One Day in Lisbon, Portugal
With its beautifully colorful streets, coastal views, and vibrant lifestyle, Lisbon is one of the most popular places in Portugal to not only visit, but also live full time! Any trip to Portugal wouldn’t be complete without a stop in Lisbon, so if you’re wondering how to make the most out of a quick visit, check out our one day itinerary below!
1. Enjoy a Pastel de Nata
Before you go anywhere in Lisbon, be sure to find a cafe or bakery near your accommodation and order a pastel de nata! This egg custard pastry is a staple in Lisbon, and a trip to Portugal would be incomplete without giving it a taste!
As they are so popular, pastéis de nata can be found pretty much anywhere you are in Lisbon, but a couple popular spots to try them are Pastéis de Belém, Mantegeria, and Fábrica da Nata.
2. Ride the Lisbon Tram 28
To get a first look at the beautiful city of Lisbon and many of its biggest tourist attractions, hop onto the most famous trolley in Lisbon: Tram 28. This public transit route will allow you to cover a lot of ground in a short period of time, running from Campo de Ourique to Martim Moniz. We recommend starting off with this tram in the morning and taking it to its final stop, then winding your way back through the city on foot to see everything up close!
The tram costs about ~ 3 euro for a one way trip and tickets can be purchased upon arrival.
Tip: If there is a long line at the first stop for the tram, walk a couple blocks up the line and get on at the second stop. The tram doesn’t leave at full capacity and you will be able to hop on without having to wait with all of the tourists.
3. Visit the Castelo de São Jorge
The Castelo de São Jorge and its surrounding city walls are a national monument of Portugal. This gothic-styled castle were originally built as a defensive stronghold strategically positioned atop a hill in Lisbon, but has since served as the center for religious, social, and political hubs overtime. Today, of course, the castle is one of the greatest tourist destinations in the city.
Entrance tickets to the Castelo de São Jorge start at $15 euros per adult, and can be bought either in advance or at the door. We strongly recommend purchasing your tickets in advance, as the lines to the castle tend to be very long and take up a lot of time.
Aside from the historic and cultural relevance of the castle, it also offers some of the best views of Lisbon in the city! Views fit for a king, for that matter.
The Castelo de Ṣo Jorge is open from 9:00am Р9:00pm during the summer months, and 9:00am Р6:00pm during the winter.
4. Miradouro de Santa Luzia or Portas do Sol
Scattered throughout Lisbon are many dedicated platforms that provide lookouts – or “miradouros” – of the city. Two of the best lookouts are the Miradouro de Santa Luzia and the Miradouro de Portas do Sol, which are conveniently right next to each other!
Since they are so close, you might as well just go to both to take in everything – but there is a nice restaurant next to the Miradouro de Santa Luzia, so we recommend stopping for a bite to eat for lunch at this one!
The lookouts are free to the public and open at all hours of the day.
5. Grab a Cone at the Gelato Davvero
After you finish up lunch, walk over to Gelato Davvero and grab yourself a cone to enjoy while you stroll around Lisbon! A quick note from the locals – the best gelato in town shouldn’t have an excessive color to them. The naturally made gelato will be more subdued as they are made from fresh ingredients and do not include a bunch of food coloring.
6. Visit the Igreja da Graça
The Igreja da Gra̤a Рor the Church of Our Lady of Grace Рis one of the oldest churches and convents in Lisbon. Affected by the earthquake of 1755, the architecture of the church reflects a baroque style & is one of the most beautiful buildings in Lisbon.
The Igreja da Gra̤a is open from 9:00am Р7:00pm daily.
7. Explore Lisbon
As with every city, be sure to leave some time in your schedule to simply wander the streets of Lisbon and see what you stumble upon! There’s no better way to get a feel for a new place than to explore & see where you end up!
8. Enjoy a Fado Show
To end your day in Lisbon, find a local bar or restaurant near your hotel that hosts fado performances! Fado is a musical genre that is traditional in Lisbon, and can’t be missed by anyone who wants to experience Portuguese culture during their trip.
Some popular spots to enjoy fado in Lisbon include the Tasca do Chico, Casa de Linhares, Tasca do Jaime, and Mesa de Frades.
