Tagus and the 25 de Abril bridge. The best photo is from the southeast corner of the terrace.
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The pines
Something rare at Lisbon viewpoints: real shade, even on hot afternoons.
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The kiosk
Coffee in the morning, beer and cheap wine in the afternoon, something to eat at the little window. Wooden tables facing the city.
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The Convento da Graça
Behind you. After almost two centuries as a barracks it was restored, and since 2012 you can visit the Baroque church and the tiled cloister.
Tips we wish we’d known
Tips
- If you want a bica at the kiosk, order at the high counter: "Uma bica, por favor". It takes two minutes.
- To continue to Senhora do Monte, Lisbon's highest viewpoint, walk five minutes up Calçada da Graça.
- There are no restrooms at the viewpoint. The nearest are at the castle or inside the convent, if it's open.
- Bring a light jacket if you stay late: after sunset the wind picks up.
Do
- Carry some cash for the kiosk; they take cards, but cash is faster.
- Take your photo at the wall and step back so others can have a turn.
- Pair it with the castle and Senhora do Monte: they're five minutes from each other.
Don’t
- Don't sit on the bust of Sophia de Mello Breyner: it's a literary memorial and it bothers the Portuguese.
- Don't come at sunset expecting a table at the kiosk.
- Don't get careless with your bag when it fills up at sunset: there are fewer pickpockets than at Portas do Sol, but there are some.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Miradouro da Graça free?
Yes. It's a public space, open 24 hours. You only pay for what you have at the kiosk.
Which is better, Graça or Senhora do Monte?
They're different and five minutes apart. Graça has shade, a kiosk and the castle in the foreground; Senhora do Monte is higher and more open, with both bridges and Cristo Rei. We went to both, one after the other.
How do I get there from São Jorge Castle?
On foot, a few minutes along Costa do Castelo from the castle exit.
When is it busiest?
From 18:30 to 21:00 on warm days, when people come up to watch the sunset. Mid-afternoon is much quieter.