Praça do Comércio (Commerce Square)

For most cruise passengers Praça do Comércio is the first stop and the easiest one. From the Lisbon Cruise Terminal at Jardim do Tabaco, follow Avenida Infante Dom Henrique west with the river on your left: it is about 1 km on the flat, roughly 14 minutes on foot, and the yellow arcades appear ahead of you. No ticket, no opening hours, no queue. The square was laid out after the 1755 earthquake on the site of the destroyed royal palace, which is why it opens straight onto the Tagus rather than onto streets. If you only have an hour or two ashore, use the square as your orientation point rather than a destination in itself. Walk down to Cais das Colunas, the marble steps into the river on the south side, for the classic photo back towards the arch. Then walk through the Arco da Rua Augusta on the north side; if you want a view, the rooftop terrace inside the arch costs €5 and takes 30 to 45 minutes. From there Rua Augusta runs straight into the Baixa grid, Rossio is about 10 minutes ahead, and the Sé cathedral is uphill to the east. Crowds build from mid-morning, when shore excursions and tour groups arrive, and stay heavy until late afternoon. The square is large enough that it never feels packed, but the arch queue and the riverside steps do. Early morning, before 10:00, gives you empty arcades and soft light over the river. What to skip: the restaurants with photo menus and staff inviting you in under the arcades are priced for tourists. If you want a coffee here, Martinho da Arcada in the north-east corner has been trading since 1782, and standing at the counter is usually cheaper than table service. Better-value lunch is a few streets back in the Baixa. Transport from the square is simple. Terreiro do Paço metro station (Blue Line) is on the east side, one stop from Santa Apolónia, and trams 15E and 25E stop on the square. Getting back to the ship is the same flat walk in reverse, so allow 15 to 20 minutes plus a margin before all-aboard time.