The perfect itinerary for one day in Lisbon

Welcome to the Portuguese coastal capital Lisbon. Today we’re going to guide you through the ultimate one-day itinerary in Lisbon, showing you the best this city has to offer in just one day.

If you’re staying longer in Lisbon, check out our other blog posts, 48 ​​Hours in Lisbon, Where to Stay in Lisbon and the Best Day Trips from Lisbon. But for now let’s start with 1 day in Lisbon.

Itinerary for one day in Lisbon

The first burning question to be answered is: can you see Lisbon in just one day? Although it’s much harder to see everything in Lisbon than, say, Porto, it’s possible to enjoy the highlights and top attractions in one busy 24 hours. That’s why we show you the route we think you should take.

Morning

The Tower of Belem

Start your one-day trip to Lisbon in the Belem district with an early morning sunrise at the Belem Tower. You can enter the Belem Tower, but it doesn’t open until 10am and the crowds are heavy. You can enjoy this attraction from outside and you will feel fulfilled. If you go for the sunrise, you will be alone with a few photographers capturing this UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.

It is located directly on the Tagus River. This beautiful tower was built in 1515 to defend Lisbon against invaders coming along the Tagus River.

Monument of Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos)

Leaving Belem Tower, it is just a short walk along the promenade to the Monument to the Discoveries. Portugal was a land of explorers, the Padrão dos Descobrimentos is a tribute to the legendary explorers of Portugal. You can’t miss this monument as it towers high above the Tagus River.

At a height of 52 meters it is an impressive sight. It was built in the 20th century, but is no less impressive. You can take a lift up for a small fee for views over the Tagus River, or you can climb the stairs. It doesn’t open until 10am, so we say we should just enjoy the view.

Be sure to stop and take a look at the Compass Rose that adorns the square in front of the Monument to the Discoveries. It was a gift from South Africa and a tribute to the Portuguese era in the 15th and 16th centuries. Notice a mermaid, Neptune, favorite compass roses and blowing faces in the design.

If you really want to see the view of the Tagus, you can come back and go straight up the elevator after your stop at our next Lisbon attraction.

Jeronimos Monastery

Walking up from the waterfront you will come across the Jerónimos Monastery. This is the first stop we recommend you go to. Book your timed ticket for the first entrance of the day. After seeing the Tower of Belem and Padrão dos Descobrimentos, this should be the perfect time to enter the Jerónimos Monastery, which opens at 10am.

Jerónimos Monastery, a masterpiece of Manueline architecture. The beautiful marble design is not to be missed. Inside you will want to find the cloisters, the courtyards and gardens and the chapel.

The monastery also houses the tomb of Vasco da Gama, the first European to reach India by ship.

The Jerónimos Monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also one of the Seven Wonders of Porugal.

We recommend you spend an hour here and then head your way. Because remember: you only have one day in Lisbon and when you get home, people will ask: “Did you see this?” “Did you see that?” and you can say, “Yes, I did that!”

• Upgrade to a Lisbon Card for free access to public transport and top attractions including Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower and more

Snack break

As we continue our journey through Belém, it’s time for a snack break. You’ve been going since sunrise and if you haven’t booked a hotel with breakfast included (which we highly recommend as it saves money and time), you’re ready to eat.

Pasteis de Bélem is an icon of the city and whether you are hungry or not, you must go in and taste this famous Portuguese custard.

Besteis de Bélem is the original Pastel de Nata that you will eat all over Portugal. The iconic Portuguese custard pie was started here in the monastery when the nuns used egg whites to strengthen their habits. They had leftover yolks and didn’t know what to do with them, so they made custard that they put in pastries and sold to earn money for the monastery. And so Pastel de Nata was born.

Then the monastery was closed, they gave the recipe to the bakery next door and they have been serving Pasteis de Belem ever since.

Don’t be afraid if you see a long line. The restaurant is huge and the line moves quickly. We arrived within a few minutes.

Walk along the water

If you have spent more than one day in Lisbon, we recommend continuing your walk along the waterfront all the way back to the old town. There are several things to see along the Tagus River, including the state-of-the-art Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MATE ).

There is the statue of Christ standing proudly across the river and there is also the carriage house museum. With the app you can rent bicycles… to explore the waterfront for a whole day.

However, you only have one day, so you’ll need to move to your next stop on our list for lunch!

Afternoon / Lunch

You can take the tram back to Placa Do Comercio (the main square on the waterfront) and take one of Lisbon’s historic trams as you make your way to the beautiful waterfront square. This gives you the opportunity to enjoy one of Lisbon’s top attractions – riding the iconic trams – as you return to the old city.

You can rent an Uber, like we did. If you rent an Uber, have it drop you off at the Time Out Market, where you will have lunch.

