Is Lisbon guide in one day It will allow you to visit several of the most famous places in the city, making the most of all the available time.
This city, with a decadent charm in some of its neighborhoods as the essential Alfama, is also known as the city of the seven hills, in which many of the best viewpoints of the city are located, with great panoramic views.
With this one-day guide in Lisbon, in addition to touring many of its most famous neighborhoods, markets and streets, you can leave the city having tasted its delicious Bélem cakes or with the sound of fado in your ears, after enjoying a unforgettable evening at some small local tavern.
Based on the experience of our trip to Lisbon in 4 days, we have designed a tour guide Lisbon in one day, designed for travelers who have little time or for your first day in the city. We start!
How to go from the airport to the center of Lisbon
The best ways to get to your hotel or downtown from Lisbon airport are several:
- Meter: From T1 you can take the metro (red line), from 6 in the morning until 1 in the morning, to the Saldanha stop, near the center.
The subway ride takes less than 20 minutes and the total price is less than 2 euros. From the Saldanha stop you can connect with the green line in Alameda and the blue line in Sao Sebastiao, which will bring you closer to the center. The frequency is about 10 minutes and the total journey to the center can take about half an hour. To buy the subway ticket, you must first acquire the card 7 hills or Long live Viagem. - Bus: From T1 the Airbus, which for about 4 euros will leave you in the city center in about 20 minutes. If you arrive at night you can take the 208 bus that stops in the center, although you must keep in mind that urban buses are more uncomfortable if you carry luggage and take longer. You can book the aerobus here in advance.
- Cab: For a price of about 20 euros it can be a good option if you stay away from the center.
- Private transport: With a price similar to the taxi, it is the most comfortable option since a driver will wait for you at the airport with a sign with your name, which will take you to your hotel. You can book it here.
For more information about the transfer you can check this post on how to go from Lisbon airport to downtown.
Recommended accommodation in Lisbon
During our stay in the city we stayed at This is Lisbon Hostel, located in the emblematic Alfama district, 5 minutes walk from the Rossio metro station.
This hostel has a perfect location for visit Lisbon in one day and stands out for its magnificent panoramic views of the city from its terrace, in addition to having a good breakfast and a great quality / price ratio.
For more information you can consult this post about the best neighborhoods and hotels to stay in Lisbon.
Tips to save in Lisbon
Other tips that will help you in your first contact in the city are:
- If you are going to travel a lot around the city by public transport it is advisable to buy a 24-hour ticket for a price of 6.15 euros. This ticket valid for bus, subway, tram and train can be more profitable than buying every time you travel a single ticket that costs 1.50 euros.
Although you may find it more profitable to book the Lisbon Card that includes public transport and several attractions such as the Jeronimos Monastery, the Belém Tower, the Santa Justa Elevator, etc ... - Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot. You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.
- A good option to know the history and curiosities of the city is to book this Free tour of Lisbon Free! and this free tour of the Alfama neighborhood, both with a guide in Spanish.
- To listen to fado it is better to avoid the tourist sites that charge you entrance or the food is very expensive or of poor quality.
A good alternative is to go for a drink in a tavern like To Tasca do Jaime, just in front of the Rua Graça stop, Tram 28.
For more recommendations you can consult this post of tips to travel to Lisbon essential.
Lisbon guide in one day
Is Lisbon route in one day Start arriving early in the morning to the viewpoint of Portas do Sol, our favorite viewpoint of the city. From the terrace of Portas do Sol you will enjoy incredible views of the old town, with the Tagus river in the background, while having delicious breakfast Pastéis de Bélem, with a good cup of coffee.
Portas do Sol viewpoint
Very close to this viewpoint, going down a small slope, you will reach the viewpoint of Santa Lucia, with views a little worse than the viewpoint of Portas de Sol, but with a nicer terrace, full of beautiful tile murals.
A good option to explore some of the best viewpoints in Lisbon is to book this guided tour in Spanish.
If you are not staying in the Alfama neighborhood, you can take the historic Tram 28, which passes through most tourist districts of Lisbon and leaves you at the Largo das Portas do Sol stop, very close to the viewpoint.
After enjoying the views of the city, you can follow the route through the labyrinthine and steep slopes of the Alfama neighborhood, one of the best things to do in Lisbon.
In the Alfama neighborhood, located between the Castle of San Jorge and the banks of the Tagus River, you will find the true essence of Lisbon, in the charm of its old houses with its iron balconies full of clothes and taverns, where to eat cod while listening to the best fado, and local stores.
The best way to enjoy the neighborhood is to go down in the form of S, forgetting the map, until you reach the edge of the Tagus.
