Sunrise in Belém

Belém is best known for its monuments and custard tarts. But it’s also the location where many ships set sail to places halfway around the world during the Age of Discovery. And the monuments you see there celebrate these historical achievements. Not only is Belém steeped in history, it’s also a beautiful part of Lisbon to explore. Arguably, no trip to Lisbon is complete without visiting Belém.

But because of its beauty and many attractions, the area gets very crowded, especially during peak tourist times of summer and Easter, and weekends. One way to beat the crowds and to get stunning photos is to get up early and arrive to catch the beautiful sunrise over the river.

If you’re the kind of person who loves to exercise on vacation, then the river is a stunning location for a morning run, walk, or bike ride. You won’t be the only runner there at that time. You can also rent electric scooters, if your legs don’t function properly before you’ve had your coffee…

So if you’re interested in watching the sunrise in Belém, here are my top 5 tips:

1. Check out the weather forecast the night before. You don’t want to get there and realize that it’s too cloudy to see the sun (trust me – I’m speaking from personal experience).
2. Definitely focus on the big monuments like the Belém Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries, but also see if you can get some cool pictures of the Monumento aos Combatentes do Ultramar and the Gago Coutinho e Sacadura Cabral Monument (the airplane shown here). Also check out the gorgeous world map on the ground in front of the Monument to the Discoveries. Make the most of not having anyone else in the shot.

3. Experiment with the light and shadows, as well as the reflections in the water. When the tide is high, you can also spot fish and jellyfish in the water. There are always seagulls and other birds around. Use the fauna, if you can.
4. If you’re walking between the Belém Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries, make sure to give yourself enough time during the sunrise for both. It may appear to be a straight line between one point and the other, but you actually have to take a detour because there’s a marina between the two, which will add some key minutes to your walk.
5. When you’re done, just remember that the world-famous Pastéis de Belém bakery opens up at 8 am…

Lastly, if you really can’t get up before the sun does, the light there at sunset is pretty beautiful too…

Have you been to Belém before? Have you ever seen Belém empty, or at sunrise? Share your thoughts (and questions) below!