One Day in Lisbon: What to See (+Itinerary & Walking Map)
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Visiting Lisbon for one day and wondering what to see? This guide covers the best things to do in Lisbon in one day, with a detailed itinerary, walking map, and practical tips to help you plan your time.
It’s based on our own visit and shows you how to see the main highlights in a logical route without wasting time.
We visited Lisbon with kids, but this itinerary isn’t family-specific. It covers most of the best things to do in Lisbon that every first-time visitor should see, and it’s easy to follow for any type of traveler.
Even with just one day in Lisbon, we saw many of the top sights, explored local neighborhoods, and tried traditional food. We ended the day with a sailing cruise on the Tagus River, which turned out to be a highlight.
Below, you’ll find our Lisbon one-day itinerary covering all the best places to see in the city center, a walking map, and tips to help you plan your visit. At the end, we also include ideas for extending your trip if you have more time.
TIP: Short on time or prefer not to plan everything yourself? This highly-rated tour covers the main highlights of Lisbon in less than half a day. Or keep reading for a do-it-yourself Lisbon one-day itinerary with a walking map and our first-hand tips.
Lisbon in 1 Day: Itinerary & Walking Map
To make planning your one day in Lisbon easier, I created this walking map that follows the exact route of our itinerary and helps you see how it all fits together.
In total, we walked about 10 km (6 miles) during our day in Lisbon. This includes a 2 km walk from the sailing boat to the Time Out Market, which wasn’t the best idea after a long day. If I were to do it again, I would take a taxi for this part to save time and energy.
Good to know: The timing in this itinerary is quite relaxed and includes time for breaks and exploring along the way. It’s based on our own experience, with kids and plenty of walking. If you want to take a guided tour or spend some time shopping, you can still see everything in a day. And if you prefer a slower pace, you can easily take a taxi for longer distances.
Where to stay: For a short visit, stay in the city center near Baixa or Rossio. We stayed in this area and found it very convenient for exploring Lisbon. Check hotels in the Rossio area here.
Here’s what to see and do in Lisbon in one day:
Best Viewpoints in Lisbon (Miradouros)
10 – 11 AM
We started our day in Lisbon with a taxi drive to one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the city – Miradouro do Senhora do Monte.
It was the highest point of our Lisbon day itinerary and we were very glad we chose to go there by taxi rather than walking. It saved us a lot of climbing and ensured that the kids weren’t exhausted in the morning already.
The views from here are stunning – it’s well worth including this spot in your 1-day itinerary!
After admiring the view over the city, we walked towards the nearby St. George Castle.
On the way there we passed the Graça Church and Monastery where we stopped at another viewpoint – Miradouro da Graça.
This walk was also our first introduction to Portuguese azulejos – traditional tiles that are an essential part of Portuguese architecture.
St. George’s Castle (Castelo de São Jorge)
11 AM – 12 PM
Next stop is St. George’s Castle in Alfama. This historic fortress is one of the most popular attractions in Lisbon, mainly for its panoramic views over the city and the river. If you have the time, it’s well worth including in your Lisbon one-day itinerary.
Queues at the ticket office here are often very long, especially during busy times, so if you want to go inside, it’s important to plan ahead.
TIP: If you want to visit St. George’s Castle, book skip-the-line tickets in advance. The castle is also included with the Lisbon Card. Either option will save you a lot of time.
Alfama District (Old Town)
12 – 2.30 PM (less time if you opt for a quick lunch)
The old historic district of Alfama is such a beautiful area to wander around. It’s probably the most authentic district in Lisbon, and should be on every Portugal bucket list!
With just a day in Lisbon, you will have to be selective about how to best spend your time. This is one of those areas that you really should explore a bit deeper. So don’t rush through!
Good to know: Alfama is also a good place to stop for lunch, but if you’re planning to join a food tour later in the day, you may want to keep it light here and try more local specialties in Baixa.
From the castle, we headed to Miradouro de Santa Luzia – another incredible viewpoint over the rooftops of Lisbon. Adjacent to it is Largo das Portas do Sol – a small charming town square with another great viewpoint.
Despite the fact that we had a guidebook with an Alfama walking itinerary and map, we quickly got lost in the maze of little streets and narrow passageways.
