A curated one-day walking tour of Lisbon's best places

Elevador de Santa Justa

I loved being in Lisbon, and these are some cool things you can do in a day there. The guide's activities are carefully curated. The intense walking on cobblestones is balanced by eating Pastéis de Nata.

I like the neighborhoods of Campo Pequeno and Principe Real. They are a bit less touristy, you have everything you need, and you can walk down to the tourist areas. There are supermarkets and pharmacies all around. You have a choice of restaurants as well, from neighborhood cafes to fancy ones. It's also nice to be around the lush Eduardo Vll park, you can even stop for a beer and a bite at one of the restaurants inside the park.

Anywhere you walk in Lisbon, you'll have art and architecture to look at. The cobblestone is arranged in cool patterns, colorful tiles are set on older buildings, and there are sculptures everywhere- in parks, on the street, on buildings.

On a perfect day, you need to start with brunch. Choupana Caffe has amazing pastries, and the red velvet croissant is very popular. Restaurante Hygge Kaffé also has a great brunch. Lisbon actually has a great brunch culture, and with one simple Google Maps search, you can find amazing places. Check out my post on the best brunch places in Lisbon.

Next, walk to Park Eduardo Vll, enjoy the fresh air, and the incessant chirping of green parakeets. The park is beautifully manicured, with a lily pond, and many sculptures.

Walk down Avenida da Liberdade to Museum Medeiros and Almeida Museum. It is an old mansion turned museum that showcases beautiful art and unique furniture. The mansion's architecture is also stunning. You should have at least one hour here, there's a lot to take in. This was my favorite museum in Lisbon because it's more than just an art exhibition.

Continue your stroll on Avenida da Liberdade, and by now, you must be peckish. It's time to stop for a snack. Enjoy some Pastéis de Nata and a coffee at Fabrica da Nata or Castro- Atelier de Pastéis de Nata. Most places have delicious pastéis de nata, and they are under 2 euros per piece.

You can make some stops along the way to shop at designer venues while you continue your walk towards Tagus River.

I prefer to stop at The Fantastic World Of The Portuguese Sardines, which is a bit of a tourist trap, but it's pretty cool. There are all kinds of canned seafood with artsy designs on the cans. I also love the souvenir shops with ceramics decorated with fish or tile designs. Just make sure your souvenirs are not made in China or PRC. Portugal is an amazing producer of ceramics and tiles, it would be a shame not to shop for locally-made things instead of mass-produced ones. A Vida Portuguesa is the best shop for locally made things, and ceramics by my favorite local maker, Bordallo Pinheiro.

Well before sunset, arrive at Topo Chiado bar for cocktails with a view. It's right next to Elevador de Santa Justa. This lift is a popular attraction that takes you up for a great view of Lisbon. But the bar offers pretty much the same view, alcohol included. To get to the bar, you would need to go around and up by the Archaeological Museum. Or if the map says you're right in front of the bar and to go through a shoe store, just look around for a small entrance that only has one elevator. Sometimes there's a host there. This is the trick to go up with less walking.

The last stop should be by the Tagus River, at Baia do Peixe in Praça do Comércio. You can try out the local dishes of bacalhau, seafood cataplana, garlic prawns, and many others.

In Portugal, especially in Lisbon, they bring bread or breadsticks and dips to the table. They're not on the house, so if you don't care for 2 euro breadsticks and dips made who-knows-when, you can just refuse them. This one restaurant kept the tuna spread cups in the host stand, obviously without refrigeration, on hot days. They would take them to tables, and when refused or not touched, they'd go back in the stand.

I suggest using a ride-share service when ending your day, it's best not to walk around in the dark.

I hope you enjoy your vacation in Lisbon and that my guide is useful. Leave your favorite Lisbon spot in the comments!