Lisbon in 1 Day: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Lisbon is a city with a lot to see and do. But you won't always be lucky enough to have several days to visit it and in many cases you only have 24 hours to get to know the Portuguese city. But don't worry. If you organise yourself well , you can visit the most important monuments in just one day.

With this itinerary designed to make the most of your visit, you will get to know the historic centre of the city and the Belém district in just a few hours. These two areas are home to most of Lisbon's must-see sights and will even give you the chance to enjoy some of the city's traditions.

Lisbon is known as the city of the 7 hills. The city itself grows around them. Thanks to this orography we have the possibility of contemplating several panoramic views of the whole city. The best view, in my opinion, is the one offered by the Portas do Sol viewpoint. You can find out all the details with a tour of the Alfama district

. This viewpoint offers beautiful views of the old part of the city with the Tagus River in the background and is the best place to start the day. Near this point there are several terraces where you can have a good breakfast while you enjoy the views and recharge your batteries to start the day. Very close to it we also have the Santa Lucia viewpoint.

Another way to get to know the basics of Lisbon is with a guided tour, some of them offer you the best things to see and do in the city centre. Just be aware of the times and check the itinerary of each tour beforehand so you don't miss anything.

Both the Portas do Sol and Santa Lucia viewpoints are located in Alfama. Specifically, Alfama grows to the east of Lisbon on the slopes of the hill below St. George's Castle and a stroll through its streets is a must in the Portuguese city.

We can take advantage of the walk to our next destination to admire its architecture and see outside some of its monuments such as St. George's Castle or the National Pantheon. Unfortunately, as we only have 24 hours, we will not be able to stop to visit the inside of these two places and many others. But the views outside and the walk are attractive enough to enjoy this area.

Of all the monuments in the Alfama district, there is one that stands out above the rest and deserves a more leisurely visit. This is the Lisbon Cathedral, known as the Sé Cathedral.

This is one of the oldest buildings in the city, as it is one of the few survivors of the numerous earthquakes and fires that have ravaged the city in its history. The Romanesque-style building houses the remains of Lisbon's patron saint, St. Vincent, as well as a beautiful cloister and a valuable treasure. It can be visited for free and for an extra €2.5 we can add the cloister and treasure to the visit.

A fun way to get to know the cathedral is with a tuk tuk express tour of Lisbon. One of its stops is here, where the guide will tell you in Spanish the most important part of its history.

There is a lot to see and do in this Lisbon neighbourhood. So, to make sure you don't miss anything, I recommend you book a tour of the Belém neighbourhood. I assure you that you won't be disappointed. Read on and I'll tell you about the highlights so that you can get to know the most important things on your day trip. And remember, so that you don't

To get to the Belém neighbourhood from Praça do Comércio, all you have to do is take the tram on line 15. The journey takes just 20 minutes and we arrive at one of the most important neighbourhoods in Lisbon. Technically, Belém is not a district of Lisbon, but a town that has been annexed to the city. It is, therefore, far from the centre, about 7 kilometres away, but it is home to many of the city's most important sights.

The Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower, two of the most representative symbols of Lisbon, are located in this area. This area was one of the least affected by the 1755 earthquake that severely affected many parts of the city and therefore preserves its monuments better. Its origins date back to the 16th century, coinciding with the era of the conquistadors, which greatly influences the character of its buildings.

Augusta Street leads to one of the most representative and emblematic places in Lisbon. The historic Commerce Square is accessed through the Rua Augusta Arch and we arrive at an extension crowned in its centre by the equestrian statue of José I and which leads directly to the banks of the Tagus River.

Here we can climb up to the viewpoint of the arch, stop to contemplate its architecture, take a photograph of the equestrian statue of José I and approach the Cais das Colunas jetty on the banks of the Tagus.

This square is also a hub for both maritime transport and the tram which runs very frequently and which we will use to get to another area we will visit in the afternoon.

If the morning has gone smoothly, we will arrive at the Praça do Comércio at midday and it is time to stop for lunch. At this point we have two options. Either look for a restaurant in the vicinity of the square or take a tram to the Belém district and eat there. It is also very interesting to take a gastronomic tour of Lisbon, to get to know the local products and make the most of your lunch.

