The most pleasant of Lisbon's traditional sights is undoubtedly the Castelo de São Jorge (São Jorge Castle). The city is home to the two best art museums in Portugal: the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (National Museum of Ancient Art) for Portuguese painting, Bosch, Dürer, and Zurbarán, along with collections of silver and gold; and the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian (Calouste Gulbenkian Museum) for special Islamic art, superb 18th-century French painting, and an enormous collection of Lalique art nouveau. 

The architectural highlights of the city are the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jerónimos Monastery) and the Torre de Belém (Tower of Belém), both in the suburb of Belém. Also in Belém are the Museu da Marinha (Maritime Museum) and the Museu Nacional dos Coches (Coach Museum). Of Lisbon's churches, the Sé (Cathedral) conveys a Romanesque feel, Igreja São Roque (Sã Roque Church) has a unique chapel, and Igreja do Carmo (Carmo Church) is unquestionably dramatic—but best of all is Igreja da Madre de Deus (Mother of God Church), for its beautiful azulejos.

The uninspiring Museu de Arte Popular (Popular Art Museum) in Belém is worth a visit for its survey of craftwork from all over Portugal. An unexpected treat is the Estufa Fria (Botanical Gardens), the so-called "cold greenhouse," in Parque Eduardo VII.

Expo '98, the last exposition of the 20th century, will be staged in Lisbon from May to September 1998.