Lisbon in 3 days
Seven hills and thousands of surprises, the capital of Portugal is cosmopolitan and decadent, charming and romantic, fun and tasty. Lisbon in 3 days is enough for a lot, because once you’ve seen the unmissable, you can afford to take a trip to the surrounding area. Prepare your camera and comfortable shoes. The countdown begins. We have a city to explore..
Day 1 in Lisbon
MORNING
As we’re on holiday… a more than reasonable time would be to set your alarm for 09.00, but don’t even think of skipping breakfast, as you’ll need to recharge your batteries for everything that awaits you. Lisbon has some of the best hostels in the world, so you won’t have any trouble finding one that suits your style and budget. We promise.
From left to right: Lisbon Poets Hostel, Lisbon Calling, Yes! Lisbon Hostel, Hub New Lisbon Hostel.
In the morning, the ideal thing to do is to take a walk through the Baixa, Lisbon’s most central neighbourhood, the prelude to a blind date that, as we’ve already told you, will leave you in love.
Strolling along Rua Augusta, crossing the Triumphal Arch, seeing Comercio Square and the Tagus River, walking along Rua da Pratato Figueira Square and reaching Rossio Square (famous for its wavy black and white mosaic floor) are just some of the things you can do in this neighbourhood. Don’t forget to visit the famous Santa Justa elevator, which is well worth a photo. It’s the quickest way to get to the city’s Barrio Alto, but not the cheapest, as you can leave it to go up
… nothing more and nothing less than exploring one of Lisbon’s most authentic and unknown neighbourhoods: Mouraria.
Made up of hundreds of winding alleyways where neighbours can be seen hanging out their clothes on balconies, Mouraria looks like a small Portuguese village with an intercultural soul in the heart of Lisbon. But the magic doesn’t end here: Mouraria is the birthplace of Fado, the Portuguese national song, which is a source of true saudade for many. It is said that the creator of this musical style was Severa, a prostitute from the neighbourhood who attracted clients with songs of melancholic and nostalgic melodies. Among the walls of Rua do Capelão you can see photos, graffiti and paintings dedicated to her and to the best Portuguese fadistas.
📷: Maria Severa on a wall in Mouraria by Brisid H
Before leaving Mouraria we recommend you go to the tasca ‘Os Amigos da Savera’ and have a shot of ginjinha (1€), Lisbon’s typical cherry liqueur. It is located at Rua do Capelão 32.
AFTERNOON
You have to eat, don’t you? Avoid touristy places and let yourself be guided by the locals: if a tasca is full of them, it’s a good sign. Lisbon is not an expensive city so it will be easy to find good and cheap places, but remember that most restaurants are open from 12.00 to 14.00 and if you want to save some money you should opt for the prato do día ( 4-6€) and skip the starters such as cheese, olives, bread, pâté, which are served in many restaurants… they are not free. If they serve you something you didn’t order, you can politely tell them you don’t want it.
A good place is Reviravolta, a snack bar with €1 beers and homemade dishes of the day at good prices. It’s located at Rua Bacalhoeiros 16, in the Alfama neighbourhood, which we’ll explore with a full belly.
Alfama, the old fishermen’s quarter, is one of Lisbon’s most interesting areas. Here you can stroll through streets full of history, visit the Casa do Bicos, with its original façade, the Sé Cathedral, the beautiful Mirador de Santa Lucia with its tiled wall and the nearby Mirador de Porta do Sol, which offers breathtaking views of Lisbon.
It’s time to take a break for a while, as 600 metres of steep ascent to St. George’s Castle awaits you (entrance fee €7.50 adults, €4 students). As you can imagine, it’s well worth the effort: you’ll have the whole of Lisbon, with its orange roofs and white alleyways, at your feet.
Now it’s time to go back to the hotel: it’s time to ease your muscles in bed, relax your mind with chats with other travellers and get ready for Lisbon’s nightlife. By the way, did we mention that this neighbourhood has the coolest accommodation in Lisbon?