My advice is to first eat in a restaurant near the square to recharge your batteries and then take a tram to the Belém neighbourhood in time for dessert. The trip from the Plaza del Comercio to Belém takes 20 minutes and once there we can look for a pastry shop to taste the typical Belém pastries with a cup of coffee.

Lisbon is a city with a strong gastronomic tradition. There are plenty of gastronomic tours in Lisbon and wine tastings that can be done all over the Portuguese capital.

After visiting the cathedral we will head to the historic centre of Lisbon. There is a lot to see here but we will prioritise one of the most famous sights of the city, the Santa Justa lift. Located on the street of the same name, about 20 minutes from the cathedral, this particular lift links the Baixa Pombalina and Chiado neighbourhoods. It is 45 metres high, which also affords good views of the city centre.

If you are on time, near this point you will find the ruins of the convent of Carmo and the square of Pedro IV These are two places worth visiting, but only if the clock permits.

After visiting the Santa Justa elevator, it is time to visit Lisbon's most famous street. Rua Augusta is the main artery of the Baixa district in the heart of Lisbon. It is a long pedestrian street that is home to a myriad of shops and restaurants and connects the Pedro IV square to our next destination.

Lisbon is a city with a lot to see and a lot to do, and the Jerónimos Monastery in the Belém district is amust-see. To make the most of your day, I recommend that you book your tickets to the Jerónimos Monastery in advance.

This building was born out of the golden age of the great explorers who brought great wealth to the Portuguese capital and built the monastery as a sign of grandeur. Such was the investment in this building that it took them more than 100 years to build it. Its façade, the interior of the church and the cloister are the highlights of this complex, which was included on the World Heritage List in 1983.

This is not only the most visited monument in Lisbon, but also in the whole of Portugal, so I recommend you get your tickets in advance. It is open every day of the week except Mondays and admission is 10 euros. It's a must-see if you're travelling to Lisbon.

Leaving the Jerónimos Monastery and very close to the Tagus coast you will find the Padrão dos Descobrimentos monument or the Monument to the Discoveries. If you want to get to know it in depth, don't hesitate to book a tour of the Belém neighbourhood

This spectacular 52-metre-high construction was erected in 1960 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator and as a tribute to all the adventurers and discoverers who marked part of Portugal's history. The very ground on which the building stands is also part of the ensemble, as it depicts a map of the world with the voyages and expeditions of the most famous explorers who set out from Portugal.

Situated on the banks of the Tagus, this monument is worth a few minutes of contemplation before approaching the last stop on our itinerary.

To finish our day in Lisbon we will visit another of the main symbols of the city, the Belém Tower. Despite its apparent simplicity, this small fort was also declared a World Heritage Site. It is a contemporary of the Jerónimos Monastery and was commissioned by King Manuel I to serve as a fort and lighthouse.

Although at first glance it does not seem too imposing due to its size, its charm lies in its shape and small details. It is when we look at its decoration that we appreciate the charm of the tower. It is possible to visit it, although it is not essential. If you have time to spare and there is not much of a queue, you can go inside to enjoy the views of the Tagus and the Belém district.

This is the ideal place to end our day trip to Lisbon. And remember, don't forget to book your tickets for the Belém Tower in advance to make the most of the day and the visit.

To make the most of your 24-hour visit to Lisbon, here are some tips that you may find useful:

• Much of the itinerary is done on foot on steep cobbled streets, so choosing good footwear is of vital importance.
• Don't let the sheets stick to you. In this scenario it is best to start the day at first light. This way the views from the viewpoints in the Alfama district are more beautiful and you will have less difficulty finding a good spot on a terrace for breakfast.
• Lisbon is a city with a long gastronomic tradition. For lunch near the Praça do Comércio, there are good value-for-money restaurants in the streets between the Santa Justa lift and the Praça do Comércio itself. Da Prata 52 or the Paludarium are two good places.
• Leave room for dessert and when you visit the Belém neighbourhood you can't miss the traditional Belém pastries. They are cream tarts that you can enjoy in any café, but the best ones are found in the vicinity of the Jerónimos Monastery,
• The Jerónimos Monastery is one of the most visited monuments in Portugal, so I strongly recommend that you book your tickets in advance.
• The best way to get from Praça do Comércio to Belém is by tram 15, but you can also take a boat along the coast along the Tagus, which is also a good option if you want to go more relaxed.