[PORTUGAL] Lisbon 1 Day Itinerary Using Lisboa Card

14:26 Travel Bunny 0 Comments


Here is how I used the hassle-free Lisboa Card to explore Lisbon on my own. The Lisboa Card is a 3-in-1 transport card, museum pass and discount card. It offers free admission to 26 attractions and museum, discount on tours and participating stores, and free unlimited public transport including free travel by train to Sintra and Caicais!

Where to buy Lisboa Card?


1) Buy it online and pick up the card in one of the tourist information offices located at Lisbon Airport – Arrival Hall, Palácio Foz (Praça dos Restauradores), Lisboa Welcome Center (Praça do comércio), Stª Apolónia International Railway Station or at Rua Augusta and Belém Kiosks. Don´t forget to bring the voucher you received via email and a valid ID.

Price of Lisboa Card:
24 consecutive hours: adult - EUR 20, child (4 - 15) - EUR 13
48 consecutive hours: adult - EUR 34, children (4 - 15) - EUR 19
72 consecutive hours: adult - EUR 42, children (4 - 15) - EUR 22.50
free for child under age 4

Official website: https://www.lisboacard.org/

Slightly cheaper to buy it on Klook: eg. 24h is EUR 19 instead of EUR 20.

2) Buy it directly at the tourist information offices listed in locations above.

How to use?

The card is validated upon its first use. It will start counting down the hours from the first time you scan your card whether on public transport or one of the attractions.

How to plan your itinerary:

The best districts to visit in Lisbon includes Baixa, Chaido, Bairro Alto, Alfama and Belem. Belem district is a bit far from the downtown area. The other districts are neighboring to each other. I would suggest to split your trip into two areas: downtown area and Belem. Further reading on Belem here.

See map below for the main districts and attractions:


Attractions in Baixa: Praca do Comercio, Arco da Rua Augusta, Santa Justa lift, Praca do Rossio, Praca da Figueira

Attractions in Chiado:  National Museum of Contemporary Art, Livraria Bertrand, Carmo Convent

Attractions in Bairo Alto: Church of Sao Roque

Attractions in Alfama: Sao Jorge Castle, Miradouro das Portas do Sol, National Pantheon 

Attractions in Belem: Belem Tower, Jeronimos Monastery, Monument to the Discoveries

My 1 day itinerary using Lisboa Card as below:

Lisbon Cathedral -> Conserveira de Lisboa (sardine shop) -> * Lisbon Story Centre -> Praca do Comercio -> * Arco da Rua Augusta -> Lisbon City Hall -> * Museo Nacional de Arte Contemporanea do Chiado -> Livraria Bertrand (oldest operating bookstore) -> ** Carmo Convent -> * Santa Justa lift -> Praca do Rossio -> Praca da Figueira

Day 2: Miradouro das Portas do Sol -> * National Pantheon -> Lisbon Airport

(*) free with Lisboa Card (**) discount with Lisboa Card

Tips: If you're using the 48 hours Lisboa Card, it is recommended to include the Belem area in your planning. Admission to Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery are free using the card. If you're using 72 hours Lisboa Card, you can also consider doing a day trip to Sintra and Caicais using the card.

1) Lisbon Cathedral 



Lisbon Cathedral (Se de Lisboa) is the oldest and most important church in the city. Built in 1147, it has survived many natural disasters and has been renovated and restored several times. It is free to visit the church but you need to pay an entrance fees of EUR 2.50 to see the cloister or treasury. 

Admission fees: EUR 2.50 (cloister), EUR 2.50 (treasury), free entrance to church
Church opening hours: 9am - 7pm
Cloister opening hours: 10am - 6pm (Oct - Apr), 10am - 7pm (May - Sep), Sunday starts from 2pm
Treasury opening hours: 10am - 5pm, closed on Sunday

2) Conserveira de Lisboa (sardine shop) 



Established since 1930, Conserveira de Lisboa is a family-owned grocery shop which sells canned products. It is near to Praca do Comercio (5-min walk). The shop is small and lovely. You can find all sorts of canned sardines here. 

Opening hours: 10am - 7pm, closed on Sunday
Website: http://www.conserveiradelisboa.pt/en

3) Lisbon Story Centre 






Lisbon Story Centre is a fun and interactive museum to discover more about Lisbon's unique history. It takes visitors a journey through time and space with an audio guide system. It is located at Praca do Comercio. The exhibition describe key episodes such as New World discoveries, the terrifying 1755 earthquake in Lisbon and the ambitious reconstruction that followed. 

Admission fees: EUR 7 (adult), EUR 3 (child), free with Lisboa Card
Opening hours: 10am - 7pm daily

4) Praca do Comercio 


Praca do Comercio is a large and grand plaza in Lisbon which is facing the sea. The plaza is surrounded on three sides by distinctive yellow buildings. Royal Palace of Ribeira was built here until it was destroyed by the great 1755 Lisbon earthquake. Statue of King Jose I riding on his horse and crushing snakes on his path stands in the centre of the square.

Praca do Comercio at night is beautiful too.

5) Arco da Rua Augusta 










Arco da Rua Augusta is a triumphal arch-like historical building on the Praca do Comercio. It was built to commemorate the city's reconstruction after the great 1755 Lisbon earthquake. Sculptures on the top of the arch represent Glory crowning Genius and Valor. On the side facing Rua Augusta is a monumental clock. 

Do climb to the roof terrace to enjoy the impressive view of Rua Augusta, Praca do Comercio and the river.

