How to Spend 24 Hours in Lisbon – An Easy 1-Day Itinerary

Posted on July 14, 2024 | Julie J. |

Last Updated on August 16, 2024

Planning a trip to Lisbon, but only have one day? Then, you’ve come to the right place!

My boyfriend and I have just gotten back from an 8-day trip to Portugal starting in Lisbon. We spent our first day exploring Lisbon and found it was enough to see everything we wanted.

Of course, there’s always more to see and day trips to take (we took a day trip to Sintra on our last day to visit Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle), but if you’re short on time, one day in Lisbon, Portugal is totally doable.

We spent our day strolling around the historic center, visiting churches, and sampling some local food. I’ve listed below all the places we’ve visited in order so you can just follow along this 1-day Lisbon itinerary. I’ve included some alternatives as well so you have more options.

We focused on the historic center to not waste time on transportation. But you could also skip a few of these places to go to Belém, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and outer district of Lisbon. There, you should see the iconic Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery – and also try a pastel de nata at Pastéis de Belém believed to be where they originated.

On your way back, stop by Lx Factory an old factory turned into a cultural hub where you’ll find restaurants, shops, and events happening throughout the year.

You also have the option to book a half-day walking tour or tuk tuk tour if you’d rather visit with a guide or take a hop-on hop-off bus.

Should you get the Lisbon Card? The Lisbon card or Lisboa Card covers 51 museums, monuments, and places of interest, 12 of which with a fast track pass, as well as free public transport on the Lisbon Metro subway, buses, and trams. The 24-hour Lisbon Card costs 27 euros. We didn’t take it for this 1 day itinerary in lisbon but if you want to include Belém or more museums to yours then consider getting it.

Let’s dive right in with the best Lisbon 1 day itinerary!

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HELPFUL WEBSITES TO HELP YOU PLAN YOUR TRIP

FLIGHT DEALS

HOTEL DEALS

CAR RENTAL

TRAVEL INSURANCE

ACTIVITIES

VACATION RENTALS

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Table of Contents show

Breakfast or Brunch at Hygge Kaffe

We started our 1 day in Lisbon itinerary with brunch at Hygge Kaffe on Ribeiro Street. It’s a popular place with several locations in Lisbon serving cakes, sandwiches, salads, and breakfast/brunch plates.

The food was incredible and the portions were enough to keep us full until dinner (with a few treats in between!).

Avenida da Liberdade

We then walked towards downtown Lisbon along Avenida da Liberdade. It made me think of the Champs Elysées in Paris. If you want to shop luxury brands then this is the place to be.

It’s surrounded by small streets and at some spots, you can see one of the iconic yellow trams on its way up. Don’t hesitate to make a couple of small detours to explore.

Bairro Alto

Start to climb (or take the Glória Funicular) up to the Bairro Alto neighborhood where you’ll be greeted by the São Pedro de Alcântara miradouro with gorgeous views over the city center.

Sitting on top of one of Lisbon’s many hills, Bairro Alto is the city’s first planned district (built in the 16th century), with a small grid of narrow streets. It was located outside the medieval wall that used to be near the two churches in Praça Luís de Camões.

Today it comes alive at night with many bars, fado restaurants, and frequent street parties

Get lost in the winding street and don’t miss stopping by the beautiful Church of Saint Roch (Igreja de São Roque), home to the world’s most expensive chapel, the Luis de Camoes Plaza, and Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo, Lisbon’s most photographed street.

Carmo Convent

Our next stop was the ruins of the Carmo Convent (the entrance fee is 7 euros) which was partly destroyed by the 1755 earthquake. The roof collapsed but the Gothic arches still stand with most of the architectural details dating back to the 14th century with only a few additions, like the windows, made in the 16th and 18th centuries.

There’s also a small museum there with local artifacts and art pieces that were left intact after the earthquake.

Santa Justa Lift

Right behind Carmo Convent, you’ll find the famous Santa Justa elevator. You can take it for the experience if you want but it will only save you a minute or two. Most people take it to avoid having to go up to Bairro Alto but since you’re already there, going down is pretty easy. Note that the line can be long if you do decide to take it.

We decided to skip it and within a few minutes, we were down on Aurea Street.

Praça de Comércio and the Rua Augusta Arch

Arco do Triunfo, Lisbon — Arco do Triunfo

We then walked towards the riverfront of the iconic Tagus River to check out the Praça de Comércio and the Rua Augusta Arch with a small detour to Rossio Square (Praça Dom Pedro IV), one of the main plazas in Lisbon, lined with shops and restaurants.

