24 Hours in Lisbon
A 16th-century tower, seven hills, a rattling yellow tram, and a custard tart worth queuing for, one proper day in Portugal’s capital.
Lisbon packs an unusual amount into a single day, a UNESCO-listed tower, a maze of a neighbourhood built for getting lost in, and a custard tart tradition genuinely worth the queue. Here’s how I’d spend 24 hours here.
Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery
Start in Belém, a riverside district that was Portugal’s departure point for the Age of Discoveries. Belém Tower, a 16th-century fortress and UNESCO World Heritage Site, is worth arriving early for, queues build fast once the tour buses land. The Jerónimos Monastery, a short walk away, holds Vasco da Gama’s tomb and is just as impressive from outside if you’d rather skip the queue there too.
Tram 28 through the Alfama
Ride Tram 28, a genuinely iconic way to cross Lisbon’s old neighbourhoods, rattling up steep hills and around tight corners past tiled façades. The Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest district, is worth walking rather than just riding through, narrow streets and viewpoints reward slow exploring.
São Jorge Castle and the miradouros
Climb to São Jorge Castle, a Moorish-era fortress overlooking the whole city, for the best panoramic view Lisbon has to offer. The miradouros, Lisbon’s scattered viewpoints, are worth seeking out too, Miradouro das Portas do Sol and Miradouro da Graça both rank among the best.
Getting there A steep walk uphill, or Tram 28 to save the legs
Fado in the Alfama and dinner
Catch a fado performance in a small Alfama restaurant, Portugal’s melancholic musical tradition and a genuinely moving way to close out the evening. For dinner, the Alfama’s tascas, small traditional taverns, offer honest, affordable food away from the tourist-priced squares.
Getting around
Central Lisbon is hilly, worth budgeting extra time or using the funiculars and elevators that connect the steeper districts. Tram 28 covers much of the old town, and the metro is quick for longer hops like Belém.
If you only have time for one thing
Make it the Alfama. Tram 28, the castle, the viewpoints and the fado all sit within this one neighbourhood, and wandering it slowly is the single best introduction to Lisbon’s character.
That’s everything I’ve got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government’s latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
