If you only have a day in Lisbon, you want to make the most of it. There are so many amazing things to do in Lisbon that you will merely scratch the surface, but with a bit of planning, you can explore quite a bit of this captivating city.
After spending weeks in Portugal’s capital, I’ve uncovered most of what the city has to offer, and while I in all honesty recommend a minimum of 2 days in Lisbon, I’ve put together this Lisbon one day itinerary for you so that you can get a good grasp of what the city has to offer in a short time.
The best thing about Lisbon is that it doesn’t matter how long you stay; you’ll always want to come back for more, so even one day in Lisbon is well worth the trip!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase through one of those links, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Hi, I’m Linn Haglund, the face behind Brainy Backpackers. I’ve been based in Spain for the last 10+ years, and travel locally and abroad whenever I have a chance. I’m passionate about responsible travel, slow and off the beaten path travel, and outdoor activities, especially hiking. I’m currently slow traveling in my van Persistence (Persi among friends) with my fiancée Mohammed and rescue puppy Atlas. I’m excited to help you explore this planet responsibly!
PIN IT FOR LATER!
👉JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP FOR PORTUGAL AND SPAIN TRAVEL TIPS!
What to do in Lisbon for a day
Walk the castle walls of St. George’s Castle
Start your one-day Lisbon itinerary by visiting the city’s famous hilltop castle, St. George’s Castle. Its history goes all the way back before the Romans.
Unfortunately, most of the castle was destroyed by the 1955 Lisbon earthquake, but I think it has been restored pretty well to what it looked like when the Moors ruled the city. At least the castle walls look very good!
Walking on these castle walls is a fantastic thing to start the day with as you’ll get some of the city’s best views from there.
Walk through the Alfama district
From the castle, I suggest you walk through the Alfama district towards the cathedral that you’ll be visiting next.
It’s one of the oldest neighborhoods in Lisbon, and it’s famous for its narrow, cobbled streets and pastel colored houses. This neighborhood alone is one of the main reasons to visit Lisbon, if you ask me.
Instead of walking straight down, take the detour past the Portas do Sol and Santa Luzia viewpoints to take in the beautiful views from there.
Visit the Lisbon Sé Cathedral
Lisbon Sé Cathedral is 800 years old and the oldest church in Lisbon. It’s well worth going inside to have a look, though my favorite thing to do is to check out the views from the balcony.
Inside the church, you can also see the tomb with the relics of the patron saint of Lisbon, São Vicente.
Snap a picture of Praça do Comércio
Whether you take the tram or walk, make sure you capture the iconic Praça do Comércio, or Commerce Square.
This beautiful square is lined with yellow buildings with porticos. On one side, you find the elaborate Triumphal Arch, and on the other, the Tagus River.
The square has been the main center for commerce in Lisbon as the harbor in front of it has been used as a loading place for commercial ships for centuries.
Have lunch at the Time Out Market
There are plenty of places to have lunch in the Alfama district if you feel like spending some more time there, but if you want to see more of the city, I recommend visiting the Time Out Market for lunch.
It’s a massive food market where several of Lisbon’s best restaurants have food stalls. If you travel in a group it’s also ideal as you all can order food from different places and eat together at one of the tables.
Take the tram to Belem
After lunch, you’ll head to the Belem neighborhood to explore the attractions there. I suggest taking the tram E15 so you get the experience of taking the tram during your day trip to Lisbon.
Tickets can be bought on the tram, but note that not all the trams have card payments (only the newest trams do). In my experience, you’re best off bringing change as they often can’t give back change on the trams.
You can choose whether you visit the monastery or the Belem Tower first. The latter is further away.
Visit Jerónimos Monastery
The Jerónimos Monastery sits in front of the Tagus River (well, almost- The road goes between.) It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of my favorite attractions in Lisbon.
This historical site is located at the same spot where the Ermida do Restelo chapel was. This used to be the chapel where Vasco da Gama and other sailors prayed before setting out to sea.
Vasco da Gama’s tomb is found inside the church of Santa Maria, which is inside the complex.
Climb the Belem Tower
A little further down the riverside, you find the iconic Belem Tower, which, together with the Jerónimos Monastery, is declared a UNESCO World Heritage.
The 16th-century tower was used to protect Lisbon from raids from the Tagus River, but also recognized as a symbol for sailors heading out to sea.
Today, it serves as a tourist attraction, and you can walk up to the top for views of the Tagus River.
Have dinner and drinks at Bairro Alto
I suggest going to Bairro Alto for dinner and drinks before rounding off your Lisbon one-day itinerary. This neighborhood is quiet in the daytime, but it turns into a lively hub as soon as the sun goes down, with a myriad of restaurants and bars.
I love this neighborhood as there’s something for everyone. You’ll find traditional local food and international food, casual restaurants and fine dining.
You’ll also find pubs, nightclubs, high-end wine bars, and cocktail bars in Bairro Alto in all price classes.
How to get to Lisbon
Lisbon is well connected by plane with the rest of Europe as well as other continents through Humberto Delgado Airport.
From the airport you can easily travel into the center by bus or tram.
If you prefer the convenience of a private transfer, it will usually take between 20 and 40 minutes, depending on the traffic.
However, the private transfer will take you straight to the hotel, so you don’t have to stress about carrying around your luggage.
If you only have a day in Lisbon, you want to make sure you get into the city as early as possible to not waste any time – otherwise, you’ll probably have to shave a lot off this itinerary.
BREAD: Where to stay in Lisbon
By bus
Lisbon is well-connected by bus too, and the city’s main bus station is Sete Rios. This is where intercity buses stop.
For international coach arrivals, Gare do Oriente is a popular bus station. From here, you can transfer to the metro if you need to get to a different place in the city.
Also, Cais do Sodré is a major hub for buses and other modes of transport like the metro, train, and ferry.
By train
Traveling by train might just be the most sustainable way to travel to Lisbon. The main railway station is Rossio Railway Station (Estação de Caminhos de Ferro do Rossio.)
However, if you travel long-distance, you’ll most likely arrive at Santa Apolónia Railway Station right outside the Alfama district.
From Porto, it takes about 2.5-3 hours by train, and from Faro in the Algarve, it takes around 3 hours.
How to get around in Lisbon in a day
Getting around Lisbon for one day, I recommend combining walking and taking the tram or even a taxi if you see that you are short of time.
It’s absolutely a walkable city, but some of the neighborhoods you’ll visit are far away, so you’ll need to take some sort of transport to make it all in one day.
Best time of the year to spend a day in Lisbon
Visiting Lisbon in one day can be done all year round. Even though it gets hot in the summer, it usually doesn’t get that intense heat as you’ll get further south.
Lisbon in winter is also fantastic, especially during the holiday season when the city is lit up by thousands of lights and decorations.
Reflections on one day in Lisbon Portugal
Summing up, you can see quite a lot in only one day in Lisbon. Portugal’s capital city does have a lot more to offer, that’s for sure, but I think this one-day Lisbon itinerary covers the most important sights.
However, if you feel like it gets too tight with time and you’d like to have some more time walking around, eating, and taking in the Lisbon vibes, you can easily remove some of the attractions.
I’d probably skip the cathedral if I had to choose one place and also grab a taxi to and from Belem, which will likely save you some time.
Happy travels!