Portugal is fast becoming one of the most popular travel destinations in Europe. The country’s capital, Lisbon is a popular city break for Europeans looking for winter sunshine, great food and a nice dollop of culture. With 3 days in Lisbon, it is possible to see quite a lot of the city.
Whilst Lisbon doesn’t quite have the allure or reputation of some of Europe’s big hitters, it is chock full of things to see and do that can keep you busy for longer than 3 days. If you’re interested in other European city breaks, check out our article on day trips from Florence.
Lisbon is one of Europe’s cheaper city break destinations. Guesthouses and Airbnb’s available for between £30 and £50. Eating out is also pleasingly easy on the wallet, a decent two-course meal with a drink for two people can easily be found for between £20 and £25.
Lisbon’s rolling hills and narrow alleyways offer plenty of options to explore and get off the beaten track. Make sure you have good shoes as the hills will leave you with some achy knees.
With 3 days in Lisbon, you’ll be able to explore quite a bit of the city and cram in a day trip out to Sintra.
3 Days in Lisbon – What to see and do
Day 1 – Explore the Alfama and the surrounding area
Our 3 days in Lisbon itinerary begins with Lisbon’s most famous tram going through it’s most famous area.
Lisbon is famous for its trams. The roll through the cities narrow streets taking in some of the cities most spectacular sights. The most popular and well known of these is tram 28. Understandably the tram can be jam-packed with tourists meaning that you will constantly be battling with those around you.
However if you want all of the best views, with a bit more space, then consider walking the route of tram 28. Starting out at Martim Moniz, follow the tram’s route looping into the cities hills towards the northern section of the Alfama. There are some excellent cafes en route, so it could be worth stopping for a mid-morning coffee.
At a couple of points jump off of the tram route to check out some of the city’s best viewpoints. The view from Miradouro Nossa Senhora do Monte is pretty spectacular. Just down the hill from here is another less crowded viewpoint.
Head round into Jardim da Cerca and the Garca Church. Both of which are absolutely lovely, a great place to rest your feet for a few minutes.
Jump back onto tram 28’s route until you pass the Igreja de Sao Vicente de Fora. From here you can continue roughly following the route jumping into various backstreets as you do so.
This part of the Alfalma is full of narrow winding alleyways, gorgeous houses and a mere handful of people, it is very easy to spend quite a bit of time just getting lost.
Heading back onto the tram route will take you past various beautiful viewpoints including Portas do Sol. From here it’s worth heading up to Castelo de Sao Jorge, which offers some gorgeous views over the Alfalma and a great insight into Lisbon’s history.
Head down from the castle and join back up with the tram route at the Lisbon Cathedral. This is another testament to Portugal’s catholic past.
From here the tram line carries on out to the city’s west through Baixa and into Sao Bento. By this time it was pretty late and and our legs were feeling it so were headed to Comercio Square and explored the surrounding area before hitting up on of the city’s excellent eateries.
Day 2 – Day trip to Sintra
Make sure you’re up bright and early to try and beat the crowds to Sintra. This was a residence of the Portuguese Royal until it was overthrown in 1910.
Sintra’s main attraction is the National Palace of Pena, which can be accessed by bus from the train station. Sintra can get extremely busy, so the earlier you get there, the better the chance you have of avoiding the crowds.
There are numerous ticket bundles that you can purchase that will take you into some of the other sights in Sintra. Sadly we only had time to visit the National Palace of Pena. We managed to pick what seemed to be the busiest day of the year so were caught in traffic from the station to the palace itself.
The palace itself is spectacular. There are numerous walking routes in the surrounding forests offer a respite from the crowds and some lovely views of the palace.
Getting here from Lisbon is easy. You can pick up a ticket from ticket machines at Lisbon station. Tickets are 4.50 euro per person and you can use a subway card to swipe in and out.
A trip out to Sintra is a highlight of 3 day Lisbon Itinerary.
Day 3 – Head out to Belem
On your final day in Lisbon, take it easy and head out west to Belem. This area is home to two of Lisbon’s best architectural wonders; Belem Tower and the Jeronimos Monastery. The Belem Tower can get extremely busy on Sunday’s when entry is free. The views from the outside are great, so no need to waste your time waiting in line.
The Jeronimos Monastery is absolutely spectacular and it well worth the trip out to Belem. Although the lines here can be long they do move quickly. You need to buy your tickets inside before going and lining up at a separate entrance.
After getting back into the centre of Lisbon take some time explore the area around Lisbon’s main train station which is home to some pretty awesome architecture.
Eating in Lisbon
Lisbon is home to some pretty spectacular food. Custard tarts, synonymous with Portuguese cuisine can be found all over the city. Naturally small family run bakeries serve some of the best. Lisbon’s cafe culture thrives in the cities heart serving up plenty of awesome sweet treats. Do be aware that the some of the best and cheapest eateries can be found away from the busiest and most popular tourist areas.
There were two restaurants that were particularly fantastic O Tasco Do Vigário in the Alfama and Ze dos Cornos close to Martim Moniz.
Both places often have long lines outside, however they are worth the wait.
Getting Around Lisbon
Like most European capitals Lisbon has an efficient if not extensive underground network. We stayed slightly north of the city centre and when after traveling a couple of stops to Martim Moritz everything was walkable. Trams are an option, however the most well known and popular tram routes that access the most popular sites are generally packed. Looking in from the pavement walking seemed to be a vastly more enjoyable option.
An excellent advantage of Lisbon is that the airport is connected directly to the underground network and the journey from the airport to the centre is a relatively short one. A welcome relief after over an hour on the Piccadilly Line to get to London’s Heathrow Airport.
Getting Out Of Lisbon
For day trips to Sintra or if heading down to Belem, trains depart from Lisbon’s main train station at pretty regular intervals. Tickets are cheap and carriages are spacious.
