Lisbon is a city of hills and light, and three days is enough to climb the right ones.
Before you go#
Book São Jorge castle and Jerónimos Monastery online to skip the ticket line. Get a Viva Viagem card at the first metro station and load it with zapping credit; it covers trams, metro, buses and the Belém train.
Day 1: the old hills#
Start in Alfama while it is still quiet: the cathedral, the lanes below the castle, the miradouros of Santa Luzia and Portas do Sol. Up to São Jorge castle for the view and the peacocks. Down through Baixa's grid to Praça do Comércio and the river. Afternoon in Chiado and the Bairro Alto, bookshops and coffee. Sunset from the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara. Dinner in Alfama or Bairro Alto, late.
Day 2: Belém and the river#
Tram 15 or the train to Belém first thing. Jerónimos Monastery (booked), the pastéis de Belém straight from the oven, the Monument to the Discoveries and the Belém Tower on the water. Lunch in Belém. Afternoon at LX Factory and the riverside under the bridge, then back along the water for dinner in Cais do Sodré or the Time Out Market if you want the easy option.
Day 3: Sintra, or the slow Lisbon#
Sintra: the early train from Rossio, Pena Palace first, the Moorish castle, the old town for lunch, back by five. Or the city version: Graça and Mouraria in the morning, lunch in Mouraria's fado streets, Príncipe Real's gardens and shops in the afternoon, a last dinner in Campo de Ourique where visitors rarely go.
Where to stay#
Baixa and Chiado are flat and central. Príncipe Real is the prettiest. Alfama is the most atmospheric and the most tiring. Lisbon travel guide for the full neighbourhood breakdown; things to do in Lisbon for the longer list.
The clock#
Lunch from one, dinner from eight. The restaurants with photos of food outside are for you; the ones with a handwritten paper menu are for everyone else.
Safety#
Pickpockets on the trams, the usual. Is Lisbon safe? has the details.
Plan it with someone who lives here#
Half of Lisbon's best places are a doorway you would walk past. How to meet locals in Lisbon, or post your dates on Roavi Community and a Local Friend in Lisbon can take Day 3 off your hands. Roavi has few Local Friends in Lisbon yet, so post early. Portuguese speakers: rent a friend in Portugal.
3 days in Lisbon? Give one to someone who knows the hills.
Meet a Local FriendFrequently Asked Questions
Is 3 days enough for Lisbon?
Yes. Two days cover the city's main districts and Belém; the third gives you Sintra or a deeper neighbourhood day. People who stay longer usually add Cascais or a second Sintra visit.Should I do Sintra on a 3-day Lisbon trip?
If you have never been, yes, on the earliest train from Rossio. Pena Palace and the Moorish castle take a morning; be back in Lisbon by evening. If you prefer cities to palaces, spend the day in Graça, Mouraria and Príncipe Real instead.Where should I stay in Lisbon for 3 days?
Baixa or Chiado for flat streets and metro, Príncipe Real for a quieter and prettier base, Alfama if you accept the hills for the atmosphere. Avoid anything that needs a tram to reach after dinner.Is tram 28 worth it?
Once, early in the morning from Martim Moniz before the queue forms. After nine it is a packed sightseeing bus with a pickpocket problem. Walk the same route instead.