In this blog I will show you where to do street photography in Lisbon. We will cover locations, camera gear and how to get the most out of your visit. Whether you’re coming for 3 days or 3 months, this blog will have you covered.

Why Lisbon
There are 6 reasons why I recommend Lisbon for street photography. First of all is the location. You can get here from almost anywhere in the world without much hassle. Secondly it’s the weather. I visited in February and had a mix of sun, fog and rain. However 60% of my time here was sunny and warm enough to wear shorts. The third reason is the huge selection of things to shoot. If you like characters, Lisbon is for you. If you like tight streets full of old buildings, they are here. If you like open spaces with modern architecture, that’s here too. Whether you love colour or prefer black and white, Lisbon has you covered. The fourth reason is that English is widely spoken. This just makes day to day life a little easier. The fifth reason is that Lisbon is very safe. Matter of fact it has frequently been voted as one of the safest cities in Europe. Finally the attitude towards photographers is the most relaxed that I have come across on the continent. Of course common sense still applies however in general people here were very open and welcoming.

Camera Gear
In my opinion you only need 3 lenses here - 28mm, 50mm, 135mm. After 4 weeks, I was yet to face a situation where I felt I needed something outside of this range. The 28mm will be your establishing lens and capture the big open spaces as well as covering the tight streets. The 50mm will be your main lens that you will use most of the time. It’s the lens that I feel fits the best with this city. You will use it for subjects, reflections, architecture and general photos around the city. The 135mm will be used for all the long narrow streets and for getting the intricate details within the scene.

Alfama & Graca
Let’s start in Alfama which is one of Lisbon’s oldest and most characterful districts. It is incredibly photogenic with lots of character, amazing architecture and of course the classic trams passing through the tight streets. This area is like a maze so once you’ve seen the main spots, don’t be shy to take one of the many alleyways and see where they take you. While in Alfama, also walk up to Graca. It is a neighbouring area that has much of the Alfama charm but is a little more spaced out. I also found that there are less tourists here thus making it great for people watching.

Baixa
Baixa is the very centre of town. It is touristy and busy however is full of photo options. As well as the long narrow streets and the sweeping bends, this is a reflection heaven. When the sun is out, you will be greeted with incredible light flooding the streets and creating small pockets where you can camp out and wait for the perfect subject. Don’t forget to explore the Praça do Commércio which is the main giant square by the river. Early in the morning you will get some amazing light and if you’re lucky some haze or fog over the river.

Chiado, Bairro Alto & Principe Real
Next to Baixa you will find Chiado and Bairro Alto. Chiado is busy but has many quieter back streets. My suggestion is starting at one end and zig zagging across this district. There are many hills and straight roads, so be sure to bring a longer lens if you have one. From Chiado you will enter Bairro Alto. This is a rather unique neighbourhood with tight streets and old buildings. It’s easy to navigate as all the streets are divided into blocks. So as before just zig zag your way from top to bottom. Once you’ve made your way through Bairro Alto, you will end up in Principe Real. Not as many tourists venture this far so you will mostly see locals. This is another great people watching location especially in the park. Finally if you walk to the river facing side of the park, you will have a long narrow road with the bridge in the background. Great telephoto shot.

São Paulo & São Bento
A little further out are two great neighbourhoods Sao Paulo & Sao Bento. São Paulo is the closest one to Chiado with the standout spot being the Elevador Da Bica. Although you can hop on the tram, I do suggest walking the route both ways as this is a great spot for photos. Once you’re done, don’t forget all the small streets either side of the tram line that need to be explored. From here you can walk up to Sao Bento. A small yet picturesque neighbourhood that is definitely worth exploring. From here, you can simply walk all the way back to Chiado or even back to back to Graca to complete the loop.

Alfama to Belem & Back
One of my favourite photo walks in Lisbon is from Alfama to Belem. On the way there you walk through the city and on the way back you walk along the river. In total you’re looking at around 11 miles however I would dedicate a whole day to this as there is so much to see and do. Starting from Alfama you will walk through Baixa and São Paulo before eventually arriving in Pampulha. From then you will walk towards Alcantra and that will lead you nicely to the LX Factory where you can get some lunch. From here keep heading straight along the main road until you reach Belem. Along the route there are plenty of museums and galleries to enjoy so if you’re visiting in the summer and daylight is on your side, I do highly recommend looking inside. Keep going until you get to Belem Tower. To get there you would need to use a bridge to cross the road and train tracks. From Belem Tower start walking back towards the city along the river and keep going until you reach the MAAT. The MAAT is a museum however the highlight for me is the architecture and you can honestly spend hours here looking for photos. Once you’re done, keep walking towards the bridge. The area under the bridge is great for photos too. From here, keep following the river till you eventually end up back in Baxia.

Tram 28
Tram 28 is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Lisbon. However it is for good reason. The classic tram will take you through most of the locations mentioned earlier and honestly it is an experience that is worth doing. I suggest getting up as early as possible and catching the tram before 8am. That way it will be quiet and you won’t have to wait too long. Grab the tram from Martim Moniz and take it one way all the way to the end of the line. Do be careful with your camera out of the window though… it really does get tight. Once you get to the end I highly suggest walking the tram route back. Honestly as fun as the tram was, I personally preferred walking the route.