Quite impressive, that Ponte 25 de Abril bridge. But did you know that next to one of the pillars of this contraption you can go up in an elevator, all the way to road level? And that part of that platform has a glass floor? It’s the time to face your fear of heights.
The elevator is part of the Pilar 7 Bridge Experience, an interactive museum in which you learn everything about how this construction came about.
Our tip: Reserve your ticket here to skip the line. You have direct access to Pilar 7 Bridge Experience.
.
Construction history of the bridge
Ponte 25 de Abril, a.k.a. the Golden Gate of Lisbon, was built in 1966. That it was a big undertaking shouldn’t surprise you in the least. Since 2018 however, there’s an educational way to get to know the history of this construction, what it took to build and what is still required to maintain such a monumental structure.
IThe museum devotes extensive attention to the immense structure and construction of the pillars, and you can see how many cables and other materials have been used to keep the Ponte 25 de Abril in place.
Reflective floors
Impressive are the floors that are fully reflective, when you look down at your feet you feel as if you are staring into an immeasurable abyss. This is the first uncomfortable sensation. Believe me, it gets even more uncomfortable once you get in the elevator…
Lift with glass floor
Highlight of the visit to Pilar 7 is undoubtedly the elevator ride, from the bottom all the way to bridge level with the road right next to you, at an altitude of about 70 meters.
Besides the fact that it is always exciting to get to such heights, part of the platform above has a glass floor. That’s right. Once you step out of the elevator you’re looking down tens of meters through the floor while you’re up there. That is a strange and unnerving feeling for sure, and very cool at the same time!
How to get to Pilar 7 Bridge Experience
Address: N6 34, Alcântara
Opening Hours: Daily from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
By car: drive down the N6 from Cais do Sodré westwards, when you pass Village Underground and are about to go under the bridge, the parking lot is on your right hand side.
By train: take the train towards Cascais (Linha de Cascais) and get off at Alcântara-Mar station. From there it is only a 10 minute walk.
By electric scooter: From Cais do Sodré, a Lime or another brand of electric scooter will bring you to the foot of Pilar 7 within 10 minutes.
Tickets: Tickets are just over £5 per person and can be purchased online here.
