3 Days in Lisbon Itinerary: Highlights, Hidden Gems & Sintra Day Trip

There are several different ways to spend 3 days in Lisbon. You can spend all three days in Lisbon and Belém, visiting the historical sites and churches, sampling Lisbon’s cuisine, and visiting its most important attractions and a few off-the-beaten-path places.

Another option is to spend two busy days in Lisbon, using the third day to day trip to Sintra. If you are on a quick trip to Portugal and don’t have time to visit Sintra before moving on to your next destination in Portugal, a day trip to Sintra is an essential experience to add to your itinerary.

In this guide, we let you know how to do both of these options.

Let’s get started.

About this Lisbon Itinerary

In this guide, we list two different ways to spend 3 days in Lisbon. First, we provide a detailed itinerary for spending 3 full days in Lisbon. The second itinerary includes two days in Lisbon plus one day to day trip to Sintra (one of the best things to do in Portugal so it’s not to be missed).

You can do these days in any order. I recommend checking the hours of the main attractions, since some attractions are not open seven days a week, and use this information to arrange the order of your days.

All of the times in the daily schedules are rough estimates, just to give you an idea about timing throughout the day. Your times may differ, based on queues and how much time you decide to spend at each place. I did my best to anticipate waiting times and visiting times, but on very busy days (or very quiet days) these times can differ.

I do my best to keep the hours of operation and pricing up to date for each attraction, however, these can change at any time. I recommend getting updated hours and pricing for your dates of travel. The link to the official website is provided for each site.

We have lots more information about Lisbon (and Portugal) which you can see in our Portugal Travel Guide.

Best Things to Do with 3 Days in Lisbon

Below is a list of things to do if you have 3 days in Lisbon. Get the full list in our Lisbon Bucket List.

• Praça do Comércio
• São Jorge Castelo
• Jerónimos Monastery
• Belém Tower
• Time Out Market
• LX Factory
• Ride or photograph Tram 28 & the Bica funicular
• Stroll through Alfama and Bairro Alto
• Take a day trip to Sintra
• Enjoy the view from the Church of Our Lady of Grace Bell tower
• Enjoy the view from Lisbon’s viewpoints and miradouros
• Santa Justa Lift
• See blue and white tiles (azulejos): National Tile Museum or the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora

3 Days in Lisbon Itinerary #1: Spend All 3 Days in Lisbon

Lisbon Itinerary Day 1

Lisbon City Center

Start your day in the Alfama neighborhood, one of Lisbon’s oldest, most interesting areas to visit. You will also explore the heart of Lisbon’s city center, so get ready for a memorable day.

Here is an overview of today’s itinerary:

9:00 am: Best Views of Lisbon
10:15 am: Monastery of São Vicente de Fora
11:30 am: The National Pantheon
12:15 pm: Lunch
1:00 pm: São Jorge Castle
2:45 pm: Alfama Viewpoints
3:30 pm: Lisbon Cathedral
4:15 pm: Praça do Comércio
4:45 pm: Baixa & Rua Augusta
5:45 pm: Chiado, Bairro Alto & Dinner

9:00 am: Best Views of Lisbon

There’s no better way to start your day than from not just one but two of the best viewpoints of Lisbon.

These two viewpoints are located near each other, on top of one of the tallest hills in Lisbon. To get to the first viewpoint, use Uber or Bolt or take a taxi.

Miradouro da Senhora do Monte

From this hilltop setting, you get panoramic views of the city. São Jorge Castle, the Tagus River, and the Sanctuary of Christ the King can all be seen from here. It is free to visit and morning is the best time to be here, as Lisbon will be illuminated by the morning sun.

The Bell Tower of the Church of Our Lady of Grace

This is our favorite viewpoint of Lisbon. From the top of the bell tower you get unobstructed views over Lisbon.

To get here, it is an 8-minute walk from Miradouro da Senhora do Monte. Enter the Church of Our Lady of Grace, pay the small fee to climb the bell tower, and enjoy the view. The church opens at 9 am. You can get updated hours and pricing on the official website (it is open every day of the week).

