The Miradouro da Graça is my local viewpoint and one of the main reasons Graça feels like such a special part of Lisbon. It sits on the southern side of the Santo André hill, looking out over the historic centre with the castle in the foreground and, on a clear day, the Tejo Estuary in the distance.

During the day it is a relaxed spot for a coffee at the Esplanada da Graça kiosk, which is buzzing from morning until late. But the viewpoint comes alive in the evening as the sun drops behind the western hills, the city lights come on, and friends gather to watch the sunset. Musicians and singers regularly perform here, and on a warm evening there is nowhere better to be in Lisbon.

Miradouro da Graça provides one of the best views of Lisbon Castle

Most tourists visit the viewpoint and head straight back down the hill, which is a shame. Behind the miradouro is the sprawling Convento da Graça with its beautiful tile paintings and baroque church. Close by is the Villa Sousa, a traditional 19th-century labour house, and below the viewpoint lies the peaceful Jardim da Cerca park. Graça is one of the most authentically Portuguese neighbourhoods in central Lisbon, and it is worth taking the time to explore.

This guide covers the viewpoint itself, what can be seen from it, how to get here, and the sights of the surrounding area.
Insight: The Miradouro da Graça is located at GPS: 38.716, -9.131 (Link to Google Maps)
Related articles: The Graça neighbourhood guide - The best viewpoints of Lisbon

A mix of tourists and locals sharing the terrace at Graça, one of the few viewpoints where both feel equally at home

The Miradouro da Graça, as seen from Bairro Alto

The viewpoint provides a wide 160-degree panorama over central and western Lisbon.

Looking southwest you can pick out the São Jorge castle, the Mouraria neighbourhood and Martim Moniz plaza. Further out are the ruins of the Carmo church, the Tejo Estuary and the Ponte 25 de Abril bridge, roughly 4.7km away.

Sights looking southwest: 1) Castelo de São Jorge 2) Tejo estuary 3) Ponte 25 de Abril bridge 4) Igreja do Carmo 5) Rossio station 6) São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint 7) Martim Moniz plaza 8) Rua Marquês de Lima 9) Rua dos Cavaleiros

To the northwest the view is over the tightly packed rooftops of Intendente and Mouraria. On a clear day you can see as far as Monsanto Forest (4.8km) and the Amoreiras towers (2.7km).

Sights looking west: 1) Martim Moniz 2) Monsanto forest 3) Amoreiras Towers 4) São José Hospital 5) Campo dos Mártires Park 6) Jardim da Cerca park

Below is an interactive image of the Miradouro da Graça viewpoint:

Graça viewpoint is the name everyone uses, but officially it is the Miradouro Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen, named after one of Portugal's most celebrated 20th-century poets. Sophia Andresen is best known by the Portuguese for her fairy tales, including 'The Girl from the Sea' and 'The Fairy Oriana', as well as for creating the official Portuguese translation of Shakespeare.

The Graça viewpoint was one of her favourite spots for inspiration, and it was renamed in her honour after her death in 2004. A bust of her stands near the entrance to the Convento da Graça.

The viewpoint sits on the boundary of Alfama and Graça, above the Mouraria neighbourhood. Most visitors walk up from the castle and Alfama along the steep Calçada da Graça, which I can vouch is a tough climb on a hot day.

The Elevador da Graça funicular connects the Rua dos Lagares to the viewpoint, but in practice it is not as useful as it sounds. The funicular station sits at the bottom of a steep hill from Martim Moniz, and if you are coming from Alfama it is roughly the same effort to walk to the station as it is to walk straight up to the viewpoint. The ride itself is very short and free to use, though many locals question whether it was worth the investment.

The easier option is to ride the number 28 tram (€3.30 single), departing from Martim Moniz (GPS 38.715, -9.136) or the Rua da Conceição (GPS: 38.710, -9.135), and exit at Largo da Graça (GPS 38.717, -9.129). From there it is a flat walk to the viewpoint.

Personal insight: When showing Lisbon to friends and family, I usually start near the Miradouro da Graça, as all of the main sights in Alfama and Baixa are generally downhill from here. It makes a full day of sightseeing feel much easier. I'd suggest getting an Uber or Bolt from your accommodation up to Graça (less than €5 from anywhere in central Lisbon) and saving your legs for the walking.

