Lisbon from a cruise ship: plans for 4, 6 and 8 hours ashore

Lisbon is one of the easiest cruise ports to explore on your own: the terminal sits right below Alfama, and the castle, the cathedral and the Baixa are all within walking distance. These three plans start and end at the Lisbon Cruise Terminal, and each one fits the time you really have ashore.

First, count your real time ashore

The hours your ship is in port are not all yours. Allow half an hour to get off a big ship, and be back at the terminal an hour before the all-aboard time printed in your daily programme. A ship in port from 8:00 to 17:00, with all-aboard at 16:30, gives you about seven hours ashore: from about 8:30 to 15:30. If you go off on your own, the ship will not wait for you.

For the terminal itself, the Metro, buses and fares, see the Lisbon Cruise Terminal guide.

4 hours: Alfama, the castle and Praça do Comércio

All on foot, about 3.5 km in total, with one steep climb at the start. Wear shoes with grip.

1. Up to the viewpoints (10–15 minutes). From the terminal, climb about 550 m into Alfama to the Largo das Portas do Sol and the Miradouro de Santa Luzia, side by side, for the view over the roofs to the river.
2. On to the castle (about 1 hour there). Castelo de São Jorge is about 400 m further up. It is open every day except 1 January, 1 May and 24, 25 and 31 December: from 9:00 to 21:00 from March to October, and to 18:00 from November to February, with last entry half an hour before closing. An adult ticket costs €17, and children up to 12 go free. You can buy tickets online or at the gate.
3. Down to the cathedral (10 minutes). Walk about 750 m downhill to the Sé, Lisbon's cathedral.
4. Praça do Comércio (10 minutes). Another 600 m brings you down to the river and the big square at the foot of the Baixa.
5. Back to the ship (15 minutes). Walk about 1.1 km east along the river, on the flat, to the terminal.

6 hours: add the Baixa and Chiado

Follow the 4-hour plan as far as Praça do Comércio, then:

1. Through the arch into the Baixa. Walk up Rua Augusta, the pedestrian street behind the arch, through the grid of streets rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake.
2. Up to Chiado. The Elevador de Santa Justa, about 650 m from the square, lifts you up the hill: a ticket bought on board costs €6.20 and includes the viewpoint at the top. Or walk up: Largo do Chiado is about 400 m from the lift, uphill.
3. Back by tram or on foot. From Chiado, tram 28E towards Martim Moniz climbs back through Alfama past the cathedral to the Largo das Portas do Sol, about 550 m above the terminal. Or walk down to Praça do Comércio (about 800 m) and along the river to the ship.

On a Tuesday or Saturday, you could swap Chiado for the Feira da Ladra flea market at Campo de Santa Clara, next to the National Pantheon and about 700 m uphill from the terminal.

8 hours: Alfama in the morning, Belém in the afternoon

Belém, about 7 km west along the river, is where the Portuguese voyages of discovery set out. It has the Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, and the custard-tart bakery everyone queues for.

1. Morning: follow the 4-hour plan from the viewpoints to Praça do Comércio, leaving out the walk back.
2. To Belém: from Praça do Comércio take the 728 bus (check that it shows Restelo) or tram 15E to the Mosteiro Jerónimos stop.
3. The monastery: the Jerónimos cloister is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 to 17:30, last entry 17:00, and closed on Mondays. Tickets are sold by Museus e Monumentos de Portugal, which also runs the Belém Tower, about 1 km further west along the river: check its opening on the same site before you go.
4. Back to the ship: the 728 runs from the Mosteiro Jerónimos stop straight back to the stop outside the cruise terminal (Alfândega). Allow at least 45 minutes, and more in the evening rush hour.

With four or more rides, a 24-hour Carris/Metro ticket (€7.25) costs less than single tickets (€1.90 each on a Navegante card).

Sintra or Cascais?

Sintra's palaces and the seaside town of Cascais each make a day of their own. With less than a full day ashore, a delayed train or a long queue at a palace can cost you the ship, so leave them for a longer call, or go with transport you can rely on.

Tips for the day

• Mondays: the Jerónimos Monastery and the National Pantheon are closed. Plan Alfama and the castle instead.
• Busy days: when several ships are in port, the viewpoints, the castle and tram 28 are at their busiest from mid-morning. Start early, and buy your castle ticket online.
• Heat and hills: in summer, carry water and plan the climbs for the morning.
• Strikes: a Metro or Carris strike can upset these plans, so check our strike list before your port day.