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One Day in a City > Destinations > Europe > Portugal > One Day in Lisbon

One Day in Lisbon

November 2, 2020 By Gina
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One Day in a City Itinerary: Lisbon, Portugal

What to see and do when short on time in Lisbon.

The Alfama District is just one of many excellent sights to see during one day in Lisbon.
The Alfama District is just one of many excellent sights to see during one day in Lisbon.

Highlights of Lisbon, Portugal include everything from cathedrals to castles to colorful streamers running above your head as you walk down narrow, cobblestoned streets. I visited Lisbon during a day-long layover and I extensively researched before arriving in order to have the perfect day — and I did!

Here’s an outline of the one day in Lisbon itinerary I did, followed by details about each destination plus Lisbon transportation and what to eat.

One Day in Lisbon Recommended Itinerary

  1. Have a Pastry Breakfast or Snack

    Don’t miss a quick stop in a bakery to try one of Lisbon’s mouthwateringly excellent pastries, like the pastel de nata.

  2. Tram 28

    Take a ride on Lisbon’s iconic Yellow Tram 28 route to get to your first point of interest.

  3. Se Cathedral

    A beautiful, Gothic church at the top of a steep hill.

  4. Castelo de Sᾶo Jorge (St. George’s Castle)

    The ruins of a formerly grand castle that boasts great views and interesting history.

  5. Alfama District

    Historic neighborhood with whitewashed buildings, colorful streamers, and alleyways leading to melancholy Fado music.

  6. Eat Some Sardines

    Have lunch at a restaurant cooking up fresh sardines on an outdoor grill.

  7. Do Some Shopping along Avenida de Liberdade

    If time allows, do some retail therapy along Avenida de Liberdade Street, the most expensive street in Lisbon — or just take the bus route that goes by it on your way between the airport and the city center.

  8. Have Dinner with a Fado Performance

    Fado is a type of music that originated in Lisbon.

Getting Around Lisbon

Rooftop view of Lisbon
Rooftop view of Lisbon

Transportation is in your favor if you’re short on time in Lisbon. The city’s airport is only about 5 miles away, resulting in an extremely fast entry to the city center compared to other European cities.

You can take the bus, train, taxi, or metro into the city center. The bus is my preferred method for getting into Lisbon due to its ease of use and affordability.

AeroBus 91 from the airport also drives by Avenida de Liberdade, the most expensive street in Lisbon. Get off at the stop for a quick look around or just enjoy a glimpse from the window.

Lisbon is an extremely walkable city. You’ll see yellow trams jetting around during your one day in Lisbon, and while whisking around on one may be a fun experience, keep in mind you may spend more time waiting for the next one to come pick you up than it actually takes to walk to your next location.

This of course also depends on how fast you walk – but now really, if you only have one day in Lisbon, then you definitely should be walking as fast as you can! If you’re one to saunter leisurely, save it for the romance of the Alfama District (more about that area coming up).

One of Lisbon's Iconic Yellow Trams in the Alfama District with colorful streamers overhead.
One of Lisbon’s Iconic Yellow Trams

The Yellow Tram is an iconic journey, though, and if you have time for the wait, take Tram 28 from the Martim Moniz stop in the city center (which is also conveniently a metro stop if you want to head straight there from the airport or train station) up to Se Cathedral, with a journey though the Graca neighborhood along the way.

Sé Cathedral

Tram 28 going up to Se Cathedral
Tram 28 going up to Se Cathedral

For an easy walking tour during your one day in Lisbon, get off at the Praҫo de Comércio bus stop and head a couple blocks up the hill to Sé Cathedral, built in 1150 by Portugal’s first king for Lisbon’s first bishop. Or, if taking Tram 28, get off at the Sé Cathedral stop.

Unlike the grandeur of many cathedral entrances in Europe, Sé Cathedral catches one almost by surprise as the street corner is rounded and suddenly… there it is, tightly hugging a curve in the road a short distance ahead. The medieval looking doors lead to colorful stained glass windows inside. My favorite part was how this created a sharp contrast to the dark interior.

Stained glass windows inside Se Cathedral in Lisbon.
Stained glass windows inside Se Cathedral.

From Sé Cathedral, it is an easy walk, though slightly uphill, to St. George’s Castle (Castelo de Sᾶo Jorge), a one-time royal residence. This walk in itself has some great scenery.

St. George’s Castle

Castelo de Sᾶo Jorge in Lisbon, also frequently called St. George's Castle.

Once you reach St. George’s Castle, you’ll need to purchase an admission ticket and it’s well worth the price. Though the castle’s fortitude and grandeur was damaged severely by the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake, enough stayed intact to be able to provide a walking trail around the perimeter of the castle walls for amazing views of Lisbon.

Beautiful walking path overlooking the city of Lisbon in Sao Jorge Castle.

Once inside the walls, St. George’s Castle has a huge criss-cross of stairs, towers, and wall platforms to walk across, over, and through.

Entering the inside of St. George's Castle in Lisbon.
Entering the inside of St. George’s Castle.

