1 Day in Lisbon Itinerary
Lisbon, or Lisboa, is a charming, hilly, affordable city and I’d definitely recommend spending some time there on your trip to Portugal, even if just for a day. I recently had the chance to spend a day in Lisbon on my way to Porto and tried to see all the things possible in 24 hours in Lisbon – see the details below!
Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!
Jump to:
- What to do in one day in Lisbon
- Getting to Lisbon
- Where to stay in Lisbon
- Getting around Lisbon & The Lisboa Card
What to do in Lisbon
Head to Belém early to beat the crowds
There are several Lisbon highlights in Belém, a neighborhood west of Lisbon that takes about 20 minutes to get to by bus. I recommend starting your day by heading to Belém and hitting all the highlights and then coming back to downtown Lisbon for lunch and the rest of the day of exploring!
How to get to Belém
From downtown Lisbon it’s easiest to take the tram to Belém. You’ll want to take the E15 tram from one of the stops in downtown Lisbon. You can grab the tram at Praça da Figueira or Praça do Comércio, both are main squares in downtown Lisbon and easily accessible. You can see the entire route map here to find the stop nearest you.
You’ll want to take the tram to one of the Belém stops. There are several, but I recommend taking the tram to the Largo Da Princesa stop (about a 5 nminute walk from Belém Tower. You can then walk back towards the Monastery and other Belém sites before taking the tram back to Lisbon from one of the Belém stops closer to the monastery.
These trams do get busy and crowded, but they are large and run often, so you shouldn’t have a hard time getting on one, especially if you go early.
See the Tower of Belém
From the Largo Da Princesa stop, the tower of Belém is about a 5 minute walk. The tower of Belém served as the ceremonial “gateway” to Lisbon & also used to represent the departure point for Portuguese explorers. You can view the impressive tower from the exterior, or purchase a ticket to go inside.
The lines get long, so to save time you can purchase passes ahead of time, or I recommend buying the Lisboa Card. This will provide access to 26 monuments and museums (inlcluding the tower) as well as free access to Lisbon public transit. It’s 21 Euro for 24 hours.
See the Padrão dos Descobrimentos & catch some of the best views of Ponte 25 de Abril
A short walk from the Tower of Belém you’ll find Padrão dos Descobrimentos, the statue built to commemorate Henry the Navigator. Behind the statue, dominating the Lisbon skyline is the infamous Pontel 25 de Abril, the infamous bridge styled a la Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco.
See the Jerónimos Monastery
Across the street from the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, you’ll find Jerónimos Monastery. You can view the stunning monastery from the exterior or purchase a ticket to go inside. The lines get long, so to save time you can purchase passes ahead of time, or I recommend buying the Lisboa Card. This will provide access to 26 monuments and museums (inlcluding the Monastery) as well as free access to Lisbon public transit. It’s 21 Euro for 24 hours.
Try a Pastel de nata at the infamous Pastéis de Belém
You can’t leave Lisbon without trying at least one (or five) of the pastel de nata. The pastel de nata is egg custard tart pastry, and is one of the most popular Portuguese foods. Pastéis de Belém has been serving up the pastries since 1837 with a secret recipe created at the next door Jerónimos Monastery. You can get these pastries at any of the hundreds of bakeries in Lisbon, but if you’re in Belém already, these are the best and the originals. The line will seem long outside, but it moves super fast and was worth the wait. Served warm with a side of cinnamon and frosting they are delicious, get more than one, trust me.
To get back to downtown Lisbon there is a E15 tram stop directly across the street from Pastéis de Belém.
Visit Pink Street
On your way back from Belém you can hop off at an earlier stop, like Cais Sodré, on the E15 instead of taking it all the way back to Praça da Figueira or Praça do Comércio to see some of the other sites a bit west of downtown Lisbon. Fom Cais Sodré Pink Street, the infamous, instagrammable street with pink pavement and colorful umbrellas strung across the building above, is a three minute walk. You can just walk through and grab some pictures or you can grab a drink at one of the several cafes with tables spilling onto the picturesque street.
