We will be stoping in Lisbon for one day as part of a cruise. Any suggestions on "must see's". Our ship docks at 7am and departs at 5:00pm so we don't have a lot of time. I've heard Fatima is wonderful and would like to visit but would like to get there on our own and avoid the ship excursion if possible. We used this forum for guidance on getting around Malta and Slovenia a few years ago and were extremely happy with what we saw on our own thanks to some savy travelers. Hoping we can replicate this experience on this cruise as well. Thanks in advance for anyone who can offer some advice.
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
For me, there are no real "must sees" in Lisbon in terms of specific destinations. (I spent four days In Lisbon last month and probably missed some of the "must sees" like the castle.) Some people would recommend the Gulbenkian art museum - I would too if you like museums. Otherwise, I would just walk around - see if you can pick up a walking tour. I took a "free" walking tour with Chill Out - a three hour tour so pretty long, but it was great and takes you all around to the city's key areas and viewpoints.
Their tours go at 10 am (and 4:30 but obviously too late for you).
https://www.lisbon-chillout-freetour.com/
One "must have" though is a Pastel de nata pastry (a little custard tart) - available pretty much everywhere. I swear, there were more bakeries per capital in every Portuguese city I visited than any other country I've ever visited!
Posted by
11606 posts
Walk around the city. Look at the patterns in the streets. Go to Belem where the explorers headed to discover the World! See Jeronimos Monsdyery there. Have an egg custard tart. Or go by train to ( station is in Rossi’s Sq) to Dintra. But I much prefer Lisbon and spent nine nights there. Fatima is far away but possible if you hire a private driver for the day.
Posted by
midwest- Michigan
489 posts
From my observations, the cruise port is closer to Alfama, so seeing that area would be a no brainer.
We found the Belem area was a great day! It is probably 30 min from your cruise ship port.
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
The walking tour I mention above does not include Belem. Be careful about relying on public transportation in Lisbon: when I was there last month, some of the buses and trams - not just the touristy Tram 28 - were full to overflowing, and sometimes one would stop and be full that I literally could not get on. Sometimes a tram or bus would just stop somewhere and everyone would have to get off - without explanation - and we'd all have to get on another bus or tram. This made getting back to Lisbon from Belem take twice as long. The point is, give yourself lots of extra time to get around places, especially if you need to be back to the cruise ship by 5pm.
(Having a working smart phone would be helpful too - and if you have Uber, that's another way to get around and use it as a backup to pubic transportation or maybe instead of.)
I just wouldn't bother going to Sintra or Fatima with such a short time in Lisbon - you'll eat up two hours out of your very limited time in Lisbon just going back and forth.
Posted by
8322 posts
Go to Belem and also take one of Rick Steves walking tours that includes St. Georges Castle.
Posted by
Cincinnati, OH, USA
768 posts
I noticed the last post was a bit over 2 weeks ago, so this thought may be too late. In any case, we did the same thing. Our ship docked at 14:00 hr and didn't sail until 22:00 hr. When we disembarked we headed straight for Belem, this was a huge mistake. We were there on April 25, a national holiday, and Belem was a madhouse. Super crowded and just getting there on the 15E tram was a most unpleasant experience (erratic schedule, stopped about 2 km from Belem and we had to wait for 3 packed busses). Getting back to Lisbon on the 15E was just as bad.
While Belem is lovely, I'd suggest staying in the city for your brief time there. Take the Metro to Rossio, walk to the Elevador de Gloria (there will probably be a long queue), when you get to the top turn right and walk to the terrific overlook, then walk south through Barrio Alto to Baxia, have a late lunch there or take bus 737 to Alfama all the way to the Castelo de Sao Jorge, walk back down hill through Alfama and have a late(er) lunch in Alfama We ate at a restaurant La Petit Cafe Largo de Sao Martinho 6 (we had reservations). It is just a short distance uphill from the Se. If you don't have lunch in Alfma and if you're running short on time, you can take the bus 737 back down to the Se, then walk to the Terriero do Paco Metro station and take the Metro back to Santa Apolonia station. (Assuming you're docked at Santa Apolonia). Be sure to have a meal in Lisbon and, as was noted above, have Pastel de Nata. Watch for a bakery as you're walking through the city. Also allow time to enjoy a glass of Porto Wine.