The Perfect 3 Days in Lisbon

Lisbon is having a moment. It has the weather of California, the culinary history of France, and incredibly affordable prices compared to London or Paris.

It is a city built on seven hills (mythologically, at least—your calves will feel like it’s more). It is a city of stunning miradouros (viewpoints), tiled facades, and rattling wooden trams. It is nostalgic yet modern.

This 3-day itinerary is designed to give you a mix of the heavy history (The Age of Discovery) and the current cool (Príncipe Real and Bairro Alto).

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Trip Overview

• Day 1: The Old Soul (Alfama & The Castle)
• Day 2: The Explorers (Belém & LxFactory)
• Day 3: The High Life (Chiado & Príncipe Real)

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Day 1: The Old Soul of Lisbon

Focus: Alfama, Baixa, and The Castle.

Morning: The Tram 28 (or the Hike)

Start your day early (8:30 AM) to beat the crowds for the legendary Tram 28.

• Route: Board at Martim Moniz. The tram screeches up impossibly steep hills, squeezing through narrow streets where pedestrians have to flatten themselves against walls.
• Stop: Get off at Miradouro das Portas do Sol. The view over the orange roofs of Alfama and the Tagus River is the quintessential Lisbon postcard.

Late Morning: The Castle

Walk up the hill to Castelo de São Jorge.

• History: The Moors built these fortifications in the mid-11th century. The peacocks roaming the gardens are the current rulers.
• View: Walking the ramparts gives you a 360-degree view of the entire city.

Lunch: Alfama Lanes

Walk down into the tangled web of Alfama. This is the only part of the city to survive the 1755 earthquake. It feels like a North African Kasbah.

• Eat: Find a tiny Tasca (tavern) grilling sardines on charcoal outside.

Afternoon: Baixa & Commerce

Walk down to the river to Praça do Comércio (Commerce Square). It is massive and grand. Use the Rua Augusta Arch to frame your photos.

• Snack: Grab a codfish cake (pastéis de bacalhau) from one of the shops on Rua Augusta.
• Elevator: See the Santa Justa Lift.
  • Tip: Do NOT pay to ride it. Walk around the back to Largo do Carmo and you can access the top viewing platform for free (or much cheaper) via the bridge.

Evening: Fado

Stay in Alfama for dinner.

• Activity: Listen to Fado. It is Portuguese folk music—songs of longing and saudade (nostalgia).
• Venue: Clube de Fado (touristy but good) or Mesa de Frades (more authentic, located in an old chapel).

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Day 2: The Age of Discovery

Focus: Belém and Industrial Cool.

Morning: Belém

Take the E15 tram or the train from Cais do Sodré to Belém. This is where Vasco da Gama sailed from to find the sea route to India.

• Mosteiro dos Jerónimos: A UNESCO World Heritage masterpiece of Manueline architecture (intricate ropes, anchors, and sea motifs carved in stone). The cloisters are breathtaking.
• Torre de Belém: The fortress guarding the river mouth. It’s smaller than you think. You don't necessarily need to go inside; the view from the outside is better.

Snack: The Original Tart

You cannot come here without visiting Pastéis de Belém.

• They have been making these custard tarts since 1837 using a secret recipe from the monks.
• Tip: The line for takeaway is long, but the line for a table is often shorter and moves fast. Eat them warm with cinnamon.

Afternoon: LxFactory

On the way back to the city, hop off at Alcantara-Mar for LxFactory.

• Vibe: An old industrial complex turned into a hipster village.
• See: Ler Devagar bookstore. It has a flying bicycle sculpture and printing presses. It’s incredibly photogenic.
• Drink: Have a beer at Rio Maravilha (if reopened) or any rooftop bar looking at the "Golden Gate Bridge" (Ponte 25 de Abril).

Evening: Time Out Market

Head back to Cais do Sodré.

• Dinner: Time Out Market. It’s a giant food hall curated by Time Out magazine. It has outposts of Michelin-starred chefs alongside burger joints. It’s loud, chaotic, and delicious.

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Day 3: Modern Chic & Views

Focus: Chiado, Bairro Alto, and Príncipe Real.

Morning: Chiado Shopping

Take the subway to Baixa-Chiado. This is the elegant shopping district.

• Covent: Visit the Carmo Convent (Convento do Carmo). The roof collapsed in the 1755 earthquake, and they never rebuilt it. Standing under the arches with the open sky above is surreal.
• Coffee: A Brasileira. The famous Art Deco cafe where the poet Fernando Pessoa used to sit (there is a bronze statue of him outside).

Afternoon: Príncipe Real

Walk up the hill (always up!) to Príncipe Real. This is currently the coolest neighborhood in Lisbon.

• Shopping: Embaixada. A 19th-century Moorish palace turned into a concept store for local designers.
• Relax: Sit under the giant cedar tree in the Príncipe Real Garden.

Sunset: Pick a Miradouro

Lisbon is all about the sunset view.

• Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara: Views of the castle.
• Miradouro de Santa Catarina (The Adamastor): Views of the river and bridge. Young vibe with musicians playing.

Evening: Pink Street or Bairro Alto

It’s your last night.

• Dinner: A Cevicheria (famous for the giant octopus on the ceiling) or Bairro do Avillez.
• Nightlife:
  • Bairro Alto: A grid of streets where everyone drinks in the street from plastic cups.
  • Pink Street: An actual pink-painted street in Cais do Sodré that used to be the Red Light District and is now the party hub.

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Practical Tips

Transport Card

Buy a Navegante card (50 cents) and load it with "Zapping" credit. It works on trams, buses, metro, and even the ferry. A tram ticket bought on board costs €3.00, but with Zapping it is ~€1.50.

The Couvert

When you sit down at a restaurant, the waiter will bring bread, olives, cheese, and tuna pate. This is not free. If you eat it, you pay (usually €2-5). If you don't want it, just wave it away or don't touch it.

See you in Lisbon! Obrigado!