How to Spend 1 Day in Lisbon, Portugal: Highlights, Culture, and Iconic Eats

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Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and if your’e anything like me, you’re probably picturing yellow trams, orange roofs, and the ocean. While those are all certainly hallmarks of the city, Lisbon is also known for its rich history with the Moors, incredible food especially bacalhau and pastel de nata, and steep hilly streets. So. Many. Hills.

Lisbon is a super popular city to visit because flights into Portugal are often the most affordable here and because the city itself is safe, walkable, and budget-friendly for American travelers. It’s often a starting point for a European backpacking trip and a fantastic study abroad destination.

So while you certainly can spend a decent amount of time in Lisbon, you can also get A LOT done in just one day. So, without further ado, here’s how to spend 1 day in Lisbon, Portugal including the historic Alfama district, a walking tour to see all the highlights, and stops for the most iconic food in the city!

Map of your day in Lisbon

1 Day in Lisbon, Portugal Itinerary

Psssst before we dive in, just had to let you know that I created a quick 1-page download of this itinerary for easy reference later.

Just tell me where to send it, if you’d find that helpful!

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Breakfast in Alfama

No trip to Lisbon would be complete without a visit to the city’s oldest and most historic neighborhood: Alfama. This area was believed to have been founded by the Moors (Muslims of North African and the Iberian Peninsula) in the 8th century and had a prominent role in medieval trade. Now, you can enjoy the packed streets, yellow tram cars, and many views of the city.

Start with breakfast or coffee in Alfama. Feel free to wander around and pick somewhere that looks good to you.

Otherwise, I’d go with Copenhagen Coffee Lab for beverages or Augusto Lisboa for a full breakfast meal.

Morning Discovery of Alfama

Continue your morning exploring Alfama with a brief self-guided walking tour.

If you’re into castles, Castelo de Saint Jorges is the one in Lisbon. It was built by the Moors in the 11th century and features some great views of the surrounding city.

Tickets cost 15 € and are half price if you’re 25 years old or younger. With your admission you can access the national monument (the castle), the grounds which have gardens, and a 15-minute tour of the archeological site and camera obscura.

Personally, I would skip the castle unless you’re really into them or Moorish history. Only because there’s so much to see in Lisbon and if you only have a day, we’ve got to make it count. Still, I wanted to tell you about it and give you the option in case you’re reading this like, “yesssss, a castle…let me at it!”

Before you leave Alfama, don’t miss Miradouro da Graça.

Pro tip: Miradouro means “viewpoint” in Portuguese, so if you see a Miradouro sign, that means there’s a great view in that direction.

Miradouro da Graça is one of the most popular viewpoints in Lisbon, and for good reason. It’s only a 5 minute walk from Augusto Lisboa, 8 minutes from Copenhagen Coffee Lab, and 11 minutes from the castle. So really, it’s worth the stop no matter where you are in Alfama.

Walking tour of Lisbon

As you explore this next area of Lisbon, I’ll share how to do it in a DIY self-guided walking tour. However, if you prefer a guided walking tour to learn more about each stop as you go, here’s a highly recommended one that includes Alfama.

Make your way to A Ginjinha, just a 15 minute walk from Miradouro da Graça. This is a great first stop in this area to get you fueled up for the rest of the day.

A Ginjinha serves the namesake liquor made from the namesake berries grown in Portugal. They are a bit cherry-like, so if you’d like, grab a shot and start this day with a kick! (Don’t worry, it’s totally optional, of course!)

Right next door is the Church of Saint Dominic, which is an interesting and quick (and free!) stop. Namely, you’ll want to pop inside to see the stone walls that were once scorched from a fire. Rather than rebuild, they simply left the walls as is. So, now you can see the scorch marks inside the church.

Walk toward Rossio Square where there is a beautiful fountain, statue of Dom Pedro IV, a past king of Portugal, and black and white tiles where the wavy pattern makes them look like they are undulating.

Keep walking in the direction of the water (south) to Santa Justa Lift. This is an iconic elevator in the city that still works and can take you up to a viewpoint! While it costs a few Euros, the real reason to make the trek up the stairs instead is that the wait to ride the elevator can be insane, especially in the summer.

Instead, take the stairs in the back, or navigate to Chafariz do Carmo, a square at the top of the hill where the lift takes you up to.

From there, face the Archeological Museum and travel to the right of it on Tv. Dom Pedro de Menezes (that’s the street name) until you reach a set of stairs. Take them up or down for viewpoints of the city.

That’s where the Santa Justa Lift connects. It’s impossible to miss!

Lunch and dessert in Belém

For lunch, I recommend Taberna dos Ferreiros where they serve traditional Portuguese dishes like bacalhau, which is salted cod. Alternatively, Roger’s Restaurante has pizza and is within walking distance of our dessert stop, which is really the star of the show this afternoon.

Once you’re properly fed (but not too full), walk over to Pastéis de Belém where you get to try Portugal’s most famous food, the pastel de nata. This is an egg custard tart made of a flaky outer shell and the most creamy filling. It’ll be a miracle if you only eat one!

