Lisbon is a city that deserves several days of attention. It has various points of interest and unique characteristics that make it an excellent travel destination. Even so, if you only have one day, it’s still worth exploring. Discover a perfect itinerary for a fabulous day in the Portuguese capital.
Lisbon is magical. The Portuguese capital is the perfect place to live a dream day, where you can discover the best features of its heritage, gastronomy, and traditions.
As a city with many monuments and attractions, if you plan to explore it in just one day, you will need to make some decisions about the best itinerary and, of course, have a tourist map of this magnificent city in hand.
The most interesting places in the Portuguese capital can be visited in one day if you organize them properly. And believe me—you won’t want to miss the most beautiful spots in the city.
An additional advantage is that, as a visitor from a Portuguese-speaking country, you won’t face the language barriers common in other destinations. This makes it easier to ask for information on the street or follow signs for buses and the metro, whose Campo Pequeno station is right at the doorstep of Luzeiros Suites.
So, all that’s left is to know what to do during a day in the city of Lisbon. Come and discover our suggested itinerary.
A morning to visit Lisbon
We advise you to start your day very early. Being a city full of light, Lisbon invites you to wake up to the splendor of its streets and to do as the Portuguese do, beginning with a morning coffee (bica) at the local pastry shops. We recommend starting at Luzeiros Caffé, a spot near Campo Pequeno and very close to public transport, which opens at 7 a.m., where you can try a true Lisbon breakfast, with a galão (coffee with milk) and toast or a pastel de nata, a typically “alfacinha” (Lisbon local) breakfast.
Take the metro and let yourself be carried to the Oriente area, also locally known as Parque das Nações. Here, you will have the opportunity to ride the Cable Car and enjoy a stunning view over the Tagus River and the Vasco da Gama Bridge, which connects the eastern part of the city to the south bank, where the Freeport Lisboa Fashion Outlet (Alcochete) is located. In this new and modern part of the city, you will find the Oceanário, the Altice Arena — a multipurpose pavilion that hosts numerous concerts and shows — the Vasco da Gama Shopping Center, and the Gare do Oriente, one of the most important train and bus stations in the capital. This station is a remarkable example of modernist architecture by the renowned Spanish architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava.
From here, we recommend you take the metro again to the Baixa Pombalina area. You can get off at Restauradores or Rossio stations for this purpose. Stroll through Pedro IV Square and enjoy the pedestrian streets to discover the traditional heart of the city. Visit the Santa Justa Elevator and then walk down again to the river to explore the Commerce Square (Praça do Comércio).
For lunch, we recommend you try the most typical flavors of Portugal at Taberna Portuguesa, located very close by in Bica. Delicacies like Bacalhau Migas (codfish crumbs) or Alheira no Pasto (a traditional Portuguese sausage dish) truly showcase the richness of Portuguese cuisine.
An afternoon to visit Lisbon
Taking bus 728 towards Restelo, not far from the restaurant where you had lunch, we recommend you head to Belém. Visit some of the city’s most iconic monuments: the Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Tower, and the Monument to the Discoveries.
Once again, take the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful views over the Tagus River or take a stroll in the garden, whetting your appetite for a snack at the iconic Antiga Confeitaria de Belém. This famous bakery is renowned for its Pastéis de Belém, one of Portugal’s most acclaimed sweets, with a unique and incomparable flavor—perfect for a moment of rest before returning to the city center.
We suggest you head to São Jorge Castle, whose oldest structures date back to the 1st century BC. It is an incredible historic site located in one of the city’s most traditional neighborhoods. At the viewpoint, don’t miss the wide views over the Pombaline downtown area, the hill opposite, and a magnificent sunset if your visit coincides with the end of the day.
From here, the invitation is to listen to Lisbon. And to do so while enjoying the best food, the ideal is to visit a fado house as iconic as Adega Machado, in Bairro Alto. You can have dinner with typical Portuguese cuisine while listening to the song that UNESCO has recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity: fado.
Finally, with your heart and stomach full, we recommend that you return to the starting point of your itinerary, at Luzeiros Suites, and say goodbye to the city with the magnificent view of Campo Pequeno illuminated.