We didn’t mind! We stopped looking at the map and just wandered around the streets that lead to some amazing discoveries: several incredible viewpoints over the rooftops of the old Lisbon, interesting street art, local restaurants, cafés, little shops…
TIP: If there is one area in Lisbon where a walking tour with a local would have been useful, it’s probably here in Alfama. It’s so easy to get lost and lose track of what you wanted to see.
We passed several churches and old buildings with countless different patterns of Portuguese azulejos.
Local women were hanging laundry to dry, while men sat on benches watching the occasional tourist with just as much interest as we were watching them…
We walked toward Lisbon Cathedral (Sé de Lisboa) and watched the famous Lisbon Tram 28 make its way through the steep, narrow streets and heavy traffic…
As we sat at a local cafe enjoying ice cream and some drinks, we were talking about how Lisbon had such a great atmosphere and how we would love to return for a longer stay in the future. As I’m updating this article, we’ve been to Lisbon many times, and it never gets boring. One of the nicest capital cities in Europe.
It was in the narrow streets of Alfama that I really fell in love with Lisbon, and I wished we had more time to explore the city. But on this trip, we had just 10 days in Portugal and only one day in Lisbon, so in the afternoon, we left Alfama and headed to the busy city center, also known as Baixa.
We’ve since been back to Lisbon and explored more of the city, but this first visit is what made us want to return.
Baixa District & Main Sights of Lisbon
2.30 – 3.30 PM
After exploring Alfama, continue to Baixa, Lisbon’s city center, where many of the main sights are located close to each other and are easy to visit on foot.
Commerce Square – Praça do Comércio
We left the narrow streets of Alfama and headed to Commerce Square (Praça do Comércio).
Commerce Square is a huge town square, once home to a royal palace that was destroyed during the earthquake of 1755. Now it’s home to several government buildings and the statue of King José I right in the middle of it.
The Commerce Square, with big open spaces lined with classical buildings with yellow facades and galleries with arcades, is very different from the old district of Alfama. While life seemed to have stood still in Alfama, the city center was bustling with life.
Cais das Colunas
The Commerce Square meets the Tagus River at Cais das Colunas – a marble flight of steps that is flanked by two impressive columns.
Arco Triunfal da Rua Augusta
We spent some time by the Tagus River and then headed Northwards towards the Rua Augusta Arch (Arco Triunfal da Rua Augusta). The impressive arch was built to commemorate the reconstruction of Lisbon after the big earthquake. You can visit the viewing platform at the top for a small fee.
Rua Augusta itself is a pedestrian street with a variety of shops and restaurants. There are street artists and performers and many vendors selling all kinds of souvenirs and memorabilia. This is probably the most touristy and the busiest area of Lisbon.
Santa Justa Lift
3.30 – 4.15 PM
Our next stop was Elevador de Santa Justa. This historic lift dates back to the early 1900s and connects the Baixa district with the higher Carmo/Chiado area. It’s one of Lisbon’s most recognizable landmarks and a unique way to move between different levels of the city.
With just one day in Lisbon, it’s worth including because it’s not just about getting from one place to another — it’s also part of the experience.
There is often a queue, especially during busy times, and the lift itself moves quite slowly. But once at the top, you’re rewarded with beautiful views over the rooftops of Lisbon. You can also access the upper viewing platform for even wider 360° views of the city.
Santa Justa Lift – Practical Information
The lift typically operates daily from early morning until late evening (hours may vary slightly by season).
A single ride ticket costs around €5–6 and includes the lift, access to the viewing platform, and the return trip down. Prices can change, so it’s best to check the latest rates on-site or online before your visit.
Good to know: The lift is part of Lisbon’s public transport network, so rides may be included with a 24-hour public transport ticket. However, access to the viewing platform usually requires a small additional fee.
TIP: The Santa Justa Lift is also included with the Lisbon Card. If you plan to use public transport or visit several attractions, it can be worth considering – even with just 24 hours in Lisbon.
Rossio Square (Praça Dom Pedro IV)
4.15 – 5 PM
Rossio Square is one of the main squares in Lisbon and a lively place where locals and visitors come together. Dating back to the 18th century, it has long been an important meeting point in the city. You’ll also find historic cafés here, including Café Nicola, which has been around since that time.
Around the square, there are several traditional shops and cafés where you can try typical Portuguese food and drinks, making it a nice place to take a short break during your walk.
