Lisbon in one day is enough to experience many of the city’s most famous neighbourhoods and landmarks if you plan your route carefully.
If you are visiting Lisbon for the first time, the historic Old Town is one of the best places to begin. Start in Alfama, one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods, where narrow streets, colourful buildings and traditional houses create a very different atmosphere from the wider streets of modern Lisbon.
Walk towards Sé Cathedral, one of Lisbon’s most recognizable landmarks, and take some time to explore the surrounding streets. Alfama is also home to several beautiful viewpoints, where you can stop and enjoy views across the rooftops and towards the Tagus River.
Because the streets of the Old Town can be steep and winding, give yourself plenty of time to explore. You do not need to see every street to enjoy the area — some of the best experiences come from simply wandering through the neighbourhood and discovering small squares, viewpoints and traditional corners along the way.
After exploring the Old Town, make your way towards Praça do Comércio, one of the most impressive squares in central Lisbon. Located beside the Tagus River, the large open square is surrounded by elegant yellow buildings and is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.
Take a walk across the square and towards the riverfront, where you can enjoy the open views and take some photographs. The square is also an excellent starting point for exploring other parts of central Lisbon.
From Praça do Comércio, you can continue towards Rua Augusta and the busy streets of Baixa. If you are planning your day carefully, this area works well as a transition between Lisbon’s historic Old Town and the city’s central shopping and sightseeing districts.
From Praça do Comércio, continue into Baixa, Lisbon’s traditional city centre. Walk along Rua Augusta, one of the best-known pedestrian streets in the area, and continue towards Rossio Square.
Along the way, you will find shops, cafés, restaurants and historic buildings. You can also explore the area around the Santa Justa Lift, a famous Lisbon landmark with its distinctive iron structure.
After Baixa, continue towards Chiado, a lively neighbourhood known for its cafés, shops, historic buildings and cultural atmosphere. Chiado is a good place to take a break, enjoy a Portuguese coffee or simply watch the city go by before continuing your sightseeing.
One of the best parts of exploring Lisbon is discovering the city’s miradouros, or viewpoints. Because Lisbon is built across several hills, there are many places where you can stop and enjoy panoramic views over the historic neighbourhoods and the Tagus River.
Miradouro da Senhora do Monte is one of the highest viewpoints and offers impressive views across Lisbon. Miradouro de Santa Luzia, in Alfama, is another popular stop, particularly because of its attractive surroundings and views over the old neighbourhood.
You can also visit Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, which provides a different perspective over central Lisbon and the castle area.
If you only have one day, you do not necessarily need to visit every viewpoint. Choose one or two that fit naturally into your route and spend a little time enjoying the view.
If you are planning Lisbon in one day, Belém is worth considering because several important sights are close together.
Some of the highlights include Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery and the Padrão dos Descobrimentos. You can walk along the riverfront and take photographs of the monuments before stopping for one of Lisbon’s famous Pastéis de Belém.
Belém is a little further from the historic centre, so allow enough time for travelling there and exploring the area. If you are trying to see a lot of Lisbon in one day, planning your route in advance can make a big difference.
If you only have one day in Lisbon, a private tuk tuk tour can be an easy way to see several of the city’s historic areas and viewpoints without spending the entire day walking up and down Lisbon’s steep streets.
A tuk tuk can take you through areas such as the Old Town and provide an opportunity to see viewpoints and important landmarks along the way. A private tour also gives you more flexibility to enjoy the city at a comfortable pace.
For visitors who want to explore the historic centre, a 2-hour Lisbon tuk tuk tour can be a practical option. If Belém is high on your list, you can also choose a private Belém tuk tuk tour focused on that part of the city.
The best tour depends on how much time you have and which parts of Lisbon you most want to see.
Planning your route before you arrive can help you make the most of your limited time.
Morning:
Start in Alfama and the Old Town, visit Sé Cathedral and explore the historic streets. Stop at one of the nearby viewpoints before continuing towards Baixa and Praça do Comércio.
Afternoon:
Explore Rua Augusta, Rossio and Chiado, then continue towards Belém if you want to see the famous riverside monuments. Allow time to visit the main sights and enjoy a Pastel de Belém.
Evening:
Return towards central Lisbon for dinner. If you still have energy, finish the day at a viewpoint and enjoy the city as the lights begin to come on.
You will not be able to see every attraction in Lisbon in one day, but with a sensible route you can experience many of the city’s most memorable neighbourhoods, viewpoints and landmarks.
Explain honestly that one day isn’t enough to see everything, but it is enough to experience many highlights.
If you want to see several of Lisbon’s historic areas comfortably in a short time, take a look at our Lisbon tuk tuk tours.
If you’re short on time, a private tuk-tuk tour is a convenient way to explore several of Lisbon’s historic neighborhoods, viewpoints and landmarks in one day- Private tuk-tuk tour
End with a natural recommendation to plan the day around the areas they most want to see.
Visit the official Visit Lisboa website for more information
