The public transport connection next to the hotel gets you into Lisbon in about 15 minutes, or you can take the Cacilhas ferry for a slower, scenic crossing to Cais do Sodré.
Discover Authentic Almada: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Almada, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as the Cristo Rei sanctuary, the Ponto Final restaurant and the fossil cliffs of Costa da Caparica.
Top 5 Things to Do in Almada
Cristo Rei's viewing platform
The statue's pedestal is 75 meters tall on its own, and a lift takes you up to a platform that looks straight across the Tagus to Lisbon and the 25 de Abril bridge. Go around sunset on a clear day — the light hits the white sanctuary stone and the ferries crossing below at the same time.
Cacilhas ferry terminal
Ferries to Lisbon's Cais do Sodré run roughly every 20 minutes and take about 10 minutes to cross — cheaper and often faster than the bridge in traffic. It's also the easiest way to see the 25 de Abril bridge from below instead of stuck on it.
Elevador Boca do Vento
A free public elevator built into the cliff at Almada Velha, dropping you from the old town's viewpoint down to the Cacilhas waterfront in under a minute. Most visitors never find it because it's tucked behind Jardim do Rio, but it saves a steep 10-minute walk down cobbled streets.
Ponto Final, Cacilhas
A waterfront restaurant with tables set right on a floating dock, so close to the water you can watch the ferries pass while you eat. It's a 15-minute walk along the river from the ferry terminal — go for lunch on a weekday if you want a table without a wait.
Costa da Caparica beach
About 15 minutes by car or bus from Almada, this is a proper wide Atlantic beach with a mini train, the Transpraia, running along the dunes in summer to reach the quieter stretches further south. Locals go for the surf breaks near Praia do Tarquínio rather than the crowded main strip.
Explore Almada's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Almada
We've mapped local spots around Almada, across the Tagus from Lisbon.
Views & nature
Cristo Rei
Inspired by Rio's Christ the Redeemer and completed in the late 1950s, the 28-metre statue above the Tagus houses a chapel and a lift to a viewpoint. Lisbon, laid out before you.
Almada · Monument and viewpoint · Perfect for views of Lisbon
Boca do Vento lift
A glass lift, opened in 2000, rising 50 metres from the Jardim do Rio to Almada's old town, with views over the cliffs and the river. Open 10am to 9pm; €1.50.
Almada · Panoramic lift · Made for a short ride with views
Costa da Caparica fossil cliffs
At dusk, the fossil-rich cliffs of the protected Costa da Caparica glow gold. Among Europe's most important geological sequences – and home to birds of prey.
Costa da Caparica · Protected landscape · Perfect for sunsets
Gunpowder Factory Ecomuseum
A late 19th-century gunpowder factory with its original machinery, now an ecomuseum run by the Vita Nativa association. Book a guided tour; closes at 5pm.
Seixal · Ecomuseum · Great for industrial heritage
Cacilhas
The riverside port across the Tagus: relaxed, local, with panoramic views of Lisbon.
Cacilhas · Port · Ideal for city views
Tagus boat trip
Hop on a ferry or river cruise between Almada and Lisbon and see both cities from the water.
Tagus · Boat trip · Perfect at sunset
Fonte da Telha viewpoint
A little-known viewpoint over the dunes and the vast Atlantic on the Costa da Caparica. Bring someone special.
Costa da Caparica · Viewpoint · Made for sunset
Sol da Caparica festival
Four days of Lusophone music every August on the Caparica coast.
Costa da Caparica · Festival · Great for summer
Food
Ponto Final
Where the Tagus meets the ocean, a yellow-fronted restaurant on Rua do Ginjal serving fresh fish, seafood and Portuguese classics – and one of the loveliest sunsets around. Book ahead.
Cais do Ginjal · Restaurant · Perfect for dinner at sunset
Carvoada at Porto Brandão
Carvoada: grilling meat at your table over a charcoal burner, the local way. At the Porto Brandão restaurant it's under €15, with rice, fries and salad.
Porto Brandão · Local speciality · Great for a casual meal
Cacilhas seafood restaurants
The day's fish and seafood on riverside terraces. Pick a table and point.
Cacilhas · Restaurants · Made for seafood
MUDA – Mercado Urbano de Almada
A market of seasonal produce and local specialities. Build your picnic.
Almada · Market · Perfect for a picnic
Almada Green Market
A produce market in Parque da Paz.
Parque da Paz · Market · Ideal for local food
Culture
Almada street art and museums
Historic museums, murals and modern art across the city's streets. Wander with your eyes up.
Almada · Street art · Great for a walk
Museu da Água
Almada's water museum.
Almada · Museum · Perfect for families
FAQ
It's closer to a 10-minute drive or taxi ride than a walk — the road climbs steadily. Most guests ride up and enjoy the walk back down through the gardens instead.
About 15 minutes by car or local bus from Almada, making it an easy half-day trip from the hotel.
Yes. A lift takes you to a viewpoint at the top of the 28-metre statue.
At Ponto Final on Almada's riverside, or on the fossil cliffs of Costa da Caparica.
A local way of grilling meat at your table over charcoal, served in Porto Brandão.
Where to Sleep in Almada
See Mercure hotels in Almada, all within reach of these picks.