Lisbon in 1 Day: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Lisbon is a city with a lot to see and a lot to do. But you will not always be lucky enough to have several days to visit it and in many cases you only have 24 hours to get to know the Portuguese city. But don't worry. If you organize yourself well you can visit the most important monuments in just one day.

With this itinerary designed to make the most of your visit, you will get to know the historic center of the city and the Belém district in a few hours. In these two areas you will find most of Lisbon's must-see sights and you will even be able to enjoy some of the city's traditions.

Lisbon is known as the city of the 7 hills. And it is that the city itself grows around them. Thanks to this orography we have the possibility of contemplating several panoramic views of the whole city. The best view, in my opinion, is the one offered by the viewpoint of Portas do Sol. You can know all the details with a tour of the Alfama neighborhood

This viewpoint gives us beautiful views of the old part of the city with the Tagus River in the background and is the best place to start the day. Near this point there are several terraces where you can have a good breakfast while enjoying the views and recharge your batteries to start the day. Very close to it we also have the viewpoint of Santa Lucia.

Another way to know the basics of Lisbon is with a guided tour, some of them offer you the best things to see and do in the city center. Just keep in mind the times and check beforehand the route of each one so you don't miss anything.

Both the Portas do Sol and Santa Lucia viewpoints are located in Alfama. Specifically, Alfama grows east of Lisbon on the slopes of the hill below the castle of St. George and stroll through its streets is a must to do in the Portuguese city.

We can take advantage of the walk to our next destination to admire its architecture and see outside some of its monuments such as the castle of St. George or the National Pantheon. Unfortunately having only 24 hours we will not stop to visit inside these two places and many others. But the exterior views and the promenade are attractive enough to enjoy this area.

Of all the monuments in the Alfama district, there is one that stands out above the rest and that deserves a more leisurely visit. This is the Lisbon Cathedral, known as the Sé Cathedral.

This is one of the oldest buildings in the city, as it is one of the few survivors of the many earthquakes and fires that have ravaged the city in its history. The Romanesque style building houses the remains of the patron saint of Lisbon, St. Vincent, as well as a beautiful cloister and a treasure of great value. It can be visited for free and paying an extra 2,5€ we can add to the visit the cloister and the treasure.

A fun way to get to know the cathedral is with a tuk tuk express tour of Lisbon. One of its stops is in this place, where the guide will tell you in Spanish the most important of its history.

There is a lot to see and do in this neighborhood of Lisbon. For this reason, and so that you don't miss anything, I recommend you to book a tour of the Belém neighborhood. I assure you that you will not be disappointed. Keep reading and I will tell you the highlights so that in your day trip you can know the most important. And remember that so you don't

To get to the Belém neighborhood from the Plaza del Comercio we just have to take the streetcar line 15. The journey takes just 20 minutes and we arrive at one of the most important neighborhoods of Lisbon. Technically Belém is not a neighborhood of Lisbon, but it is a city that was annexed to the city. It is, therefore, far from the center, about 7 kilometers away, but is home to many of the most important places in the city.

The Jerónimos Monastery or the Belém Tower, two of the most representative symbols of Lisbon are located in this area. This area was one of the least affected by the 1755 earthquake that severely affected many parts of the city and therefore best preserves its monuments. Its origin dates back to the sixteenth century, coinciding with the era of the conquistadors, which greatly conditions the character of its buildings.

Augusta Street leads to one of the most representative and emblematic places in Lisbon. The historic Commerce Square is accessed through the Arch of Rua Augusta and we arrive at an extension crowned in its center by the equestrian statue of José I and that leads directly to the banks of the Tagus River.

Here we can go up to the viewpoint of the arch, stop to contemplate its architecture, photograph the equestrian statue of José I and approach the pier of Cais das Colunas on the banks of the Tagus.

This square is also a hub for both maritime transport and the streetcar that passes very frequently and that we will use to approach another area that we will visit in the afternoon.

If the morning has gone smoothly we will arrive at the Plaza del Comercio at noon and it is time to stop for lunch. At this point we will have two options. Either look for a restaurant in the surroundings of the square or take a streetcar that will take us to the neighborhood of Belém and eat there. It is also very interesting to take a gastronomic tour in Lisbon, to get to know the local products and take 100% advantage of lunch.

