Lisbon City Guide

Lisbon, the vibrant capital city of Portugal, enchants with its rich history, charming neighbourhoods, and delicious cuisine. My 4 day trip was a whirlwind adventure through time, exploring ancient castles, exploring bustling squares, and indulging in delectable pastries.

If you're planning a similar trip and are looking for a well-organised itinerary, look no further! (Plus, if you can only squeeze 3 days in the city, that is more than enough time to explore and venture to Sintra too!)

We opted for an evening flight so that we could wake up the next day and have a full first day to explore.

When we arrived at Lisbon airport, we bought a Green Viva Viagem Card each (€0,50) and topped up to €13 euros each. We then took the Metro to our hotel.

Day 1: Unravelling the Magic of Sintra

Our journey began with a day trip to the fairytale town of Sintra. We hopped on the train from Rossio Station and arrived at Sintra Station within 40 minutes. I’d suggest getting the 7:41 or 8:11 to make the most of your day. We used our Viva Viagem Card which deducted €1,90 pp e/w.

    

Our first stop was the iconic Pena National Palace, known for its vibrant colours and stunning views. From Sintra Station, you can get the 434 bus to Pena National Palace. You can buy the day pass on the bus for €14. Walking to Pena Palace would be a tricky uphill feat, with narrow winding roads and limited / no pavements, so I’d urge you to take the public transport option.

  

We arrived at the Palace Entrance at 10am but weren’t allowed to see the colourful palace until our pre-booked slot of 11:30 (queuing allowed from 11am), so we found ourselves with 1 hour to spare to walk around the grounds. These were lovely, but I wish I’d have booked the 10:30 slot to see the palace to allow us more time to explore Sintra town. Allow yourself 1-1.5 hours to explore the palace fully.

  

After finishing at Pena Palace, next we ventured towards the Moorish Castle (€8), perched on a hilltop offering breathtaking panoramic vistas. We walked there (to save waiting for the bus) as it was only 15 minutes away and mostly downhill. After soaking in the views and spending just over an hour here, we jumped back on the 434 bus to Sintra Villa (Historic Centre) before grabbing lunch.

Our afternoon was spent exploring the Quinta da Regaleira (€11pp), a World Heritage Site with its enchanting gardens and gothic architecture. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring here, particularly the gardens and inverted tower.

We didn’t have any spare time in our day, but if you get the chance to, it’s worth walking to Sintra National Palace and exploring the town.

Day 2: Delving into Lisbon's History and Delights

Day two was dedicated to exploring Lisbon's city centre. My morning started with a climb up to Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, rewarding me with panoramic views of the city from the viewpoint. From there, I walked to the Monastery of Sao Vicente de Fora, admiring its architectural beauty and enjoying the impressive views from the rooftop.

In the afternoon, we continued our exploration and visited the Lisbon Military Museum and Lisbon Cathedral, the oldest, most venerable church in the city rising high in the hills of Alfama.

In the afternoon, I visited the Carmo Convent and adjacent Archaeological Museum, followed by a visit to the iconic Santa Justa Lift. The day wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Church of São Roque and another viewpoint, Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcantara, where we enjoyed the sunset.

Day 3: Exploring Beyond the City Centre

On day three, I purchased a 24-hour travel pass (€7,10) and embarked on a journey to discover Lisbon's gems further afield. The morning started with a ride on the iconic Tram 28E from its first stop (Martim Moniz), and headed in the direction of LX Factory. We arrived early (even before the restaurants had opened), so had a walk around before stopping there for breakfast. If I were to re-do my itinerary, I’d have visited LX Factory later in the day, and prioritise riding the 15E tram to Belem instead. The 28E tram is famous, however, experiencing any tram in Lisbon is novel enough!

Our third afternoon in Lisbon was dedicated to exploring Belem, the historical district known for its maritime discoveries. We started with a walk down to Belem Tower where we enjoyed listening to buskers on the estuary.