The view from the bell tower

The Church of Our Lady of Grace sits right next to Miradouro da Graça, another very famous Lisbon viewpoint. However, the view from the bell tower is much better, so its overall a better experience.

10:15 am: Monastery of São Vicente de Fora

With its murals of blue and white tiles, its cloister, and its stunning views from the roof, this is an underrated thing to do in Lisbon. This is often overlooked on many Lisbon itineraries but we really enjoyed this experience.

To get here from the Church of Our Lady of Grace, it is a 5-minute walk.

The Monastery of São Vicente de Fora is one of Portugal’s most important monasteries. It was founded in 1147, the same year as the Lisbon Cathedral.

Monastery of Sao Vicente de Fora rooftop view

On a visit here, you will tour many of the rooms of the monastery, including the cistern, the cloister, and the pantheon, which contains the tombs of the Patriarchs of Lisbon. As you walk through the monastery, you will get to see lots of painted murals and walls covered with historical scenes, made with blue tiles.

One of the highlights is stepping onto the roof. From here, the views of Lisbon are spectacular, rivaling those you will see in Alfama later today.

A visit here will take about one hour. For pricing and hours, visit the official website.

11:30 am: The National Pantheon

This is another overlooked gem in Lisbon. You have the option to skip it and spend more time exploring Alfama, but if you like the idea of visiting off-the-beaten-path attractions with low crowds, the National Pantheon is well worth your time.

To get here from the monastery it is a 5-minute walk.

This building started off as the Church of Santa Engrácia and it was later converted into the National Pantheon. It was completed in 1966, making it a relatively modern building in Lisbon. Presidents of the Republic, famous writers and athletes, and fado singers are entombed here.

The view from the National Pantheon

The pantheon is beautiful inside. It was inspired by St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and it shares a lot of similarities to the Pantheon in Paris. But like the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora, the highlight here is visiting the roof for more views of Lisbon.

Admission costs €4 and a visit here lasts about 30 minutes. It is closed on Mondays.

12:15 pm: Lunch

Have lunch in Alfama. We really enjoyed lunch at Miss Can, which serves tinned seafood with fresh bread. This a quick, budget-friendly meal and you can also buy tins of mussels, octopus, sardines, and cockles to take home.

To get here, it is a 15-minute walk from the National Pantheon and a 10-minute walk from the monastery (if you skipped the National Pantheon).

1:00 pm: São Jorge Castle

This medieval castle sits atop one of the seven hills of Lisbon.

Most visits to the castle take an hour to an hour and a half. See and photograph the peacocks, enjoy the views over Lisbon, and walk the castle walls. There is also an archaeological site to see and you can visit the museum.

To get here it is 3-minute uphill walk from Miss Can.

On the official website, purchase your ticket in advance and get updated pricing and hours of operation. The castle is open 7 days a week and closes on just a few holidays.

Note: It is very important that you purchase your ticket online in advance. Midday the line to enter can be extremely long, I’m talking over an hour wait for tickets.

2:45 pm: Alfama Viewpoints

From the castle, it is a quick, easy walk to two of the most famous viewpoints in Lisbon.

Miradouro das Portas do Sol

From this terrace, you get sweeping views of Alfama. It is free to visit and open 24 hours a day.

Miradouro das Portas do Sol

Less than one minute away is the History of Lisbon Mural, a mural that depicts the history of Lisbon. It’s not a must-see, but since it sits right below the Miradouro das Portas do Sol terrace, we want you to know about it. To get here, walk down the steps next to the viewpoint. You only need to go down the first set of stairs and then you’ll see the mural and tunnel to your left (don’t go to the bottom of the stairs).

Miradouro de Santa Luzia

This is one of Lisbon’s most famous viewpoints. This small, columned terrace is covered with grapevines and lined with beautiful azulejos (blue and white tiles). It overlooks the Alfama district, the Tagus River, and the cruise ship port.

