What is the capital of Portugal?
Lisbon rises over hills on the northern shore of the Tagus estuary near the Atlantic, and is the westernmost capital city of mainland Europe.
Lisbon is the capital and seat of government of Portugal, a role it has held since 1255. Portugal itself has an estimated population of 10,804,871 (2025).
Lisbon is also the largest city in Portugal, which is the usual arrangement, though it is far from universal: see the countries where capital and largest city differ.
Lisbon at a glance
| City population | 658,236 (2025) |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan area | 3,353,000 (2025) |
| Country | 🇵🇹 Portugal |
| Capital since | 1255 |
| Largest city in Portugal | Lisbon |
| Time zone | UTC+00:00 (WET) |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
About Lisbon
Lisbon has been the capital of Portugal since 1255, Lisbon became Portugal's capital in 1255, replacing Coimbra, and has been the country's political and cultural centre for nearly 800 years.
Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in Western Europe and, after Athens, the second-oldest capital in Europe.
It is Portugal's largest city and its main Atlantic port.
City facts sourced from Wikipedia: Lisbon.
Frequently asked questions
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Capitals of neighbouring countries
See the full profile of Portugal on its country page, or browse every capital city.
Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.