How To Spend One Day In Lisbon: The PERFECT Itinerary For 2025
Heading to Lisbon but only have one day? We’ve got you covered. Read on to find out everything you need to do in this one-day Lisbon itinerary.
Lisbon is one of our favourite cities in the whole of Europe, with beautiful architecture and so much to do. If you only have one day to spend in Lisbon, don’t worry — there’s plenty you can see and do to get a real feel for this vibrant city.
After spending two weeks exploring every inch of this city, we’ve created the perfect one-day itinerary for a first-timer so that you cover all the main sites, without wasting time in long queues.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through a perfect day in Lisbon, highlighting the must-visit spots and giving you a taste of what makes this city so special. Read on to find out all of our insider tips and the best way to explore the city to maximise your time!
One Day Lisbon Itinerary Overview
➡️ Morning: Explore Baixa & Chiado, including Praça do Comércio, Santa Justa Elevator, Carmo Convent, and Rossio Square.
➡️ Afternoon: Explore Alfama, including São Jorge Castle, Miradouro de Santa Luzia, and a tram ride.
➡️ Evening: Dinner at either Time Out Market or LX Factory, followed by a sunset sailboat cruise.
One Day Lisbon Itinerary Map
Morning: Baixa & Chiado
Spend your morning exploring the historical centre of Lisbon, including the famous Baixa and Chiado districts. This area is easily walkable and offers a vibrant atmosphere to start your day.
Breakfast Stop
For a hearty breakfast, with good coffee and options ranging from a full English to pancakes and waffles, head to Brunch Café.
Praça Do Comércio
Start your day at Praça do Comércio, Lisbon’s most iconic and grand public square. Opening up onto the Tagus Riverbank, with three sides surrounded by the elegant and distinctive yellow buildings Lisbon is so famous for, there is no better place to start your day in Lisbon.
Praça do Comércio was historically the site of the royal palace, before being destroyed in the devastating 1755 earthquake. If you look at the tops of the yellow buildings, you’ll see they are not level, highlighting the damage left by the earthquake.
The impressive Arco da Rua Augusta leads into the city’s main pedestrian street and acts as the entryway to the city for the sailors who used to stop there.
Spend 30 minutes admiring Praça do Comércio, the views over the Tagus River, and soaking up the vibrant atmosphere.
Santa Justa Elevator
Your next stop of the day will be the Santa Justa Elevator. From Praça do Comércio, wander under the Arco da Rua Augusta and continue to follow Rua Augusta deeper into the city.
Rua Augusta is a popular pedestrian street lined with souvenir shops, cafés and restaurants. Stop on the way to watch the street performers and grab a quick drink if needed.
As you continue down Rua Augusta, keep an eye on the road names as you’ll want to turn left onto Rua de Santa Justa. As you turn the corner, you’ll immediately see the incredible structure of the Santa Justa Elevator.
Santa Justa Elevator was originally built in 1902 and it’s impressive structure was originally just a way for Lisbon’s residents to navigate the city’s hills. Today, it is primarily a tourist attraction.
Whilst you can ride the elevator to the top, we would not recommend it if you only have one day in Lisbon. The queues are incredibly lengthy and it would mean missing out on other spots. Regardless, it is still an impressive structure that you need to see during this itinerary.
Spend 30 minutes wandering down Rua Augusta and seeing the Santa Justa Elevator
Rossio Square
From Santa Justa Elevator, walk 100m to the end of Rua Áurea, where the road will open up onto the beautiful Rossio Square, also known as Praça Dom Pedro IV.
Rossio Square is one of the most beautiful squares in the whole of Lisbon in our opinion. With a bustling and vibrant atmosphere, it’s been welcoming people for centuries.
The square is known for its distinctive wave-patterned cobblestone pavement and the two impressive fountains that flank the statue of Dom Pedro IV. Surrounded by cute cafés, shaded benches, and beautiful buildings, Rossio Square is the perfect place to spend a few minutes soaking up the beauty of Lisbon.
