RunCity

Lisbon on foot: a self-guided walking route

This route takes you past 11 of Lisbon's best-known sights, including Miradouro das Portas do Sol, Lisbon Cathedral (Sé), Rua Augusta Arch and more. It is about 12 km on foot, roughly 3.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Follow the list on your own, or play it as a free GPS checkpoint game with RunCity and race the clock on the Lisbon leaderboard.

  • 11Stops
  • about 12 kmDistance
  • 3.5 hoursWalking
  • about 94 minRunning
Play Lisbon in RunCity

Free during launch. Runs in your phone's browser; the app is in English, German and Hungarian.

Lisbon
Photo: Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL · CC BY-SA 2.0

This route starts high in the Alfama and works its way down through the Baixa and Chiado, then follows the river west to Belém. From the Portas do Sol viewpoint you look over the Alfama roofs to the river; the fortress-like Sé cathedral is a short walk downhill, where the old trams squeeze past. The Rua Augusta Arch opens onto Praça do Comércio on the waterfront, and from there the Baixa's straight streets lead to the iron Santa Justa Lift and the wave-patterned paving of Rossio.

The São Pedro de Alcântara garden looks back across the Baixa to the castle, and Praça Luís de Camões is the heart of Chiado. Then the route runs west to LX Factory, the bonus stop, and on to the Monument to the Discoveries and Belém Tower. That western leg is long and flat; tram 15 from Praça do Comércio covers it if your legs need a break. Wear shoes with grip: Lisbon's limestone pavements are slippery.

Coming from a cruise ship

The Lisbon Cruise Terminal at Santa Apolónia sits right below the Alfama, a 10–15 minute walk from Praça do Comércio. Start up the hill at the Portas do Sol viewpoint and walk the Alfama, Baixa and Chiado stops back down towards the river. Belém is 6 km west: take tram 15 there and back, or leave it out on a short call.

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Download the route as GPX (for Komoot, Strava or a watch)

The stops

A suggested order. In the game you can visit them in any order.

  1. Miradouro das Portas do Sol

    Miradouro das Portas do Sol Photo

    The Alfama rooftops and the river from the terrace.

    Photo: José Luiz · CC BY-SA 3.0

  2. Lisbon Cathedral (Sé)

    Lisbon Cathedral (Sé)

    The fortress-like twin-towered cathedral where the trams pass.

    Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

  3. Rua Augusta Arch

    Rua Augusta Arch Photo

    The triumphal arch at the top of the Rua Augusta.

    Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0

  4. Praça do Comércio

    Praça do Comércio Photo

    The yellow arcades and the statue facing the river.

    Photo: Jules Verne Times Two · CC BY-SA 4.0

  5. Santa Justa Lift

    Santa Justa Lift Photo

    The iron lift tower rising above Rua do Ouro.

    Photo: Dicklyon · CC BY-SA 4.0

  6. Rossio Square

    Rossio Square

    The wavy-paved square with its column and fountains.

    Photo: Thomas from Vienna, Austria · CC BY 2.0

  7. São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint

    São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint

    The garden terrace looking over the Baixa to the castle.

    Photo: Mister No · CC BY 3.0

  8. Praça Luís de Camões

    Praça Luís de Camões

    The poet's statue in the heart of Chiado.

    Photo: Unknown author · CC0

  9. LX Factory

    LX Factory Bonus

    The old textile works turned into a street of shops and murals.

    Photo: Nuno Morão from Lisboa, Portugal · CC BY-SA 2.0

  10. Monument to the Discoveries

    Monument to the Discoveries Photo

    The caravel-shaped monument with Henry the Navigator in front.

    Photo: Alvesgaspar · CC BY-SA 3.0

  11. Belém Tower

    Belém Tower Photo

    The little riverside tower with its stone battlements.

    Photo: Alvesgaspar · CC BY-SA 3.0

Play Lisbon in RunCity

Leaderboard

    Questions

    Can you see Lisbon on foot in one day?

    Yes. The 11 stops on this route add up to about 12 km, roughly 3.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Some stops are far apart, so you may want public transport for a leg.

    Is this self-guided walking tour free?

    Yes. The route and map on this page are free, and the RunCity game for Lisbon is free during launch.

    How does the RunCity game work in Lisbon?

    Open Lisbon in RunCity, walk to a stop and tap Validate: your phone's GPS confirms you are there. Some stops also ask for a photo. Timed runs go on the Lisbon leaderboard.

    Where does the route start?

    This page suggests starting at Miradouro das Portas do Sol and finishing at Belém Tower. In the game you can take the stops in any order.

    Can you walk into Lisbon from the cruise port?

    The Lisbon Cruise Terminal at Santa Apolónia sits right below the Alfama, a 10–15 minute walk from Praça do Comércio. Start up the hill at the Portas do Sol viewpoint and walk the Alfama, Baixa and Chiado stops back down towards the river. Belém is 6 km west: take tram 15 there and back, or leave it out on a short call.

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