These desserts were created by the monastery nearby and sold in an attempt to raise funds to save the monastery. That recipe was passed down from generation to generation and sold from the first official pastel de nata shop in Portugal, Pastéis de Belém, in 1837!

Chances are you’ll be met with a queue, so hop in line and decide if you want to sit inside or take it to go. It’ll be delicious no matter what you decide.

I also recommend grabbing a little packet of cinnamon for a little extra pop!

Belém Highlights

This afternoon, assuming you haven’t eaten too many egg tarts and can still walk, I’m taking you to the Monument to the Discoveries first. This monument opened in 1960 to pay homage to Portuguese discoverers like Henry the Navigator.

There are 33 figures on the massive monument, so take some time to circle it and learn more about them.

This is a free monument, so you can just walk up to it. No entry fee or anything.

On the other hand, our next stop does have an option for a ticketed entry and that’s the Belém Tower. This tower was built in the 16th century and used as a ceremonial welcome marker for those arriving to Lisbon by boat. It was also the sending off point for discoverers.

The reason its so popular now is because of it’s unique Manueline style of architecture, which was a term coined after King Manuel I, who combined his favorite elements into one including Gothic, religious, and maritime symbols.

You can either walk around the tower from the outside to admire the chaotic Manueline elements, while enjoying the crashing waves on the steps, or you can enter the tower to walk along the walls on the outside. It costs 8,50 € to enter.

Fado Music Show with Port Wine

Time to slow it down and immerse ourselves culturally.

Fado music can be traced to the 1820s in Lisbon and was created by the lower class to convey their struggles. It’s a form of melancholy music with soulful lyrics, a traditional guitarist, 1-2 guitarras (10-12 string guitars), and sometimes additional musicians. The themes of fado music are the stories of the poor infused with maritime woes. You can hear an example in the song of choice for this blog post (at the top of the page).

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Another classic Portugal thing to do or in this case drink, is port wine. This wine originated in the Douro region of Portugal, which is in the northern provinces, and has three main distinct kinds — tawny, white, and ruby.

Naturally, you have to try some in Lisbon if you partake in alcohol.

In order to knock both of these out in one day since you’re limited on time, I recommend this fado music show that comes with port wine! It’s one of the most romantic things to do in Lisbon, and is especially nice when you’re traveling with your partner!

It only lasts 50 minutes, so you can squeeze it in easily before dinner.

Dinner at Farol with City Views

For dinner, I recommend Restaurante Farol de Cacilhas, which is across the Tagus estuary (the water). Not only can you try some fantastic seafood here, which Portugal is known for, but you’ll also get some great city views because you’re across from the main neighborhoods.

My favorite menu item was the Mozambique shrimp!

Be sure to head outside and catch the sunset. If you walk along the outside of the restaurant (to the west), it’ll take you to epic views of 25 de Abril Bridge, which was built by the same company as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. And I won’t lie, it looks exactly the same.

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FAQs about Lisbon and this itinerary

Can you do Lisbon in one day?

I hope I’ve shown you how you absolutely can do Lisbon in a day. As with all major cities, there’s never enough time as there’s always something new to discover. Still, I think you really can see a lot of Lisbon in just one day!

How to get to Lisbon

International flights fly into and out of the Lisbon International Airport aka LIS aka Humberto Delgado Airport. You’ll often find flights to Lisbon from New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Boston, and Miami.

You can also get there by train or bus if you’re traveling from elsewhere in Europe. I personally love the travel app, Rome2Rio, for mapping long distances in Europe as it provides all the options and links to the ticketing sites.

The best way to get around Lisbon

Lisbon public transit is easily accessible from all parts of the city on this itinerary. There are trams, buses, and the Metro.

To save on transit costs, consider purchasing a one day pass for 6,60 €, which works on all public transit.

Uber and Bolt are the two ride share apps that operate in Lisbon most reliably. Expect fares for 5-10 €.

I’d rely on public transportation for the first ¾ of this itinerary until you get to the Fado show. To get to and from dinner once you’ve finished the show, a ride share is likely most convenient.

Where to stay in Lisbon, Portugal

Depending on your greater itinerary beyond Lisbon, you may need somewhere to stay for a night or two.

I recommend Lisboa Sao Bento Hotel which is around $150+ per night. It’s in a great neighborhood, easily accessible via public transit, and breakfast is included.

You can also consider one of the hotels in Alfama if you want to be more surrounded by history.

I have more time, what should I do?

Personally, I would visit Sintra, one of the best day trips from Lisbon, to see Quinta da Regaliera or National Palace of Pena, both stunning mansions with unique architecture, gardens, and history.

Related read >> How to spend 7 days in Portugal and Spain

Another option would be to explore Lisbon more. They have some wonderful museums like the Coach Museum, Museum of Art, Archeology, and Technology, and the National Tile Museum (Portugal is known for their blue and white azulejo tiles).

Most importantly, no matter what you do, be sure to sample more pastel de nata…for research purposes 😉

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