As you’ll know if you’ve been following my travel blog for a while, I’ve lived in Lisbon for the last three years. I really, genuinely only meant to stay here for three months (promise), but here I am three years later, still calling it “home”. I have travelled quite a lot during this time, but Lisbon is the place I always go back to. Lisbon is where all of my belongings are, where my friends are, where I go to dance class and where I know the local restaurants.
Of course, during this time, I have had many visitors. My family have come to visit three times, my best friend from home twice, and various other friends have come for a week or a weekend.
As you can imagine, I’ve gotten pretty good at showing people around. It has actually come to the point where I’m relieved that I don’t need to “do the touristy things” with my parents when they come to stay, because both them and I have done it all too many times already!
Of course, if we’re talking about recommendations, I recommend that you spend more than three days in this incredible city. I’d recommend at least a week (but don’t stay too much longer in case you get stuck like I did 😉). If you’re anything like me then you’ll end up coming back, anyway, but if you really do have just three days to explore Lisbon, then I have created the perfect itinerary for you.
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Getting Around in Lisbon
You’ll know, if you’ve done any research so far, that Lisbon is extremely hilly. Despite that it is quite a walkable city, because it is small for a capital. It’s one of the reasons I love it here in Lisbon – it’s small enough to feel like a town, but still has everything you’d expect from a capital city. That being said, you will want to jump on a historic tram at some point during your stay – it’s a mode of transport and a tourist attraction all in one go!
There’s also a great, but limited, metro network. There are four lines that interconnect in the middle of the city, and whilst they can take you to some great places, it can’t take you anywhere. To reach certain areas of the city like Alfama, Graça, and Lapa, you will need to either climb a hill or take the bus/tram.
I tend not to rely on buses when I need to be somewhere on time, because they are so often delayed or don’t come. (Sometimes you can see their live movements on Google Maps, in which case they do arrive if they say they’re going to, but otherwise I don’t trust that they’ll come on time!).
A 3 Day Lisbon Itinerary
Day 1 (Morning): Exploring Historic Alfama
So, whether you landed late last night or you’re stepping off the plane bright and early this morning, you’ll start your first day in Lisbon by diving straight into its oldest and most characterful neighbourhood: Alfama. I’d recommend getting here early – not only to avoid the crowds, but also because the morning light hitting those terracotta roofs is something else entirely.
Of course, where you begin your route will depend on where you’re staying, but if you could choose, I’d tell you to start at São Jorge Castle and work your way down. You can either pay entry to explore the castle or simply admire it from the outside, although there’s not much to see from here. If you want a good view of the castle as a whole, you can actually get a great glimpse from down in the city centre!
From here, you can lose yourself winding through Alfama’s winding streets. This is one of those occasions where “get lost” is actually the goal, because the neighbourhood is full of hidden cafes, tiny restaurants, and beautiful tiled walls. The district is becoming more touristy now – because it is so iconic – but it hasn’t lost its charm by any means.
If you’re looking for something Instagrammable, 28 Cafe is a cafe decorated inside like the famous 28 yellow tram. If you want something a little more authentic, try Alfama Doce, an authentic pastelería with the best Portuguese breakfasts and waiters who seem to speak 100 languages!
You’ll wander past Sé Cathedral, Lisbon’s oldest church, which is impressive from the outside but, honestly, doesn’t have much going for it inside. You’ll also pass by several miradouros (viewpoints), including Miradouro das Portas do Sol and Miradouro de Santa Luzia. The latter is one of Lisbon’s most famous, and often has live music.
You’ll find that several yellow trams pass by as you wander the streets – there’s no need to go looking for them.
Eventually, make your way down to Praça do Comércio, the most famous square in Lisbon, where you’ll find the famous archway (Arco da Rua Augusta) and statue (Estátua Equestre de Dom José).
The restaurants here have a great view for lunch, but come with quite a touristy vibe and hefty price tag. Alternatively, you could head to Time Out Market, where you can try a whole range of Lisbon and Portugal’s best dishes, all under one roof.
Add: If you find yourself with more time before lunch, take a bus or Uber up to the tile museum (Museu Nacional do Azulejo). Whilst it is quite out of the way, it’s really interesting and just 5€ to enter.
Summary
- Alfama district:
- São Jorge Castle
- Breakfast at 28 Cafe or Alfama Doce
- Miradouro das Portas do Sol
- Miradouro de Santa Luzia
- Praça do Comércio
- Grab lunch in Praça do Comércio or Time Out Market
- Add if you have time: Tile Museum
Day 1 (Afternoon): Baixa and Bairro Alto
Hopefully you’re not quite ready for a rest, because your tour can continue in this area! If you’re in Praça do Comércio, Pink Street is about a ten minute walk. If you decided to go to Time Out Market then you’re just a minute or two away.
