LX Factory

Helpful Guide

Dec 5, 2024 — 1 min read

Photo by Maxence Bouniort / Unsplash

Under the 25th of April Bridge lies this old fabric factory turned creative hub. Built in 1846 as one of Lisbon's biggest industrial complexes, it made everything from fabric to bread for the entire city. After being abandoned in the 1980s, artists started sneaking in to use the spaces, until someone had the bright idea to make it official. Now it's full of quirky shops, startup offices, and restaurants built in old industrial spaces. Don't miss the bookshop in the old print works - they kept the giant printing machines as decoration. (Tip: Sunday's LX Market is great, but come on a weekday to really explore the shops and grab lunch without the crowds.)

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National Tile Museum

National Tile Museum

Housed in a 16th-century convent where noble ladies used to retire (some not so voluntarily), this museum tells the story of Portugal's obsession with tiles. The convent's church is a baroque explosion of gold and tiles, built by a queen who wanted to show off her

Príncipe Real

Príncipe Real

Named after Queen Maria II's first born son (who died before becoming king), this is where Lisbon's 19th-century aristocrats built their colorful mansions. The giant cedar tree in the garden has been spreading its branches since 1848 - they had to build iron supports to hold

Oceanário de Lisboa

Oceanário de Lisboa

Built for Expo '98 on land that was once industrial wasteland, this is Europe's largest indoor aquarium. The building looks like a floating aircraft carrier, designed to make you feel like you're walking on water. The central tank is so big it holds 5 million

Santa Justa Lift

Santa Justa Lift

This neo-Gothic elevator was built by Raul Mesnier, a Portuguese engineer who studied under Gustave Eiffel (yes, that Eiffel). Back in 1902, it was the only way for people in downtown to reach Carmo without climbing the hill. Originally powered by steam, it would puff away like a vertical train.