Excited to visit Lisbon but not sure where to start? We’ve pulled together a 3-day itinerary to help you see all the highlights of the city and get the most out of your stay.
If you’re going for less time, pick and choose the bits you most want to do, and if you’re going for longer, check out our guide to the best things to do in Lisbon for every budget.
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My 3 day Lisbon itinerary
I’ve been to the Portguese capital a few times, and these are the things I think you should definitely do in your 3 days in Lisbon. Drop me a DM if you follow this itinerary – I’d love to know what you enjoyed the most!
Day 1
On the first day I like to spend the morning getting to grips with my new surroundings.
Nibble on a local breakfast of coffee and pastries
Find a cute spot for breakfast or a coffee. A Brasileira in Chiado is a famous historic cafe with a classy wood-panelled interior where you can sip a morning coffee in style, and nibble some delicious pastries too. For more of a brunch, check out Café Janis in Cais do Sodre.
Take yourself on a tour of the city
A walking tour is great for getting your bearings and understanding a bit more about the city you’re staying in right away.
I can wholeheartedly recommend mine and James’ walking tour, centred around the delicious custard tarts of Lisbon! You can do this one for free! Well, for the cost of a few natas…
Another option if you prefer not to pay for a tour is to do a self-guided tour – you can find lots of routes online. Just search for the area or areas you want to visit and the words ‘self-guided walking tour’.
Alternatively you can book onto an organised tour. You probably already know that I love the free walking tours you get in most cities, where you show your appreciation by giving a tip at the end. I’ve had so many great, passionate guides and their local insight is always super interesting. Plus these cost you as much as you want them to, because you decide the amount that you tip! They generally kick off at about 10am or 11am.
If you’re happy to spend a bit more, then check out paid-for tours that are often organised around a theme, like food, history or culture. James and I did a great one with Taste of Lisboa, although it was quite a bit cheaper when we did it a few years ago! It was very well run so if you’ve got a bigger budget definitely check it out.
Try some local treats for lunch
Make a pit stop for a local lunch. Go cheap and cheerful with a bifana pork sandwich – try Ais Bifanas do Afonso or O Trevo. Or have some fresh fish – when it’s in season – at a spot like the popular A Marisqueira do Lis or unfussy yet delicious Penalva da Graça.
Learn how to make pastéis de nata at a cooking class
After lunch, get practical by choosing an activity. Try your hand at a local craft like making pastéis de nata, sampling local wines or even creating your very own azulejo tile.
If you’re not one for organised fun (shame on you!), then you could re-visit a favourite neighbourhood from the walking tour you did in the morning. Chill in a cute bar in Chiado, check out the views from Alfama or do some shopping on Avenida da Liberdade.
Watch the sunset at a free viewing platform
With so many amazing viewpoints all over the city, it’d be rude not to stop for a moment to watch the sun go down. Our top picks are Miradouro das Portas do Sol and Miradouro de Santa Luzia in Alfama, or Miradouro da Senhora do Monte and Miradouro da Graça in Graça.
If you fancy a drink in hand, then take some beers along or head to a rooftop – go cheap and cheerful like the one at Honest Greens in Principe Real or go for fancier vibes at Lumi rooftop on top of the Lumiares Hotel in Barrio Alto.
Have dinner and drinks in Principe Real
Lisbon is full of great bars and restaurants serving up delicous meals. My tip is to go to Principe Real where you’ll find loads of options. James and I went here one evening and we hit up Oyster & Margarita, Magnolia Bistrot & Winebar and Jobim – they were all top tier!
Accommodation options in Lisbon
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Day 2
Follow the winding streets of Alfama
Spend the morning exploring the winding streets of historic Alfama. To get there, catch the no.28 tram so you can experience what it’s like to ride on one of the city’s historic trams and rattle through the narrow streets.
Where you pick it up will depend on where you’re staying but a straightforward option is to get to Martim Moniz and catch the tram from there. The earlier you set off, the more like you are to bag a seat – they run from before 6am!
Alfama is one of the city’s oldest districts, and is all cobbled streets and stairways that suddenly pop out onto sweeping terraces with amazing views. It’s also the home of Fado music, a type of folk music with songs about the trails and struggles of daily life, performed by a singer with musical accompaniment.
If you’re lucky you might catch a street performer honing their craft – or you can check out a show. These are generally free, you just need to buy a meal or drinks to sit and watch.
Browse for bargains at a fleamaket
If you’re in Alfama on a Tuesday or Saturday, then you’re well placed to head over to Fiera da Ladra flea market, where you can see a huge array of antiques, ceramics, clothes and trinkets. Why not have a go at bartering and bring back something unique?!
If the market isn’t on, head to the money museum where you can learn about the history of money in different cultures across the world – and best of all it’s always free to enter!
Try Portugese classics for lunch
It’s time to choose a spot for lunch and try some more delicious Portuguese food.
James and I loved Taberna Rua das Flores in Chiado, a cute little place that does tapas-sized plates that feels super traditional. If you want to try lots of different things, huge food market Time Out Lisboa in Cais do Sodre has loads of stalls, so you can taste different delicacies like seafood, salt cod, chicken, pork, croquettes and custard tarts all at once!
Food & Drink options in Lisbon
Visit Belém for pastéis de nata and historic buildings
Hop on a tram or train to Belém from Cais do Sodre station. Here you can visit the home of the pastel de nata, Pastéis de Belém. Don’t be put off by the long queues, this place is absolutely huge inside so you should get seated before too long.
Next, you can visit Belém Tower, a historic tower that once protected the city from its enemies’ ships, and swing by Jerónimos Monastery with its beautiful Gothic architecture and calming vibes.
On a budget?
Check out our 11 ways to save money on your Lisbon trip
Shop and have dinner at LX Factory
LX Factory is a cool spot in Alcântara that used to be a big factory complex, and now houses shops, artists’ studios, bars and restuarants.
Geek alert – you can see the iconic 25 de Abril Bridge up close from here, which is pretty cool if that’s your sort of thing. There’s also a great bookshop here, Ler Devagar, which sells new and second-hand books as well as records, and has a bar, restaurant and cake shop. It’s a great place to have a mooch.
Stay here for dinner and drinks – try Mex Factory for delicious tacos – or go for wood-fired Portuguese dishes at Cantina Lx.
Day 3
Take a day trip to Sintra
Take a day trip to Sintra to explore the incredible palaces built by the royal family. This is where they used to spend their summers, up in the hills where the air was cooler. See the spectacularly colourful Pena Palace and gardens, and check out the fairytale Quinta da Regaleira and the picturesque Palace of Monserrate too.
You can easily spend a whole day here, so continue your trip into the afternoon, or head back to Lisbon if you want to do some final shopping for souvenirs or check out some spots you still haven’t seen.
If you’re visiting in summer, you could swap the visit to Sintra for a trip to Cascais instead. It’s a lively beachside city with great seafood restaurants where you can rent sunloungers and parasols on the beach.
Sail away on a Tagus river cruise
Go on a sunset cruise on the Tagus river while the sun is setting – it’s a really magical experience and you get to see the city from a different angle. There are lots of tours to choose from – just double check that the departure time makes sense for when you want to catch the sunset.
Want more Lisbon ideas?
Read our list of The Best Things to Do in Lisbon for Every Budget
Enjoy the best of Lisbon with our itinerary: how to spend 3 days in Lisbon
So there you have it – our 3 day itinerary to guide you through the best bits of Lisbon, without the stress of planning it all from scratch! If you follow my itinerary – or even pick and choose the bits that work for you – then I’d love to hear how your trip went! And whether you discovered any favourite Lisbon spots of your own that you think I should know about!