My advice is to first eat in a restaurant near the square to replenish strength and then take a streetcar to the Belém neighborhood in time for dessert. The ride from the square of commerce to Belém is 20 minutes and once there we can find a bakery to taste the typical cakes of Belém with a coffee.

It is worth mentioning that Lisbon is a city with a strong gastronomic tradition. There are plenty of gastronomic tours in Lisbon and wine tastings that can be done throughout the Portuguese capital.

After visiting the cathedral we will head to the historic center of Lisbon. Here there is a lot to see but we will prioritize one of the most famous points of the city, the Santa Justa elevator. Located on the street with the same name, about 20 minutes from the cathedral, this particular elevator connects the neighborhoods of Baixa Pombalina and Chiado. It is 45 meters high, which also allows us to have good views of the city center.

If we are on time, near this point we find the ruins of the convent do Carmo and Pedro IV square. They are two places worth visiting, but only if the clock allows us to do so.

After visiting the Santa Justa elevator, it's time to visit the most famous street in Lisbon. Rua Augusta is the main artery of the Baixa district in the heart of Lisbon. It is a long pedestrian street that is home to countless stores and restaurants and connects the Pedro IV square to our next destination.

Lisbon is a city with a lot to see and a lot to do. and the Jerónimos Monastery in the Belém neighborhood is a prime plan. So that you can make the most of the day, I recommend that you book your tickets to the Jerónimos Monastery in advance.

This building was born out of the golden age of the great explorers who brought great wealth to the Portuguese capital and built the monastery as a sign of greatness. Such was the investment in this building that it took more than 100 years to build it. Its facade, the interior of the church or its cloister are the highlights of this complex that managed to be included in the list of World Heritage in 1983.

This is not only the most visited monument in Lisbon, but it is the most visited monument in Portugal, so I recommend you to get your tickets in advance. It is open every day of the week except Mondays and the entrance fee is 10 euros. It is a must visit if you travel to Lisbon.

Leaving the Jerónimos Monastery and very close to the Tagus coast is the Padrão dos Descobrimentos monument or the Monument to the Discoveries. If you want to know it in depth, do not hesitate to book a tour of the neighborhood of Belém

This spectacular construction of 52 meters high was erected in 1960 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator and as a tribute to all the adventurers and discoverers who marked part of the history of Portugal. The very ground where the building is erected is also part of the ensemble, since it is represented on it a world map with the voyages and expeditions of the most famous explorers who departed from Portugal.

Located on the banks of the Tagus, this monument is worth stopping for a few minutes to contemplate it before approaching the last stop on our itinerary.

To finish our day in Lisbon we will visit another of the main symbols of the city, the Belém Tower. Despite its apparent simplicity, this small fort was also declared a World Heritage Site. It is contemporary with the Jerónimos Monastery and was built by order of King Manuel I to serve as a fort and lighthouse.

Although at first it does not impose too much for its size, its charm is in its shape and in the small details. It is when we look at its decoration when we appreciate the charm of the tower. It is possible to enter to visit it although it is not essential. If we have enough time and there is not much queue we can enter to enjoy the views of the Tagus and the neighborhood of Belém.

This is the ideal place to end our day visit to Lisbon. And remember, do not forget to book your tickets for the Belém Tower in advance to make the most of the day and the visit.

To make the most of your 24-hour visit to Lisbon I leave you these tips that may be useful:

• Much of the itinerary is done on foot through cobbled and steep streets so choosing good footwear is of vital importance.
• Don't let the sheets stick to you. In this scenario it is best to start the day with the first light of day. Since the views from the viewpoints of the Alfama district are more beautiful and we will have less difficulty finding a good place on a terrace for breakfast.
• Lisbon is a city with a long gastronomic tradition. To eat near the Comercio square you have good quality-price restaurants in the streets between the Santa Justa elevator and the Comercio square itself. Da Prata 52 or the Paludarium are two good places.
• Leave room for dessert and when you visit the Belém neighborhood you can't miss the traditional Belém cakes. They are cream tarts that you can enjoy in any cafeteria, but the best ones are found in the vicinity of the Jerónimos Monastery,
• The Jerónimos Monastery is one of the most visited monuments in Portugal, so I strongly recommend that you book your tickets in advance.
• To go from the Plaza del Comercio to the Belém neighborhood it is best to take the streetcar 15. But you can also take a boat that runs along the coast by the Tagus and is also a good option if you want to go more relaxed.