Lisbon is Portugal's coastal capital city, it is honestly one of my favourite cities to visit. Lisbon became very popular in recent years, and the reason for that are its authentic trams, its beautiful architecture, and its charming streets. A 3 days trip to Lisbon would be good enough to explore the city. I visited the city twice and I enjoyed it both times and would visit again. There is a lot of things to see/visit in Lisbon that I would recommend at least three days, but if you only have 24 hours to stay in Lisbon, then this is the perfect itinerary for you.
9 Things To Do In 24 Hours In Lisbon
1. Elevador De Santa Justa (Santa Justa Lift)
The Santa Justa Lift which is also called Carmo Lift, is a lift in the historic center of Lisbon that is located at the end of Rua de Santa Justa. This lift connects the lower streets of the Baixa neighbourhood and the higher Largo do Carmo. It was built back in 1902 and it has saved the residents of Lisbon a hard climb uphill, and its design was inspired by the Eiffel Tower. It is a must see when in Lisbon and it open at 7:00 am. This should take you about 30 minutes, depending on how busy it is.
2. Praça Do Comércio (Comércio Square) & Arco Da Rua Augusta (Rua Augusta Arch)
Praça do Comércio is Lisbon's harbour-facing and main square, it is also the largest square in Lisbon. Arco da Rua Augusta is the "Door to Lisbon" which is opposite to the river, this arc leads to the center of Lisbon as well as the shopping boulevard. It takes 5 minute to walk from Santa Justa Lift to Praça do Comércio. This should take you less than 30 minutes to explore.
3. Rua Nova Do Carvalho (Pink Street)
The famous Pink Street is located in Rua Nova do Carvalho in the neighbourhood of Cais do Sodre, this used to be Lisbon's Red Light District. The colours as well the new cafes and bars were introduced back in 2011 to give it a new life. It is a very crowded area since it is famous and a lot of people want to take pictures there, so getting early there would be great to avoid the crowd. This should take you about 15 minutes.
4. Tram 28
You can easily walk from the Pink Street to the tram 28 stop, this iconic yellow tram dates back to 1930. A single ticket to the tram costs 3€. This should take you between 15 and 30 minutes.
5. Distrito De Alfama (Alfama District)
Alfama is one of Lisbon's oldest areas, in this area you can find a lot of colourful houses, cobblestone streets, and beautiful architecture. You would probably find that this is the most beautiful part of the city where the old trams are rolling through the narrow streets. This should take between 30 minutes and 1 hour, depending on how much time you have and how long you want to explore.
6. Sé De Lisboa (Lisbon Cathedral)
This is the oldest and most important church in Lisbon, it can be found in Alfama. This should be a must when visiting Lisbon, especially when wandering around the Alfama area. This should take you about 15 minutes.
7. Castelo De S. Jorge (Saint George’s Castle)
The Castle of S. Jorge is located in the Alfama area as well, and it offers a 360 view of Lisbon as it is located on the highest hill. This should take you about 2 hours.
8. Miradouros (Sunset From A Viewpoint)
Miradouros in Portuguese means Viewpoints, the Alfama area has a lot of viewpoints but the two most famous ones are Miradouro das Portas do Sol and Miradouro de Santa Luzia, and they are really close to each other. This should take you between 30 minutes and 1 hour.
9. Mercado Da Ribeira (Time Out Market)
For dinner you can come to Time Out Market which is a food hall located in the Mercado da Ribeira at Cais do Sodré. This should take you between 1-2 hours, depending how much time you have and how long you want to stay to enjoy your food.
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How To Get To Lisbon
Direct flights to Lisbon are available from all over Europe as well as the rest of the world, Lisbon’s International Airport is easy to reach from all over the world, so you won’t struggle to find flights. Lisbon is easy to reach for international travellers so you won’t have to worry. You can use WayAway to find cheap flights.
You can also easily get there by train or buses, and I like to use Omio to book both of these whenever I am travelling in Europe.
How To Move Around Lisbon
When it comes to getting around Lisbon, public transportation such as the bus, the metro, and the train are available all over Lisbon, you can get a reusable paper VivaViagem card at a station and then top it up for every trip and it can be used through the entire city. It is also better to get a transportation when going uphill and then walk downhill to enjoy the city. Uber and Taxify are also a great option and not expensive, but public transportation is cheaper. Scooters are also available through apps such as Lime, Tier, or Wind and they are a quick way to get around the city, but you have to be 18 or older to use them.
Best Time to Visit Lisbon
The best times to travel Lisbon would be between September and November, or March and May. During these two periods the weather is nice and cool, and it is going to be less crowded compared to other times. High seasons months are July and August, which means the streets are much more crowded than usual and the accommodation prices are higher as well. If you are a fan of festival, then June is the month for you. June is the month of festivals in Lisbon so it would be a perfect time to visit.
Accommodations In Lisbon
The best neighbourhoods to stay in are Barrio Alto and Alfama when it comes to the old town, or Baixa and Chiado when it comes to the centre. The old town is quieter the entire day in comparison to the centre but is more hilly.
You can book your accommodation through Booking.com, which is the one I use the most, or if you wan to stay in a hostel you can book through HostelWorld. You can also use Agoda, Trivago, or Vrbo to book your accommodations. I know most people have a favourite website or app to use, so just choose what you prefer best.
Best Cafes & Restaurants In Lisbon
Organi Chiado (Gluten-free options, vegan friendly, Mediterranean)
Yallah Lisboa (Vegan friendly, Middle Eastern cuisine)
Focaccia In Giro (Vegan friendly, Italian cuisine)
Scoop 'N Dough (Vegan friendly, American & International, best doughnuts & ice cream)
Eight The Health Lounge (Gluten-free options, vegan friendly, European)
If you wan to find more cafes & restaurants to try, then you can do so through TripAdvisor.