Lisbon in a Day: Castle, Cathedral Climb, Jerónimos Monastery, Belém & River Cruise

Spend a full day soaking up the best sights in Portugal’s sun-kissed capital. From historic origins to contemporary viewpoints, you'll journey from past to present on this unforgettable journey through Lisbon.

First, dive into Lisbon’s stunning scenery at the São Jorge Castle where you’ll be among the first of the day to enter. Some of the best views of the city are on offer here (without jostling for space!), as the sun shines over the walls to light up the surroundings. The castle was originally built to house military troops and your guide will help you spot all of its distinctive features such as the ‘Door of Treason’ at the Northern Wall, once used to let secret messengers in and out.

Some of Lisbon’s most iconic features are the beautifully decorated tiles adorning everything from homes to churches. On a visit to an artisan azulejo tile workshop°, you’ll get to see how they’re brought to vivid life by local artists. At the Santa Luzia Viewpoint (Miradouro Santa Luzia - one of Lisbon’s best viewpoints), you’ll be able to appreciate the splendour of the tiles spread across the city, as well as some of the most dramatic views overlooking the Tagus river.

As the former baptismal place of Portugal’s elite - not to mention one of the oldest buildings in the city - Lisbon’s Sé Cathedral has a wealth of stories hiding within its stone walls. Luckily, your local guide is versed in fascinating insights that will make the building truly come alive. Skip the line inside and admire the vaulted ceilings before we ascend to the upper levels for a rare treat. With special access, we’ll explore the treasury then climb to the top of the Cathedral’s Bell Tower - an area that has been closed to the public for over eight hundred years! Soak up the history surrounding you as well as the sweeping panoramas of the city overlooking the Tagus river.

After exploring Lisbon’s intricate history, we’ll take a stroll through Lisbon’s bustling Downtown area. Though Lisbon is famous for its hills, we’ve designed this tour so that it meanders gently downhill so you can take in the sights with ease. Passing by the Rua Augusta and Commercial Square (Praça do Comércio), we’ll stop for a sight of the famous Santa Justa Lift (Elevador de Santa Justa), which dates back to the 1900s and was built to transport residents from the (lower) Baixa district to Carmo Square. You’ll get a local insight on everything from getting around the city to the best places to go for a bite to eat - perfectly timed just before we break up for lunch!

After lunch, we’ll resume our tour with an afternoon trip to Belém. By taking the train, we’ll bypass Lisbon’s usual traffic for a quick and effortless journey into one of the city’s most captivating neighbourhoods. Historically Belém was the focal point of Lisbon’s maritime trade which contributed to the Age of Discovery and there’s no better place to discover its fascinating legacy than at the Jerónimos Church. One of the best examples of Lisbon’s Manueline architecture, sailors often spent the night before voyages here seeking spiritual guidance from the community of monks. You’ll be able to trace their footsteps inside as you admire the high vaulted ceilings, and ornately carved interior. Here, you’ll see sea creatures and coils of rope carved into the pillars in homage to one of Portugal's most famous figures, Vasco da Gama, who made history when he became the first navigator to discover a trade route to India.

Continuing our epic adventure, we’ll visit Belém tower - once the city’s primary defensive fortress - and the Monument to the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos) which celebrates the explorers (and their funders!) who set sail from Belém centuries ago. This is also where we’ll be setting out on an expedition of our own! What better way to end a day of discovery and return back to the city than by taking a guided river cruise and seeing Lisbon from the water? Travelling in style, we’ll take in some of the city’s best sights including the Christ Statue (Cristo Rei), Lisbon’s MAAT museum, Belém’s lighthouse as we pass under the April 25th Bridge and along the riverfront. A special (and delicious) surprise also awaits everyone onboard!

Stepping through time to the city’s storied past and back into its vibrant present, this full day tour is the best way to discover Lisbon’s history and culture.

°Pleased be advised that the tile workshop is currenty closed on Sundays