Next we headed in-land to visit the Jerónimos Monastery (€10). We’d pre-booked our tickets online, however, this unfortunately didn’t help us to avoid long queues but was well worth a look. After this, we visited the Museu de Marinha (€7), however, I’d say this is an optional addition to your itinerary, instead a must-do experience in Belem is to indulge in the iconic Pastel de Nata at Pastéis de Belém. We had our takeaway, but there is also the option to sit in the cafe.
We then followed our museum visit with a walk down to Padrão dos Descobrimentos monument before taking the Tram 15E back to the city centre, walking back via Praca do Comercio and taking a look at ‘Pink Street’ (‘Rua Nova do Carvalho’). Personally I found Pink Street to be overhyped. In the daytime it was underwhelming and in the evening daunting to walk down as a couple. I’d certainly think twice before returning to Pink Street in the evening alone.

Day 4: Farewell to Lisbon

I’d say that 3 days is more than enough to explore Lison and Sintra for a trip, however, as we were blessed with an extra day to explore, we checked out of our hotel and headed towards Eduardo VII Park and Marques de Pombal Square, soaking in the city's beautiful green spaces.

We then walked to Aqueduto das Aguas Livres, offering a glimpse into Lisbon's engineering marvels and an alternative view of the city, however, I wouldn’t rush to recommend a visit to others, but it worked well to fill our time on our last day before returning to Rossio for some window shopping before heading to the airport for my return flight.

Places to Eat & Drink

    

Brunch

• Chef Nino: We sat outside and enjoyed our bite to eat in the mild Lisbon weather.
• Augusto Lisboa PT: Start your day right with a delicious brunch at this charming spot. Their menu offers a variety of sweet and savoury options,serving savoury toasts, banana bread & salads, plus coffee and juice as part of their brunch set menu.
• Dear Breakfast: Serving breakfast all day from 9am in four locations across Lisbon, Dear Breakfast did not disappoint.

Casual Bites:

• Maria Food Hub: This cosy local spot offers a warm atmosphere and delicious comfort food. I savoured a flavourful Brisket Rice Bowl, while my boyfriend enjoyed a juicy burger. Perfect for a casual lunch or dinner.
• Patio a Esquina (Sintra): Nestled in the heart of Sintra village, this restaurant offers a delightful lunch experience. Enjoy fresh, flavorful dishes with outdoor seating, perfect for soaking up the charming atmosphere.
• Time Out Market: Immerse yourself in a vibrant culinary scene at this bustling market. Explore the diverse food stalls and sample local delicacies
• Leve Leve: End your day with a delicious dinner at this popular tapas spot but expect to climb yet another hill to get there.

Drink:

• Cerveja Canil Marques: Craft beer lovers rejoice! This unique spot lets you top up a card and sample various beers on tap. We enjoy a relaxed weekday experience, but I suspect you can expect a livelier atmosphere on weekends.
• TOPO Chiado: A lovely calm restaurant & bar on a rooftop terrace offering contemporary Portuguese food, wine & cocktails and a great view of the Santa Justa lift.
• TOPO Martim Moniz: A little tricky finding the entrance (you have to go inside a mini shopping market and up the lift) TOPO Martim Moniz offers great sunset views and free old-school games to play.

Sweet Indulgences:

• Pastéis de Belém: No visit to Lisbon is complete without trying the iconic Pastel de Nata and here served my favourite. This legendary bakery serves up the quintessential Portuguese egg custard tart, a guaranteed melt-in-your-mouth experience.
• Il Gelatone (Palma or Se): My favourite ice cream in the city.

Tips for a Smooth Trip to Lisbon:

• Pre-book tickets for popular attractions like Jerónimos Monastery to avoid queues.
• Purchase a Viva Viagem Card for convenient travel on public transportation (you can top up credits or buy a day pass - but not both at once!).
• Be vigilant against pickpockets, especially on crowded trams and in popular tourist areas.
• Pack comfortable shoes as you'll be doing a lot of walking and climbing many hills!