A Day in Lisbon, Portugal: Scrapbooking My Travels

Lisbon is a beautiful city on the coast of Portugal. And in spring of 2023, I had the pleasure of spending a day there.

There’s plenty to do in the area, so one day is not really enough to fit everything in if you plan to see the sights on the outskirts of the city. But my plan was just to explore the city of Lisbon itself, and for that, I think one day sufficed.

In this post, I share my journal-style virtual scrapbook of the things I did, the things I saw, and the things I ate and drank in Lisbon, Portugal.

I packed a lot in, and I only got around by walking. So by the end of my day in Lisbon, I felt exhausted. But I also felt fulfilled and satisfied with my day of sightseeing in Lisbon.

If you’re planning a day-trip to Lisbon, I hope this blog post gives you an idea of what would be feasible to fit into your itinerary.

Where I Stayed in Lisbon: Home Lisbon Hostel

During my trip to Lisbon, I stayed at Home Lisbon Hostel, a welcoming and well-stocked hostel conveniently located just a couple of blocks from the Praça do Comércio and the Alfama neighborhood—two popular tourist destinations in the heart of Lisbon.

I enjoyed my stay at Home Lisbon Hostel, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a budget-friendly option in the center of the city. I found the hostel to be clean and comfortable, and I found the staff to be welcoming.

I stayed there two nights, and I spent the day between exploring Lisbon.

To start my first day in Lisbon, I filled up on food and drinks at the breakfast buffet in the hostel. On the morning I ate there, the Home Lisbon Hostel buffet included eggs, meat, toast, granola, yogurt and fruit, as well as fresh juices, coffee, and tea. For only five euros per person, I thought it seemed like a great option for a cheap breakfast in Lisbon.

After breakfast, I left the hotel to walk around Lisbon and do some sightseeing.

Sightseeing in Lisbon’s Historic Center

First we explored the Alfama neighborhood and the sights nearby. The Alfama neighborhood is build atop seaside hills, so walking through this area of Lisbon quickly turned into an urban hike.

While walking—or hiking—through the Alfama area, I made sure to see the Lisbon Cathedral,

I continued exploring the other top free tourist attractions in the center of Lisbon. I made sure to stop at Praça do Rossio, Arco da Rua Augusta, and Praça do Comércio.

Praça do Comércio is a great place to sit back and enjoy the coastal views, so as I passed through, I took the opportunity to do just that.

Enjoying Lisbon’s Green Spaces

Craving some greenery after a morning in the city, I decided to visit the Botanical Garden of Lisbon. The Botanical Garden only cost 2.5 euros for a student ticket—well worth the hour I spent exploring the winding trails with unique plant species.

After the Botanical Garden, I continued on to Parque Eduardo VII, a beautiful park at the end of the famous Lisbon avenue, Avenida da Liberdade.

The main reason for my visit to Parque Eduardo VII was to see the Miradouro Parque Eduardo VII, an observation deck with incredible views of Lisbon and its coastline.

`Miradouro Parque Eduardo VII, Lisbon, Portugal`

Sightseeing on the Move

On my long walk back into Lisbon’s historic center, I made sure to take the scenic route along Avenida da Liberdade, which is lined with trees and other plants.

Along the avenue, I stopped briefly to admire the Marquês de Pombal and the Monumento dos Restauradores, monuments located in open urban areas.

Eating and Drinking in Lisbon

On my way back into downtown Lisbon, I felt very ready for lunch. I decided to eat at Vegan Junkies. I loved the healthy veggie burger I ordered, and the prices were really reasonable for the amount of food.

After lunch, I continued along my long walk back into town. But on the way, I grabbed a pasteis de nata, a traditional Portuguese custard tart, at a local bakery.

When I arrived back in Lisbon’s historic center, I didn’t feel hungry for dinner, so I spent some time enjoying the views along the waterfront.

Then I tried green wine—a Portuguese specialty—at Antiga Wine Bar.

We ate sushi for dinner, but the portions were smaller than we hoped. So we filled up on fancy french fries from Potato Project and decadent pastries from Paul. The bakery charged extra to eat at their tables, so I took my pastry down to the coast to eat with a view.

Well, that’s all I could pack into my day in Lisbon!

If you’re planning a trip to Lisbon, I hope you have a wonderful time. Save travels!