TIP: If you’d like to include a local food tour, this popular Food & Wine Small Group Walking Tour starts in this area and runs several times in the afternoon. It can be a great addition to your itinerary, and depending on the season and your timing, you could still end the day with a Tagus River sunset cruise.
I couldn’t get enough of the beautiful patterns on the pavements.
The kids loved a small shop specializing in sardines, where you can buy a tin with your birth year on it. Each one includes a historical fact from that year. I assume the sardines themselves are a bit more recent… 🙂
Don’t miss the incredibly beautiful Rossio railway station either. Its ornate façade looks more like a palace than a train station.
We ended our one day in Lisbon at Restauradores Square, at the southern end of Avenida da Liberdade. From here, we took a taxi to the river, where we boarded a sailing boat for a different perspective of the city.
Tagus River Sailing Cruise
5.30 – 7 PM (or later)
We only had one day in Lisbon and knew there would be a lot of walking involved. With the kids, we weren’t sure how much they could handle after a full day of sightseeing.
So we decided to book a private sailing cruise on the Tagus River. It was a great way to see more of Lisbon without walking, and also a fun activity to end the day.
We originally considered a sunset cruise, but since sunset can be quite late in summer, we opted for a late afternoon tour instead.
There are many different boat tours on the Tagus River, so it’s easy to find one that fits your schedule and budget. In general, it’s a very good value for what you get, especially considering the views and the relaxed pace. In my opinion, a sailing cruise is one of the best things to do in Lisbon, especially if you only have a day.
Good to know: It’s a popular activity, so if you’re visiting in high season or want a specific time slot, it’s best to book in advance.
This turned out to be one of the highlights of our day in Lisbon. It was also a nice way to relax while still seeing more of the city.
Since we had already explored the city center earlier, we chose a route toward the Belém district. Seeing this area from the water gave us a different perspective and helped us cover more ground in a short time.
During the cruise, we passed the harbor, the Cristo Rei statue, and sailed under the 25 de Abril Bridge. We continued toward Belém, where we saw the Monument to the Discoveries, Jerónimos Monastery in the distance, and the Belém Tower.
If you have more time in Lisbon, it’s worth visiting Belém separately and seeing these landmarks up close. But if you only have one day, a boat tour is a great way to include this area in your itinerary.
We really enjoyed this experience. It was a relaxing break after a busy day, and the views from the water were some of the best we had in Lisbon.
The kids loved it too. They were happy to rest after all the walking, and they even got a chance to help steer the boat and try the sails.
For us, it was the perfect way to end the day in Lisbon.
Time Out Market Lisbon
EVENING
We ended our day in Lisbon with a late dinner at the Time Out Market. It turned out to be a great choice after a long day of sightseeing.
This lively food hall brings together dozens of food stalls serving a wide variety of Portuguese specialties as well as international dishes, so there’s something for everyone. It’s an easy place to try several local foods without having to plan a sit-down dinner.
Good to know: It can get busy, especially in the evening, but tables usually free up quickly if you’re a bit patient.
Suggestions for 2–3 Days in Lisbon
If you have two days in Lisbon, be sure to visit the Belém district as well. Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower are among the top sights, but queues here can be long, so it’s best to book tickets in advance.
If you have one more day, plan a trip to Sintra, just outside the city. It’s one of the best day trips from Lisbon and a must-see in Portugal. You can find more details in our guide to planning a Sintra day trip from Lisbon.
TIP: We’ve since returned to Lisbon and explored more of the city. For more ideas, see our complete guide to the best places to see and things to do in Lisbon.
READ ALSO: Best Day Trips from Lisbon
Practical Information
- Airport transfers. Taxis are convenient and usually affordable, but prices from the airport can vary. To avoid overpaying, it’s worth booking a private airport transfer in advance.
- Getting around. Taxis are a good option in Lisbon, especially for families – fast, easy, and often quite affordable. Alternatively, consider a public transport pass or the Lisbon Card. Hop-on hop-off buses and trams can also be useful if you want to cover more ground with less walking.
- What to wear. Comfortable shoes are essential – there’s a lot of walking and some steep streets. In warmer months, don’t forget sun protection.
- When to visit. Spring and fall are the best times for mild weather and fewer crowds. See also our guide to Portugal in April.