I think the view from Miradouro das Portas do Sol is better (the Santa Luzia viewpoint overlooks the giant cruise ships), but it is a great photography location, with the blue and white tiles and covered terrace.

3:30 pm: Lisbon Cathedral

Continue the scenic walk through Alfama by walking to the Lisbon Cathedral. It is a 6-minute downhill walk on Rua Augusto Rosa to the cathedral.

The Lisbon Cathedral is the oldest church in Lisbon. Watching Tram 28 as it travels past the front of the cathedral is one of Lisbon’s most popular photography spots.

Lisbon Cathedral and Tram 28

Going inside the cathedral is optional. For a small fee, you can enter the cathedral, see the Treasury, and view the city streets from the upper, outdoor balcony (nice but nearly as good as the other viewpoints in this itinerary).

4:15 pm: Praça do Comércio

Continue on to Praça do Comércio (about an 8-minute walk from the cathedral). You will leave Alfama behind and enter the Baixa neighborhood. This is one of the lowest points of Lisbon.

Along the walk, we have a photography spot to recommend. Another great place to see and photograph Tram 28 is right in front of the Church of Santa Maria Madalena.

Praça do Comércio, with its bright yellow buildings and magnificent arch is one of Lisbon’s iconic spots.

Praça do Comércio

Enjoy the views and while here, you have the option to climb to the top of Arco da Rua Augusta for yet another panoramic view of Lisbon.

Arco da Rua Augusta

4:45 pm: Baixa & Rua Augusta

Walk up Rua Augusta, one of Lisbon’s busiest pedestrian streets. Continue through Baixa until you reach Rossio Square. It’s a photogenic spot and worth a quick look.

It’s a very short walk to the Santa Justa Lift, which will take you up to the Chiado neighborhood. Lines can be long to ride this elevator, but it is the easiest way to get to Chiado, since it saves you a big uphill walk.

Santa Justa Lift

From the upper terrace of the Santa Justa Lift, you get a fantastic view over the Baixa neighborhood, São Jorge Castle, and you can also see the viewpoints you visited this morning.

The view from the Santa Justa Lift

5:45 pm: Chiado, Bairro Alto & Dinner

From the Santa Justa Elevator, go for a scenic walk through Chiado to the Bairro Alto neighborhood, working your way to Miradouro do São Pedro de Alcântara. This is your last viewpoint of the day and it’s another good one. From here, you get a panoramic view of Lisbon and this is one of the city’s top places to watch the sunset.

Now it’s time for dinner. There are a lot of wonderful restaurants to choose from and some of the very best Lisbon restaurants are located in Bairro Alto.

For dinner, our #1 recommendation is Las Dos Manos. This restaurant serves a fusion of Mexican and Japanese cuisine and it is a very short walk from Miradouro do São Pedro de Alcântara.

We also had an amazing dinner at O Barrigas. This small restaurant serves Portuguese cuisine and wine. I do not believe they take reservations (we were a walk-in).

Lisbon Itinerary Day 2

Belém, LX Factory & Lisbon City Center

This itinerary starts in Belém, where you will visit the Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, and the Monument of the Discoveries. You have the option to visit a museum or two before spending the afternoon at the LX Factory.

Here is an overview of today’s itinerary:

8:30 am: Pastéis de Belém
9:30 am: Jerónimos Monastery
11:00 am: Maritime Museum
12:00 pm: The Monument of the Discoveries
12:45 pm: Lunch
1:30 pm: Belém Tower
3:00 pm: LX Factory
5:00 pm: Lisbon City Center

8:30 am: Pastéis de Belém

Pastel de Nata is one of the most famous Portuguese foods. One of the best places to try this delicacy as at Pastéis de Belém.

What makes Pastéis de Belém so special is that they produce Pastel de Nata with the original recipe handed down from the monks at Jeronimos Monastery.

This is an extremely busy place to visit all day, as dining on Pastel de Nata from this small restaurant is one of Libson’s top things to do. This early in the morning, crowds should be relatively light.

In addition to Pastel de Nata, they also sell many other pastries and breakfast foods, plus coffee.

