Three days in Lisbon is a sweet spot. Long enough to get under the skin of the city, short enough that you won’t burn out. We’ve helped hundreds of guests plan their stays — here’s the itinerary we come back to again and again.
A few principles before you start: don’t over-schedule, build in time to get lost, and eat lunch when locals do (1–3pm) not when hunger strikes.
Day 1 — Alfama, the Castle & Fado
Morning: Start in Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest neighbourhood. Walk up from the waterfront, follow the narrow lanes, and aim for the Castelo de São Jorge by 10am before the crowds arrive. The views from the battlements are extraordinary.
Work your way back down through Miradouro de Santa Luzia — stop for coffee at the terrace kiosk — and explore the narrow streets of the Moorish quarter. Get happily lost.
Afternoon: Lunch at a tasca in Alfama or Mouraria. Afterwards, head to Miradouro da Graça and stay until the light changes. If your legs allow, continue to Miradouro da Senhora do Monte for the highest view in the city.
Evening: Dinner in Bairro Alto, then Fado at Tasca do Chico. Book ahead — it fills up weeks in advance. This will be the evening you remember most.
Day 2 — Belém, the River & LX Factory
Morning: Take the tram 15E from the city centre out to Belém. Visit the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos early (the cloisters are one of the finest things in Portugal), then the Torre de Belém by the waterfront. Have a pastel de nata at the original Pastéis de Belém — the queue moves quickly.
Afternoon: Walk along the riverside promenade towards the Monument to the Discoveries and the MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) — even if you skip the museum, the building itself is worth seeing. Lunch somewhere along the waterfront.
Return to the city mid-afternoon and spend an hour or two in LX Factory — a converted industrial complex in Alcântara with independent shops, cafés, and one of Lisbon’s best bookshops.
Evening: Dinner in Cais do Sodré or the Mercado da Ribeira (Time Out Market) — the latter is easy, loud, and has something for everyone.
Day 3 — Príncipe Real, Shopping & a Half-Day Trip
Morning: Spend a slow morning in Príncipe Real — the most beautiful neighbourhood in the city for wandering. The Saturday antiques market in the garden is worth timing your trip around. Browse the independent shops, sit in the Jardim das Plantas.
Late Morning: Walk down to Chiado via São Pedro de Alcântara miradouro. Coffee at A Brasileira (stand at the counter). Browse the bookshops and design stores along Rua do Carmo.
Afternoon: Take the train to Sintra (40 minutes from Rossio) or Cascais (40 minutes from Cais do Sodré). Either is an easy half-day. Return to Lisbon for a final dinner.
Evening: Dinner at one of our favourite tascas — Taberna da Rua das Flores in Chiado if you can get in, or O Velho Eurico in Mouraria for something livelier.
A Few Things Worth Skipping
- Tram 28 — iconic but packed with pickpockets and tourists. Walk the same route instead.
- Most souvenir shops in Baixa — the good gift shops are in Príncipe Real and Chiado.
- Booking everything in advance — some flexibility makes the trip. Just book Fado and Sintra ahead.
Our Recommendation
This itinerary is ambitious but doable. If you only have two full days, drop Belém to a morning and skip the half-day trip. The city centre will give you more than enough.
Our apartments are positioned so every one of these areas is reachable in under 20 minutes by metro or on foot.
Ready to book? Browse our apartments and save when you book direct with us.