Terrace of the Alfama Patio Hostel by Raquel Almeida
EVENING
When the sun goes down, Lisbon reveals its most cheerful and fun side. If you don’t know where to go, we’ll help you out: the Bairro Alto is the perfect place. Among its narrow streets you’ll find scattered small bars with lots of atmosphere, let chance choose for you which one to go into and have a few beers while you meet travellers from all over the world, or toast with a caipirinha while you make friends with a group of very nice local students.
Bairro Alto by Raquel Almeida
If you want a quick dinner, a good idea is to go to O Trevo tavern in Praça Luis de Camoes, where they say they make the best bifanas (pork sandwich) in Lisbon (€2).
An original idea is to take part in one of the city’s many pub crawls. They cost around €15 and include free shots at all the venues you visit, 90 minutes of free beer and sangria, entry to a trendy nightclub and most importantly, you get to see authentic locals in the company of other travellers like you. Cool!
Day 2 in Lisbon
TOMORROW
We’re afraid that today the alarm clock is going to be postponed several times, don’t worry, you’re forgiven (if it was us who messed you up last night). But don’t overdo it: this morning it’s time to visit one of Lisbon’s most interesting neighbourhoods, Belém, which brings together some of the city’s best attractions. This is the case of the Jerónimos Monastery, a beautiful building built to celebrate Vasco de Gama’s return from India; the Belém Tower, which in the past was used as a defence tower, customs centre and even a lighthouse; or the Monument to the Discoverers, from which you can get beautiful views of the Rose of the Winds, a 50-metre mosaic that represents an atlas of the world.
Façade of Pastéis de Belém, Rua de Belém, 84-92
If the Belém neighbourhood was famous for being the point from which explorers set out for the New World, today it is famous for another reason: modern travellers come to explore this area of the city in search of the Casa Pastéis de Belém. In this pastry shop, decorated with typical white and blue tiles, you can try the famous Pastéis de Belém, finger-licking custard pastries (€1.10). It’s located at Rua de Belém 84. Depending on the season you go, you may find more or less of a queue outside. Don’t panic, it really is very fast and you’ll have your order in 5 minutes. Also, the place inside is much bigger than it looks on the outside in case you prefer to get a table.
AFTERNOON
In the afternoon you have an appointment with Lisbon’s most bohemian neighbourhood: the Chiado, the Portuguese ‘Montmartre’, with its streets full of terraces, cafés, churches and curious shops. Don’t miss Rua Garret, the Bertrand bookshop inaugurated in 1732 or the ruins of the Convento do Carmo, destroyed by the 1755 earthquake. And above all, if you like literature, go to the famous A Brasileira café, where Fernando Pessoa wrote non-stop. We can’t guarantee that you’ll be suddenly inspired, but you’ll certainly be able to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee.
Chiado neighbourhood
If you decide to eat in this area a good option is Sabores na Travesa, at Travessa da Queimada 36, the set menu, with a main course and drink, costs around 5-8€. Another delicious option is Pastelaria Camoes, an authentic Portuguese pastry shop serving tasty and inexpensive dishes. You can find it at Rua do Loreto, 63/65.
Praça Luís de Camoes marks the boundary between Chiado and the Bairro Alto, which, beyond its bars, clubs and parties, deserves to be discovered in the sunlight. The reward will come in the form of graffiti, charming corners and one of the best viewpoints in Lisbon: São Pedro de Alcântara. Watching the sunset from up there is the perfect end to a perfect trip.
EVENING
An unforgettable experience in this city is to attend a Fado show. The best neighbourhoods to do so are Alfama and Mouraria, although the Tasca do Chico, in the Barrio Alto, is a good alternative if you want to enjoy a drink afterwards. Fado shows start at 21.00 and are free (you only have to pay for what you consume), although we recommend you book, as the place is usually very busy. A 100% Lisbon experience that will make your hair stand on end and that you will always remember.
