Alfama

Alfama is Lisbon's oldest neighborhood, spreading on the slope between São Jorge Castle and the Tagus River. It is a labyrinth of narrow streets and small squares that survived the 1755 earthquake, and today it is filled with Fado bars and restaurants.

Don't miss

• São Jorge Castle, a medieval royal residence until the early 16th century, offering views over the city
• Miradouro de Santa Luzia, a terrace with views over remnants of Moorish city walls
• Miradouro das Portas do Sol (Gates of the Sun), another lookout point
• Lisbon Cathedral (12th–14th centuries), the city's oldest church
• Monastery of São Vicente de Fora (late 16th–18th century), burial place of the Kings of the House of Braganza
• Church of Santa Engrácia, now the National Pantheon for important Portuguese personalities

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Alfama

Cheapest way inDiscover Lisbon's Alfama: Secrets of the Old Town4.8★ · 106 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$0 per personSee dates →Most bookedAlfama Tour in Lisbon Old Town4.9★ · 5,480 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$3 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleLisbon tuktuk :Old town Alfama ,Central city and Belem with guide5★ · 11 travelers1-4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$35 per personSee dates →

Know before you go

• Alfama is a hilly district with narrow, winding streets; be prepared for steep walks.
• The neighborhood is known for Fado music, often performed in local restaurants.
• The Museum of Decorative Arts is housed in a 17th-century mansion near Miradouro de Santa Luzia.

A bit of history

The name Alfama comes from the Arabic al-ḥamma, meaning 'hot springs'. During Moorish rule, Alfama constituted the whole of the city, which later expanded westward to the Baixa neighborhood. After the Christian reconquest, Alfama became home to fishermen and the poor, a character it retains. The 1755 earthquake did not destroy the area, leaving its medieval street pattern intact.