- Where to stay. For a short stay, it’s best to stay in the city center near Baixa or Rossio. We stayed near Rossio Square and found it very convenient for sightseeing, dining, and getting around. Some good options in this area include:
- €€€€ Rossio Boutique Hotel – best overall value.
- €€€ Hotel Lis Baixa – a very popular mid-range option.
So, this is what our day in Lisbon on our first visit looked like. We hope it helps you plan your own trip and make the most of your time in the city.
Planning to visit more places in Portugal? Take a look at our other guides below for more ideas and tips.
More tips for your trip to Portugal:
- Best Cities in Portugal
- Best Things to Do in Sintra
- Sintra Itinerary & Tips for Your Visit
- Portugal Itinerary from Lisbon to Porto
- Portugal with Kids
- Nazaré Fishermen’s Village
Algarve:
- Best Beaches in Algarve
- Best Things to Do in Algarve
- Benagil Cave (must-see!)
- Top Places for Kayaking in Algarve
- Best Towns to Visit in Algarve
- Lagos
- Albufeira
- Tavira
- Sagres
- Ponta da Piedade (must-see!)
- Seven Hanging Valleys Hike
Madeira and the Azores:
- Best Things to Do in Madeira
- Best Things to Do in Funchal
- Hiking in Madeira
- Best Things to Do in Sao Miguel
- Sete Cidades (Azores)
- Furnas (Azores)
TIP: Save this Lisbon one-day itinerary for later and pin it to Pinterest so you can easily find it again.
I’ve just come across your amazing guide after nearly giving up on planning what to do as I was getting a bit overwhelmed by trying to work out what and how to see some of the sights. My husband & I have just one day to visit Lisbon next month as part of a cruise. We already have the amphibious tour booked for 1.15pm. Can you please advise how we can incorporate your brilliant itinerary into our day. I can’t seem to work out distances etc. from the cruise terminal & our pre-booked tour. Any help is much appreciated.
Hi Ali, it’s impossible for me to help much without knowing when or where exactly you start or end your day, where your tour starts or how long it takes, etc. Furthermore, as much as I would like to help each and every one of our readers, I really have no time to craft individual itineraries.
I recommend that you use Google Maps to estimate distances and travel times between different places and to get a better idea how to fit it all together. Taxis aren’t expensive in Lisbon, so you could cover bigger distances by taxi to save time.
Have a great trip!
Loved your travel guide to Lisbon and plan to use the itinerary and map next month- so THANK YOU !! My husband is 77 and he loves to walk but going up hill can be difficult but not impossible. It appeared that your itinerary start at the top of the hill and mostly walk down hill. Is that true?
Hi Rita, yes, this itinerary is pretty much downhill + flat(-ish). That said, Lisbon is a hilly city and you can’t completely avoid stairs and hills. For example, the Alfama neighborhood has quite some stairs, but also there, if you start at the top and walk toward the Cathedral, you will mostly be going down. So all in all, it’s not too challenging and you can always decide to hop on a tram or take a taxi for bigger distances if walking becomes too much.
Have a great trip!
4 adults our cruise ship docks at 7:00am our flight to Spain is at 8:55pm only in Lisbon for half a day . Any recommendations or advice on what to do , also we will have our luggage with us.
By the way this is in Nov
Hi Maria, there are a few options.
One is to find luggage storage and explore the city. For that, see the recommendations in our article. You can do most of this with the time that you have, just skip the sailing cruise and Time Out Market or something else, depending on your interests.
The other one book a private tour and visit Sintra (and hopefully you can leave your bags in the car and maybe they can even drop you off at the airport if it works out time-wise). You can find tons of private tour options here. You’ll need to tell them where to pick you up, so at that time, explain exactly what you need and see if they can accommodate.
Hope this helps.
Thank you for this itinerary! My husband and I will be traveling to Lisbon at the end of our Algarve trip. Your information made me decide to spend an extra night so we would have a day to tour around Lisbon. We will also be traveling with our 3 sons (aren’t boys the best) all under the age of 7. Do you have any other gems (or blogs) about parts of Lisbon that your boys loved?
We will be staying between the Lisbon cathedral and the Sao George castle (both about a 10 minute walk) so I was glad to see them on your list! I will probably follow your plan and I think we will do a boat tour as well! Thank you for the information! Very excited for our trip in July.
