Visiting Belém can be one of the most beautiful memories of a vacation in Lisbon. The area boasts spacious parks, centuries-old history, and a series of monuments with symbolic significance. The terrain is flat, making it seem like an ideal location for those who may have difficulty moving. Unfortunately, this is only partly true, as the attractions are spread out in an extensive area, public transportation is practically non-existent, and there hasn't been significant attention to accessibility. Navigating Belém with a stroller or wheelchair can be challenging.
Sights
In Portugal, unexpected stairs and curbs are common, and Belém is no exception. While the Church of Santa María and the Jerónimos Monastery are mostly accessible, the same cannot be said for the Belém Tower and Monument to the Discoveries. Those who cannot confidently navigate stairs might find it impractical to enter these attractions. The district's museums and the botanical garden are generally accessible.
Access to the monuments
Belém is situated along the bank of the Tejo River, with two main roads and a railway line running parallel to the river, dividing the neighborhood. There is no level crossing on the railway line; it can only be crossed via a pedestrian underpass or overpass. The locations and designs of these crossings are far from convenient, as they are distant from each other, not very accessible, and much smaller than the demand requires.
Two overpasses are wheelchair accessible. One connects the MAAT modern building to Rua da Junqueira. This is the newest and most beautiful bridge, linking to one of Belém's underrated attractions, the MAAT, which is worth visiting even if you don't enter the museum. The next overpass is relatively close, between the National Coach Museum and the boat station. However, the next accessible crossing is further away, located in Algés. To illustrate, from this overpass, it's about a 2-kilometer walk to Torre de Belém, meaning one has to walk back and forth or take a rather uninteresting route to Algés, which is only slightly shorter.
There is an underpass near the Monument to the Discoveries and a narrow overpass near the Belém Tower, both with steep, uncomfortable stairs. Neither attraction is accessible by public transportation without having to navigate these overpasses. Ironically and sadly, to cross to the other side of the road, a taxi must be called. (Not only is it prohibited, but there is also a physical barrier to crossing the roads and the railway.)
Tips
We must definitely prepare for the difficulty of accessing the attractions if we are unable to use stairs. After exploring the area around the monastery, let's take a taxi to the Belém Tower. From there, we can walk back along the riverbank to one of the stair-free bridges. It's a long walk, but it's worth it. If we skip this, the view from the MAAT lookout or the terrace of the Centro Cultural de Belém can compensate for the missed experience.
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