How to spend 3 days in Lisbon, Portugal

Last Updated on August 10, 2024

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Lisbon, much like the entire country of Portugal, is known for great weather. Whenever I thought of Lisbon, I imagined sunshine. I wasn’t that far off, because as it turns out, the city holds the title of the sunniest capital in Europe. This fact alone convinced me, that this might be a place I’d enjoy and the city certainly did not disappoint. After spending amazing 3 days in Lisbon, the city quickly became one of my favorite European cities. I spent my time wandering hilly streets of Alfama, admired city views from many Miradours, ate delicious sea food and devoured way too many Pastel de Natas.

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal, the biggest city in the country and one of the oldest cities in Western Europe. Seems like not that long ago, there was not much interest in Lisbon, but that has certainly changed. Portugal’s capital is now a very popular European destination, which is not surprising given all it has to offer. It’s vibrant, colorful, modern and old at the same, with endless sunshine, great food and night life. On top of that, it’s still very affordable, especially compared to other European destinations.

3 days in Lisbon – Top things to do in Lisbon on your first visit

Even though Lisbon is not a big city, there is plenty to do and see in Portugal’s capital. For a first time visit, I think 3 days in Lisbon is a perfect amount of time to see all the main sights at a nice pace, without rushing through it. You could also spend 2 days seeing some of Lisbon’s biggest attractions, and on the third day take a day trip to Sintra and Cabo de Roca.

Below are some of the things not to be missed during your 3 days in Lisbon.

Stroll through Alfama

If I was forced to pick my absolute favorite part about my 3 days in Lisbon, it would be exploring Alfama, the oldest area of the city. You can easily spend an entire day walking aimlessly through a maze of narrow cobble stone streets, taking random turns just to discover some of the most picturesque spots.

The main charm of Alfama is its authenticity. It’s far from being a picture perfect place. It’s the oldest part of the city and you see it. On some buildings the paint is peeling and tiles are chipped. You see the residents going about their daily life. A woman, cigarette in her mouth, hanging the laundry on the line outside her window. And that is the main appeal of Alfama. While it’s one of the most popular tourist spots, Alfama retained it’s old neighborhood charm.

Visit Castelo de São Jorge

The Moorish Castle sits up on the hill overlooking the city of Lisbon and Tagus River. There isn’t much left of it, it’s mostly walls, that remain. Other than walking along the high walls and taking in the spectacular views of Lisbon, there isn’t much to do there. While the views are in fact beautiful, Lisbon has many great Miradouros, where you can admire similar views for free.

Having said all that, Castelo de São Jorge is one of the biggest attractions and you can find it on every list of things to do in Lisbon. This means, that it gets quite busy, so getting there early is recommended. Another option is booking your tickets online, which lets you skip the line.

Open: every day / March – October 9 am – 9 pm/ November – February 9 am – 7 pm

Entrance fee: €15

Enjoy the views from Mirador Portas do Sol 

Lisbon is a city built on 7 hills, so one thing you can count on, is that it has many great view points ( Miradouros ). One of the most popular ones and my personal favorite is Miradouro das Portas do Sol. This is where you will find the picture perfect views of the orange colored roof tops, domes of the nearby churches and Tagus River.

Miradouro das Portas do Sol is located on the Tram 28 route, and not far from Lisbon’s Cathedral. If you want to admire the spectacular views for a bit longer, you can grab a table and a drink at the kiosk.

Praça do Comércio

This large, open waterfront plaza is the biggest square in Lisbon. It’s also known as Terreiro do Paço ( Palace’s Square ), referring to the Royal Palace that used to be located there, before the devastating earthquake completely destroyed it back in 1755, along with the entire Baxia neighborhood. Even though it’s a popular place, it never really feels too overcrowded due to its size.

One of the great features of the plaza is Arco de Rua Augusta, built to celebrate Lisbon’s reconstruction after the earthquake. The Arch also serves as the entrance to Rua Augusta, the lively pedestrian street, lined with stores and restaurants. There is a viewpoint on top of the Arch, from which you can admire panoramic views of the city, Baxia neighborhood on one side, and Tagus River on the other.

Praça do Comércio is also where you can catch the tram 15 going to Belém.

Walk Rua Augusta

As you walk through the triumphal Arch away from Praça do Comércio, you find yourself on Rua Augusta, one of the main shopping streets in Lisbon. It stretches from Praça do Comércio all the way to Rossio Square, with many stores, cafes and restaurants along the way. It’s a great, lively place for a walk, but my advice would be to steer away from the restaurants located along this popular street. As it’s usually the case with eateries located in touristic areas, food is way overpriced and mediocre at best.

Visit Bairro Alto

To the west of the city you will find a bohemian neighborhood Bairro Alto. Not much is going on there during the day, but visit at night time, and that’s a whole different story. Bairro Alto is where Lisbon’s biggest night life is. There are endless bars, restaurants and Fado shows. It’s not unusual for the parties to spill onto the streets and go on until late at night. For this reason, Bairro Alto might not be the best area to stay if you are a light sleeper.