They open at 8:00 am 7 days a week. The easiest way to get here is by ride share app (Uber or Bolt) or taxi but you can also get here on tram 15 (Mosteiro Jeronimos stop) or the Lisbon-Cascais train line (Belem station).

9:30 am: Jerónimos Monastery

Commissioned by King Manual I in 1501 to celebrate Vasco da Gama’s successful voyage to India, the Jerónimos Monastery exemplifies the Manueline architectural style (a richly ornate and intricate architectural style). It was completed in 1601.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the 7 Wonders of Portugal.

From Pastéis de Belém, it is a 5-minute walk to the Jerónimos Monastery. The monastery opens at 9:30 am but lines to enter can be very long, so I recommend getting in line earlier than 9:30 am (9:00 to 9:15 am). Midday, it can be an hour wait to enter the monastery, making morning and late afternoon the best times to visit the monastery.

I also highly recommend either purchasing your ticket in advance, which you can do through GetYourGuide (currently you cannot purchase a ticket online in advance through the official website), or have the Lisbon Card, which includes your entrance into the monastery.

On a visit here, you will stroll through the cloister of the monastery and go inside the Church of Santa Maria de Belém (the final resting place of Vasco da Gama).

The tomb of Vasco da Gama

Don’t miss seeing the South Portal, an ornate, intricately carved façade with scenes of the life of Saint Jerome, the Madonna (Santa Maria de Belém), archangel Michael, and a cross of the Order of Christ. It is located on the side of the Church of Santa Maria de Belem.

11:00 am: Maritime Museum

This underrated museum is located next to Jerónimos Monastery. It has exhibits about the early days of Portuguese exploration and on display are models of ships, life-sized sailing vessels, and navigational aids. We loved seeing the World Map at the entrance to the museum and the beautiful maps inside the museum.

A visit here lasts 30 to 60 minutes.

The world map at the Maritime Museum

12:00 pm: The Monument of the Discoveries

The Monument of the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos in Portuguese) celebrates the Portuguese Age of Discovery. It is a 10-minute walk from Maritime Museum.

Statues line the base of the monument, with Henry the Navigator being the main statue. The smaller statues are of other seafarers and explorers, including Vasco da Gama, Afonso V of Portugal, and Queen Philippa of Lancaster.

For the best view of Belém, visit the terrace on top of the monument. An elevator takes you most of the way to the top (Tim counted 42 steps from the elevator to the upper terrace).

The view of Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, and the Tagus River is spectacular from this vantage point.

Get hours and pricing on the official website.

12:45 pm: Lunch

In this area, there are a few places to grab a quick bite to eat. You don’t need to each much since you will be spending the afternoon at the LX Factory.

Next to the Monument of the Discoveries is Restaurante Ostras Sobre Rodas (a food truck oyster bar that gets rave reviews), Nosolo Italia (an Italian restaurant that gets decent reviews), and Mister Tapas (tapas and drinks from a food truck).

1:30 pm: Belém Tower

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the symbol of Europe’s Age of Discovery.

You can climb the tower, but lines are usually very long and the view is not all the great (at least not compared to the Monument of Discoveries and other viewpoints in Lisbon). If you have interest in climbing Belém Tower, purchase your ticket online in advance (it is also included on the Lisbon Card).

To get here from the Monument of Discoveries, it is a flat 12-minute walk along the Tagus River.

2:00 pm: MAAT

The Museum of Art, Architecture, and Technology (MAAT) is famous for its distinctive architecture. Walking on the roof of the MAAT for views of the Tagus River is a highlight of a visit here. The exhibits on the inside of the museum get mixed reviews.

To get here from Belém Tower, you can walk (a 30-minute flat walk) or take tram 15E (15 minutes, which includes walking time to the tram station). Uber/Bolt is another option.

Or skip it altogether, if you have no interest in going inside or walking on top of the museum.

3:00 pm: LX Factory

This trendy spot is a revitalized textile industrial complex in Lisbon. This collection of warehouses has been renovated and converted into space for more than 50 shops, restaurants, and bars.

