One of Lisbon’s coolest landmarks, the Santa Justa lift (or elevator in US English) is the easiest way to travel between the city’s lower Baixa district and the upper Bairro Alto.

Opened on July 10, 1902, it was an exciting new addition to Lisbon’s public transport system. Locals were so eager to try it out that 3,000 tickets were sold on the first day!

Before the lift was built, getting from downtown up to the hilltop was definitely a workout, so the elevator made the journey quick and easy.

The Santa Justa Lift stands 147 feet (45 meters) tall and was designed in a style similar to the Eiffel Tower. That’s no coincidence; the architect, Raoul Mesnier de Ponsard, was a big fan of Gustave Eiffel and used similar techniques.

Today, the lift is one of Lisbon’s main attractions as at the top there’s an incredible viewing platform with sweeping views over the Baixa district, perfect for photos and soaking up the cityscape.

You can buy tickets individually to ride the lift, but as it’s included in the city’s 24 hour combined tram, metro and bus ticket, it makes much more sense to buy one of those. Click here for ticket information.