Day 3 in Lisbon
View of Castelo dos Mouros by Silvia Cornejo
If we are going to visit Lisbon in three days, we can dedicate one of them to visit some of the closest places, or two on the same day! If you choose this option, visit Sintra in the morning and Cascais in the afternoon. Check out the public transport, although the most convenient option would be to hire a car.
Cascais will be a great option for the summer season, as it has a beach. But if you prefer to focus on one place and have a more relaxed pace. Then don’t hesitate, choose the more romantic and picturesque option. And Sintra is exactly like that, a fairytale place half an hour by train from Lisbon: visualise a huge magical forest, surrounded by majestic palaces, guarded by a tall castle, where the traveller falls in love with its colourful houses and beautiful gardens.
TOMORROW
As soon as you leave the train station, you should take bus number 434, which makes several stops at the points of interest. The distances are not very long, but the streets are very steep. Even if you like to walk, you might consider taking the bus uphill, going to the highest point, getting off at the top, and then to continue your tour on foot as you walk down to the city centre.
The last bus stop is the one that drops you off at the Pena Palace, one of the most impressive sites in Portugal and therefore one of the most visited. The €14 entrance fee gives you access to the Palace and the Pena Garden. You’ll enjoy the architecture, history and views. Unfortunately, if you only want to see it from the outside, from the main gate you can’t see much, and to get that fairytale postcard of the palace inside the forest you’ll have to go quite a distance away.
If you continue your visit on foot, you can choose to follow the route marked by the road, or go into the forest – a great option! Breathe in the fresh air, listen to the sounds of nature, and contemplate the views of Castelo dos Mouros.
Less visited than Palacio da Pena, but very special, is the Quinta Regaleira palace, about 6 euros more than well spent. You’ll want to explore every corner of its enormous gardens, with its underground tunnels, ponds, fountains, caves, greenhouse, chapel… And of course the interior of the palace – save yourself at least 2 hours!
For a taste of something typical, stop at Cafe Saudade and enjoy their famous queijadas.
AFTERNOON
If Sintra looks beautiful but you’re dying for a dip in the beach, then it’s time to visit Cascais. Guincho beach is a huge white sandy beach with great waves for surfing, and is located 8km from the centre. To get there, if you don’t have a car, the best option is to go by bike as public transport is limited. The best thing is that the Cascais Town Hall offers them for free! They are called “Bicas”.
The centre of Cascais is not extremely beautiful, but if you want to go for a walk you will find many options to buy exclusive designs or local handicrafts.
Photo at the Belém Tower
Tips for your first trip to Lisbon
– If you want to save some money, forget about the Santa Justa elevator, you can go up to Chiado/Barrio Alto, free of charge. Simply enter through the Chiado metro station and follow the signs to Praça Luis de Camoes. Thanks to a few escalators, you’ll be able to climb the difference in height between Baixa and Chiado/Barrio Alto in no time at all.
– A very good option for getting around the main points of Lisbon is the tram 28. But be careful: watch out for pickpockets as, although Lisbon is a safe city, they tend to frequent the tram 28 quite a lot… you know, where there are tourists, there they are! A single ticket costs €2.85, so if you plan to use the tram, buses or metro more than once, it’s worth buying an unlimited-ride ticket (€6) that lasts 24 hours.
– Murals, graffiti and art interventions are some of the things to see in Lisbon in 3 days. If you like street art, take a camera in hand and wander around Mouraria, Alfama and Barrio Alto. We also recommend you to go to Avenida Fontes Pereira de Melo, where a few urban artists painted the facades of abandoned buildings… the murals are beautiful!
– We recommend visiting Belém on Sunday mornings: both the Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower are free from 10am to 2pm.
We know there are still a few things to show you, but you will definitely want to visit Lisbon again, as it is one of the most beautiful European capitals.
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“Travel, gastronomy and art are the great passions of Rober and Lety, a couple who have felt tiny contemplating the sunrise in Burma, travelled in a bus with a goat on the roof in the Philippines, bathed under the Milky Way in New Zealand and… better discover more adventures in their blog: www.mochileandoporelmundo.com. His motto: if many dream what you dream, dream harder!
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