Cais do Sodré

Back in the day, Cais do Sodré used to be Lisbon’s Red Light District, a popular hanging out spot for sailors, prostitutes and criminals. The once shady neighborhood underwent quite a transformation since then, becoming one of the most trendy parts of Lisbon. Basically, it went from a neighborhood you want avoid, to one you have to visit. You’ll find many cafes and bars to grab a snack and a drink. One of the places not to be missed is Timeout Market, a food court with countless restaurants and food stalls. Anything you might want, you’ll find there under one roof.

While Bairro Alto is regarded as the night life hub of Lisbon, Cais do Sodré is not far behind. Bairro Alto’s parties often extend to the famous Pink Street in Cais do Sodré. Rua Nova do Carvalho, which is the official name of the Pink street, is best visited in the morning, when the neighborhood is still sleeping off the previous night.

Try Pastel de Nata

It’s no secret Portuguese love their pastries, with the most famous and popular being Pastel de Nata. The creamy custard tart is sold all over Portugal, and your visit to Lisbon will not be complete without trying at least one. I guarantee it will not be your last one.

The first Pastel de Nata was created back in 1837 by monks in Belém and the original bakery Pastéis de Belém is still there, baking and selling thousands of the delicious treats every day. It’s one of the most popular places to go and became quite a tourist attraction, so there’s always a long line to get in. It does move fast and if you can’t get a table, you can just grab a couple to go.

If you don’t get a chance to try it from there, there are more Pastelerias than you can count all over the city and every single one sells the iconic treat. During my 3 days in Lisbon, I’ve had my share of Pastel de Natas from several different places and they were all delicious.

You can also take it one step further and learn how to make your own Pastel de Nata. If you’d like to do that, you will sure enjoy this 2 hour cooking class.

Take a ride on Tram 28

Taking a ride on the historic Tram 28 is on every tourist’s Lisbon itinerary. Probably to the dismay of the locals, as technically, it’s not a tourist tram, but a local one. Even though Lisbon has 5 historic lines still operating, Tram 28 is the most popular one, due to its route, that takes you through the most picturesque parts of the city.

The popularity of the Tram 28 means, that it’s almost impossible not only to get a seat, but even to get on anywhere along the route. The lines to get on the already packed tram are ridiculously long. Even if you manage to squeeze in, I can’t imagine how that’s enjoyable. It’s no surprise, that Tram 28 is a favorite hang out spot for pickpockets.

Having said that, scoring a window seat on Tram 28 is not impossible. If you are determined to take the ride and check it off your Lisbon bucket list, all you need to do is catch the tram at the first or last stop. Since the first stop Martim Moniz happens to be in the city center, you’ll probably encounter more people there with the same brilliant idea. Instead, head to the last stop Campo Ourique, which is in the more residential area, and not many people bother to go there.

A single ride on Tram 28 costs €3 / You can pay cash or use your Viva Viagem card.

Visit Fado Museum

One of the most traditional things to experience in Lisbon is seeing a Fado show. There are many venues all over Lisbon, especially in Alfama, where the music was born. If you are new to Fado music, a visit to Museu do Fado might be a good idea. I’ll admit, I’m not a huge museum fan, but having never been exposed to Fado music, I wanted to learn more about it.

This small museum does a great job of showing the history and evolution of Fado music with the help of photographs, instruments and video performances. An audio guide is included in the admission price and you won’t need more than one hour to walk through all the exhibits.

Later at night, you can go to see one of the live Fado shows.

Open: Tuesday – Sunday 10 am – 6 pm ( closed on Mondays )

Entrance fee: €5

Explore Belém

This is a wonderful part of Lisbon, that has a very different feel than the rest of the city and should definitely be included on your 3 day Lisbon itinerary. Even though a bit removed from the other neighborhoods, it’s easily reachable on the 15 Tram from Praça do Comércio ( get on the tram going towards Alges ).

There’s plenty to see in Belém and you can easily spend and entire day exploring it. All of the attractions are close to each other and it’s an easy walk between all of them. Lisbon has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites and they are both located right in Belém.

Torre de Belém

Belem Tower is one of the biggest landmarks in Lisbon, also classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. Sitting right on the Tagus River, its prime function was to protect the city from the attack from the water. For €6 you can tour the inside of the tower and finish with a climb to the top for a panoramic view of the area.

You can buy your tickets on the spot or get them online prior to your visit.

Padrão dos Descobrimentos

A short walk down the esplanade from Belem Tower sits a tall monument honoring the great Portuguese explorers. It features sculptures of important historical figures, monks and explorers.

Mosteiro dos Jerónimos

The massive building dates back to the 16th century and used to serve as a house of prayer for the men going out to see. It’s also where the Royals are buried as well as the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama.

Visiting the main Chapel is free, but seeing the Jerónimos Monastery requires a ticket. You can get it at the ticket office or online prior your visit, and I highly recommend the latter and here’s why.