Admission fees: EUR 3 (adult), free with Lisboa Card
Opening hours: 10am - 7pm daily

6) Lisbon City Hall 



Passing by Lisbon City Hall which is located on Praca do Municipio.

7) National Museum of Contemporary Art




National Museum of Contemporary Art (Museo Nacional de Arte Contemporanea do Chiado) is located in Chiado area. It was established by the government in 1911. The suspended platform is used to exhibit sculptures.

Getting here: Baixa-Chiado station (metro), Tram 28 or bus 60, 208, 758
Admission fees: EUR 4.50 (adult), free with Lisboa Card, free on Sundays all day, free for child under age 12
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm, closed on Monday
Website: http://www.museuartecontemporanea.gov.pt/en

8) Livraria Bertrand







Opened in 1732, Livraria Bertrand is the oldest operating bookstore in the world. Throughout its history, the bookstore has witnessed one earthquake, one civil war, nine kings, one regicide, sixteen presidents, three republics, six coups, two world war, the unification of Europe and changing to Euro. That is pretty cool!

Opening hours: 9am - 10pm (Mon - Sat), 11am - 8pm (Sun)
Website: https://www.bertrand.pt/

9) Carmo Convent 




I took a tram to Chiado stop and walk 5 minutes to Carmo Convent.

Entrance to Carmo Convent.






The ruined Carmo Convent was intentionally left roofless as a reminder of the devastating 1755 Lisbon earthquake that destroyed most of the city. It is one of the most hauntingly beautiful sights in Lisbon. I strongly recommend a visit to Carmo Convent. At the time of the earthquake, it was the largest church in Lisbon. The roof collapsed on the congregation who was attending mass on All Saints Day but the Gothic arches still stand today.







The main altar is now a small archaeological museum with exhibits including a Peruvian mummy and shrunken heads. 

Getting here: Baixa-Chiado station (metro), Tram 28, bus 758, Santa Justa lift

Admission fees: EUR 5 (adult), 20% discount with Lisboa Card, free for child under age 14
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm (Oct - Apr), 10am - 7pm (May - Sep), closed on Sunday
Website: https://museuarqueologicodocarmo.pt/

10) Santa Justa lift 




Santa Justa lift is the fastest way to get from the lower streets of Baixa to the higher Largo do Carmo. It was inaugurated as one of the city's public transport system in 1902 but it is now more of a tourist attraction.



The lift has an observation deck at the top and offers great view over Baixa. You'll need to pay extra EUR 1.50 to go up to the observation deck, regardless whether you have Lisboa Card or not.

Tips: Being a popular tourist attraction, there can be long queues. I would suggest to ride the lift either early or late and avoid the peak hours. Also, there is more people going up than heading down. The ticket is expensive for a short ride. If you don't have Lisboa Card, then it is recommended to buy the 24 hour Carris/Metro public transportation card which only cost EUR 6.45.

Getting here: Baixa-Chiado station (metro)
Admission fees: EUR 5.15 (return), EUR 1.50 (viewpoint only), free with Lisboa Card
Opening hours: 7.30am - 9pm (Nov - Apr), 7.30am - 11pm (May - Oct), closed on Sunday, viewpoint opens at 9am
Website: https://museuarqueologicodocarmo.pt/

11) Praca do Rossio 



Praca do Rossio is the main central square in Baixa district of Lisbon. It houses the D. Maria II National Theatre, Column of Pedro IV, Rossio Railway Station and the most famous coffee shop in Lisbon, Cafe Nicola.

12) Praca da Figueira


Praca da Figueira is another large square in Lisbon. The square was created in the 18th century after the Lisbon 1755 earthquake had destroyed the buildings that stood on the site before. The statue of King John I dates only from the 1970s.

13) Miradouro das Portas do Sol 





Miradouro das Portas do Sol is an open balcony which offers great view over Alfama. This is one of the best place to take photo of old Lisbon, especially during sunrise. The name of Porta do Sol means Sun Gate. The gate was destroyed by the Lisbon 1755 earthquake when it had already been turned into a simple passageway. A statue of St. Vincent holding the symbols of Lisbon (a boat with two ravens) faces the museum. 

Getting here: tram 12 and 28 stops at the viewpoint or take bus 737

14) National Pantheon







The Church of Santa Engracia was originally a church which was later converted into National Pantheon. It is located in the Alfama district. This is where many of Portugal's presidents and cultural icons were buried. Work began on the present day structure began in 1681 after the previous had collapsed. Its large dome was only completed in 1966, making it the monument that took the longest to complete in Portugal. It led to the term "Obras de Santa Engracia" (meaning Santa Engracia works) which is an expression in the country for something that takes forever.

Getting here: tram 28
Admission fees: EUR 5 (adult), free with Lisboa Card
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (Oct - Mar), 10am - 6pm (Apr - Sep), closed on Monday

Is Lisboa Card worth it?

Let's do a simple calculation. The attractions that I visited using Lisboa Card is Lisbon Story Centre, Arco da Rua Augusta, Museo Nacional de Arte Contemporanea do Chiado, Carmo Convent, Santa Justa lift and National Pantheon. I mostly walk in downtown Lisbon but I did ride the tram 28. 

A single tram ticket - EUR 3 
Lisbon Story Centre - EUR 7
Arco da Rua Augusta - EUR 3
Museo Nacional de Arte Contemporanea do Chiado - EUR 4.50
Carmo Convent - discount 20% (EUR 1)
Santa Justa lift - EUR 5.15
National Pantheon - EUR 5

The total cost for these tickets is EUR 28.65. The Lisboa card price is EUR 20 for 24 hours. So I have a saving of EUR 8.65. 

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