Igreja de São Roque

São Roque is one of the few major sights in the upper town that fits into a short port day without queues or timed tickets. Entry to the church is free, and a focused look at the interior takes 30 to 45 minutes. From the ship, the walk is about 2.2 km and 34 minutes, with the last part uphill. The easier approach is to walk about 10 minutes to Santa Apolónia, take the metro Blue Line to Baixa-Chiado, leave by the Chiado exit and walk 5 to 7 minutes up Rua da Misericórdia to Largo Trindade Coelho. A taxi takes about 10 minutes. Check the day before you go. The church opens at 10:00 from Tuesday to Sunday but only at 13:00 on Mondays, and the museum is closed all day on Monday. Mass is said at 12:30 from Tuesday to Sunday, and visits are restricted during services, so aim to arrive before about 12:15 or after 13:15. With limited time, go straight to the Chapel of St John the Baptist, the last chapel on the left before the main altar. Built in Rome from marble, alabaster, lapis lazuli and gilt bronze, it was shipped to Lisbon in pieces. Then look up at the painted wooden ceiling and walk the line of side chapels. Large tour groups tend to come through in the late morning; the first hour after opening is usually calmer. The museum (€8) is worth adding only if you have an extra 45 minutes. It holds the chapel's original silver, vestments and liturgical objects, plus Jesuit art from Asia. If time is short, skip it: the chapel itself is in the church. The Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara is two minutes' walk north, and Chiado is five minutes downhill, so São Roque combines easily with both before you head back to the river.