1 Day in Belém: What You Should See, Do, and Eat 2024

Belém is very close to Lisbon. It’s actually a neighborhood in Lisbon but it feels very much like a day trip. The area is home to UNESCO Heritage Sites which are some of the best things to see in Lisbon. UNESCO sites are my favorite because they’ve already done the work so you know it’s going to be interesting. This is what to see, do, and eat if you have 1 day in Belém.

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How to Spend 1 Day in Belem – Overview

Start early enough to get to Belem Tower a few minutes before it opens at 10:00 a.m. Having it to yourself is the best part!

• Belem Tower
• Discoveries Monument
• Jerónimos Monastery
• Lunch in Belem
• Try Pastel De Nata at Pasteis de Belém ( Not Gluten Free- but there are gluten-free options)
• Church of Santa Maria
• April 25 Bridge
• LX Factory

Things to Consider:

• Maritime Museum
• Presidency Museum

One Day in Belem – Tours to Consider

Belem is really easy to explore on your own. But, if you prefer a tour there are options!

• Walking Tour of Belem
• Skip-the-line ticket for Belem Tower
• Skip-the-line ticket for Jeronimos Monastery
• This E-Bike Tour to get from Lisbon to Belem. You’ll see the exteriors of the big monuments but you’d have to come back later if you want to go in.
• Cruise along the Tagus River to the bridge and Belém Tower from the water.

How to Get to Belém from Lisbon

Belém is only about 30 minutes from Lisbon, depending on where you are. Find the timetable here.

From Lisbon, take the 15E tram. The tram ride costs €3 each way, or you can get a transit day pass. If you’re ever going to use the day pass or Lisbon Card today is that day.

It’s hard to say if it’s worth it.

It depends on how much time you plan to be in Belém and how many museums you plan to visit.

Do the math before you visit so you know what’s best for you.

If you have a group of 4, you should price-check a ride with Uber. It may be cheaper than taking the tram.

Getting Around Belém

I have great news! Belém is the one flat area in Lisbon. So, it’s easy to walk around.

One of my favorite parts of exploring Belém was walking along the, very flat, waterfront. It’s a beautiful part of the city and you won’t need to worry about transit when you’re visiting.

How to Spend 1 Day in Belém

First of all, don’t visit Belém on a Monday. Many of the sites are closed on Mondays. You’ll be sad you made it out there if you aren’t able to get inside the things you want to see.

Belém Tower

Belém Tower is the most well-known monument in Belém. It’s one of the UNESCO sites and you’ll understand why as soon as you get close.

It’s a stand-alone tower on the water that was built in the 1500s. It served as customs for the city. It’s very ornate and decorated in maritime themes to honor the history of the city.

Belém Tower opens at 10:00 a.m. and should be your first stop. It’s worth getting there early if you want some great photos before the crowds show up! Even at 9:30 a.m., the crowd was small enough to get a good picture. You don’t have to see the inside of the tower (I think you should). But, you absolutely must see the outside. I liked walking across the draw bridge on the way in and going to the top level of the tower.

A nearby kiosk sells the tickets. The entrance to the tower is €6. I recommend the combo ticket for the tower and the monastery at €10 to save a few dollars. You can also buy your tickets online if waiting until the day of stresses you out.

Discoveries Monument

After you finish your visit to the tower head toward the Discoveries Monument. It’s an easy walk along the water and you’ll even pass some food trucks that could be open.

Portugal was at the center of the Age of Exploration. The Discoveries Monument honors the explorers from Portugal including Henry the Navigator (a great explorer but also credited with starting the slave trade…so…).

The compass mosaic on the ground near the monument is my favorite part. You can choose to go to the top for a great view of Belém (and the compass). I didn’t and I have no regrets but you do you.

Jerónimos Monastery

The monument is almost directly across the street from the monastery you’re headed to next. But, it is a very busy street. Look for the underpass that allows you to cross below the street level. Then enjoy wandering through, or around, the garden, until you get to the monastery.

This 16-century monastery is incredibly elaborate. It earns its title as one of the other UNESCO monuments in Belém. The cloister of the monastery is the most ornate part and was my favorite of the visit. I also appreciated the balcony view of the church next door.

When you approach the monastery, there are two lines. The one on the left is the line for the monastery. It will likely be longer and will appear to move slowly. You need to buy your tickets online if you didn’t go for the combo ticket earlier. Many people will be waiting in line without tickets. Don’t be those people. If you’ve already bought your ticket, the line moved pretty quickly. If you forget to buy tickets you can do it while you stand in line.

Church of Santa Maria

You’ll find the church of Santa Maria right next to the Jerónimos Monastery. Entrance to the church is free. Use the line on the right to enter the church.

It’s a quick visit but it’s worth going inside. It’s a unique construction to make it feel like the church goes on forever. You’ll also find the tomb of Vasco de Gama inside.

April 25 Bridge

This steel suspension bridge will probably feel very similar if you’ve been to San Francisco; It looks a great deal like the Golden Gate Bridge. The bridge is named in honor of the Carnation Revolution in Portugal.

You can’t walk across it but you can admire the views of the beautiful bridge or head to Pilar 7 to learn more about it and see it from below.

LX Factory

LX factory is a redesigned industrial area. It’s been turned into a shopping and dining hotspot. Find hundreds of shops, cafes, and restaurants. It’s a fun place to go for lunch or dinner. The street art is worth checking out, too!

Other Options

After taking in the main sites, you can check out some of the museums in Belém.

The Maritime Museum is a naval museum dedicated to Portugal’s history of exploration and maritime navigation. Portugal was the center of maritime exploration, and this museum honors that. Tickets are €7.00. It’s actually in the same building as the monastery you just visited.

You can also visit the Museum of the Presidency of Portugal. It’s a cute pink building, if nothing else! Tickets are €2.50.

The Archeological Museum is frequently recommended. Note that it is closed to the public until 2025.

Belém is also home to several gardens. Walk around the Tropical Botanical Gardens or any of the options. It’s a nice, flat, way to feel like you’re escaping the city for a few minutes.

1 day in Belém: What to Eat

Pastel de Nata is the pastry Portugal is well-known for, and you can find the best in Belém.

Pasteis de Belém

The legend is that the original pastel was born in Belem. The monks from the monastery used egg whites to starch their habits. There was a sugar factory nearby. So, one day they added sugar to the egg yolks, made a pastry and Pastel de Nata was created.

For years, monks made the pasties. Then, they sold the recipe to a bakery. Now, you can find the original at Pasteis de Belém.

At least, that’s the story.

There will probably be a line, but it moves quickly, and the pastry is very good (according to my friends). They recommend buying several so you can snack on them all day!

There are no gluten-free pastels here, but you can find them in other places in the city.

Where to stay in Lisbon for 1 Day in Belem

I’d stay in the Cais do Sodre area. You’ll be near Santa Apolónia station and easily able to connect to Oriente. This area also puts you near Baixa and Alfama so you’re near the best sightseeing in Lisbon as well.

I’d go with an apartment-style hotel in Lisbon if I were going back.

For the day trip to Belem, and any other day trip, I like staying near a train station to make the travel days easier.

Enjoy 1 Day in Belem

Some of the best sites in Lisbon are in Belem. It’s nice that you can see them all in one day without much trouble.

Enjoy your day trip to Belem; you’ll have a great time! Let me know what you do.

This itinerary may help you see how Belem fits into a week in Porto and Lisbon.