Welcome back for another 24 hours in… this time in the wonderful Lisbon! Now, Lisbon is definitely somewhere where you need at least 3 days and my blog from 2019 is still going strong for recommendations but just in case you were limited for time and wanted to see the best bits of the city, this is what they are (according to my personal opinion)!
To cram the day full, it’ll be an early morning and late evening but it’s worth it.
First thing for the morning would have to be Tram 28. This is one of the tourist highlights of the city, and whilst you might want to get off the typical activities, I would still recommend experiencing one of the oldest tram routes in the city as it’s a great way to get your bearings and check off a lot of the ‘hotspots’ so that later you can head back to those which interested you best.
You have to do the tram as an early start as it’s a commuter tram and if you try to hop on later in the day, the queue will be huge and you might end up wasting valuable time. We arrived around 9am and the queue was reasonable, but they start from 7am if you really want to get an early start. The best stop to go from is Martim Moniz Square as this is the start/end of the Tram 28 route. Just to note, whilst Lisbon is a pretty safe city, pickpockets can be common on the trams so it’s best to keep an eye on your belongings.
If you don’t fancy the tram, I’d recommend getting down to the city centre early and seeing the Praça do Comérc first thing, around 9am, as it’s so worth the early morning for the quietness. The square is really impressive and actually used to house the Royal Palace before it collapsed in an earthquake. If you walk up Rua Augusta (the street through the archway) far enough, you should even spot the incredible structure of the Santa Justa Lift on the left. It’s gothic design is really striking against the rest of the Lisbon buildings.
Whilst at the square, head up Rua Augusta passing through the famous archway eventually heading in the direction of São Jorge Castle.
The Castle is next on the list and to save on time, purchase your entrance tickets in advance as the queues for the ticket office will often be very long, especially in the peak tourist months. This will save you time and maximise your exploring time. Explore the grounds, view the city from the remaining castle walls and spot the peacocks roaming freely around the ruins.
As you head out of the castle and work your way down towards Gloria Funicular, I’d take a detour on the way for one of the best pastel de nata’s in the city. Pastelaria Santo Antonio is one of the oldest bakeries in the city and their pastel de nata’s really do taste amazing. If you’ve never had one, this is the place to try!
Walking from São Jorge Castle to the Gloria Funicular should take you about 25 minutes. Built on seven hills, walking the city can be a bit of a workout but there are plenty of shops, cafes and scenic shots to stop off at on the way. It is the best way to explore!
Instead of walking, an alternative would be hopping on one of the trams, Google Maps will be able give you precise locations of the tram times and stops if you want to give your legs a rest.
The Gloria Funicular is great for those classic Lisbon photos and if you don’t fancy paying to use the funicular, you can walk up the hill fairly easily. We rode the funicular up and walked which was the busier direction. It’s a really photogenic spot and quite touristy so there is often a queue. If you fancy a slightly less crowded funicular, head over to the Bica Funicular. This one is much smaller, but I got better photos here than I did at Gloria Funicular. If you’re going to pay to go on one, the journey on Gloria is longer, so it might be worth considering that too.
For the rest of your day in Lisbon, either head back to those spots on the Tram that looked worth visiting, like Pink Street and the Cathedral on the edge of Alfama or take a leaf out of the locals book with a relaxing afternoon at a bar with a jug of sangria. There are plenty of bars with view – a bonus of buildings built on hills! But if you’re fancying somewhere that overlooks the whole city and has a bit of an atmosphere I’d recommend heading to ‘PARK‘. This rooftop bar is hidden away at the top of a multi-storey car park, which looks a little unnerving at first, but is worth the trek up the concrete staircase. It opens most days at 4pm and doesn’t close until 2am, so perfect for those late night drinks.
The final place I’d recommend for your 24 hours is the Time Out Market. After you’ve watched the sun go down, head over to the indoor market which offers all food including an octopus hotdog, tinned fish, burgers and the best cookies! It’s a great place to try a selection of local food without having to hunt around for a restaurant – and the Aperol bar is an added bonus too.
Hope this has inspired you to get exploring Lisbon and if you’re looking for a longer itinerary, check out my Three Days in Lisbon blog.
Thanks so much for reading!
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