Lunch at Time Out Market
Time out is A large, open style food hall with literally endless options for every taste, and is a perfect spot to grab lunch. Offering traditional Portuguese food in addition to burgers, salads, donuts, etc. You can order at the respective counter then grab any of the open seating available
View the iconic yellow trams at the Gloria Funicular
Lisbon might conjure images of quaint yellow trams running through the hilly city, but since it’s become more populated and visited, most of the iconic yellow trams have been replaced by more effective larger, commercial trams. But you can still catch some of the touristy trams. One place to do that is at the Gloria Funicular, not too far of a walk from Time Out Market. To me, waiting in line and buying a ticket to ride the short tram is a waste of time when you can just view them from the street and get better pictures that way, but either option is doable!
Explore Praça do Comércio
One of the main squares of downtown Lisbon, located on the water with excellent views, This is also where you can find the Arco da Rua Augusta and Lisboa Story Center
See the Lisbon Cathedral
Not far from Praça do Comércio is the Lisbon Cathedral. While you’re in the area visitng the cathedral you can also see the Roman Theatre ruins at the Lisboa Museum.
Climb to Castelo de Sao Jorge for the best views
Climbing up to the Castelo de S. Jorge is an absolute must for the best panoramic views of Lisbon. You’ll need to purchase a ticket (10 Euro) to enter, the ticket allows you to explore the castle & the archaeological museum, but also gives you access to the overlook (pictured above) The Lisboa card does not include access to Castello de Sao Jorge, so you’ll need to purchases this ticket separately. The top has stands offering snacks and drinks. This is a great place to have a glass of wine after a long hike!
Catch the best sunset in Lisbon at Miradouro do Rio Tejo – Cais 1929
Lisbon has some epic sunsets and you definitely don’t want to miss out while you’re there. If you head back towards Praça do Comércio and walk across the street towards the water you’ll find the perfect spot for watching the sun set over the Ponte 25 de Abril. Grab a bottle of wine and enjoy (see views above!)
Grab dinner at one of Lisbon’s world-renowned Restaurants
I won’t even attempt to put together a list of the best restaurants in Lisbon. Their food scene has exploded and is now filled with iconic restaurants. There are tons of lists of top restaurants, I definitely recommend making reservations far-ish in advance, especially depending on how famous the restaurant you’re trying to go to is!
After dinner drinks in Barrio Alto
If you’re looking for after dinner drinks or a night out you’re going to want to try the Barrio Alto neighborhood of downtown Lisbon. I tried Park Rooftop for a few drinks and loved the views. Just be extra careful in this area at night. I didn’t stay out too late(just before midnight) but was approached by several people on my walk home. The area was crowded with others so I didn’t feel unsafe, but I definitely wouldn’t want to be walking around later at night alone. Just be cautious and use Uber if you feel unsafe!
Getting to Lisbon
By Plane
Lisbon’s main airport, Humberto Delgado Airport, is only a 20 minute drive from downtown Lisbon without traffic. From the airport to downtown you can:
- take a cab from outside the airport – generally around 20 euro
- take an Uber – similar in price to a cab
- take public transportation – The Airport has a (subway station with a direct line to the city center. The Aeroporto – Saldanha line will take you to downtown Lisbon in about 20 minutes. It costs less than 2 Euro
By Train
Portugal has an extensive rail system connecting major cities, such as Lisbon and Porto. There are two main train stations in Lisbon where trains to other cities leave from (often trains will stop at both of these stations)
- Oriente Station – located a bit farther east from dowtown Lisbon
- Santa Apolónia – located closer to downtown Lisbon in the Alfama district. Trains to Porto stop at this station
Where to Stay in Lisbon
I definitely recommend staying in downtown Lisbon close to all the main attractions and restaurants. There are tons of hotel options, I opted for The Lift Boutique Hotel by RIDAN
Location: Perfect! It was so walkable to all the main areas of Lisbon (Praça do Comércio & Alfama)
Cost: $-$$ – $167 per night (in September)
This hotel was perfectly located, had 24 our front desk service which made me feel safe coming back at night. The rooms were clean and well decorated. A bit small (typical for Europe) but not tiny. The bathrooms were updated. I would definitely recommend staying here. See video of room above!
Getting Around Lisbon
Lisbon has an extensive metro system (composed of subways, busses and trams) The Lisboa Card I mentioned above includes access to public transportation in Lisbon. If you don’t have the Lisboa card individual metro passes can be purchased in metro stations or on board busses/trams. Uber is also easily accessible in Lisbon.
Let me know in the comments if you check out any of these Lisbon recommendations. Also feel free to check out my full Lisbon travel guide here!
