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When people think of World War One, Lisbon isn’t usually the first city that comes to mind — and that’s exactly why I became curious about it. A few years ago, while researching Portugal’s role in the war, I realized how deeply the conflict shaped the country — politically, socially, and economically — and how those ripples are still visible in Lisbon today.
I’ve spent time combing through historical records, visiting lesser-known memorials, and speaking with local historians to better understand how the war touched everyday life here. This guide explores eight fascinating ways to discover Lisbon through the lens of World War One — from monuments and museums to stories hidden in plain sight.
Lisbon During World War One
When travelers imagine Lisbon, they usually picture golden sunsets over the Tagus River, vintage yellow trams climbing steep hills, and the irresistible smell of pastel de nata drifting from neighborhood bakeries. But beneath this postcard-perfect surface lies a far more complex past. Lisbon during World War One was a city shaped by fear, political intrigue, social unrest, and international diplomacy.
Although Portugal’s role in the First World War is often overshadowed by larger European powers, Lisbon in WWI was anything but quiet. The city became a strategic Atlantic hub, a magnet for spies, and a pressure cooker for revolutionary ideas. Decisions made in Lisbon sent thousands of Portuguese soldiers to the trenches of France—and changed the country forever.
In this guide, you’ll discover 8 fascinating ways to explore Lisbon during World War One, from museums and monuments to neighborhoods, cafés, and riverfronts that still carry echoes of the Great War. If you enjoy uncovering the deeper stories behind a destination, this side of Lisbon will surprise you.
👉 Planning a history-focused trip? You’ll find several easy ways to explore these sites through guided tours, museums, and river cruises mentioned throughout this post.
8 Fascinating Ways to Discover Lisbon During World War One
1. Visit the Military Museum of Lisbon (Museu Militar de Lisboa)
Any journey into Lisbon’s World War One history should begin at the Military Museum of Lisbon, one of the city’s most underrated cultural attractions. Housed in a grand 19th-century building near Alfama, this museum chronicles Portugal’s military past—but its WWI collection is especially revealing.
Here you’ll see weapons, uniforms, medals, letters, photographs, and battlefield equipment used by the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps, which fought alongside Allied forces in France. These exhibits help connect Lisbon’s political decisions with the harsh realities faced by soldiers abroad.
🕰️ Insider Tip: Don’t rush this visit. The WWI galleries provide essential background for understanding why Portugal entered the war in 1916 and how Lisbon functioned as the nerve center of wartime logistics.
2. Walk Through Campo de Ourique: A Neighborhood of Resistance and Political Change
During World War One in Lisbon, the Campo de Ourique district emerged as a stronghold of republican thought. As the war intensified, political tensions rose sharply, fueling debates about democracy, monarchy, and Portugal’s future on the global stage.
Walking through Campo de Ourique today, you’ll notice wide streets and early 20th-century buildings that reflect the era when Lisbon’s political identity was being reshaped. Cafés and bookshops served as informal meeting places where revolutionary ideas quietly gained momentum.
☕ Local Stop: While Pastelaria Aloma dates from a later period, it sits within a district that preserves the atmosphere of wartime Lisbon—a perfect pause during your historical walk.
3. Explore the Port of Lisbon: Espionage, Supplies, and Strategy
The Port of Lisbon during World War One was one of the most strategically important locations in the city. Its Atlantic position made Lisbon a crucial link between Europe, Africa, and the Americas—turning the port into a hotspot for troop movements, war supplies, and espionage.
British and German spies operated discreetly along the docks, hotels, and cafés nearby, attempting to influence Portugal’s position and intercept intelligence. Lisbon’s reputation as a wartime spy hub grew rapidly during this period.
While modern shipping terminals have changed the landscape, walking along the riverfront still offers a powerful sense of Lisbon’s wartime importance.
🚢 Best Perspective: A Tagus River cruise allows you to see the port as soldiers and diplomats once did—approaching Lisbon by water.