Spend 15 minutes enjoying the atmosphere of Rossio Square
Church of Saint Dominic
The Church of Saint Dominic, or the Igreja de São Domingos is conveniently located just around the corner from Rossio Square. It’s a flat two-minute walk to reach it.
This Church is one of the most unique, sombre, and creepy sites in Lisbon. From the outside, the Church is rather plain and unassuming. Stepping inside, however, you’ll be met with burnt orange walls and tall charred columns. This church is said to be the most cursed place in Lisbon.
Originally built in the 13th century, this church was once used for royal weddings. However, in 1506, under the encouragement of the priest, over 1900 Jews were tortured and killed in the church over a three-day period. This marks one of the darkest episodes in Portuguese history.
Since then, the church was partially destroyed in the 1531 earthquake, rebuilt, and then was almost completely destroyed in the 1755 earthquake. The church was once again rebuilt, only to be overcome by fire in 1959, the remnants of which are still visible throughout the church.
Today, the partially restored church retains a unique, haunting beauty, with its damaged yet majestic interior adding to its solemn atmosphere and historical significance.
Spend 15 minutes inside the Church, taking in its atmosphere and significance.
Carmo Convent
It takes 10 minutes to walk from Saint Dominic Church to Carmo Convent, up a short hill.
Carmo Convent is located in one of our favourite squares in Lisbon: Largo do Carmo. It’s a small but very beautiful square, lined with trees and cafés, and has a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere.
Carmo Convent was founded in 1389 and was once the grandest in Lisbon before being largely destroyed by the 1755 earthquake. Its roofless nave, open to the sky, stands as a hauntingly beautiful reminder of the devastation.
Today, the ruins serve as an archaeological museum, housing artifacts from various periods of Portuguese history.
Spend 1 hour exploring the convent ruins and museum.
Lunch Stop
For a light lunch and good coffee, head to Fábrica Coffee Roasters, or if you want something a little more substantial, head to Duque restaurant closer by.
Afternoon: Alfama
Your afternoon in Lisbon will be spent exploring the beautiful Alfama district, one of the oldest and most romantic districts in Lisbon. With narrow cobblestone alleyways, colourful houses, and incredible views, this is one of the best areas in Lisbon, in our opinion.
Tram 12
Yes, it’s time! Start your afternoon with a ride on one of Lisbon’s iconic yellow trams. We suggest Tram 12 as it is much less busy and far more peaceful than the famous Tram 28.
Catch the tram from the Praça da Figueira stop, staying on until you reach Largo das Portas do Sol. This will take you through the most beautiful streets and is honestly the most enjoyable experience.
How To Buy Tram Tickets
A single tram ticket can be purchased from the driver on board for €3, though you will need to make sure you have small change.
Alternatively, purchase a 24-hour ticket from any metro station for €6.80. This includes all buses, metro, and trams for the 24-hour period. For this one day itinerary, this will work out best value. There is a metro station at Rossio Square, near to the Tram 12 Praça da Figueira stop.
São Jorge Castle
The first place you’re going to visit during your afternoon in Lisbon is São Jorge Castle. Towering in the hills above Lisbon, you’ve likely already spotted the imposing structure of the castle.
Tip: São Jorge Castle is the most visited attraction in Lisbon and queues can be VERY long, particularly during the summer months. We would not bother visiting unless you’ve got a skip-the-line ticket.
Whilst São Jorge Castle itself isn’t particularly interesting to wander around, it does offer some of the BEST views in the whole of Lisbon. I mean, there’s got to be a reason it’s so popular, right?!
The best thing to do in São Jorge Castle is to walk the castle walls. This is so much fun to do and the views are spectacular. There aren’t always guard rails and the drop can be quite large, so watch your footing if you do head up there. Plus, there are several peacocks living in the castle grounds which was definitely a highlight for us!
Spend 2 hours exploring the São Jorge Castle and walking the walls.
Miradouro de Santa Luzia
Next up on your Lisbon Itinerary is one of our favourite spots in the whole city: Miradouro de Santa Luzia. Located just at the base of the road to the castle, this viewpoint is honestly stunning.
