This is similar to my recommendations for Sunday afternoon during your weekend in Lisbon. Except for this option, I’m not including the MNAC museum.
Instead, I suggest you get off at the Baixa-Chiado Metro station (Largo do Chiado exit), walk down Rua Garret, and turn left at Calçada do Sacramento towards Largo do Carmo.
At that square, Largo do Carmo, two important historical moments happened. The first, the Great Earthquake of 1755 that completely changed the landscape of the city. The second, the revolution of 25th April 1974 that reinstated democracy after almost 60 years of a conservative dictatorship.
The ruins of Convento do Carmo are the perfect site for travelers who aren’t staying in Lisbon for long but have a thing for historical buildings. The gothic convent was one of the few places that barely survived the earthquake, and not much of it remains, except the main walls of the church (roofless since that time).
I know the convent is on every list of top things to see, but I always recommend it because it’s unique. It also doesn’t take long to visit.
Before leaving, go around the back of the convent to look at the view:
- The castle on top of the hill.
- The Santa Justa lift.
- The old buildings cascading down Alfama.
- The reconstructed buildings of Chiado (that survived a massive fire in 1988).
- The Rossio square.
If you want a quick snap of the multiple layers of Lisbon, this place is it.