When you have a capital city of a country such as Portugal, a country so very rich in history and architecture, you know that visiting such a city is bound to be an amazing experience. Oh, yes – Lisbon has so much to offer that you will fall in love with it instantly.

In fact, there is so much to see that one day in this city almost isn’t enough to experience it properly. Almost. With a reliable itinerary in your hand (or phone), you will see the most important sights, discover many interesting places, and see firsthand what makes Portugal’s capital so special.

Follow these tips for an amazing day in Lisbon!

What’s the best time to visit Lisbon, Portugal?

Thanks to its position on the Atlantic Ocean but also close to the Mediterranean, Lisbon boasts a fairly mild climate.

Do note, however, that summers here can get very hot and are usually quite dry, but generally, the city is great to visit all year round.

If we had to choose, however, we’d say that the best time to visit Lisbon is during months like May, June, and September, when the heat is not that pronounced. If you want to enjoy the beaches, though, the latter two months are an especially good option.

As for the events, if you can be in town at the beginning of June for the Festas dos Santos Populares, you will get to experience loads of fun, and on the 12th of June, there is a huge carnival in the city.

Nos Alive is a huge rock festival in July, whereas Festival Santa Casa Alfama celebrates the music genre of fado, and fashion lovers will want to check out Moda Lisboa in March.

However, these are all just some of the big annual events that take place in the city, so no matter what your interests are, you will be able to find something to enjoy.

A few facts about Lisbon

With approximately 550,000 people within its city limits, Lisbon is one of the smaller capital cities in Europe. However, the wider urban area of the city is home to 2.7 million people, which puts it just outside the top 10 most populous urban areas in the EU.

You may be surprised to know that Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world, with traces of a Phoenician settlement from 1200 BC being present in the city center. When compared to other European capitals, only Athens is older.

Lisbon is said to have been founded by none other than Ulysses.

In the city, there is a special school in which students are taught the art of creating all those black and white pavements you see everywhere in the city. It’s an art form that can also be seen in former Portuguese colonies.

Vasco Da Gama Bridge in Lisbon is the longest bridge in the EU, and its length is a whopping 12 kilometers (about 7.5 miles).

A huge earthquake hit Lisbon in 1755 and almost completely wiped it off the face of the Earth. Not only that but the quake was followed by a devastating tsunami. Just goes to show how powerful nature can be.

One day in Lisbon Itinerary

So, you’ve arrived to spend one day in Lisbon, eh? Well, you’re lucky because this is an absolutely amazing city to visit! However, sometimes it can be a bit challenging to include all the most important places and sights into your schedule. Here’s an itinerary that will help you do just that!

Start exploring in Alfama District

Alfama District is at the very heart of Lisbon, so there’s no better way to get to know the city than to head there early in the morning and just take a walk among its picturesque streets. And there are plenty of nice cafes around if you need your coffee to start the day right.

The red roofs and the white walls of the buildings around here under the sun and right on the Atlantic shore create a feeling very few other places can match. This part of the city is a great place to get a sense of what Lisbon is, but it’s also great because it helps you get to some important landmarks.

Climb up to St. George’s Castle

As you’re exploring Alfama District, at some point you will notice a citadel looking down on you from above. That’s St. George’s Castle, and you’d do well to set some time aside to visit it. The place is more than 2000 years old and has stood here and seen countless rulers change.

Its mighty towers still stand tall, and the view from the walls is nothing short of breathtaking. Yes, the climb may require some effort, but it will be well worth it in the end!

See the Lisbon Cathedral

To the south of Alfama District, you will find the Lisbon Cathedral. Now, this is a Portuguese national monument, and that in and of itself tells you a lot about this building’s importance. Its construction started in 1147 and lasted well over 50 years, but the cathedral has been renovated several times since then and thus has features of many different styles embedded into it. Additionally, the cathedral has been a rich source of archaeological evidence recently, which makes it all the more important and impressive.

Explore the Museu do Fado

If you want to learn about Lisbon and Portugal in general, you have to get to know the music genre known as fado. And what better way to do that than to go and visit the Museum of Fado? It’s fairly close to the cathedral and will teach you everything you need to know about this type of somewhat melancholic music that is so typical of Portuguese culture.

It’s also worth mentioning that the cafe which is a part of the museum often hosts fado concerts, so with a bit of luck, you might be treated to quite a show.

Stop for lunch

By now you must be getting hungry, and if you’re thinking about lunch you certainly won’t be disappointed because Lisbon has plenty of great restaurants. Augusto Lisboa is a perfect choice if you’re looking for something quick and simple or if you want to have brunch, whereas Gambrinus is a good place if you want to taste some authentic Portuguese dishes.

Ramiro is a family-owned restaurant where you can enjoy some great seafood, and Taberna Sal Grosso is a pleasant tavern with a varied and incredibly tasty menu. Of course, there are many other eateries apart from these, so feel free to explore. You’re bound to find an excellent place to eat.

Head to Belem

After lunch, it’s time to head to Belem. Why? Because this is the home to the majestic Tower of Belem (Torre de Belem), arguably the most attractive landmark in the whole city. When it was first constructed, at the beginning of the 16th century, it had a primary defensive purpose, but with time this magnificent tower became a customs office and eventually a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You can climb to the top of the tower to enjoy some incredible views, but just seeing it out in the water and connected to the mainland by a small bridge will leave quite an impression. And if you’re getting here from Alfama District, tram line 15E will get you here quite quickly and easily.

Visit the Monastery of Jeronimos

But the famed tower is not the only thing Belem has to offer. Close by is the Monastery of Jeronimos, an incredible complex that is also a UNESCO site. You’ll see why as soon as you lay your eyes on it – it is an architectural masterpiece that took more than a century to complete and was constructed to celebrate the peak of Portugal’s power during the so-called Age of Exploration.

Loads of greenery around here make this a wonderful place for a walk, but even without this, the monastery is quite a sight to behold and one of the most important landmarks in Lisbon.

Prepare to be amazed by Lisbon’s Oceanarium

After you’ve explored Belem a bit (and hopefully enjoyed a Belem pastry along the way), a fun way to end your one day in Lisbon is to go and visit the Oceanarium. There are thousands of animals there, from sharks to penguins and even corals, you could spend hours just in this one place. Especially because they also have a lagoon which you can explore with a pedalo if you want.

It’s a great place for the whole family, and there are plenty of opportunities to learn a lot about our oceans, especially about the Atlantic, to which Lisbon is inextricably linked. You can get here from Belem by car in about 20 minutes, but there’s also a bus that can take you straight to the Oceanarium.

Relax in the evening

Once the sun sets, you have plenty of options in Lisbon. I’ve already mentioned some of the great restaurants in this itinerary, but if you want something more high-end for your dinner, Alma is the perfect place to visit because it is a two-star Michelin restaurant.

When it comes to the city’s nightlife, Incognito is a very good club to visit, and the same goes for Plateau. Naturally, there are plenty of bars in Lisbon, too – Pensao Amor is considered by many to be the best in town, but Gin Lovers Bar & Restaurant, Delirium Cafe and Foxtrot also deserve to be mentioned. In short, if you want to enjoy your evening here, there are more than enough ways to do so.