One day in Lisbon from Saldanha: a simple itinerary

Saldanha and Jardim do Arco do Cego make a practical opening to a Lisbon itinerary, with the garden about a 4-minute walk from Hotel Canada. Begin with the neighbourhood and its green space before heading towards the city’s central sights.

From the hotel, walk about 5 minutes to Saldanha station and take the metro towards Baixa; Praça do Comércio is a useful stop before continuing to Alfama. You can also keep the morning flexible, since the itinerary’s later stops have seasonal opening hours.

Praça do Comércio is a central riverside stop to include on a day that continues from Baixa towards Alfama. Tram 15 runs between Praça da Figueira and Belém, passing Praça do Comércio, Cais do Sodré, Avenida 24 de Julho and Alcântara. Check the tram operator’s official site before you go for current service details.

The Calouste Gulbenkian Museum is another stop to include in your Lisbon itinerary; its visitor guide to the museum can help you plan that visit.

From the square, continue towards Alfama and Lisbon Cathedral. The cathedral’s visiting hours change by season, so plan this stop around its current schedule.

Lisbon Cathedral is a historic stop in the Alfama part of the day, at Largo da Sé, 1100-585 Lisboa. Its tourist ticket covers the High Choir, Cathedral Treasury Museum, the church’s naves and the deambulatory.

Adult tickets cost €7; tickets for children aged 7–12 cost €5, while children up to age 6 enter free. Lisboa Card holders pay €5.

The cathedral is open Monday to Saturday, 10:00–18:00 from November to May and 09:30–19:00 from June to October; it is closed Sundays and holy days. Last entry is 45 minutes before closing. For more on the neighbourhood and cathedral, use this guide to Lisbon Cathedral and Alfama.

Check the official site before you go for current hours and ticket details.

São Jorge Castle adds gardens, viewpoints, an archaeological centre, a permanent exhibition and a Camera Obscura to a day in historic Lisbon. Its main entrance is on Rua de Santa Cruz, 1100-129 Lisboa.

The castle opens daily from 09:00 to 18:00 from November through February, with last admission at 17:30. From March through October, it opens 09:00–21:00, with last admission at 20:30. It closes on January 1, May 1, December 24, December 25 and December 31.

Adult tickets cost €17, youth tickets for ages 13–25 cost €8.50, and the senior price for visitors over 65 is €14. The Camera Obscura is available only on a guided tour included with the ticket; its hours vary by month and weather, so ask at the ticket office on the day.

Access to the archaeological site is limited to participants in the included general tour, Discovering the Castle. The castle’s only authorized online ticket-sales platform is BilheteiraOnline (BOL); tickets are also sold at the castle ticket office and vending machines.

Wall walks and towers close at 17:30 in winter. In summer, closing time can fall between 18:00 and 21:00, depending on daylight. For accessibility information, contact the monument.

Finish the day back in Saldanha, where the station is about a 5-minute walk from Hotel Canada. If you are planning the metro as part of your day, this Saldanha metro guide covers getting around by train.

Can you visit Lisbon Cathedral on Sunday?

No. The cathedral is closed on Sundays and holy days.

What does the Lisbon Cathedral tourist ticket include?

It includes the High Choir, Cathedral Treasury Museum, the church’s naves and the deambulatory.

Does a São Jorge Castle ticket include the Camera Obscura?

Yes, but the Camera Obscura is accessible only on a guided tour. Its hours vary with the month and weather; check availability at the ticket office on the day.

When does São Jorge Castle close?

It closes on January 1, May 1, December 24, December 25 and December 31. Opening and last-admission times also change between the November–February and March–October periods.