Alfama neighborhood
A good option to get to know the Alfama neighborhood better is to book this tour with a guide in Spanish.
The Lisbon route in one day continue on foot to the Cathedral of Lisbon or La Sé, passing before the beautiful facade of the Casa dos Bicos. La Sé from the 12th century is the most important and oldest church in Lisbon, which has also survived several earthquakes and where it is worth entering to see the cloister and the treasure. When you leave the visit you can wait for Tram 15 to take a typical photo of the tram with the cathedral in the background, one of the city's best-known postcards.
Lisbon Cathedral
After the visit to the cathedral you can approach the beautiful pedestrian street Rua Augusta, where you can walk until you reach the Plaza del Comercio. This street is the main one of the Baixa neighborhood, where in addition to shopping in its stores, you can have a drink in one of the restaurant terraces, to finish gathering strength and continue the route.
At the end of the street you will cross the Triumphal Arch that will welcome you to the Plaza del Comercio, the most emblematic of Lisbon, which stands out for its portico in the form of OR, located on the banks of the Tagus, where you can also see the bronze statue of King Joseph I located in the center and the Arch of Augusta or Arc de Triomphe of the Rua Augusta, from which you have magnificent views of the square.
Commerce Square
In the same Plaza del Comercio you can take tram 15 that will take you to the Belém neighborhood in less than half an hour, and that is the next stop in Lisbon in one day. Another great option to get to this neighborhood is to book this boat trip on the Tagus from the Commerce Square that will leave you at the Belém Tower.
At this point, if you have not eaten in any of the restaurants in the La Baixa neighborhood Da Prata 52 or the Paladarium, you can try a good cod à Brás in the restaurant Jeronimos, near the monastery. If none convinces you, you can consult this list of restaurants to eat in Lisbon.
And of course, for dessert we strongly recommend a good portion of freshly baked Belém pastries in the Pastry shop or Pastéis de Belém, which are undoubtedly the best in Lisbon.
Bélem cakes
After lunch you can approach the magnificent Jeronimos Monastery in the Barrio de Bélem, one of the most essential places to visit in Lisbon. Inside the monastery, a World Heritage Site, its cloister stands out, which you cannot miss and that you are safe, will be one of the cherries of the trip.
A good option if you have little time and want to know the history better is to book this guided tour of the most interesting places in the center of Lisbon or this tour of Lisbon that includes the Belém neighborhood, both with a guide in Spanish.
If you don't want to take a guided tour, you can save your queues by booking this quick access ticket.
Visit the Jeronimos Monastery on the Lisbon route in one day
After the visit to the monastery, you can walk to the edge of the Tagus River where the huge Monument to the Discoveries is located. This skull-shaped monument is 52 meters high and was built to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator.
In addition, from the top of the monument you can enjoy good views and see a beautiful mosaic located on the ground, at the foot of the monument.
Monument of the Discoveries
The next stop of Lisbon in one day It is the Tower of Bélem, which is located a short walk along the banks of the Tagus from the Monument to the Discoveries. This 16th century fortress, a World Heritage Site, was built to protect the entrance to the port and although interesting, for this first day, the visit inside the tower is not considered essential.
Belem's tower
Near the Belém Tower is the Doca do Bom Sucesso port, where you can book a boat trip at sunset, one of the best excursions in Lisbon and one of the things we are sure of, you will not forget on this trip.
Tagus River Cruise
After the boat trip you can return to the city center with the same tram 15, which will leave you at the Commerce Square.
And as we know that not everyone likes boats, if this is your case, a great alternative would be to enjoy an incredible sunset over the Tagus River in the Commerce Square.
And to end the day, at night you can approach for dinner or listen to the Chiado and Barrio Alto neighborhood, going up the Elevador de Santa Justa, which will also give you beautiful views of the center while you are going up.
Santa Justa Elevator
Keep in mind that some of the most recommended restaurants in that area are the Tasca Mastai or the Duque Restaurant and if after dinner you feel like it, you can have a drink in one of the many bars and taverns in this neighborhood, like Artis.
If you have one more day you can follow the Lisbon guide in two days.
Map of the route through Lisbon in one day
Do you want to organize a trip to Lisbon?
Get it here:
The best offers of Flights to Lisbon here
The best hotels at the best prices in Lisbon here
Book the best tours and excursions in / from Lisbon in Spanish here
Book your Airport⇆Lisboa transfer here
Lisbon guide in two days
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
Rent your car in Portugal at the best price here
The best offers of Flights to Lisbon here
The best hotels at the best prices in Lisbon here
Book the best tours and excursions in / from Lisbon in Spanish here
Book your Airport⇆Lisboa transfer here
Lisbon guide in two days
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
Rent your car in Portugal at the best price here
