How To Spend 24 Hours In Lisbon

Have a one-day stopover in and wondering what to do with only 24 hours in Portugal’s capital? Read our compact guide to spending 24 hours in Lisbon.

Morning

One of the best things to do in Lisbon is eat, so why wait? If you arrive in the city during the early morning hours, beeline to one of the many cafés in the historical center for a signature (and simple) Portuguese breakfast of toast, butter, cheese, and jam with a coffee and view of centuries-old architecture. Many cafés offer terrace seating to enjoy Lisbon’s wonderful, sunny weather.

One of Lisbon’s many downtown cafés with terrace seating

Since 24 hours isn’t enough time to explore the sights on foot, hop on/hop off city tour buses provide an abridged visit—in addition to cruising by most of the major landmarks through Lisbon and Belém, a bus allows a convenient alternative to hiking up and down the city’s unavoidable hills.
Yellow Bus, Lisbon’s official sightseeing company, provides a Yellow Boat tour (a cruise across the Tagus River), a Castle Tramcar tour, as well as all-in-one tickets for longer visits. For tourists cramming everything into one day, the best option may be the Tagus Tour, which cruises past 20 landmarks—from the historic downtown Lisbon to Belém—within 1 hour and 40 minutes for €16(£14/$17).

Afternoon

Stretch out your legs and head first to Chiado, where the streets are lined with cafés, stores, and restaurants. This is a nice time to buy a souvenir or grab a light lunch. Then head uphill to Bairro Alto (“Upper District”) one of Lisbon’s must-see neighborhoods, especially for anyone into the art scene and bohemian vibe. Find more terraced seating for a snack, or sit and enjoy the view of the Castelo de São Jorge (Castleof St. George) from the garden terrace at the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara.
Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, Rua São Pedro de Alcântara, Lisbon, Portugal, +351 21 391 2600

The façade of the Church of São Roque does nothing to prepare visitors for what they will find inside. Although it was built in the 16th century and survived the 1755 earthquake, the interior décor was constructed in the 17th and 18th centuries. Baroque and Mannerism influences are seen in the captivating ceilings, walls, and altar as well as in the carving work, upholstery, paintings, and side chapels.
Church of São Roque, Largo Trindade Coelho, Lisbon, Portugal, +351 21 346 0361

Evening

The witching hour begins after dinnertime, so pass the time while enjoying a fantastic dinner at one of Bairro Alto’s quaint and traditional restaurants. It’s quite the experience to witness the quiet daytime streets become an outdoor party, and it’s common for the many bars‘ patrons to stream (and eventually flood) outside to socialize.
While Bairro Alto is brimming with young and vibrant energy, Alfama—Lisbon’s oldest, charming neighborhood—is where time appears to stand still. If tradition, soul food, and soul music is more your style, opt for dinner and drinks in Alfama instead. Besides, listening to fado is a rite of passage while visiting Lisbon, and very few (if any) locations offer as many opportunities for a night of fado than Alfama.

Fado singer in Alfama accompanied by guitarists

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.