Lisbon in 3 days: a realistic itinerary

Before you start

Lisbon is built on hills and paved in polished limestone. Bring shoes with grip, and plan each day so that you ride up and walk down. Every day below follows that rule.

Day 1: the old centre, on foot

Morning: Baixa and Chiado. Start at Praça do Comércio, the big square open to the river, and walk up Rua Augusta to Rossio. Climb to Chiado and the roofless Carmo Convent. From Largo do Carmo you can walk onto the top platform of the Santa Justa Lift without queueing for the lift itself.

Lunch in Chiado, or down at the Time Out Market in Cais do Sodré if you want everything under one roof. It is busy and not cheap, but the quality is consistent.

Afternoon: the castle and Alfama. Take bus 737 or a tuk-tuk up to São Jorge Castle. Then walk downhill: Miradouro de Santa Luzia, Portas do Sol, the cathedral (Sé), and whatever lanes of Alfama pull you in. Getting lost here is the point.

Evening: fado. Alfama and Mouraria are the neighbourhoods for it. Book a house where dinner comes with the music, and expect silence while the singer performs.

A note on tram 28: it is a real public tram and a lovely ride, but in high season the queue at Martim Moniz can pass an hour and it is the pickpockets’ favourite line. Ride it early in the morning, or board at the other end, in Campo de Ourique.

Day 2: Belém and the river

Morning: Belém. Take tram 15 or the train from Cais do Sodré and be at Jerónimos Monastery when it opens. Then walk to the riverside: the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, and on to Belém Tower. Stop for a pastel de nata at Pastéis de Belém. The takeaway queue looks worse than it is, and the seating rooms inside go on for ever.

Do not plan Belém for a Monday, when its main monuments are usually closed. See Lisbon attraction tickets.

Afternoon: on the way back, stop at LX Factory in Alcântara, an old industrial complex under the bridge that is now shops, cafés and a remarkable bookshop. Or, for something quieter, take a taxi to the National Tile Museum.

Evening: sunset on the Tagus. Many boats leave from Alcântara or Belém, so this fits the day’s geography. See Lisbon boat tours for how to choose.

Day 3: Sintra

Take an early train from Rossio, or join a day trip if you also want to see the coast. Visit Pena Palace first and Quinta da Regaleira second. That is a full day. The details that matter, especially how the timed tickets work, are in Lisbon to Sintra.

Back in Lisbon, spend your last evening at a viewpoint. Miradouro da Senhora do Monte is the highest, and São Pedro de Alcântara is the easiest to reach.

If it rains

Swap in the Oceanário, the Gulbenkian Museum or the Tile Museum. Sintra in heavy rain or fog is a poor day out: move it if your dates allow.

If you have a fourth day

Cascais by train for the coast, or the south bank: the ferry from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas takes about ten minutes and gives you the skyline for the price of a metro ticket.

Getting in

For the trip from the airport, see Lisbon airport transfer. For meals between the sights, see the best Lisbon food tours.