Lisbon photoshoot guide: where to shoot, when to go and what to wear

Lisbon is built on hills, so the city keeps handing you a view: terracotta roofs falling towards the river, tiled walls, yellow trams squeezing through the lanes. We live here and photograph it most mornings.

This is our guide to the places that work best for a photoshoot, the hour when each one looks its best, and how to get ready so you can simply enjoy it.

The most beautiful places for a photoshoot in Lisbon

Portas do Sol and Santa Luzia

The view everyone pictures when they think of Lisbon: rooftops tumbling down to the river, the white dome of the National Pantheon, the towers of São Vicente. A few steps below, Santa Luzia has a pergola covered in climbing plants and benches of blue-and-white tiles.

The Alfama lanes

Just below the viewpoints the streets narrow into stairways and lanes: tiled walls, red doors, laundry lines and, in summer, bougainvillea spilling over the walls. It is the most intimate part of the city.

The Sé cathedral and the yellow trams

A twelfth-century cathedral with tram rails curving in front of it, and the yellow trams of Baixa climbing and turning through the streets. Few things say Lisbon as clearly.

Praça do Comércio and Cais das Colunas

The big yellow square on the river, with arcades, the arch into Rua Augusta and, at its edge, two stone columns with steps going straight down into the Tagus.

Belém

Belém Tower standing in the river and the Jerónimos Monastery nearby, with a long flat riverside walk between them. Lighter and calmer than the old town.

The ocean: Costa da Caparica and Praia da Adraga

Costa da Caparica has wide soft sand and grassy dunes, half an hour from the city. Praia da Adraga, on the Sintra coast, has cliffs, sea stacks and open Atlantic water.

More places worth knowing

Sunset viewpoints. Senhora do Monte, São Pedro de Alcântara and Santa Catarina all look west. Beautiful at sunset and busy at that hour, so come early. More in our guide to Lisbon viewpoints.

Pink Street in Cais do Sodré is empty and clean in the morning and full of bars at night. LX Factory, under the 25 de Abril Bridge, is a good choice on a grey day and busy at weekends. All of them, in walking order, in our photo spots guide.

A perfect photoshoot morning in Lisbon

If you only have one morning, this is the walk we would take you on. It is mostly downhill and takes about two hours.

1. Sunrise. Portas do Sol, with the whole of Alfama below you and nobody else around.
2. A few minutes later. Santa Luzia’s tiled terrace and pergola.
3. Then down into Alfama. The lanes, the red doors, the bougainvillea.
4. The Sé. Waiting for a tram to come round the corner.
5. Baixa and the river. Praça do Comércio and the steps of Cais das Colunas, just as the city wakes up.

See this route in a real session from Portas do Sol to the river.

When is the best time for a photoshoot in Lisbon?

Time of day. Early morning, all year. The light is soft, the viewpoints are empty and the city is at its calmest. With small children, 9:00 or 10:00 works better. For the beach, the hour before sunset.

Seasons. In summer, start early: by late morning it is hot and crowded. Spring and autumn are softer and calmer. In winter the sun rises late, around 7:50 in January, so you don’t need an early alarm.

Month	Sunrise	Sunset
January	07:53	17:39
February	07:28	18:14
March	06:49	18:43
April	07:01	20:13
May	06:25	20:41
June	06:11	21:03
July	06:24	21:01
August	06:50	20:32
September	07:18	19:45
October	07:45	18:59
November	07:18	17:23
December	07:47	17:16

Times for the 15th of each month, Lisbon time. More on evening light in Sunset in Lisbon.

What to wear for a photoshoot in Lisbon

Lisbon is already full of colour: yellow trams, blue tiles, terracotta roofs. Soft, neutral clothes let the city do the talking and keep the focus on you.

CreamWhiteOliveTerracottaNavyBlush

Fabrics. Linen, cotton and anything that moves in the breeze. Long dresses and skirts look beautiful on the viewpoints and the beach.

Together. Match in tone rather than in exactly the same colour, and skip big logos.

Shoes. Flats or low block heels. Lisbon’s stone pavements are uneven and slippery, and we walk the whole time.

How to feel relaxed in front of the camera

Most of the people we photograph have never had a photoshoot before. You don’t need to know how to pose: we guide you through every pose and movement, and the best frames usually happen in between, while you are walking, laughing or looking at the view. After the first few minutes most people forget the camera is there.

What to bring

Water, lip balm, a hairbrush and a light layer for the wind. Get a good night’s sleep, and iron your outfit the evening before: a sunrise start comes quickly.

What if it rains?

A grey sky is not a problem: overcast light is soft and flattering, and Lisbon’s colours look even richer. If it really rains, we move the session to another day of your trip. The hourly forecast for Lisbon is on IPMA, Portugal’s official weather service.

Lisbon photoshoot questions

Where is the best place for a photoshoot in Lisbon?

The Alfama viewpoints, Portas do Sol and Santa Luzia, at sunrise: rooftops, the river and tiles in one frame.

How long should a Lisbon photoshoot be?

One hour covers the viewpoints and a lane or two. Two hours lets you walk all the way down to the river without rushing.

How much does a photoshoot in Lisbon cost?

Our sessions start at €250 for an hour. See all prices.

Can we bring our children?

Of course. With children we start a little later, at 9:00 or 10:00, and keep to flat, open places like Praça do Comércio. More on family photoshoots.