My wife and I were here, having finished a Gate1 tour the previous day, so wandering around on our own. There were plenty of shops at the Praça do Comércio, and we stopped at a few just to browse the merchandise, and mentally compare prices, which seemed about normal, or very slightly higher. There was also a tower, the Santa Justa Lift, from which you could see the entire city, but the wait time – standing up and slowly moving – was over an hour. Apparently, only 6 people can get into that ‘elevator room’ at a time, so we skipped it. Walking down there were a lot of monuments; unfortunately, most of them did not have any descriptions of what they were, so … we basically just enjoyed looking at them and taking photos. After this, we continued walking down to the Riverfront, which was also very enjoyable, seeing sand sculptures, etc.

All due respect to the many positive reviews, we had a hard time understanding why this is being recommended as such a point of interest. Rebuilt along with much of Lisbon following the combined earthquake/fire/tsunami disaster of 1755, this is basically a large praca ringed by government buildings. There is some interesting statuary and a number of good street vendors, but there is really much more to look at along the streets in this area. It has some interesting history, being both the former site of a Royal Palace and the site of the assassination of the second-last king of Portugal (Carlos I, in 1908), but if you aren't looking for those signs you won't notice them. Given the past significance of the site, the city could really have done much better displaying and commemorating the history, but as it stands it is really not much more than a moderately interesting great big square. It's very exposed, so bring a hat and water, but you are probably not going to want to spend more than a few minutes here anyway.

We visited this place for the fourth time in November 2024, and it was beautifully adorned with festive decorations, including a very pretty Christmas tree and beautiful lights that illuminated the entire plaza. The atmosphere was lively and joyous, with people soaking in the festive spirit. For me, this plaza remains one of the most iconic and beautiful landmarks in Lisbon. It’s an expansive square surrounded by vibrant yellow buildings and elegant arcades, offering a picturesque view of the waterfront. The area is always bustling with activity, with ferries docking at the nearby terminal, trams passing by, and both tourists and locals enjoying the vibrant scene. With numerous cafés and restaurants scattered throughout, it’s the perfect spot to take a leisurely stroll, enjoy good food, and just have a great time!. , This plaza also seems to hold great historical significance—it was once the site of the Royal Palace (Palácio da Ribeira). In the center, there is a striking statue of King José I atop a horse, and on one side of the square there is an Arch called the Rua Augusta, adorned with intricate statues and carvings. This place truly has it all—history, beauty, and atmosphere. It’s an absolute must-visit!

Our first port of call to walk the city. Here once stood the castle, here under the arch was once murdered a king and the statue in the middle is beautiful to look at. You are right on the Tagus Bay and can take in the best water, bridges and the square af. Often there are also musical performances and we did not feel it was overflowing (season?) . From there you can reach the jetty, churches and many gastronomic offers in a few minutes.

The Praça do Comercio was my favorite plaza in Lisbon. It is a beautiful square in the Baixa neighborhood overlooking the Tagus River. It is surrounded by beautiful yellow buildings and the famous Arco do Triunfo. In the center of the beautiful plaza is the equestrian statue of King José I. I highly recommend coming to this plaza.

Not overly crowded during my stay in Lisbon. I have walked through the square on each of the past 6 days in rainy, chilly-temperature January, while I walk the downtown streets of Lisbon. Good place to chill-out, sit at one of the cafes bordering the square, half a refreshing drink and some Portuguese custard tarts.

An exceptional place to finish a fantastic guided tour of the city, in which we toured all the center and the main squares of the city. Undoubtedly, the Plaza del Comercio, with the Tagus River in the background, is a visual spectacle for its dimensions, its entrance arch to the city full of sculptures of historical figures such as Nuno, Viriato, the Marquis of Pombal... It surprises your soil soil unlike typical soils of the rest. It has metro stops, restaurants... and from there you can access such emblematic neighborhoods as Alfama or Chiado.

Praca do Comercio or Palace Square located at central Baixa District and faces to beautiful riverfront. It was the site of Portugal's royal palace for 200 preearthquake years, but after the 1755 earthquake/tsunami/fire, the king fled to more stable Belem and never return. Today it is just a wide beautiful plaza with some administrative buildings, the main office of TI is here, and also the departure point for city bus and tram tours, and boats that cruise along the Rio Tejo. Frankly, this riverfront square has little real life today, locals consider it just a big place to pass through. In the middle of plaza we can see the statue of Jose I, the king who gave control of the government to his chief minister, the Marques de Pombal. The big arch marking the inland side of the square if Lisbon's Arch of Triumph (with Vasco da Gama on the left and Pombal on the right). Of course, it is worth visiting this square, it is grandiose and significant in itself, but it is also an opportunity to look at the beautiful river.

Lisbon's Commerce Plaza is massive, and I really mean massive! At about 30,000 square metres, that's about the size of 4 football stadiums. As the heart of Lisbon's commercial activities, the square is constantly buzzing with activities. During the year-end holiday season, the magic of Christmas comes alive with a huge 75 metres Christmas tree lighting up the square; adding pomp and an air of festivity to the entire place. The square is rich in history and has witnessed many key events in Portugal's annals. A royal palace once stood here, but that was destroyed by the 1755 earthquake. This was also the site of the assasination of Carlos I, the penultimate King of Portugal, in 1908...... an event that was hauntingly a harbinger to the end of the country's monarchy. Today, the arcaded buildings around the square house important government offices, restaurants (including the city's oldest cafe, Martinho da Arcada), and the Lisboa Story Centre Museum. The bronze equestrian statue of King Jose I, who reigned at the time of the earthquake, stood at the centre of the square, a triumphal arch graced the northern end, while a pier and sandy beach front the River Tagus on the southern side. No doubt, this is THE SQUARE in Lisbon, and would not be missed by any visitors to the city.

We walked here from the Time Out Market. It's on the riverfront and usually very crowded but has bands and other people performing various arts. The statue in the center of the square is an equestrian monument dedicated to King Jose I. Another attraction is the Arch for Triumph (Arco da Rua Augusta). We were able to find a seat on the ledge near the water to listen to the music.