Christ the Redeemer

Cristo Rei is a beautiful monument located on the banks of Tejo River and facing the city of Lisbon. 

Inspired by the  famous Christ the Redeemer of Rio de Janeiro, this Cristo Rei is a landmark in Almada district of Lisbon, but you don’t have to be religious to appreciate this monument to the great but humble man! 

Cristo Rei is 110m high, and it was set up in the 1950s after World War II. It received consecration in 1959 and is currently under the Setubal diocese.

The monument is open on different time slots throughout the year so check the timetable beforehand! Moreover, the monument serves as a first pilgrimage spot for the devotees throughout the year who you may or may not want to avoid. 

Entry to the site is free, and it well worth the effort to check out the amazing viewing platform from a height of 82m. There is a fee to pay to reach the viewing platform, but you can see even the Serra de Sintra and the Serra da Arrábida from this great vantage point.

Cristo Rei has a small chapel of Nossa Senhora da Paz and a small souvenir shop at the base. Shop from here small souvenirs to take back home.

To reach the monument, you can board a ferry ride and take the bus. It has platforms with ramps for easier access. The open grounds are accessible for everyone, and a swift elevator will take you up to the viewing deck.

I did the obligatory trip here on my visit to Lisbon and he was not as big close up as I was expecting. I arrived late into the day probably because there were no tourists around and the viewing station was closed. I mooched around for a bit, grabbed a bite in the onsite café and then headed into the nearest district to explore further.

Other Religious Places to Visit in Lisbon:

• Church of São Roque is a Roman Catholic church in Lisbon and was one of earliest Jesuit church the Portugal.

• Jerónimos Monastery is a former monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome near the Tagus river in the parish of Belém.
• Lisbon Cathedral, often called simply the Sé, is a Roman Catholic church located in the heart of Alfama, Lisbon.