Three days is
enough to see Lisbon's highlights and take one day trip without rushing. This
plan groups sights by area so you don't keep crossing the city, and it puts the
busiest attractions at the quietest times. If you can, stay in Baixa or Chiado.
It makes every day easier.
Book before you go: Jerónimos Monastery and Belém
Tower (both sell out and both close on Mondays), a timed ticket for Pena Palace
if you are visiting Sintra, and one fado dinner. Buy a 24-hour transport ticket
for busy days: €7.25 for the city, €11.40 if it includes trains.
Day 1: Alfama, the castle and the old centre
 |
| Alfama |
Morning.
Be at São Jorge Castle for the 9 am opening. Take Tram 12E or a Bolt up to
Portas do Sol and walk the last stretch, so you climb once and then walk
downhill all day. Give the walls and the camera obscura about 90 minutes. On
the way down, stop at the Santa Luzia viewpoint and the cathedral, then let
Alfama's lanes carry you.
Afternoon.
Have lunch at a tasca in Alfama or Graça and order the dish of the day. Walk
down to Praça do Comércio, then along Rua Augusta (ignore the offers from
street sellers) to Rossio. Continue into Chiado for a pastel de nata at
Manteigaria and a look at the ruins of Carmo Convent.
Evening. Watch the sunset from São Pedro de Alcântara or Santa Catarina, then have dinner in Bairro Alto or Alfama, ideally with fado, which usually starts around 9 pm.
Day 2: Belém and the river
 |
| Belem tower |
Morning.
Take Tram 15E from Praça da Figueira, or the 10-minute train from Cais do
Sodré, and arrive at Jerónimos Monastery for the 9:30 opening. See the cloister
first, then the free church. Walk to Pastéis de Belém for a warm custard tart
(takeaway is quicker), then continue along the river to the Padrão dos
Descobrimentos and Belém Tower with your pre-booked ticket.
Afternoon.
If you like art, step into MAAT beside the river. Otherwise, hop on the tram or
train to Alcântara for lunch and a browse around LX Factory.
Evening.
Head to Príncipe Real for dinner and a stroll through its garden. The
Embaixada, a former palace turned shopping gallery, is worth a peek.
If it's a
Monday, Belém is closed. Swap Days 2 and 3, since Pena Palace in Sintra is
open daily.
Day 3: Sintra
 |
| Palácio da Pena, Sintra |
Catch a train
from Rossio station by about 8:30 am. Trains leave every 20 to 30 minutes and
take about 40 minutes. From Sintra station, take Bus 434 to Pena Palace. In
summer the bus queue grows fast after 10 am, so earlier is better. Book a timed
ticket (around €20 for palace and park) for about 10 am.
After the
palace terraces and gardens, come back down through the Moorish Castle stop or
into Sintra town for lunch and a travesseiro, the local almond pastry. Quinta
da Regaleira, with its underground spiral well, is the classic second stop if
you still have energy (Bus 435 or a steep walk). Be back in Lisbon by late
afternoon and eat at Time Out Market or a tasca in Cais do Sodré. Leave the
bars on the pink street before it gets late.
If you have more time
 |
| The Oceanário |
Day 4.
Choose one. Parque das Nações offers the Oceanário (€25), the cable car and a
flat riverside walk, which suits families or a slower day. Or spend the day in
Estrela and Campo de Ourique: the basilica and garden in the morning, then
lunch at the local market.
Day 5.
Take the train from Cais do Sodré to Cascais (about 40 minutes) for the
seafront, beaches and the Boca do Inferno cliffs. With a car, add Cabo da Roca,
the westernmost point of mainland Europe, or the Arrábida coast for quieter
beaches.
If you only have one or two days
 |
| Carros eléctricos |
With one day,
follow the Day 1 route, then, if it is late afternoon, take the train to Belém
just for the pastries (the bakery stays open until 11 pm, even though the
monuments close around 5:30 pm). With two days, do Days 1 and 2, and add Sintra
only if you can spare a full day.
To make sure your trip runs smoothly, book your Stay , transportation, tours and tickets online.
Pacing tips
•
Expect 15,000 steps or more a day.
Grippy, comfortable shoes matter more than any other packing choice.
•
Keep one afternoon loose. Lisbon's
best moments are often unplanned: a viewpoint you stumble on, a tasca with a
full room.
•
Eat lunch early or late (before
12:30 or after 2 pm) to avoid queues.
•
Keep your bag in front and your
phone secure on Tram 28, in Baixa and in queues.
Thank you for your time 😊
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