Almada sits on the south bank of the Tagus estuary, directly across from Lisbon. Most visitors know it for the Cristo Rei statue — a 28-metre figure of Christ standing on a 75-metre pedestal, arms outstretched towards Lisbon, inspired by the Cristo Redentor in Rio de Janeiro. The viewing platform at the top offers one of the best panoramas of Lisbon, the Tagus, and the Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge stretching across the river below.
Beyond the statue, Almada has its own character. The old town centre, perched on a hillside above the ferry terminal at Cacilhas, has narrow streets, a few good seafood restaurants, and the Elevador Panorâmico da Boca do Vento that connects the waterfront to the upper town with excellent views along the way. At the top, the ruins of the Castle of Almada occupy a clifftop with some of the best views of Lisbon in the region. The Fragata Dom Fernando II e Glória — a restored nineteenth-century wooden warship and the last of its kind in the world — is moored on the Cacilhas waterfront and open to visitors.
Cacilhas itself is worth a visit for the fresh grilled fish at the riverside restaurants — locals from Lisbon cross the river specifically for this. The Costa da Caparica, a long stretch of Atlantic beach running south from Almada, is where Lisboetas go when they want sand and surf without driving far. A mini-train runs along the coast in summer, connecting a string of beaches that range from family-friendly near the town to quieter stretches further south. Almada is connected to Lisbon by both the bridge and a quick ferry from Cacilhas to Cais do Sodré, making it an easy half-day trip or an affordable alternative base.