Lisbon in a Day - Looking for Advice and Help with Touring

Hi Melanie,

Your trip sounds lovely. Lisbon is a fun city to explore, but it can be a challenge for someone with mobility issues. Since you mentioned you like eating, you may want to consider the Eating Europe Tuk Tuk food tour. It is a daytime tour that starts in the flat Baixa area, you go for a light breakfast (coffee and pastry), then take a Tuk Tuk tour for an hour. You are dropped off in the Alfama and then walk back down. Stopping along the way for really tasty food and end near the Justa Elevator. From there, you can continue to explore the Baixa area, take the tram to Belem (which is also flat).

Uber and Bolt are very widely available and not very expensive, so you can then explore the Barrio Alto and/or Chiado regions, having dinner there if you like.

One note, make sure you wear comfortable shoes with some traction as the streets can get slippery.

Thank you for your suggestions, SandyO.
The trip is going to be amazing, even though these countries were never on my "must do" list. This is why I am so underprepared.

I am traveling with my mom and she is worried about her hip bothering her, so we will be keeping transportation methods as a plan B. That's why I'm also trying to keep things a little less vigorous because I don't want her to get discouraged or be in pain. I will keep your suggestions in mind and I will present it to the group. Thank you for taking the time to respond to my big ask.

There are at least two My Story hotels in Lisbon, although the two I know of are in the same neighborhood.

Regarding transportation, if you're ok using the stairs at the Metro stations, it's the fastest transportation to get around Lisbon.
https://www.metrolisboa.pt/en/

Otherwise you can use taxis or the local buses and trams.
https://www.carris.pt/en/

Another option is to use the Hop On Hop Off tourist bus, two companies operate in Lisbon.
https://yellowbustours.com/en/lisbon
or
https://city-sightseeing.com/en/80/lisbon?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=ads-lisbon-en&utm_content=lisbon_city_english&utm_term=lisbon&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6PjS1OGmhwMV4BitBh12gwA-EAAYASAAEgLPcfD_BwE

If you want to use the train from Lisbon to Cascais or Sintra use CP.
https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/how-to-travel/lisbon-urban-trains

Diagram of the Lisbon to Cascais and Sintra train line connections with the Lisbon Metro
https://www.cp.pt/StaticFiles/Passageiros/3_viajar/0_servicos/lx/ligacao-cp-metro-lisboa-baixa.pdf

I am going to assume Lisbon, and Portugal in general, does not have tap-in tap-out capabilities on their buses or trams.

Thanks for the details, aulopone. This is much helpful :)

Barbara

Lisbon Metro, buses, ferries and commuter train lines to Cascais and Sintra, all use the Navegante Ocasional "zapping " card which can be loaded with money or a timed ticket
https://www.metrolisboa.pt/en/buy/

All other operators and train throughout Portugal use their own fare system.

Suggestions to get good sampling of Lisbon in a day
(Sightseeing point of view)

1 start with RS Baixa walk
2. Take Gloria funicular up
3. Do RS Chiado walk
4. Next step is not listed in any guidebook or blog as it is a recent development (2024)
Take tram 12 from its starting point from Praca Luis Camoes (stop is right in front of hotel Consulat, near subway fast food). Avoid taking pick picket friendly 28 which will be crowded whereas 12 starts from here and you can get right side window seat
5 from the last stop, Martin Moniz take Bolt all the way to Belem tower as per Rick's advice and do his Belem walk.
6. Avoid tram 18 and instead take Bolt to Castello for sunset or Bolt to TimeOut market, Bica funicular up to some rooftop bar in Barrio Alto

Of course, you can take it easy and hire car+driver or negotiate with tuk-tuk.

Thank you for the transportation advice, aulopone.

TravelJunkie, thank you so much for this itinerary. I will look up those walks and add the maps to my document. I greatly appreciate this expertise and it is exactly the kind of information I am hoping to get. Again, thank you.
Also, how does one negotiate with a Tuk Tuk? What's a fair deal to offer for 4 people? I'd love the private driver, but that will likely be far too expensive. I kind of like immersing myself with the culture a little bit, even if I look like a poser, haha.

We have not been fortunate with tuk-tuk drivers in Lisbon and now like to avoid them. (But some people are able to negotiate better or possibly no idea that they are being fleeced)

On the other hand private car+driver services are surprisingly affordable in Lisbon especially when it is a party of four. There are many providing this service. We have not used ourselves for Lisbon but one of our neighbors recently did Lisbon sight seeing using the service we used for Lisbon Porto transfer with stops and they were extremely pleased with service and knowledge.

Lisbon can get very hot in July/August.

If you're traveling with a senior (+65) they're entitled to discounts on train tickets.
https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/discounts-benefits/Discounts/senior-citizens

Aulopone, thanks for answering.

Thanks, everyone! I really appreciate the great advice :)