If you take the tram, Time Out Market is just a 15-minute walk from Comercio Square. Before going to the market, you can view the beautiful square and the Rua Agusta Arch

Time-out market

No visit to Lisbon would be complete without experiencing one of its markets. Time Out Market is a busy market that you should not miss. Moreover, you can combine sightseeing with lunch.

Time Out Market, formerly the Mercado da Ribeira in Cais do Sodré, is an affordable option for lunch. But beware, it is extremely busy.

Pink Street

After lunch it’s a short walk to Pink Street, where you can take an Instagram-worthy photo of the pink street full of umbrellas. If you decide not to eat at Time Out Market and just stroll through to get a taste of the bustling market, you can eat on Pink Street as there are restaurants lining the street.

This was once a rough neighborhood that has been transformed into a trendy tourist attraction. It is also a busy place for nightlife.

Afternoon

Alfama District

The Alfama district is Lisbon’s oldest neighborhood and a good place to end the rest of the afternoon. If you want to walk, it’s just a 15-minute walk from Pink Street to the start of your Alfama walking tour. Here you can really feel the history of Lisbon as you wander through the narrow streets.

Lisbon Cathedral

Start your time in Alfama at Lisbon Cathedral. It is the oldest church in the city and dates back to the 12th century. You can enter for free, but to visit the cloisters you pay a small fee of about €2

Miradouro das Portas do Sol

Portas do Sol is the next stop, a short walk uphill. This is one of the most popular Miradouros in Lisbon as it overlooks the river and the city. Check out the terracotta roofs that give you the feeling of looking out over a Mediterranean village that flows into the sea.

It is located on a large balcony and offers plenty of space to enjoy the panoramic views. Things to keep an eye out for are the Monastery of St. Vincen and the National Pantheon.

Tram 28

From Portas do Sol you can take tram 28. No trip to Lisbon would be complete without hopping on one of the historic trams and tram 28 is iconic. Tram 28 replaced the original horse-drawn carriages in 1914. Lisbon is known as the city of the hills and these trams helped locals travel through the steep hills. Tram 28 is a 7 meter route that takes you through the popular tourist districts of Lisbon, Graca, Alfama, Baixa, Chiado, Santa Catarina and Estrela.

It takes 50 minutes to cover the entire route, but we recommend using it as public transport instead. If you only want to make a few stops, you can rent an Uber. The tram runs until 10pm or 11pm (depending on the season) so you can always get back later to see everything.

Miradouro da Senhora do Monte

From Portas do Sol, tram 28 will take you next to the Monastery of St. George, where you can hop off to explore the inside, or you can simply enjoy the view and wait for your next stop, the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte. Time is probably starting to get tight now, so you might want to skip it and head straight to Miradouro da Senhora do Monte.

This is the highest point in Lisbon and is worth stopping for a bird’s-eye view of the city.

Sao Jorge Castle

Take a walk along the ancient walls of the castle and enjoy incredible views of the city from high above. Castelo de São Jorge is open until 9pm in summer and is a great spot for sunset.

You have access to the gardens and you can take a guided tour. There is a museum inside that is free to enter and of course the castle walls and views of the city are beautiful.

This site is an important historical destination with settlements dating back to the 7th century BC.

Nightly entertainment

Fado

When you visit Lisbon, don’t miss Fado. It is the birthplace of this music and UNESCO has designated it for its cultural significance.

To round off your one-day trip in Lisbon, pre-book a fado show in the Alfama district. Or you can go to the Rua Agusta district to enjoy the nightlife. Many bars have Fado artists, but if you really want to see them, we recommend booking a Fado show in advance. These talented artists breathe emotion as they sing beautiful soulful songs, accompanied by guitars.

Evening/dinner

Barrio Alto

There are several choices for dinner in Bairro Alto and along Rua Augusta, and you can also head to the Barrio Alto for dinner and cocktails. We loved the Gin Lover’s Bar in Barrio Alto. We had a cocktail here before enjoying a delicious meal on the outdoor terrace.

After dinner there are a few choices; you can either enjoy the nightlife of Bairro Alto and go bar hopping.

Vie de Nuit

Avenida da Liberdade is Lisbon’s Champs Elise and hotels with rooftop bars. We stayed at the Turim Boulevard Hotel and it had beautiful views over Lisbon and the Tivoli Sky Bar next door has a fantastic roof terrace.

If you don’t have a reservation it may be difficult to get in, so make a reservation.

Well, that was a busy day in Lisbon, Portugal! From historic sights to vibrant neighborhoods and breathtaking views from the miradouros, we’ve shown you how to make the most of your day AND night in this beautiful city.

For more top attractions, the best places to eat and the most efficient ways to navigate Lisbon, check out our blog The Best Things to Do in Lisbon