If you’re spending more than a couple days in Lisbon, you’ve got to venture over to Belem.

If you only have one extra day and you’re torn—Belem is your move if you want to stay grounded, keep it close to your home base, and leisurely pick your activities. Sintra’s more of a choose-your-own fairytale: castles, hills, and way more energy expenditure. Both are great & worth it. Just depends on your vibe.

If you’re thinking about heading there on a Sunday, here’s how we did it DIY style—equal parts relaxed, delicious, and full of those little Lisbon sunny moments.

Also, this day is totally doable solo. I went with friends, but felt completely safe (a general theme in Portugal). Belem felt chill, scenic, and easy to navigate on your own.

Imagine this: waking up in your sunny Lisbon apartment to a lil’ WhatsApp group text from your new travel friends… pitching a chill, casual Sunday in Belem. No responsibilities other than where are we eating for lunch and how many steps are we going to get in today. Jealous of past self? I definitely am, lol.

And thus the journey begins…

We wanted to be adventurous and go by tram from Lisbon city center. It’s all about the journey, am I right?

This required a few things: grabbing tickets from the metro (we went to Rossio station), making sure we held our belongings close, and waiting in line to board at one of the main city stops. Here are the details.

It wouldn’t have been the same without being packed like sardines with other tourists all trying to experience the exact same plan. A rite of passage.

TBH—if you’re trying to go straight to the Torre de Belem, just take an Uber 🙂 especially if it’s hot AF or you’re visiting during peak travel months.

Luckily it was October for us, so not sweaty… but not quite sweater weather either.

If you’re planning to start your day with the monastery or grabbing a pastel de nata, then the tram is a solid option.

Friend M had asked AI to help route us there, and it almost did the trick… dropping us exactly where the tram is meant to stop 😅 but not where we thought we were going.

We were all eager to see the tower, but “near” turned out to be relative—Google Maps had us adventuring through the streets and walking a little extra to find it.

We are those people who did not go in the tower -__-

Taking meta selfies outside? Absolutely.

As of June 2025, it’s closed for construction for about one year (from April ’25)—so that might make the decision easier for you, depending on when it officially reopens. It still looks awesome from the outside, and if you’re a history buff, even cooler to see up close. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, after all!

Next up—the perfect lunch at O Rio Marisqueira.

Friend D has a gluten allergy, so finding restaurants with solid alternatives was key.
Thankfully, Portugal did not disappoint—seafood heaven (though for others, a different kind of allergy problem 😜).

Picture this: the waiter offers your table the last fish of the day, grilled to perfection (also kinda salty though, that might have been the only “complaint”, then comes back and serves it to us straight from the platter. Paired with a white wine sangria, clams, and crab soup? Pure joy.

We didn’t reserve in advance. Most of our food stops in Portugal followed this formula: Google Maps → filter by preferences → check reviews → confirm it’s open → go.

The price range here is slightly higher, but because we split the entire fish, it ended up being more economical than if we had each splurged on our own dishes.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention pastel de nata right now.

Side note on Pastel de Nata:
Our group fave is Manteigaria, so we didn’t stop for the famous ones in Belém.
But if you’re the kind of person who must try the OG, head to Pastéis de Belém—that’s where the legend lives.

For your afternoon or evening, consider picking up a sunset cruise right from Belém.

We did ours on a different night as a farewell with everyone, but honestly—it would’ve been the perfect way to close out this kind of day. Especially if you’re more into seeing the sights than going fully inside them.

Cruising with music, drinks, and that Lisbon glow? Yas.

If you want to wrap things up in style, this is it: golden hour on the Tagus, a smile on your face, and the city unfolding from the water.

Just know—it was windy as hell for us, lol. So… dress accordingly. Context is everything.

It was one of those Instagram vs. reality moments where you’re like:
“I’ll never forget this.”
But not because it was perfect.
Because of the people.
Because of the sights.
Because of that (freezing) moment covered in blankets and huddle with your friends to stay warm 😆.

You could easily spend an additional day in Belém if you want to go deeper—fully exploring the Jerónimos Monastery, the National Coach Museum, the Maritime Museum, or popping into the MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) for some modern edge.

But… being honest about time—and the kind of Sunday we were craving—we kept things light.
No rushing. No pressure. Just good food, good company, and a loose plan.

Find people who share your travel goals 🙂
It makes all the difference.

On the way home, I convinced my pals to stop by LX Factory—we hadn’t been yet, and it was quieter than usual since it was a Sunday night.

Overall? Super cute. I could totally see it being ideal for a date night, a slow afternoon of shopping and drinks, or even a morning stroll with coffee in hand.

We went for rooftop drinks and connection on top of the LX Hostel instead.

There was an eclectic little crowd—someone behind us was casually pulling tarot cards for himself, so I felt right at home, lol.

If I’d had more time (and I think the group would agree), I probably would’ve come back to Belém to wander through the museums.

But honestly? I felt pretty satisfied with the version we experienced.
A little taste—just enough.
And sometimes, that’s the perfect amount.

If you’re building your Lisbon itinerary, consider Belem your perfect Sunday venture.
It’s close, chill, and easy to tailor to your energy level—whether you’re there for the history, the food, or the golden hour views.
Just give yourself space to wander… and maybe (always) say yes to that last fish of the day.