With a beautiful tiled pergola covered in trailing wisteria in the most stunning shade of lilac, this is the perfect place to rest and take in the romantic atmosphere of Alfama.
The viewpoint is located in a little garden, blooming with pink and purple flowers throughout the spring and summer. It has such a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere and the views over the city and the River Tagus are incredible.
Once you’ve spent a moment taking in the view, you can head around the corner to Miradouro das Portas do Sol. This gives an entirely different, but equally stunning, view over Lisbon. As Lisbon is famed for its views, you absolutely can’t spend a day in the city without going to a viewpoint.
Spend 30 minutes relaxing and taking in the views.
Lisbon Cathedral
From the viewpoints, head to Lisbon Cathedral, or Sé de Lisboa. Located just a 5-minute downhill walk from Miradouro de Santa Luzia, it’s hard to miss its imposing yet beautiful structure. Lisbon Cathedral is the oldest Church in Lisbon, dating back over 800 years.
It would be easy to mistake Lisbon Cathedral for a castle, with its tall towers and turrets, however, as you step inside you’ll realise the sheer scale of this building. With roads and buildings surrounding the cathedral, it’s hard to really appreciate how big it is until you go inside.
The Cathedral now costs €5 to enter, which includes a visit to the museum, naves, and ascending to the high choir for views over the cathedral.
Spend 30-60 minutes exploring Lisbon Cathedral.
Other Things To Do In Alfama
If you’ve got a little more time on your hands, or want to customise this itinerary, here are a few more things you could do in Alfama.
Evening: Market and Sunset Sailboat Cruise
I’m so excited to share with you the plans for your one evening in Lisbon! With a mix of vibrant markets, relaxing sailboats, and cocktails to finish, this is the perfect way to end your day in Lisbon.
Time Out Market
Your evening will start with dinner at one of the most famous and vibrant markets in Lisbon: Time Out Market. It is a 20-minute walk from Lisbon Cathedral to Time Out Market, but it’s a beautiful one.
Whilst you can take a taxi, we’d highly recommend walking in order to soak up the evening atmosphere and wander through now-familiar neighbourhoods and sites such as Praça do Comércio.
Plus, you’ll get to wander down one of Lisbon’s most famous streets, Pink Street. Pink Street, or Rua Nova do Carvalho, is named as such due to the bright pink paint covering the road.
This is also the place to be for the party lovers as it is at the centre of Lisbon’s nightlife scene. However, we’re going to continue past it for now, though feel free to head back later!
Time Out Market is located just next to Pink Street and is filled with so many top-notch restaurants, cafés, and bars. Music is played and the atmosphere comes alive in the evening. The market has specialist, fresh, and local Portuguese cuisine, as well as worldwide flavours, meaning there will be something for everyone.
We highly recommend visiting Time Out Market on every Lisbon itinerary due to it’s vibrant atmosphere and delicious food. Plus, the market style makes it the ideal place to try your first Portuguese food if you’re yet to do so!
Spend 1-2 hours in Time Out Market, though be sure to be done in time for your next activity!
Dinner Stop
Explore all the flavours of Time Out Market for your dinner. Good options include Miguel Castro E Silva, Marlene Vieira, and Monte Mar.
Sunset Sailboat Cruise
This is the number one thing we recommend doing in Lisbon! Honestly, you won’t regret it. Booking a sunset sailboat cruise is the most incredible experience in Lisbon.
Imagine yourself perched on the edge of a sailboat, cruising down the Tagus River, watching the city go by, with the sun setting over the 25 de Abril Bridge and dolphins surfing close by. It doesn’t get better than this.
This is also a great way to see more of the city. Whilst one day in Lisbon doesn’t allow sufficient time to visit Belém, you’ll cruise past the Belém Tower and Monument to the Discoveries, as well as Praça do Comércio. It gives a really unique and incredible view of the city that most tourists will never get.
You’ll need to take a taxi from Time Out Market to Doca de Alcântara for your cruise.
LX Factory
If you’ve still got some energy left following the sailboat cruise, or would rather skip it (though I don’t know why you would!), then it’s time to head to LX factory. Located close to the dock, LX Factory is easily walkable.