One Day Lisbon Itinerary: Best Route
If this is sounding like a lot to fit into just one day in Lisbon, worry not! We’ve combined all of these stops into a complete itinerary and schedule for you to follow below. We hope you enjoy your trip!
One Day in Lisbon Itinerary & Schedule
- Breakfast (with Pastel de Nata): 1 hour
- Campo de Ourique to Martim Moniz (Tram 28): 30 minute ride
- Martim Moniz to Castelo de São Jorge: 20 minute walk
- Visit Castelo de São Jorge: 2.5 hours
- Castelo de São Jorge to Miradouro de Santa Luzia: 5 minute walk
- Visit the Miradouro de Santa Luzia: 15 minutes
- Lunch (at Miradouro de Santa Luzia): 1 hour
- Miradouro de Santa Luzia to Portas do Sol: 1 minute walk
- Visit the Miradouro das Portas do Sol: 10 minutes
- Miradouro das Portas do Sol to Gelato Davvero: 12 minute walk
- Enjoy Gelato Davvero: 10 minutes
- Gelato Davvero to the Church of Our Lady of Grace: 15 minute walk
- Visit the Church of Our Lady of Grace: 1 hour
- Explore Lisbon: 1.5 hours
- Fado Performance & Dinner: 1.5 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is one day enough for Lisbon? If you’re looking to just see the sights and get an introduction to Lisbon, one day is definitely enough to get a feel for the city. Keep in mind though that a popular day trip from Lisbon is a day trip to Sintra, so if this is of interest to you it’s best to plan two nights in Lisbon to accommodate that excursion (even if you’re not spending that day in Lisbon itself).
- Is it worth going to Lisbon for the day? It is absolutely worth visiting Lisbon, even if you only have one day to spare. There’s a reason Lisbon draws in so many travelers each year – it’s an amazing & beautiful city! Even if you can only manage a day in Lisbon on your tour through Portugal, please don’t skip over it altogether!
- What is the best neighborhood to stay at in Lisbon? If you’re looking for a taste of Lisbon’s famous nightlife – you’ll want to book a stay in the Barrio Alto neighborhood of Lisbon. To be close to a lot of tourist destinations, the ideal neighborhood is the Alfama neighborhood. For the literal in-between of those two neighborhoods, check out the Baixa de Lisboa neighborhood.
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About the Author: Hi, I’m Jill! I am a biomedical & mechanical engineer who loves traveling during my free time. My hope is to help make it easier for others to plan their dream trips by providing firsthand experience from the places I’ve been! Read More.
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Lisbon looks beautiful, thank you for the helpful guide!
Thank you for reading! 🙂
Mmm, I’d love to have a pastel de nata right about now! Lisbon is already one of my bucket list destinations!
I hope you enjoy your visit! Thanks for reading 🙂
It might seem silly but I’m ALL about that tram! It looks like so much fun and it’s so cute! Thanks for the tips. Hoping to get there one day and see it all for myself.
Haha the tram is definitely a nice easy way to see the city! Thanks for reading 🙂
I’ve been to Lisbon a couple times, but still haven’t seen a fado show! It’s on my list for next time!
Definitely worth adding to your Lisbon bucket list! Thanks for reading 🙂
I’ve always wanted to visit Portugal! I love this one-day itinerary! Thanks for sharing your recommendations. I’ll be saving this for a future trip!
Thanks for reading! 🙂
I’ve spent tons of time in the Lisbon area, but still haven’t made it to the Fado show. I’ll have to add this to one of our upcoming trips.
Your itinerary for a day in Lisbon sounds like a lot of fun. I passed by Lisbon on my way to Sintra so I never had the chance to explore. Next time, I’ll check out the things you mentioned.
I’m a huge fan of one day travel guides and this one is PERFECT for Lisbon. I’ve never been to Portugal, but now I know where I’ll go when I do! Thanks!
I already wanted to visit Portugal, and now you’ve got me hooked. Your insider tips about the tram and the gelato are much appreciated. It looks beautiful and now I can’t wait to get there.