Sometimes castle ruins are just that, but I thought St. George’s Castle had an ambiance that really let me feel like I was walking through historic times and brought out my adventurous spirit as I balanced myself to walk across thick wall tops and peer out of stately tower windows.

Tower in St. Geroge's Castle in Lisbon.
Tower in St. Geroge’s Castle.

In addition to offering impressive castle ruins to walk around, St. George’s Castle boasts some of the most amazing views in Lisbon.

Lookout Point at St. George's Castle in Lisbon.
Lookout Point at St. George’s Castle.
One Day in Lisbon: View of Lisbon from St. George's Castle.
View of Lisbon from St. George’s Castle.

Alfama District

And then… onto my favorite part of Lisbon, the Alfama District. Full of curving, charming, cobblestoned streets.

Colorful buildings in the Alfama District
Colorful buildings in Alfama

As for the colorful streamers I mentioned earlier, that is a unique charm found in Alfama and is just one of the reasons not to miss it. Streamers are often hung in this area as part of festival celebrations.

One Day in Lisbon: A colorful alleyway with streamers in Alfama.
A colorful alleyway with streamers in Alfama.

I enjoyed these streamers during my time there both for their fun colors and because it let me know I was still in Alfama and not lost yet! Although – if you have some extra time, getting lost on purpose in the streets of Alfama is part of the area’s charm.

Food and Fado

The Alfama District is also a great area to try one of Lisbon’s famous sardine dinners. Restaurants with sardines on the menu are all over the area, so I made sure to go to a restaurant that had an outdoor grill frying the fish and it did not disappoint.

Outdoor grill at a restaurant in Alfama, Lisbon.
Outdoor grill at a restaurant in Alfama.

Also, be sure to try one of Lisbon’s famous pastries at some point during your day, perfect for a snack whenever you get a bit hungry. Small cafes and bars selling pastries are dotted all over the city.

If you have the evening to spend in Lisbon, a fado bar will give you great insight into Lisbon’s culture. Fado is a popular form of poetic singing in Lisbon that expresses both the lightness and darkness of life.

So there you have it! An itinerary for one day in Lisbon that I have found works well to get a thorough – no matter how brief – overview of Lisbon’s sights and culture.

Read on for some more Lisbon travel tips about what to pack for your day in Lisbon as well as some recommendations on where to sleep.

What to Pack for Your Day in Lisbon

  • Scarf — Good for tying over your shoulders when touring churches in summer, or adding extra warmth around your face in winter.
    • Lightweight Summer Travel Scarf
  • Sunglasses — I like polarized ones for traveling
  • Comfortable Shoes — You’ll be doing a lot of walking.
    • My Favorite Summer Travel Shoes
  • Secure Purse or Daypack — Choose one that crosses your body and which you can keep in front of you (no backpacks as they’re more susceptible to pickpocketing).
    • The Travel Purse I Use
  • Lastly, but importantly, THIS is One Thing I Always Pack — Because a memory and camera don’t always cut it! (Plus, they’re kind of adorable!)

Where to Sleep in Lisbon

Alfama Stunner: Hotel Convento do Salvador

is located right in the heart of the Alfama District, with Tram 28 passing right in front of its door. You’ll be staying in one of Lisbon’s most popular neighborhoods all while being an easy walk to other main sites. The hotel itself is light, bright, and modern with a gorgeous courtyard.

  • Click here to see photos and prices for Hotel Convento do Salvador.

Luxury Splurge: Olissippo Lapa Palace

Feel like you’re at a tropical resort while staying in the city of Lisbon at Olissippo Lapa Palace. Ornate touches adorn the hotel and its sumptuous guest rooms while ocean views shimmer in the distance and a welcoming pool sparkles on the spacious grounds of the hotel.

  • Click here to see photos and prices for Olissippo Lapa Palace.

Budget Minded: Flor da Baixa

This hotel is easy on the wallet while still offering nicely appointed rooms and is in close proximity to Lisbon’s most popular sites.

  • Click here to see photos and prices for Flor da Baixa.

Found this article helpful? Pin to read again later!

One Day in Lisbon: What to see and do when short on time in Lisbon, Portugal.
One Day in Lisbon: What to see and do when short on time in Lisbon, Portugal.

About Gina

I'm a former travel agency marketing director turned freelance travel writer. My editorial and copywriting work has been published on and in USA TODAY, Travel + Leisure, the Travel Channel Cities app, TripSavvy, and many more online and print publications. I especially love sharing my knowledge of traveling with limited vacation time, making the most of cruise ports of call, and vacationing with kids. I also enjoy sharing my favorite travel gear and products to make traveling easier!

Comments

  1. Jeff says

    April 17, 2012 at

    If you really want to extend your day into night, I’d recommend the charismatic suburb of Bairro Alto. Because of the city’s narrow streets, it’s easy to get confused and disoriented, so take a cab, it’s not that far from the city centre. To begin, start off at a bar, where they’ll most likely give you a plastic cup filled with your preferred poison. Keep that cup and walk to your next bar and fill up. Repeat, repeat, and repeat until the early hours of the next morning. Absolutely loved Lisbon!

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