Lisbon can be seen well in three or four days, but allow for the hills: alternate tiring visits with breaks in cafés, viewpoints and by the river. These itineraries build on each other. It is part of the Lisbon guide.
Lisbon in one day
- Morning: start at Praça do Comércio and walk up Rua Augusta to the Rossio. Climb to Chiado for a coffee at A Brasileira and a visit to the Carmo Convent.
- Lunch: in a Baixa tasca or at the Time Out Market in Cais do Sodré.
- Afternoon: take tram 28 or 12 to Portas do Sol and walk down through Alfama, then up to São Jorge Castle.
- Sunset: at the Graça or Senhora do Monte viewpoint (see the miradouros).
- Evening: dinner with fado in Alfama.
Lisbon in two days
- Morning: Belém, with the Jerónimos Monastery (booked), Belém Tower, the Padrão dos Descobrimentos and pastéis de Belém.
- Lunch: in Belém or by the river.
- Afternoon: the MAAT or the Coach Museum, then LX Factory under the 25 de Abril Bridge.
- Evening: aperitivo at the Santa Catarina viewpoint and nightlife in Bairro Alto or Cais do Sodré.
Lisbon in three days
- Morning: the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum and its garden (see museums).
- Lunch: in the Avenidas Novas or at Campo de Ourique market.
- Afternoon: the National Azulejo Museum, then Parque das Nações with the Oceanário and the riverside walk.
- Alternatively: Príncipe Real, with its gardens and design shops, and the Ancient Art Museum.
- Evening: the ferry to Cacilhas at sunset and a seafood dinner on the south bank with a view of Lisbon.
Lisbon in four days
The fourth day is perfect for a trip (see day trips from Lisbon):
- Sintra: Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, the Moorish castle. Leave early from Rossio.
- Cascais and Estoril: the coastal train, beaches, Boca do Inferno and perhaps Cabo da Roca.
- The Setúbal peninsula, with the Arrábida beaches, by car.
With five days you can do both Sintra and Cascais, linking them by the bus via Cabo da Roca.
If you're in Lisbon on a Sunday
Sunday is when Lisboetas head to parks, the river and the sea. Many central shops open; LX Factory has a market; Jardim da Estrela and Eduardo VII Park fill with families. On Mondays, however, many museums close: plan museums and monuments for other days.
Planning tips
- Group visits by area: Baixa and Chiado, Alfama and the castle, Belém, Parque das Nações.
- Use trams and zapping credit or the 24-hour ticket to avoid the steepest climbs (see transport).
- Book the Jerónimos, Pena Palace and your fado house.
- In summer visit outdoor sights in the morning and evening.
For the full list of sights see what to see in Lisbon.