Cristo Rei
A giant Christ statue with some of Lisbon's most breathtaking panoramic views.
Cristo Rei is a towering statue of Jesus Christ standing 28 metres tall on a 75-metre pedestal, perched on the south bank of the Tagus River in Almada, directly across from Lisbon. Completed in 1959, it was built as a vow of gratitude by Portuguese Catholics after Portugal was spared from the destruction of World War II. The statue was inspired by the famous Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, which a Portuguese cardinal saw in 1934, and it has since become one of the most recognisable landmarks in the greater Lisbon area — visible from much of the city across the river.
Taking a lift to the observation platform at the base of the statue's pedestal is the main event here. From up top, you get a sweeping 360-degree view that encompasses the entire Lisbon skyline, the 25 de Abril Bridge (which looks uncannily like San Francisco's Golden Gate from this angle — because it was built by the same company), the wide mouth of the Tagus as it meets the Atlantic, and the hills of Almada below you. The statue itself looms just above, arms outstretched, which makes for genuinely dramatic photographs. There's also a small chapel and sanctuary on the grounds, worth a few quiet minutes.
Cristo Rei is technically in Almada, not Lisbon proper, so getting here requires a bit of effort — but that's actually part of the appeal. Most visitors take the ferry from Cais do Sodré across to Cacilhas, then a short bus or taxi ride up to the statue. The ferry crossing itself is lovely and cheap, and Cacilhas has a strip of excellent seafood restaurants worth lingering over before or after your visit. Avoid the crowds by going on a weekday morning, and check that visibility is good — a hazy day will rob the view of its drama.