Hi Leanne, with just a day in Lisbon, this itinerary will keep you more than busy. Our kids really enjoyed the sailing trip and the Time Out Market for dinner. And, of course, all the Portuguese food and Pasteis de Nata.
If you would have one more extra day, I’d definitely recommend adding Sintra to your itinerary. But there’s always a good reason to plan a repeat trip to Portugal if you can’t make it there this time. 😉
PS Enjoy the Algarve too! We love it there and will be spending a lot of time in the region this year.
Hello! I am planning my first time visit to Lisbon and am hoping to see all the sights I can and follow your wonderful blog recommendations. I viewed your lodging suggestions and the rates were a bit high. It is hard to gauge without knowing the city how close hotels are to main attractions as every hotel I click seems to say “perfect location” in the reviews.
I was viewing 2 that were Vincci Liberdade and Turim Boulevard – do you have any input if these seem rather far away from main sites in Baixa?
I also was viewing one in Principe Real, and was unfamiliar too if that would be rather distant from attractions. I was trying to use Rossio square as a landmark when checking hotels for distance.
Thank you, I very much appreciate the time and effort you put into your blogs.
Cheyenne
Hi Cheyenne, the hotel prices in Lisbon can be quite high, indeed. So much depends on when exactly you travel, when you book, etc.
From the hotels/areas you mentioned, Turim Boulevard seems to be the best in terms of location (and an amazing hotel, but it looks quite expensive to me too…). It’s very close to the metro and so you can quite easily get anywhere you want to be from there.
All in all, it really depends on you and how you like to travel – if you stay further away, you’ll just have to take public transport/ taxi more often, that’s it. We always prefer to stay in the heart of the city so that we can walk to most attractions, but Lisbon is quite spread out, so it’s not always possible anyway.
Hope this helps a bit.
This is so helpful! Thank you for sharing.
Glad you found this useful, Melissa. Enjoy your time in Lisbon!
So glad I came across this article. Thank you for being so thorough and sharing both the good and bad. I’ll be visiting Portugal .. The Alentego Region in Oct but will be staying in Lisbon for 2 days prior. I will be following your for steps. Thanks again
Glad you found it useful, Deb. Enjoy your trip – Portugal is amazing!
My wife and I will leave Fatima and come to Lisbon to stay one day there . Where should I stay so i can go A-I in one day ? I will be in Lisbon around 10AM if I leave Fatima around 8AM. The next day I will go to Cascais.
Thanks.
Hi Alan. At first, I had no idea what you meant with A-I, then I realized you meant our suggested walking map 🙂
It doesn’t really matter that much where you’re staying because you’ll be walking through an entire city anyway. I’d look more at how you are traveling to and from Lisbon. If you are using public transport, then it’s best to stay close to the station where your train/bus arrives. If you are traveling by car, then it’s best to stay at a hotel that offers parking.
At the bottom of the article, under the ‘practical information’ you can find our suggestions on where to stay. We just took a taxi to the starting point of this walk and then did all the rest on foot.
Have a great trip!
Hello There.. keeping this link as my day guide for upcoming “Day” trip in Lisbon this Thanksgiving. The question I may ask for you is, I technically have 9 hrs. leaving 3 to get in/out back in the airport, what would you recommend I see, travel and how? It is 3 of us, husband, wife and a 10 yr. old son. Kindly reply. Thank you.
Hi Tushar, just take a taxi to the city center and then visit some of the sights as described in our article. Apart from the sailing trip, 9 hours (or even 6-7hrs) should be more than enough to cover all the rest mentioned above.
Alternatively, if the weather is bad or if you don’t feel like walking a lot, head to Jeronimos Monastery in Belem. It’s really worth a visit and shouldn’t take more than 2-3hrs in total (maybe even less because it’s the low season). From there, you can go to the city center and just visit some parts, e.g. Baixa area as described above.
Enjoy your stopover!
Hello Jurga
We are not traveling with children however enjoyed the itinerary and will likely use it. Glad to come across your website as I was writing off the Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour with its pathetic reviews.
We will be In Lisbon on Oct. 12 and staying for 48hours. We are excited in taking the sailing cruise. How long did it take? Thank you so much for sharing and all the best to you and family. Cheers!
Hi Anna, glad to hear you found this useful. We haven’t done the hop-on hop-off bus tour in Lisbon, so I cannot comment on that. The sailing cruises on Tagus river usually take 1-2 hours.