While you are in Graça
After visiting the viewpoint, it is worth exploring Graça rather than heading straight back downhill. This is one of the most authentically Portuguese neighbourhoods in central Lisbon and where I have lived for the past five years.

The neighbourhood has some distinctive murals including 'Peace Guard' and 'Fado em Tons', and contains one of the finest religious buildings in Lisbon, the Mosteiro de São Vicente de Fora.

Graça also has a surprisingly good food and drink scene. For restaurants, O Pitéu da Graça, Sant'Avó and O Satélite are all excellent, and Brunch & Bites Graça is a popular weekend spot. The Travessa do Monte has quietly become a wine bar street, with Vino Vero, Locals & Nomads Natural Wine Bar and La Matta Pizzeria all within a few metres of each other.

The ‘Peace Guard’ mural commemorates the 1974 revolution

The Travessa do Monte side street contains many excellent restaurants and bars

Graça has two other viewpoints within walking distance, each worth visiting for different reasons.

The Miradouro da Senhora do Monte sits at the highest point of central Lisbon and has the better view of the two. Being much higher up, you can see far more of the city than from Graça, and on a clear day the panorama is the finest in Lisbon. The trade-off is that it is much smaller, has no permanent kiosk or seating to speak of, and is busy throughout the day with tuk-tuk tours dropping off groups. It lacks the social atmosphere that makes Graça such an enjoyable place to spend time.

The walk up is extremely steep, enough to make the Calçada da Graça feel easy by comparison, but please do walk rather than take a tuk-tuk. They cause terrible traffic through the narrow streets of Graça and are a real frustration for residents.

The Miradouro da Jardim da Cerca is almost unknown to tourists and is a peaceful alternative, especially at sunset when the more famous viewpoints are packed. It sits lower on the hill so the view is not as dramatic, but the quiet and the setting more than make up for it. If the Esplanada da Graça kiosk is full and you want somewhere calm to watch the sunset, this is where to head.

The Miradouro da Jardim da Cerca

Convento da Graça
Sitting directly behind the viewpoint is the Convento da Graça and its attached church, the Igreja da Graça. This was one of the first convents established in Lisbon, founded under King Afonso III in 1291, though almost nothing of the medieval original remains. It was extensively remodelled in the 16th century, badly damaged in the 1755 earthquake, and after the dissolution of religious orders in 1834 it became a military complex. It has only been open to the public since 2012.

Three areas can be entered for free: the chapel, the chapter room and the cloister. There is paid admission (€5) to the terrace viewpoint beside the bell tower.

The highlight is the chapter room, with its beautiful 18th-century tile paintings depicting medieval Christian martyrs in violent battle scenes. Many of the faces of the attackers have been scratched and damaged over the centuries, which gives the room an unsettling edge. Bizarrely, this semi-gruesome room was used as a nursery in the early 20th century.

The church itself is similar to many others in Lisbon, rebuilt in the heavy baroque style that followed the earthquake, with painted walls that mimic marble. The key icon is the 'Senhor dos Passos da Graça', a statue of Jesus carrying a cross that is paraded through Graça on the second Sunday of Lent.

The Azulejos tile paintings of the chapter house

Many faces of the attackers were scratched out.

The 'Senhor dos Passos da Graça' statue

The simplistic styling of the central cloister in the Convento da Graça

The entrance to the Graça church (right) and the convent (left)

The Igreja da Graça is very similar to many of the churches rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake

This small garden sits to the side of the Convento da Graça, with an ornamental lake at its centre and shaded benches under the trees. It is a good alternative if the Esplanada da Graça is full and you want somewhere quiet to sit. Look out for the 'Mãe e Filho' (Mother and Child) statue.

The Mother and Child (Mãe e Filho) statue

Graça was traditionally a working-class neighbourhood that grew rapidly during the industrialisation of Lisbon in the early 20th century. Workers in the local factories were housed in purpose-built residential buildings, and the Villa Sousa is one of the best surviving examples.

It follows the typical layout with a private courtyard at its centre, accessed through a tunnel from the street. The exterior is decorated with green tiles, and the grander front building was where the factory owner lived, with the workers housed to the rear. Sadly, this wonderful complex is closed to the public and are private residences

The entrance to the Villa Sousa, with the tunnel leading to the private central courtyard