The Rua Augusta Arch was built in the 18th century to commemorate the earthquake that destroyed much of Lisbon. You can go up to the top for a small fee. We decided to skip it as there are already a lot of viewpoints on this itinerary.

The plaza is lined with galleries, restaurants, and shops with great views over the Tagus River and historic buildings.

Time Out Market

Following the Tagus River, head next to Time Out Market, a food court with stalls from some of the best restaurateurs in Lisbon.

It should be around lunchtime when you get there so you can sample some food. They offer a wide variety of food stalls from Portuguese classic dishes to fusion to Asian.

Some of the must-try traditional foods are bacalhau (salted cod), Pastel de nata (custard tart), Polvo à Lagareiro (octopus with olive oil and potatoes), Porco preto (Iberian black pork), among many others.

Pink Street

On your way back from the Time Out Market (or on your way there), you can pass by the Instagram-worthy pink street. The street is lined with a couple of restaurants, the road has been painted pink, and colorful umbrellas are hung above.

In my opinion, it’s only really worth passing by if you want to snap a few pics.

Lisbon Cathedral

Next on our Lisbon itinerary was the Lisbon Cathedral (Sé de Lisboa) built in the 12th century. The architecture is mainly Romanesque with additions from later periods.

There’s a small fee to visit the cloister and treasury (worth it in my opinion) where you’ll find many treasures. You can also get to a nice viewpoint.

Don’t miss spotting the iconic tram 28 making its way up towards the cathedral.

Fado Museum or Tile Museum

If you like museums, you can walk next to the Fado Museum (Museo do Fado) or take the bus (or a cab) to the Tile Museum (National Azulejo Museum). It’s unlikely you’ll have time for both though.

There are plenty of other museums in Lisbon that you can visit based on your interests.

With one day in Lisbon, you should be able to fit one museum into your schedule.

Castelo de São Jorge / Saint-George Castle

Get ready for some more climbing as you’ll be headed next to Saint-George Castle, one of Lisbon’s most famous landmarks. It sits atop the highest hill in Lisbon and its origins date back to the 5th century.

You’ll get a beautiful view over all of Lisbon from the park. You can climb on top of the towers and protective wall as well. The park around it is charming with many trees and peacocks roaming around. It will take you at least an hour to visit.

We didn’t have to wait long to get the tickets, but if you’re there during the busy season, you should get them online beforehand.

Alfama District

Our final stop for the day was the lively Alfama District. Technically the Lisbon Cathedral and São Jorge Castle are in the Alfama District, but we passed by the main streets going there, while the beauty of the Alfama District lies in its small streets.

So we spent the rest of the afternoon strolling around and getting lost in the maze-like streets. We stopped at a lovely bar with outdoor seating for some green wine and sangria, two must-try drinks in Portugal.

Don’t miss stopping by Miradouro de Santa Luzia, one of the most popular viewpoints in Lisbon, featuring incredible views over Lisbon.

For dinner, there are plenty of restaurants to choose from in the area. We opted for tapas at the popular Catedrais Restaurant.

We then called it a night and went back to our accommodation. You could stay there and enjoy the nightlife or, depending on what time you finish your day, you could go on a catamaran sunset cruise, a popular thing to do in Lisbon.

Travel Tips for Visiting Lisbon in 1 Day

With only one day, you’ll have to skip places and pick what you really want to see. I would advise trying to avoid “Instagrammable” places and focus on more authentic sights.
Take the time to get lost in the small streets.
We did everything on foot as every place visited was close to one another and almost everywhere we passed by was worth seeing – but beware that it’s a lot of walking. If walking is not your thing I advise you to take one of the hop on hop off busses or tram lines.
Portuguese people usually speak good English and/or Spanish. You still might want to learn a few basic words like hello and thank you.
Most monuments and museums are closed on Mondays.
Book a hotel in the center to be near most of the sights.

Lisbon FAQ

Can I see Lisbon in 1 day?

If you want to see everything then 1 day is not enough, however, you can manage to see a lot of the top sights within a day, especially if you focus on the city center. This Lisbon itinerary can help you plan the perfect day exploring the city.

Is it worth going to Lisbon for the day?

Yes! Even if you just have one day to visit Lisbon, it is very much worth it. Lisbon is gorgeous and has a lot to offer.

Is Lisbon walkable?

Yes, Lisbon is walkable. We did everything on foot, and even if it’s pretty hilly at times, it was just fine. Just make sure to bring good walking shoes and take breaks.

Is it expensive in Lisbon?

Portugal in general and even Lisbon are pretty affordable for travelers. We spent on average 60 euros per person per day while there (including accommodations).

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