Lisbon's cruise port is very close to the city center. This half marathon route combines a long section along the Tejo promenade with a detour into the old town. The route goes all the way to Torre de Belém and then returns to the harbor through central areas like Baixa and Alfama.
The route starts at the exit of the cruise port and first leads to Praça do Comércio. From there, most of the route runs along the Tejo promenade heading west to the Torre de Belém. Along this section, you'll also pass the impressive Mosteiro dos Jerónimos monastery, located near the route. The return journey follows the same route until near Praça do Comércio, where the route branches off towards the city center.
Through the Triumphal Arch, you'll enter Rua Augusta and continue to Rossio Square. After a short loop, the route takes a parallel street back and then continues to the Sé Cathedral. From the cathedral, the route winds through the Alfama neighborhood with its narrow streets and several climbs. It passes the viewpoints Miradouro de Santa Luzia and Portas do Sol and ends after descending stairs back at the cruise port.
This 21 km running route from the Lisbon cruise port combines an enjoyable run along the Tejo promenade with numerous sights of Lisbon. It's a great opportunity not only to be active but also to see most of the highlights of the Portuguese capital on a long run.
A perfect day in Lisbon can be well designed with a combination of experiences and exercise. A special highlight is a city tour with a short helicopter flight over the city, giving you an overview of the coast, the old town, and the Tejo. After this, our shorter routes in Lisbon are especially good for actively exploring the most important areas.
If you run the half marathon route and still have energy, a guided walking tour through the old town is a good option. This will give you additional insights into history and culture that often get missed while running.
Alternatively, you can complement the day with other activities, such as a surf lesson on the coast or a Pastel de Nata cooking class.
The route starts directly at the exit of the cruise port. Depending on the berth, the distance may be slightly longer.
You can follow the route on the map or load the GPX file into an app like Komoot. We recommend GPX navigation as it is more precise. After saving, you can usually use the route offline.
Tip: Test the navigation in airplane mode beforehand. If your provider does not offer affordable data roaming, a global data plan (e.g., eSIM.sm) may be useful.
The route partly runs along roads, but mostly on sidewalks and promenades. Increased attention is required in the old town alleys.
Plan enough buffer time, especially for afternoon runs. If time is short, you can shorten the return along the promenade or use public transport. For emergencies, it's advisable to save the ship's phone number in advance. You should also have apps like Uber or Bolt installed. Uber and Bolt work well in Lisbon.
Public restrooms are available near Rossio Square, at Portas do Sol, and at Torre de Belém (paid). Public drinking water fountains are not known along the route. However, there are numerous opportunities to buy drinks.
The route runs over asphalt, cobblestones, and stairs in the old town area. Normal running shoes are sufficient. We recommend bringing sun protection (ad), enough water, and a navigation device. Additionally, a payment method is useful, although in Lisbon you can usually pay by card or smartphone.