The Monastery is know for very long lines and there are three separate ones: one to get your ticket, one to enter the church and another one to enter the Monastery. Each line can take up to one hour during the busy time of day. You are very likely spend more time waiting in line than inside. I highly recommend buying your Jerónimos Monastery ticket in advance here, which will save you a good chunk of time.

Stop at Pastéis de Belém

Pastéis de Belém is where the original Pastel de Nata was first created and all these years later, it’s still open, baking the iconic Portuguese treat using the same recipe. The place often tops the list of things to do in Lisbon, so there’s pretty much always a long line out the door. It’s worth the wait though and the line moves pretty fast.

Take a sunset cruise

Seeing Lisbon’s biggest landmarks from the water is a great way to end a day of sightseeing in Belém. This 2 hour sailing cruise starts at Padrão dos Descobrimentos and goes all the way towards Alfama. You can choose between daytime or sunset cruise.

How to get from Lisbon airport to city center

Humberto Delgado Airport is located about 7 km from Lisbon’s city center, so getting from the airport to your hotel won’t take long. You have several options to choose from and it’s about a 20 minute ride to get downtown.

• Aerobus – one of the easiest and cheapest way to get from Lisbon airport to city center is Aerobus. The bus leaves every 20 minutes from the stop located in front of the Arrivals Terminal. It costs only €5 one way, and the bus stops at many convenient places in the city i.e. Rossio, Cais do Sodré and Praça do Comércio.

2024 UPDATE: It appears, that the Aerobus service is currently suspended. It’s not clear when and if it ever resumes.

• Metro – another cheap and quick way to get to Lisbon’s city center is by hopping on the direct Metro line Aeroporto – Saldanha (Red line). A single ride costs €1.50, which you can charge to your Navegante card (which costs € 0.50)

• Taxi – there’s always the good old taxi.

• Private transfer – you can also pre-arrange your transfer prior to arriving and have the driver wait for you at the airport. You can’t beat the convenience and it’s great option if you are traveling with a group. You can book your Private Transfer from Lisbon Airport here.

How to get around Lisbon

Even though quite hilly, Lisbon is a compact and fairly walkable city. However, if you need a little break from walking and tackling the hilly streets, the public transportation is well developed. You can get around Lisbon with a choice of bus, trams and metro.

In order to use Lisbon’s public transportation, you first need to get a Navegante card (formerly known as Viva Viagem card). You can buy it from an automated machine at every subway station. The card itself costs €0.50, which you then load with as much money as you want/need during one year after purchase. Each time you use your card, the cost of the ride will be deducted from the amount you have on your Navegante card.

You can use the same card on the subway, buses, trams, funiculars, ferry and suburban trains (Carris network). That includes Tram 28, Tram 15 to Belem and a train from Lisbon to Sintra or Cascais.

Where to stay in Lisbon

With limited time in the city, it’s always a good idea to stay in a central location. Lisbon is fairly compact, with most attractions within walking distance. Each of these areas are a bit different, but what they have in common, is they make for a great base to explore Lisbon.

Baxia

Baxia, which literally translated to downtown, is a heart of the city and a great area to base yourself during your 3 days in Lisbon, especially if it’s your first visit. You’ll be close to many attractions and popular spots like Praça do Comércio, Rua Augusta and the river front. If you plan on taking a day trip to Sintra, you are near the Rossio station, from which the trains to Sintra depart. Here are a few great choices of hotels:

• Figueira by the Beautique Hotels – a beautiful, boutique hotel in very central location in Baxia.
• Hotel do Chiado – this beautiful hotel is right in the middle of Chiado/ Baxia district. The rooms with balconies or terraces have spectacular views of the city and São Jorge castle.

Alfama

Staying in Lisbon’s oldest neighborhood will sure give you a taste of the old city. You will be close to Castelo de São Jorge, Mirador Portas do Sol, Sé Cathedral and on the Tram 28 route. One thing to keep in mind is, that Alfama is a very hilly neighborhood.

• Memmo Alfama Hotel – this boutique hotel is one of the most popular choices in Alfama. It has the perfect location, right in the heart of the neighborhood, just steps away from the São Jorge Castle. From the roof top terrace, you can enjoy some of the best views of the city and Tagus River.
• Convento do Salvador – this small, modern hotel in the heart of Alfama is a good choice, if you are looking for basic, yet comfortable accommodations.

Bairro Alto

This neighborhood is also very central to most attractions in Lisbon, but it’s also the party central of the city. If you plan on partaking in it, it might be a good choice for you. If not, and you are a light sleeper, you should probably avoid choosing accommodations in this area. While it’s sleepy during the day time, Bairro Alto comes alive at night time with parties going on until late.

• Bairro Alto Hotel – this recently renovated boutique hotel is located right on the border of Bairro Alto and Chiado neighborhoods. If you are looking for a bit of luxury, this is a great choice. Roof top terrace with amazing views of the city is a great bonus.

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• How to plan the perfect Lisbon to Sintra day trip

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