It’s a great spot to spend a few hours this afternoon (or the rest of the day!). Sample a few new foods, hop from bar to bar, go ax throwing at the USAxe Club, do a little shopping, and photograph the street art that adorns the buildings.

LX Factory

We ate lunch at Ni Michi Cocina Latina which was very good. Be sure to check the reviews on Google for the restaurants because some of them get mediocre reviews.

To get here, it takes about 12 minutes from the MAAT (on Tram 15E) or 30 minutes from Belem Tower (on Tram 15E).

5:00 pm: Lisbon City Center

You can spend the rest of the day in the LX Factory, but another option is to return to one of Lisbon’s picturesque neighborhoods and spend the late afternoon and evening here. Bairro Alto, Alfama, and Chiado are good picks.

You can also return to your hotel, change, and then go out to dinner. Restaurants that we tried and loved in Lisbon include:

Cura: A Michelin-starred restaurant in the Four Seasons Ritz Hotel and our #1 dining experience in Portugal

Cervejaria Ramiro: Top seafood restaurant in Lisbon made famous by Anthony Bourdain

Solar dos Presuntos: Another very famous seafood restaurant in Lisbon

For all of these, make your reservation far in advance.

Lisbon Itinerary Day 3

Museum of Your Choice, Time Out Market & Chiado

This morning, take your pick from one of several museums in Lisbon. Have lunch at the Time Out Market and spend the afternoon in Chiado.

Morning: Three Optional Places to Visit

This morning, take your pick between the National Tile Museum, the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum (perfect for art lovers), and the Lisbon Aquarium (a must-do for families). All three of these museums are located outside of the city center, so you will have to use the metro, a tram, or Uber/Bolt depending on the location of your hotel.

National Tile Museum

Located inside of Madre de Deus Convent, this is one of the best places in Lisbon to see azulejos, or blue tiles. This museum, also called the National Museum of the Azulejo, features a variety of murals created from blue and white ceramic tiles. Don’t miss mural of the Lisbon city skyline from 1738, which was created just a few years before the Great Earthquake of 1755.

Get hours and pricing on the official website.

National Tile Museum

Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

This museum contains one of the best private art collections in the world. Starting at age 14, Calouste Gulbenkian began collecting ancient Greek coins and then art and artifacts from Egypt, Mesopotamia, Armenia, Turkey, Syria, Greece, China, and Japan.

For art lovers, this museum is not to be missed. Purchase your tickets online in advance on the official website to save yourself a wait in line.

This museum is located north of Parque Eduardo VII. Before or after your visit, walk to the viewpoint at the top of Parque Eduardo VII for a nice view of Lisbon.

Lisbon Aquarium

The Lisbon Aquarium, aka Oceanário de Lisboa, is one of the largest aquariums in Europe, with more than 15,000 marine creatures.

While you are here, you can ride the Telecabine Lisboa (a cable car) to the Vasco da Gama Tower. The top of the tower has a viewing platform with great views over the Tagus River and the Vasco da Gama Bridge.

The view from the Vasco da Gama Tower

12:00 pm: Lunch at the Time Out Market

The Time Out Market is a covered market that is lined with small shops selling a wide variety of foods, from traditional Portuguese dishes to gourmet hot dogs and burgers to cakes, cookies, and donuts. You can also taste port, have a cocktail at the Time Out Bar, and try Super Bock beer. There are even a few shops selling ceramics, home goods, and souvenirs.

For us, Time Out Market was a highlight of our time in Portugal. Tim and I ordered lunch from Marlene Vieira, which specializes in traditional Portuguese cuisine. We had the polvo a lagareiro (octopus with potatoes and spinach), the bacalhau (codfish), and mussels with tomato sauce. It was all fantastic. If we didn’t have so many other restaurants to try in Lisbon, we would have dined here again.

You will see a few negative reviews for Time Out Market, but these are mostly about the crowds. This does get to be a very crowded spot. Tim and I got here at 12:30 pm, and from our photos you can see that crowds were rather light. However, it didn’t take long for this place to fill up and at 1:30 pm, almost every seat was taken and lines at the restaurants were long.

Get hours on the official website and plan your visit around noon if you want to be here before the crowds arrive.

2:00 pm: Pink Street

From Time Out Market, it is a 3-minute walk to Pink Street, one of Lisbon’s most photographed streets.

2:15 pm: Bica Funicular

From Pink Street, it is a 4-minute walk to the Bica Funicular.

The Bica Funicular (Ascensor da Bica) is one of the most iconic funiculars in Lisbon and an extremely popular photography location.

The Bica Funicular runs from Rua de Sao Paulo up to Rua do Loreto. Two cars run at the same time, in opposite directions.

You can wait in line to ride the funicular to the top of the hill, but be aware that this is a very popular thing to do and waiting in line can be much longer than simply walking up the hill (it is about 5 to 7 minute walk).

Plus, as you walk up the road, you can photograph the funicular as it passes by. Our photo was taken from the intersection of Travessa da Laranjeira and Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo.

3:00 pm: Carmo Convent

From the upper station of the Bica Funicular, it is a 10-minute walk to the Carmo Convent.

This historic building shows visitors the power of the 1755 earthquake.

The Convent of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was founded in 1389 and the church was constructed between 1389 and 1423. The church sustained heavy damage after the earthquake and much of it remains unrestored, making this one of the most unique churches to visit in Portugal.

The Gothic arches still stand but the roof was never rebuilt.

In the archaeological museum, on display are mummies from Peru and a sarcophagus from Egypt, making this visit full of wonderful surprises.

Carmo Convent is open every day except Sunday. Get hours and pricing on the official website.

4:00 pm: Free Time or Pre-Dinner Drinks

Now you have a few free hours until dinner. Here are a few options on things to do before dinner.

Lumi Rooftop. From the Carmo Convent, it is a relatively short walk to Bairro Alto, where you spent last night. Lumi Rooftop is a rooftop bar and restaurant with very nice views over Lisbon. You can get a table here, unwind, and have an aperitif before dinner.

The Lisbon Winery. If you want to sample Portuguese wine and port, make a reservation at the Lisbon Winery. During your tasting, you will try five Portuguese wines along with Portuguese artisanal cheeses and Iberian pork charcuterie, as well as Portuguese extra virgin olive oil. We did this and it was a great introduction into Portuguese wine before starting our road trip through Portugal.

Explore Bairro Alto, Chiado, or Alfama. You can also spend a few hours in Chiado or nearby Bairro Alto or return to Alfama if you really enjoyed your time here.

7:00 pm: Dinner

Refer to our suggestions for dinner on day 1 and day 2 of this itinerary. This is also a good time to watch a Fado show, where you can listen to the historic folk music over dinner.

3 Days in Lisbon Itinerary #2

2 Days in Lisbon + A Day Trip to Sintra

This itinerary is perfect for those who have 3 days in Lisbon but would like to use one of those days to visit Sintra.

Days 1 & 2: Lisbon

We have a detailed 2 Day Lisbon Itinerary that includes the top attractions, viewpoints, and restaurants in the city. In this guide, follow the first itinerary, which gives you 2 full days in Lisbon.

Here is a brief overview of how you will spend your time in Lisbon:

Day 1: Lisbon City Center

9:00 am: Best Views of Lisbon
10:15 am: Monastery of São Vicente de Fora
11:30 am: The National Pantheon
12:15 pm: Lunch
1:00 pm: São Jorge Castle
2:45 pm: Alfama Viewpoints
3:30 pm: Lisbon Cathedral
4:15 pm: Praça do Comércio
4:45 pm: Baixa & Rua Augusta
5:45 pm: Chiado, Bairro Alto & Dinner

Day 2: Belém & Chiado

8:30 am: Pastéis de Belém
9:30 am: Jerónimos Monastery
11:00 am: The Monument of Discoveries
11:45 am: Belém Tower
1:00 pm: Lunch at the Time Out Market
2:30 pm: Pink Street
2:45 pm: Bica Funicular
3:30 pm: Carmo Convent
4:15 pm: Free Time or Pre-Dinner Drinks
7:00 pm: Dinner

Day 3: Sintra Day Trip

Day tripping to Sintra from Lisbon is very easy to do. Sintra is easy to get to, using either the train or Uber (or another ride share app) so there is no need to rent a car. You can visit 3 to 5 palaces in Sintra or split your time between the palaces and the coastal sites.

From the town of Sintra, you can visit:

• Pena Palace
• Quinta da Regaleira
• Castle of the Moors
• The National Palace of Sintra
• Monserrate Palace

Pena Palace

Initiation Well at Quinta da Regaleira

Castle of the Moors

This area is also home to a gorgeous stretch of coastline. Places to visit here include Cabo da Roca (the westernmost point of continental Europe), Azenhas do Mar, Praia da Ursa, and Praia das Maças.

Praia da Ursa

For the full list of things to do, plus many more photos, refer to our article Best Things to Do in Sintra.

In our Sintra Day Trip Guide, we list multiple ways to plan your day trip, whether you just want to focus on the palaces and castles or split your time between the palaces and the coast.

If you prefer to do this by tour, this tour includes Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, and Monserrate Palace and this tour includes Pena Palace, Cabo da Roca, and Cascais.

How to Get Around Lisbon

The city center of Lisbon is easily walkable. Many of the top sites and neighborhoods where visitors will spend their time are easy to get to on foot. However, Lisbon is a hilly city, so you will walk up and down some hills. Fortunately, there are a few elevators and funiculars that can save you a massive stair climb. The Bica Funicular and Santa Justa Elevator make this list.

Several tram lines run through the heart of Lisbon. Tram 28 is the most famous. It’s more of a tourist attraction than a useful way to travel around the city and it tends to be packed with people all day. It doesn’t make a great option for getting around Lisbon because lines to get on the tram can be very long, so it’s sometimes faster just to walk.

The metro is also a great way to travel through Lisbon.

Ride share apps like Uber and Bolt are very handy to get you to places that are farther from the city center (such as Belém and some viewpoints, such as Miradouro da Senhora do Monte). We used Uber quite a bit in Lisbon and other travelers have written in with great things to say about Bolt.

For a great article that explains all the public transportation options in Lisbon, click here.

São Jorge Castle

The Lisbon Card

The Lisbon Card is a money saving travel card. It gives you free access to some of the top attractions in the city and unlimited free travel by bus, tram, metro, and the elevators (such as the Santa Justa Lift). It also includes free transport by metro to and from the airport and free travel by train to Cascais and Sintra.

The Lisbon Card gives you free entry to Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, the Discoveries Monument, the Maritime Museum, the National Pantheon, the Santa Justa Lift, and the National Tile Museum. It also includes free entry to many other attractions, but none of them are included on our itinerary. It gives you a small discount on the Carmo Archaeological Museum, the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, the São Vicente Monastery, and the Lisbon Cathedral.

The card has a long list of free entries and discounts, even in Sintra, Mafra, and as far north as Batalha, so its usefulness extends beyond Lisbon.

I recommend looking at the official website for pricing information and the list of what is covered (click the “Discounts” tab).

Since this card gives you free entry into Jerónimos Monastery, it saves you a wait in the ticket line, which is a huge advantage (currently, you cannot purchase tickets online in advance for the monastery). For this reason, and the benefit that it offers public transportation, and the other free entries and discounts, it is worth it to purchase the Lisbon Card. If you don’t plan to purchase the Lisbon Card, then I recommend purchasing your entrance ticket to Jerónimos Monastery on GetYourGuide.

You can purchase the Lisbon Card and tourist information offices in Lisbon and at attractions that accept the card.

Learn more on the official website.

Where to Stay in Lisbon

In our Lisbon Hotel Guide, we cover the best locations to stay in Lisbon and the top hotels/apartments/B&B’s/hostels for all travel styles, including mid-range travelers, budget travelers, families, and luxury travelers.

Tours of Lisbon

Joining a tour can help save you time waiting in line, allow you to learn more about Lisbon from a knowledgeable guide, and introduce you to sights that you may not be able to do on your own. Here are some of the best tours in Lisbon.

Save your steps by cruising around Lisbon on a 3-hour sightseeing tour by tuk tuk.

Take a 2-hour cruise on the Tagus River, either during the daytime, at sunset, or in the evening.

This walking tour of Chiado and Bairro Alto gets near perfect reviews. And this 3 hour walking tour includes the highlights of Chiado, Rossio, and Alfama.

Foodies should take a look at this food tour of Lisbon or this cooking class where you learn how to make Pastel de Nata.

From Lisbon, take a day trip to visit Pena Palace in Sintra, the coastlines of Cabo da Roca, and Cascais.

How Many Days Do You Need in Lisbon?

One day in Lisbon is just enough time to see a few essential highlights, stroll through the Alfama neighborhood, and indulge on some of Lisbon’s famous foods. With this limited amount of time, you will have to pick a few key attractions, so you won’t be able to get everything, no matter how fast you move.

With two days in Lisbon, you can visit all of Lisbon’s top attractions. This extra time allows you to visit a few hidden gems and to dine in some fantastic restaurants.

If you want to thoroughly explore Lisbon without feeling like you are in a race, plan to spend 3 to 4 days in Lisbon.

It’s also important to be aware that Sintra is the #1 day trip from Lisbon. A lot of travelers enjoy Sintra more than Lisbon so even on the quickest of visits to Portugal, Sintra is not to be missed. If you have 3 days in Lisbon, I recommend using one of these days to visit Sintra, if you have no plans to visit Sintra during the remainder of your trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Lisbon or Porto?

Lisbon is famous for its historic neighborhoods, São Jorge Castle, restaurants, food halls, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Belém (Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery). Porto is where port wine is stored and aged. Porto is a smaller city to visit, with a few key historical sites, but for visitors its main focus is its wine. We enjoyed our time in Lisbon but Tim and I LOVED Porto. It is smaller and easier to visit and touring the wine lodges is a must-have experience for wine aficionados.

What are the best things to do in Lisbon?

In Lisbon, Praça do Comercio, the Alfama and Bairro Alto neighborhoods, São Jorge Castle, Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, dining on Pastel de Nata, seeing Tram 28, and viewing the city from its spectacular viewpoints are not to be missed.

Is 3 days enough for Lisbon?

3 days in Lisbon is the perfect amount of time to visit this city’s must-see attractions, visit a few hidden gems, dine at its best restaurants, and even day trip to some incredible nearby destinations, including Sintra.

If you have any questions about how to spend 3 days in Lisbon or how to plan a Lisbon itinerary, let us know in the comment section below.

More Information for Your Trip to Portugal

LISBON: In our Lisbon Bucket List, we list 40 highlights and hidden gems to visit in Lisbon. Plan your time with our one day in Lisbon itinerary and our 2 day Lisbon itinerary. Find the perfect place to stay in our Lisbon Hotel Guide and where to eat in our Lisbon Restaurant Guide. And here are 14 amazing day trips to take from Lisbon.

CASCAIS: In our Guide to Cascais, we cover the best things to do and how to plan a day trip from Lisbon.

PORTUGAL ITINERARIES: If you are just beginning to plan your Portugal itinerary, take a look at our 10 Day Portugal Itinerary for five different ways to spend 10 days in Portugal. We also have a detailed 10 day itinerary that includes Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve and a 2 week itinerary that includes the highlights of mainland Portugal.

PORTO: Get started with our Porto Travel Guide, which lists where to eat, where to stay, and has lots of helpful tips for visiting Porto. We cover the best things to do in Porto in our Porto Bucket List. In our Guide to the Wine Cellars in Gaia, get recommendations on which wine cellars to visit and how to plan your time. See the best of Porto in our One Day in Porto Itinerary and 2 Days in Porto Itinerary.

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