Lisbon City Stay Largo do Carmo

This plaza may not be much to look at, but its history is significant: the 1974 revolution happened here. For a good view across the city, take the little path to the cathedral's right, then go up the stairs on the right. It brings you to a scenic lookout at the top of the lift, and you can walk up without waiting an hour.

The fountain at the centre gives the place its own atmosphere. There's a church and museum across from it, and you can also get here by taking the historic elevator.

With the Carmo Church ruins right in front, this square is a great place to stop in Lisbon. The Santa Justa Elevator and National Guard Museum are close by, and there's a lot of history here, from the 1775 Lisbon earthquake to the Carnation Revolution in 1974. A must-see.

The Museum of National Republican Guard is free to visit, and you can see the guard change at 10am. The Carnation Revolution ended Portugal's brutal dictatorship here in 1974, making this a beautiful place to learn about the country. Next door, the archaeological museum occupies the lovely Carmo Convent site. Built around 1389, the convent was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake, and artifacts found there date back centuries.