Miradouro de Santa Catarina is also known as Miradouro do Adamastor and lends itself to take beautiful pictures of Ponte 25 de Abril and Cristo Rei.
I do not think it is the most spectacular view of the city, but there is always something going on here.
In the evening, the tourists and the locals mix to enjoy live music.
Miradouro de Santa Catarina has views of Cais do Sodré and the Tagus river. Because there is a lot of construction going on in Lisbon, the view is currently partly blocked by construction cranes.
More than just a miradouro
The Portuguese saying ‘Ver navios do alto de Santa Catarina‘ (“seeing ships from the top of Santa Catarina”) was created with this miradouro in mind. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, people came to Miradouro de Santa Catarina to admire the ships that departed the harbour for their voyages of discovery. Because Miradouro de Santa Catarina was built on one of the seven hills, the ships could be seen from afar.
Relaxed atmosphere
Especially at night it gets crowded with locals, sitting on the marble benches to listen to live music and to enjoy the view at the same time. The view over the city is not spectacular, but during sunset this is one of the better spots to be at in Lisbon! You can see the sun disappear behind the houses and in the Tagus river, which is quite stunning.
Food and drinks
There are plenty of dining options on and around Miradouro de Santa Catarina. At the miradouro is a quiosque (kiosk) with a terrace where you can get a cup of coffee and a snack.
If you fancy a good breakfast or a hearty meal, go with restaurant Noobai. This restaurant is richt next to the miradouro and has enough seating to enjoy the view.
Did you enjoy the view and do you feel like Portuguese tapas, then go to Pharmacia, which is opposite the Miradouro. The food is pretty good here, but prices are bit steep.
Adamastor
Not to be missed at Miradouro de Santa Catarina is the statue of Adamastor – the spirit of the Cape of Good Hope, a horrifying ghost of unearthly pallor.
Even though Adamastor is a Greek mythological character, he became famous by the Portuguese poet Luís de Camões. In his epic poem ‘Os Lusíadas‘, Adamastor appears as a symbol of the forces of nature that Portuguese navigators had to overcome during their discoveries.
Because of the large stone statue at Miradouro de Santa Catarina, this viewpoint is also called Miradouro do Adamastor. The name Adamastor is an adaptation for the Portuguese language of the Greek word for uncontrollable.
More about our favorite miradouros »
Where to find Miradouro de Santa Catarina
Address: Rua de Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina
