In a nutshell
- 3 or 4 days are perfect for your first city trip to Lisbon. During this time, you can see the most beautiful places in Lisbon and really get a feel for the city.
- In this article, we share our suggested 3-day itinerary for Lisbon and show you how to easily extend it to 4 days.
- You’ll also find plenty of great tips for restaurants and hotels and learn how to get around Lisbon with ease.
Where to Stay for 3 Days in Lisbon
If you are in Lisbon for three or four days, you should definitely stay in the city center. This will save you the time you would otherwise need to travel to the city center.
These are our top 3 hotel recommendations, all of which have a super central location in Lisbon.
Tempo FLH Hotel: top location on Rossio Square and a perfect starting point for a long weekend in Lisbon.
Hotel Convento do Salvador: the price-performance ratio is great and so is the location in the old town of Alfama.
Urbano FLH Hotels: superbly located between Alfama and Praça do Comércio.
Day 1: Arrival in Lisbon
What to do in Lisbon on day 1
- Drive from the airport to the city center
- Stroll through Alfama
- Eat pastéis de nata
- Walk to the Castelo de São Jorge
- Sunset at the Miradouro de Santa Luzia
- Travel from the airport to the city center
Travel from the airport to the city center
Lisbon airport is well connected to the city center by metro. The metro station is signposted everywhere in the airport building.
To access the metro network, you can simply hold your credit card up to the counter at the turnstile. You then pay 1.90 euros for a one-way ticket.
If that doesn’t work, you can buy the Navegante Card for 50 cents at the ticket counter and top it up with 1.90 euros. Hold the Navegante Card at the counter in the same way as your credit card.
At the airport, take the red metro line towards São Sebastião. To get to your accommodation in the city center, you will probably have to change trains again. The connections are all shown on Google Maps.
Stroll through Alfama
Once you have checked into your hotel, head for Lisbon’s old town, Alfama. A good starting point is the Sé de Lisboa Cathedral. From there, simply drift through the narrow streets of Alfama.
Our recommendation: make a stop at the Pastelaria Alfama Doce and try your first pastel de nata – addiction guaranteed!
Castelo de São Jorge and Miradouro de Santa Luzia
From Alfama Doce, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the Castelo de São Jorge. Be careful, you will be walking uphill the whole time! On the way, you will pass the Portas do Sol viewpoint. You can take a short breather there.
Once at the top, you can enter the castle. The ticket costs €17 for adults. To avoid having to queue, it is best to buy it online in advance.
Skip the line ticket to the Castelo de São Jorge
From the castle, you have great views over the whole of Lisbon.
Before the sun goes down, walk halfway down the hill to the Santa Luzia viewpoint. The atmosphere there is great at sunset, as there are often street musicians on the street.
For dinner, we recommend finding a restaurant near your accommodation, as you’re bound to be exhausted after a long day.
Or you could eat near the Miradouro de Santa Luzia. A good option is the Taberna Do Castelo. However, it’s best to reserve your table online in advance.
Day 2: Top Attractions in Lisbon
What to do in Lisbon on day 2
- Take streetcar 28E
- Rua Augusta and Praça do Comércio
- Lunch at Time Out Market
- Bica and Bairro Alto
- Eat pastel de nata
- Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara
- Elevador de Santa Justa
- Dinner at Casa da India
Tram 28E
On your second day in Lisbon, you’ll take the famous 28E streetcar through the city in the morning – one of the most popular activities in Lisbon.
You start the ride at Martim Moniz Square and take the streetcar back there.
Rua Augusta and Praça do Comércio
After the ride, you walk from Martim Moniz to the large Rossio square and from there once through the shopping street Rua Augusta.
The street takes you to the main square, Praça do Comércio, where Lisbon’s triumphal arch stands. You walk through it once when you come from Rua Augusta.
From the square, take a leisurely stroll along the Tagus River to Cais do Sodré. The riverside promenade is great for a stroll.
Time Out Market and Elevador da Bica
The Time Out Market is located at Cais do Sodré. There are lots of delicious restaurants where you can order something for lunch and then sit down at a table in the middle of the hall to eat. We love the concept!
After lunch, walk about three minutes from Time Out Market to the Bica funicular stop. The famous funicular runs up a pretty alleyway to the top of a hill and makes a great photo opportunity.
It’s best to walk up the street because it’s really beautiful. If that’s too strenuous, take the train.
Once you’ve reached the top of the hill, you’ve earned another pastel de nata. To do this, walk to Praça Luís de Camões to the Manteigaria – they serve delicious pastéis.
Our recommendation: The Manteigaria has extra take-away packaging for pastéis de nata. Ideal if you want to take a few pastéis back home.
Bairro Alto and Miradouro São Pedro de Alcântara
At Praça Luís de Camões, you are already in the Bairro Alto district – Lisbon’s nightlife area. In the afternoon, there is not so much going on here and you can take a leisurely stroll through the narrow streets.
If you keep walking uphill through Bairro Alto, after about 10 minutes you will come out at the Miradouro São Pedro de Alcântara – one of our best recommendations for viewpoints in Lisbon.
Elevador de Santa Justa and Casa da Índia
From the viewpoint, walk back through Bairro Alto to the Elevador de Santa Justa. This is a cool elevator that is actually part of Lisbon’s public transport system, but is now a real tourist attraction.
As the Elevador is always quite busy, we recommend that you only enjoy the view from the top and not take the elevator.
From the Elevador, walk back past Praça Luís de Camões to Casa da Índia. This is a very typical Portuguese restaurant where you can have a great dinner.
Note: The Elevador de Santa Justa is currently out of service. You can still enjoy the view.
Day 3: Trip to Belém and the Cristo Rei
What to do in Lisbon on day 3
- Torre de Belém
- Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
- Padrão dos Descobrimentos
- Pastéis de Belém
- LX Factory
- Ponte 25 de Abril
- Cristo Rei of Lisbon
On day 3, head to the Belém district in the morning. You can get there by taking streetcar line 15E from Cais do Sodré or the train from the same station toward Cascais.
Top Attractions in Belém
Get off in Belém and start your walk along the river at the Padrão dos Descobrimentos monument. It’s great for photos, but there isn’t much else to do here. Continue on to the Torre de Belém.
The tower sits right on the river, and although the viewing platform is closed until December 2025, the surrounding lawn is perfect for relaxing.
Next, walk to the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. This monastery is truly impressive both inside and out.
Our recommendation: buy your ticket online in advance to skip the line. Tickets are available on the official Mosteiro dos Jerónimos website.
After visiting the monastery, grab a quick lunch nearby, then head to the famous Pastéis de Belém pastry shop. Here you can try the original pastéis de nata—a secret recipe only this bakery uses.
The café is spacious, so even with crowds, you usually find a seat without waiting too long.
LX Factory and Cristo Rei
After your pastel de nata break, take a bus (Google Maps shows all connections) to the LX Factory.
This former industrial complex has been transformed into a vibrant creative hub with unique shops, trendy bars, and some of the best photo spots in Lisbon.
If you’re spending the evening in Lisbon, take a bus from LX Factory to the Cristo Rei statue on the opposite side of the river.
You’ll cross the iconic Ponte 25 de Abril on the way.
At Cristo Rei, take the elevator to the viewing platform and enjoy spectacular views of Lisbon from across the river.
Afterwards, stroll along the river for a while, then catch the 3001 bus to Cacilhas and take the ferry back to Cais do Sodré.
From there, you can walk to the Time Out Market for dinner, or try our personal recommendation: the traditional Portuguese restaurant Cova Funda in Intendente. It’s just a short metro ride from Cais do Sodré, and you can usually get a seat without a reservation.
Extra Day 4: Trip to Sintra and Cascais
What to do in Lisbon on day 4
- Sintra
- Palacio Nacional da Pena
- Quinta da Regaleira
- Cabo da Roca
- Cascais
If you have 4 days instead of 3, take a trip to Sintra and Cascais—two beautiful spots just outside Lisbon.
To see as much as possible, it’s best to book a guided tour.
Guided tour to Sintra, Cabo da Roca, and Cascais
Castles of Sintra
If you’re exploring on your own, take the train from Rossio to Sintra early in the morning, around 8 am. From the station, catch the 434 tourist bus to reach the Palacio Nacional da Pena.
Tickets are available for the palace and park together or just the park, depending on your preference. It’s better to buy tickets online in advance.
Ticket for the Palacio Nacional da Pena
After visiting the fairytale palace, walk about two kilometers to Quinta da Regaleira, another stunning estate in Sintra.
Ticket for Quinta da Regaleira
You can grab a quick lunch here—sandwiches and snacks are perfect for a day of sightseeing.
From Quinta da Regaleira, take bus 1253 to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe, for stunning views of the rugged coastline.
Cabo da Roca and Cascais
At Cabo da Roca, stop briefly for photos, then take bus 1624 to Cascais, which takes about an hour. Get off in the city center.
In Cascais, explore the town center and the beach—you’ll also find some of the most beautiful beaches near Lisbon.
For dinner, enjoy one of the many great restaurants in the center. We recommend House of Wonders.
FAQ about a Weekend in Lisbon
Is the Lisboa Card worth it?
Not for our 3-day program. If you want to see more museums etc. in Lisbon, take a look at the Lisboa Card.
You can buy the Lisboa Card here
Read more about the Lisboa Card
Are 3 days enough time for Lisbon?
For the first visit, yes. If you really want to get to know Lisbon, you should stay longer.