Penha de França parish, Lisbon
Penha de França is a parish located in the northeast part of Lisbon’s historic center. This older neighborhood is known for its working-class heritage and architecture built between 1920 and 1970.
Penha de França has a high population density with many local residents, but it also welcomes international communities, creating a multicultural atmosphere. Penha de França includes areas like Alto de São João and is near neighborhoods like Graça, Beato, Anjos, Arroios, and Areeiro. People living here enjoy small local shops and community life. It’s a comfortable place for medium to upper-class families, but don’t expect luxury.
The real estate market is mostly residential, with homes built along Lisbon’s hills. One thing people love about Penha de França is its beautiful viewpoints overlooking the city and the Tagus River. Traveling is easy by bus, and the nearest metro station is about a 15-minute walk away. Praça da Figueira in Lisbon’s Baixa district is a 2.2 km (around 30 minutes) walk away. Lisbon International Airport is just 5.8 km away. Popular attractions nearby include the Museu Nacional do Azulejo, Igreja da Nossa Senhora da Penha de França, Mosteiro de Santos-o-Novo and Miradouro da Penha de França.
Key facts about Penha de França
| Lisbon Parish | Penha de França |
|---|---|
| 1. Key feature | Older working-class neighborhood with architecture from 1920 to 1970 |
| 2. Location | Northeast of Lisbon historic center |
| 3. Area | 2.71 km² |
| 4. Population | 28 475 inhabitants |
| 5. Top Attractions | Museu Nacional do Azulejo Igreja da Nossa Senhora da Penha de França Miradouro da Penha de França Mosteiro de Santos-o-Novo |
| 6. Included neighbourhoods | Penha de França and Alto de São João |
| 7. East neighboring | Beato |
| 8. West neighboring | Anjos |
| 9. North neighboring | Arroios and Areeiro |
| 10. South neighboring | Tagus River |
| 11. What to Expect | Multicultural community, small local retail, older and working-class residents |
| 12. Lifestyle | Local communities integrated with international residents |
| 13. What Not to Expect | Luxury |
| 14. Real Estate Market | Medium to upper-class residential housing |
| 15. You Will Love | The viewpoints over the city and the Tagus River |
| 16. Commute Times | Praça da Figueira (Baixa) is 2.2 km or ~30 minutes walking |
| 17. Transportation | Bus; Metro station ~15 minutes walking |
| 18. What Makes It Unique | A residential area on Lisbon’s hills with scenic city views |
| 19. Municipality | Lisbon |
| 20. Subregion | Greater Lisbon District |
| 21. Region | Lisbon Metropolitan Area |
| 22. Distance to Closest Airport | 5.8 km to Lisbon International Airport |
Museu Nacional do Azulejo (National Tile Museum)
Museu Nacional do Azulejo is located in the former Convent of Madre de Deus. It has a permanent display of historic tiles that show Portugal’s story. On the top floor, there is a long, amazing view of Lisbon (before the 1755 earthquake) painted in tiles. The museum is very large, and you can easily spend two hours exploring it.
One special part of the Museu Nacional do Azulejo is its church. It feels very luxurious and impressive. The walls are decorated with historic framed paintings, a painted ceiling, and beautiful tiles—details you don’t usually see in other churches.
Penha de França viewpoint
Penha de França viewpoint is one of the less well-known spots in the city. At the top, you can see the city’s rooftops and a river on the horizon. There are chairs and benches to sit on, plus a bar…