Pink Street is picturesque and calm during the day, but in the evening it turns into an absolute chaos of hen do’s, Brits abroad and lads nights out. So, unless that’s your vibe (no judgement here), then it’s better to visit during the day or early evening, before the chaos has begun.
Next you’ll want to head up to the Baixa district, which is the city’s typical downtown area. You can either walk up a fairly sizeable hill, take the funicular (the vertical tram, which is really cool but usually has a sizeable queue), or take the bus.
In Baixa you can explore Praça de Camōes, visit the world’s oldest bookshop, Bertrand, do some high street shopping, and then head up the Santa Justa lift. You can either wait in a queue at the bottom to go up the lift itself, or access the viewing platform from a walkway at the back, which you access from a staircase nearby, signposted as “left luggage”.
It’s not a big climb to the top at all, and if you’re hungry you can replenish yourself with a Pastel de Bacalhau (kind of like a large Codfish croquette, which is very typical of Portugal).
It’s also worth visiting Rossio square, especially if you’re here at Christmas time, because this is where they have the Christmas markets. If you didn’t eat lunch earlier, you can grab a bifana, a typical Portuguese hot pork sandwich.
Summary
- Pink Street
- Walk or take the funicular up to Baixa
- Bertrand, the world’s oldest bookshop
- Santa Justa lift
- Pastel de Bacalhau
- Rossio Square
Day 2 (Option 1): Day Trip to Sintra
Now, I need to add a caveat: if you’re travelling in Portugal and you only have three days in Lisbon, you may have scheduled Sintra into your itinerary already, because it is technically not actually in Lisbon at all. So, if you have Sintra elsewhere in your trip plan, you can use option 2. If not, I highly recommend that you visit Sintra, it’s a really beautiful town in the middle of a Natural Park.
You can take the train to Sintra from Rossio, Roma-Areeiro, or Entrecampos, whichever is closest to your accommodation. It takes around 40 minutes and you can buy a ticket in the station, and you can find the route easily on Google Maps, too.
Once you’re in Sintra, there are 3 palaces/castles to visit, which is a bit confusing. Sintra Palace is right there in the town centre, and it’s the least interesting, to be frank. You then have Pena Palace, which is the colourful one at the top of the hill, and the Moorish Castle which you’ll find about 2/3 of the way up to Pena Palace. To reach either palace, you can hike (which takes 30-60 minutes uphill), take the bus (which, at 7€, is a total rip-off, if you ask me!), or take a tuktuk (I highly recommend this option if you don’t have the time or energy to hike).
In high season, I recommend buying your entry tickets to any attraction in Sintra in advance, to avoid disappointment.
If you’re going to Pena Palace, there are two tickets; one to enter the gardens, and one to enter the palace itself. (You can buy them both at once, but it doesn’t change the price.) You can enter the gardens at any time with your ticket, but they’re quite strict that you stick to the correct entry time to the palace, so leave yourself plenty of time to explore the gardens first!
After grabbing lunch in Sintra town, you can also visit Quinta da Regaleira, gardens full of hidden tunnels, wells, and grottos that make you feel like you’re in Alice in Wonderland.
Before you head back to Lisbon, make sure to grab a Pastel de Nata from Dona Estefânia, my favourite place to get them!
Summary
- Train to Sintra from Rossio, Roma-Areeiro or Entrecampos
- Pena Palace
- Moorish Castle
- Quinta da Regaleira
- Eat a Pastel de Nata at Dona Estefânia
Day 2 (Option 2): Explore Lisbon’s Parks
If you’ve already got Sintra planned for another day of your Portugal trip, this alternative itinerary lets you see a different side of Lisbon. Start your day by walking up Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon’s main high-end shopping district. It’s a beautiful tree-lined avenue with quiosques on either side to stop for a drink.
At the top, you’ll reach Parque Eduardo VII, which offers one of my favourite views over the city. It doesn’t look like much as you walk up, but the end result is stunning. The park itself is quite formal, with perfectly manicured hedges leading down towards the river.
From here, make your way to Príncipe Real, one of Lisbon’s most charming neighbourhoods. The main garden here is small but delightful, centred around an enormous cedar tree that’s actually propped up by metal supports. I jokingly refer to it as my favourite tree. (Ok, it’s mostly a joke.) The area is full of independent boutiques and trendy cafes. Don’t miss the chocolate shop, Equador, which sells some of the richest chocolate I’ve ever tasted.