LX Factory is home to Lisbon’s trendiest bars and restaurants, with amazing food and a vibrant atmosphere. Once an industrial complex, LX Factory has been transformed into this artistic space, with installations on every corner.
End your day in Lisbon at the LX Rooftop for a drink in a cozy atmosphere, with good music and great views.
Where To Stay For One Night In Lisbon
There are so many incredible places to stay in Lisbon it can be hard to choose, particularly if you’ve only got one night in the city. We would highly recommend basing yourself in the Baixa or Chiado district right in the city centre. This will allow you to maximise your time exploring and give you the best experience overall.
Where To Stay In Baixa & Chiado
✅ Best Budget Option – Lisbon Lounge Hostel – Offering both private and dorm rooms , with a kitchen and lounge area and a welcoming atmosphere.
✅ Best Mid-Range Option – The 7 Hotel – A stylish hotel offering a comfortable stay in the heart of Lisbon, just a few minutes walk from all the major attractions.
✅ Best Luxury Option – Pousada de Lisboa – An incredibly luxurious boutique hotel located right on the edge of Praça do Comércio with exceptional service.
How To Get Around Lisbon In One Day
With just one day in Lisbon, it is important you maximise your time and don’t waste too much time commuting between places. Whilst Lisbon is a large and sprawling city, the main sites are easily visitable by foot.
For most of this itinerary, we would recommend following the map and walking between destinations. This is the best way to discover Lisbon, take in it’s vibrant atmosphere, and discover hidden gems you wouldn’t find otherwise.
Top Tip – Download maps.me and the Lisbon map for offline navigation so you never get lost!
We have indicated in the itinerary where you should use a tram (though this is also partly for the experience!) and we have also included one taxi ride. This is in order to make the most of your time when distances between places are a little longer.
It is worth noting that Lisbon is a very hilly city and those with mobility issues may need to take public transport and/or taxis more frequently. However, the majority of this itinerary does not climb steep hills by foot.
FAQs
Do you still have some questions about your Lisbon one-day itinerary? We’ve rounded up the most frequently asked questions below.
Is One Day In Lisbon Enough?
Honestly, not in the slightest. Lisbon is a big, beautiful city with so much to do. We would recommend spending an absolute minimum of 3 days in the city, though 5 days in Lisbon would be preferable. This would also allow time to visit the nearby palaces of Sintra, which we would highly recommend.
However, one day in Lisbon is better than no days in Lisbon, and it’s definitely worth visiting even if it is just for a day! By following this itinerary, you’ll make the most of your time and see all the main attractions in a logical order.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Lisbon?
Lisbon is a great destination all year round. However, as it is quite a popular city to visit, we’d recommend visiting in shoulder season (May-June and September-October) when there are fewer crowds and the temperature is still pleasant. Winter temperatures also tend to be mild.
Our favourite time to visit Lisbon is in late May to early June. The weather is beautiful, and all the flowers and jacarandas are in bloom throughout the city. It is honestly stunning.
Is Lisbon Expensive For Tourists?
Lisbon is one of the most affordable capital cities in Western Europe, with comparatively lower accommodation, food, attraction and transport costs. It is relatively easy to visit on a budget. However it is worth noting that costs are gradually rising and accommodation costs are significantly higher than they were a few years ago.
Is Lisbon Safe?
Lisbon is a very safe city, with low crime rates. We never felt unsafe during our time in Lisbon and have never heard of any other travellers who have had issues. However, we would recommend exercising the same caution as you would in every other major city, including keeping an eye on your belongings and not going out late at night by yourself.
Wrap Up: How To Spend One Day In Lisbon
Lisbon is one of the best cities in Portugal, with so many different areas to explore. If you’re limited on time and only have a day to visit Lisbon, don’t worry because there is still plenty you can squeeze in.
From the romantic Alfama district and the iconic Lisbon castle, to the famous yellow trams and beautiful architecture, this itinerary gives you a taste of everything Lisbon has to offer. We guarantee you’ll want to extend your stay and see even more of this incredible city!
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