Enjoy your trip!
Hi Jurga, A friend sent me link to your post and I really enjoyed vicariously living in Lisbon thru it! Thank you! I am going there with my 15 year old son for Thanksgiving ‘2018 for a week. I am planning to visit all the districts in a leisurely way. One question – how safe is it for tourists that don’t know the local language and only speak English? Do you know of any areas to steer clear of? Thanks in advance and great work on your post!
Hi Sri, glad to hear such a positive feedback. I wouldn’t worry much about safety when exploring Lisbon, we never felt unsafe anywhere. It’s such a great city and a very relaxed atmosphere.
I can’t really give you any specific advice on places to avoid. If you are worried, best just ask at your hotel. But I think that most tourist areas are really safe, just beware of pickpockets, just like in any other big city.
Have a great trip and if it’s not too cold, I really recommend a sunset sailing cruise. It was one of the highlights for us. Oh, and maybe a Fado concert – you’ll find them in Alfama I think, or you can even join a local tour, something like this.
Jurga I just want to say an ENORMOUS THANK YOU! I’ve booked last minute flts for me and 8 yr old twins and travelling around for 2 and half weeks (beach at end), so I’m reading ALL your notes with interest and basically using you as my lastminute bible! A million thx!! X
Glad to hear that you find our blog posts useful for planning your trip to Portugal, Karen. Just please keep in mind that if you are traveling in August it will be VERY hot everywhere, so you may want to limit sightseeing time in towns and spend more time by the pool or at the beach. Especially because you’re there with kids.
Have a wonderful trip!
Lisbon is such a great city! Fortunately, I have to fly through Lisbon airport every couple of months and every now and then, I get to visit the city as well. I absolutely love eating pasteis de nata – such an incredibly delicious pastry!
Lucky you visiting Lisbon so often! It’s such a beautiful place.
Hello Jurga! I just want to say thank you and congratulations for your blog! I dont have any kids, but I found your blog very useful and interesting. I am really enjoying your writing!! I discovered the FullSuitCase because your Portugal Trip and since then I had spent a lot of time reading about your other adventures as well. Kudos for you!!
Eulalia, from Brazil.
Thank you Eulalia. Glad to hear that and appreciate you taking the time to leave this feedback. It means a lot!
I have a question about taxis, how many passengers would they carry? I know you have a family of 5, and I’m considering visiting Portugal with my family of 6 (4 boys between 5 & 11). Transportation with so many little ones is something I’m still trying to work through. Any thoughts for me on this? I’d even welcome your thoughts on other modes of transportation throughout the country (bus, train, rental, etc.).
Thanks!
Hi Lynn, with 5 we just used any taxi that came first and I squeezed in the back seat together with the kids. But there were also quite some bigger taxi’s with 7 or even 9 seats, we took one from the airport to the hotel. If you let the hotel call a taxi in advance, they can always ask for a bigger one. Otherwise you can always just take two cars – they are so cheap in Portugal that it really isn’t an issue.
I hear that are good train connections in Portugal too, so that could be an option for further trips. Or rent a bigger car, but then stay away from the city centres and little towns with crazy traffic and narrow streets – e.g. Sintra is really bad.
I went to Lisbon for a day the day after this blog post came out. Sadly I didn’t see it. This is great info and I will use it for next time. Thanks. Beautiful photos.
I hope you enjoyed your trip to Lisbon nonetheless! And hopefully, you can add a few more places/ experiences next time.
Happy travels!
Great post about Lisbon, Jurga! We recently visited this cute and colourful city too, and must say your right about The Castle of Saint George: the view is great, the castle not so much. There are plenty of viewpoints over the city though, so I don’t think you guys missed out. 😉 Another great viewpoint that isn’t free is from the top of Sao Vincente de Fora, worth the €5 entrance fee if you ask me!
If your kids enjoyed the sardine shop, I think they would have loved A Vida Portuguesa as well, a shop filled with typically Portuguese products. A great spot to get an original souvenir!
The thing I love most about Lisbon is their pastei de nata. Aren’t they heavenly?!