Walking downhill, you’ll reach Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara. This viewpoint is particularly beautiful at sunset, but it’s worth visiting any time of day for its stunning views over Alfama and São Jorge Castle.
For something a bit different, catch the tram to Jardim dos Cactos (the Cactus Garden). It’s a hidden gem that most tourists miss, featuring an impressive collection of cacti and succulents with wonderful views over the April 25th Bridge.
Summary
- Avenida da Libertade
- Parque Eduardo VII
- Príncipe Real
- Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara
- Jardim dos Cactos
Day 3: Belém and Modern Lisbon
For your final day, you’ll explore the contrast between Lisbon’s maritime history and its contemporary culture. Start your morning by taking the tram to LX Factory, a former industrial complex turned creative hub. It’s full of independent shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as an axe throwing place (I don’t know why). On weekends there are usually markets, too.
Here at Landeau you’ll find the best chocolate cake ever (this has been a hotly debated topic amongst my friends, but most people agree), as well as another chance to taste the pastel de bacalhau if you missed it on the first day.
From LX Factory, continue westward to Belém. You can take the tram (15E), train, or grab a taxi – they’re all fairly quick and easy options. Belém is famous for its historical monuments, and the star of the show is undoubtedly the Jerónimos Monastery. If you only go inside one monument in Belém, make it this one. The intricate stonework and soaring ceilings of this UNESCO World Heritage site are absolutely breathtaking.
While the Belém Tower is certainly picturesque and iconic (you’ve definitely seen it on a postcard by now), I honestly don’t think it’s worth going inside. Instead, admire it from the outside and spend some time wandering through the beautiful Belém gardens. On sunny weekends, you’ll find lots of local families here having picnics and enjoying the riverside location.
Of course, no visit to Belém would be complete without trying a pastel de nata from Pastéis de Belém. This is where the famous custard tarts were first created, and they still use the original secret recipe from 1837. Yes, there’s usually a queue, but it moves really quickly and they’re absolutely worth the wait!
Summary
- Take the tram to LX Factory
- Landeau chocolate cake
- Belêm
- Jerónimos Monastery
- Belém Tower
- Belém gardens
- Pastéis de Belém
FAQs About Travelling to Lisbon
Is 3 days enough for Lisbon?
Three days in Lisbon gives you enough time to see the main highlights and get a feel for the city. However, if you can spare more time, I’d definitely recommend it. There’s so much to discover beyond the tourist attractions, plus, you might want to factor in day trips to places further afield like Cascais or Óbidos if you have more time.
Is Porto or Lisbon better?
I get asked this question a lot, and honestly, they’re quite different cities! Lisbon is larger, more cosmopolitan, and has more varied attractions. Porto is smaller, more traditional, and has a really distinct charm of its own. I wouldn’t say one is “better” than the other, it really depends what you’re looking for. If you can, visit both.
Is Lisbon a walkable city?
Yes and no! The central areas are fairly compact and connected, but those hills I mentioned earlier can make walking quite challenging, especially in the summer heat. Don’t be afraid to use public transport to save your legs, especially the historic trams and funiculars which are an experience in themselves.
How many days do you really need in Lisbon?
In my opinion, five to seven days would be ideal. This gives you enough time to see the main sights without rushing, take a day trip or two, and still have time to wander and discover the city at your own pace.
Can I visit Lisbon and Sintra in 3 days?
Yes, absolutely! As I outlined in the itinerary above, you can definitely fit in both Lisbon and Sintra in three days. You’ll need to be fairly efficient with your time, but it’s completely doable. Just make sure to book your Sintra palace tickets in advance during high season to avoid wasting precious time in queues, or worse, not getting in at all.
Conclusion
Three days in Lisbon might feel like a whirlwind, but with some careful planning, you can experience many of the city’s highlights.
Remember, this itinerary is just a guide – feel free to adjust it based on your interests and energy levels. Sometimes the best experiences come from simply wandering down a random street or stopping at a cafe that catches your eye. That’s the magic of Lisbon – even after three years of living here, I’m still discovering new corners of this beautiful city.
One final tip: don’t try to do everything. Lisbon is a city that rewards a slower pace, so make sure to leave time for those long lunches, sunset drinks at viewpoints, and peaceful moments watching the world go by. Trust me, you’ll be planning your return visit before you’ve even left!