4. Pay Your Respects at the World War I Memorial on Avenida da Liberdade
One of the most visible reminders of Lisbon’s WWI legacy is the Monument to the Fallen in the Great War, located on the elegant Avenida da Liberdade. Inaugurated in 1931, this monument honors Portuguese soldiers who lost their lives during the conflict.
Its bronze figures and symbolic carvings represent sacrifice, grief, and national identity—standing in striking contrast to the luxury hotels, cafés, and boutiques that now surround it.
🕊️ Why It Matters: This is one of the most accessible World War One memorials in Lisbon, seamlessly blending remembrance into everyday city life.
5. Discover What Daily Life in Lisbon Was Really Like During WWI
For civilians, life in Lisbon during World War One was defined by shortages, rising prices, political unrest, and uncertainty. Food rationing became common, labor strikes disrupted daily routines, and newspapers overflowed with propaganda and heated debate.
Women increasingly stepped into roles traditionally held by men, working in factories, hospitals, and offices. Artists and writers responded to wartime anxiety through posters, illustrations, and public art.
📰 Cultural Insight: The National Museum of Contemporary Art (Chiado Museum) offers valuable insight into how early 20th-century Portuguese artists reflected social change during wartime.
6. Step Into Historic Cafés Where Lisbon’s Future Was Debated
Few places capture the spirit of Lisbon during World War One better than its historic cafés. These spaces functioned as unofficial political salons where journalists, politicians, poets, and foreign diplomats exchanged ideas.
☕ Don’t Miss: A Brasileira in Chiado, founded in 1905, remains one of Lisbon’s most iconic cafés. Sitting here today offers a rare continuity between modern Lisbon and its turbulent wartime past.
7. Understand the Threat of German U-Boats Along Portugal’s Coast
Although Lisbon avoided direct attacks, German U-boat warfare brought World War One frighteningly close to Portugal. Submarines targeted Allied shipping routes in the Atlantic, threatening vital supply lines and increasing Lisbon’s strategic vulnerability.
These maritime dangers reinforced Portugal’s alignment with the Allies and deepened the war’s impact on everyday life in the capital.
🌊 Where to Go: The Belém district, with its maritime museums and monuments, offers essential context for understanding Portugal’s naval role during WWI.
8. Reflect on the War’s Legacy in Lisbon’s Cemeteries
To conclude your journey through World War One Lisbon, visit Prazeres Cemetery. This vast, peaceful space contains the graves of soldiers, politicians, and influential figures from the WWI era.
Look closely and you’ll find tombstones dated 1916–1918, many bearing military symbols or inscriptions referencing service during the Great War. It’s one of the most moving places to reflect on how global events shaped individual lives.
🕯️ Travel Tip: The cemetery also offers panoramic views of Lisbon, making it both a historical and visual highlight.
Bonus: Where to Stay for Exploring WWI Lisbon
If Lisbon’s World War One history is a major focus of your trip, staying centrally makes all the difference. Neighborhoods like Alfama, Baixa, Chiado, and Avenida da Liberdade place you within walking distance of museums, monuments, cafés, and riverfront sites connected to WWI.
Final Thoughts: Why Exploring Lisbon’s WWI History Is Worth It
Exploring Lisbon during World War One reveals a city shaped not just by explorers and earthquakes, but by political courage, uncertainty, and global conflict. This overlooked chapter adds depth and meaning to your time in the Portuguese capital.
If you want to experience Lisbon beyond viewpoints and trams—this is where the city truly comes alive.
For me, exploring Lisbon through the perspective of World War One has been a reminder that history isn’t always obvious. Sometimes it’s subtle — etched into plaques, tucked into archives, or woven quietly into the city’s evolution.
I hope this guide helps you see Lisbon a little differently — not just as a beautiful capital, but as a city shaped by global events in ways that still matter today.
About the author
I’m Duncan, a Lisbon-based guide and writer who’s lived here for 11 years and taken hundreds of visitors around the city. I created Lisbon Listicles to share everything you need to know about Lisbon in clear, practical lists — from iconic sights to hidden gems — so you can plan your trip easily and make the most of your time here.
All recommendations are based on personal experience and the questions I hear most often from visitors.
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