Groetjes vanuit Hasselt! 😉
Thanks for sharing some more tips, Birthe. Keeping all this in mind for our next trip to Lisbon (there will definitely be a next one!). As for pastei de nata, they are absolutely delicious. And the best ones we tried were in Evora. Would go back just for that! 🙂
I’m so pleased you liked Lisbon and I think you’re right – the boat trip is a great idea, both to wind down and see the city at a more relaxed pace and to rest the kids legs, Ive just had a look at their website, I’m sold! I know what we’re doing next time we’re in Lisbon!
Glad you found something new to do in Lisbon, Alex. The sunset cruises are supposed to be amazing, we chose for a bit earlier hour for the kids, so we were back just before that. But if you have more time in the city and your kids aren’t that tired by the end of the day, I would definitely recommend a sunset cruise!
Such a great detailed post! And you saw so much in one day, I really need to get myself to Lisbon one of these days!
We did see so much in a day, indeed, Arianne. I find that if you plan well, you can do so much in a short time. Lisbon is amazing, btw. I’m sure you’d enjoy it!
Looks like a great trip – my daughter recently visited Lisbon and loved it. I love your suggestion for the sailing trip – something I’m definitely doing when we get to Lisbon!
So I don’t have kids, but I do like fun and it seems like you guys had a blast. I would love to ride on a sialboat and explore some of the local markets. I’ve heard the food is to die for and I wnat to eat it all. I am going in November and am gonna save this post!! Thank you!!
Wish I read this before I went to Lisbon. I loved the city! There are so many good viewpoints and I loved wandering around on foot to see it all.
Thanks for your feedback, Sara. There is so much to see and do in Lisbon that it might be difficult to decide on where to go and what to skip if on tight schedule. That’s why I wanted to share our experience. I hope this guide will help others to get the most out of their day in Lisbon.
Hello Jurga what are your thoughts on transportation throughout Lisbon if you only have a day and a half to see all the sites? Originally we were thinking of the hop on hop off bus but it’s getting terrible reviews. With such limited time I really do not want to waste time, waiting for buses, and also the fact that these large bus buses cannot make it through the small, narrow streets. Your feedback would be much appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Wanda, Lisbon is very walkable and most sights in the old town are best explored on foot. If you have to cover longer distances, you can use public transport (there are frequent trams and lots of good connections). Alternatively, taxis are not expensive or Uber/Bolt.
I love Lisbon and fell in love with it more the second time that I was there. The is really cool that you got to go sailing and see Lisbon from a different angle. I would of enjoy doing that too. Definitely making the sailing trip on my next trip
You should, Melissa! I read in my travel guide that it’s a must in Lisbon, and it was really great. Very glad we did it!
I’m quite impressed with how much you saw in one day in Lisbon. It looks so picturesque. My kids would have loved the sailing cruise the most too. The idea of sardine cans with your birth year on it is a novel one I haven’t seen before.
You would love Portugal! It is extremely picturesque, there is so much to see and do, and it’s really family-friendly too.
Lisbon is one of *my* cities – I spent a year living there. Your pictures are absolutely fabulous and they made me feel I can’t wait for my next trip to Lisbon <3 As I don't have kids, and I have very little idea about getting around Lisbon with very young kids, I'm so glad that you had such a great day in this perfectly unique city <3
Wow, lucky you to have lived in Lisbon for a year! I never expected to like the city as much as I did. We are definitely going back!
As for exploring with kids, ours are 6-8 years old, so they can walk for quite a while already. Cheap taxis and the boat ride in the evening were a big help though. A day walking in a city was tiring for us as well.
Wow that is very comprehensive! Impressed you did so much w the kids! Your pics are gorgeous I love the orange roofs! I’m also a big fan of boat tours great way to see a lot.
Thank you, Harmony. Yes, we did quite a lot, but that’s just the way we travel and our kids are used to that. Of course, we could have taken them to aquarium or the zoo, but we only had one day in Lisbon and so we wanted to see the highlights. That boat was a life-saver by the end of the day though! 😉
Lisbon seems a fantastic destination for families who are looking for a city break within Europe. The city has a wide selection of suitable sights and activities. Are the intensity of sun during the tourist season (May-September) and the day time temperatures an issue for children ?
We really loved Lisbon more than we had expected. Could have easily spent another day or two in the city. As for the temperatures. We visited beginning of April and it was around 22-25°C so perfect for sightseeing. In summer I would probably look for a full day sailing cruise 🙂