The perfect itinerary for 3 days in Lisbon

Wondering what to do in Lisbon for 3 days and not sure where to start? We love Portugal’s capital for its big spirit and many different faces, from the hilly old streets of Alfama to the grand monuments of Belém. In this guide, we share our ideal first-timer itinerary for 3 days in Lisbon, mixing classic sights with hidden corners, great foodie stops, and our favourite places to stay.

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How many days in Lisbon is enough?

Lisbon is Portugal’s capital and biggest city, with over 3 million people living in the metropolitan area, so there is a lot to see and do.

On our first visit we spent 3 days in Lisbon, which was a nice amount of time for a city break to see the highlights. But every time we’ve been back there has been more to discover, so you might want to extend your plans!

Taking a workation in Lisbon is a great way to extend your trip, spending longer exploring the seven hills and various neighbourhoods around your remote work schedule.

But if you’re planning a short and sweet trip, this 3-day Lisbon itinerary covers all the must-sees, plus some lesser known highlights we tried after recommendations from locals.

When is the best time to visit Lisbon?

Lisbon is an all-year round destination, with hot summers and mild winters. We love visiting Lisbon in winter, and we’ve been for trips in both January and February, both warmer than you might expect! It even reached 20°C in February on our last trip.

Another bonus of winter is that Lisbon is a bit quieter and even more laidback than usual (it’s already a pretty relaxed place to start with). A potential downside is that winter is the rainiest season, but showers are usually short-lived. We’ve been lucky to be blessed with constant sunshine on our winter trips!

Summers in this part of Europe are getting hotter and hotter, but Lisbon’s Atlantic breezes keep temperatures from reaching the extreme highs seen in parts of Spain and France. You can expect it to be pleasantly warm, rather than stifling.

Spring, when flowers are blooming in the parks, and autumn, the wine harvest season, are both nice in-betweens. Weather is warm in these shoulder seasons and there is a lot going on around the city.

Where to stay for 3 days in Lisbon

For a complete rundown of the city’s best areas and accommodation options, our guide to neighbourhoods in Lisbon is a good place to start.

For 3 days in Lisbon, we recommend staying somewhere central to the sightseeing areas like Baixa (downtown), Rossio or Chiado, all of which are in close proximity to one another. From these bustling neighbourhoods you can easily walk up to the Alfama (old town) to the east, Bairro Alto (trendy area) to the west, or hop on the metro to reach pretty much anywhere.

If you’re looking for a nice hotel for a weekend break, My Story Hotels is an excellent boutique chain with several properties around this area. We’ve stayed in three of them! You can read our full review of My Story Hotels, or check out the prices for the ones we recommend most:

• My Story Hotel Figueira: blue-and-white-tiled townhouse in Figueira Square with a roomy Italian restaurant/bar-café that doubles as a welcoming lobby and workspace, perfect for remote working or a couple’s getaway.
• My Story Hotel Tejo: set in an 18th-century Pombaline building with traditional décor, peaceful rooms despite a bustling location, and a Portuguese restaurant that doubles as a breakfast space.
• My Story Hotel Rossio: cosy, characterful hotel overlooking Rossio Square with sweeping views toward São Jorge Castle and an elegant on-site café serving breakfast in a refined, historic setting.

If you’re travelling on a backpacking budget or you just prefer hostels, We Love F Tourists is a great option in the heart of Baixa, near Rossio Square and a short walk from the Alfama. You need to walk up quite a few steps in the old building to reach the hostel, but it’s got a really nice sociable vibe and you can book tours here too.

These are some other hotel options for different budgets:

• Yes! Lisbon Hostel: slightly more of a party hostel than We Love F Tourists, with a bar, bingo nights, karaoke, pub crawls and other organised activities.
• Browns Boutique Hotel: ideal if you want somewhere that is affordable but feels upmarket, with spacious, quirky rooms, iMac workstations in some, and a relaxed bistro café-bar.
• Pestana Rua Augusta Lisboa: set right by the iconic Rua Augusta Arch, a modern with sleek, characterful rooms, and a cosy bar and terrace for breakfast or evening drinks.

You can also read our guides to the best Lisbon hotels with rooftop pools and Vrbo apartments in Lisbon.

3-day Lisbon itinerary at a glance

We run through the full detailed 3 days in Lisbon below, but here’s a quick snapshot of what our itinerary includes:

Day 1: food, wine, and the sights of the Alfama

• Morning: light bite for breakfast, food and wine tour
• Afternoon: São Jorge Castle and the Alfama
• Evening: sunset at Lisbon’s highest point, dinner at Mozambican restaurant

Day 2: exploring Lisbon’s markets

• Morning: viewpoint sunrise, Time Out Market breakfast, stroll through Estrela
• Midday: lunch at Campo de Ourique Market
• Afternoon: Eduardo VII Park, art museums and exploring Saldanha
• Evening: Fado dinner (traditional Lisbon live music performance), late wine bar

Day 3: Belém, the riverside and Chiado

• Morning: breakfast at Pasteis de Belém and a look at Jerónimos Monastery
• Midday: Belém Tower, museums and riverside walk
• Afternoon: Chiado sightseeing and coffee shops
• Evening: authentic local meal at Casa da Índia, night out in Cais do Sodré

3-day Lisbon itinerary in detail

Day 1: food, wine, and the sights of the Alfama

The first day of our Lisbon itinerary focuses around one of Lisbon’s oldest and most storied districts: the Alfama. This is where you will find some of the city’s cutest cobbled hills, most breathtaking viewpoints and iconic buildings like the castle and cathedral.

But first, we suggest a culinary introduction to the city. This is definitely the most fun and indulgent way to get your bearings!

Breakfast: have a light bite (don’t fill up too much!)

The main event of this first morning will involve a lot of food, so keep it small and simple for breakfast. Even better, skip breakfast completely.

But if you do want a little morning appetiser, there are some great little bakeries and pastry shops around Rossio. Confeitaria Nacional is one of the city’s oldest, nearly 200 years old, and it oozes that old-Lisbon charm.

Morning: take a food and wine tour in Rossio

We usually recommend taking a free walking tour on the first day of a city itinerary, but we had such a good time on this Lisbon food and wine tour that we couldn’t leave it out.

The tour begins in Rossio Square at 10:30am, and then takes a short but meandering path through some local favourite foodie spots, mostly family-run little gems that have been tucked away on the back streets for decades.

And here’s why it’s best to keep breakfast light before this tour… it includes 15 tastings! This includes an array of local delicacies and classics like bifana (pork sandwich), pastéis de bacalhau (salted cod fritters), fish stew, various cheeses and meats, all paired with local drinks.

The tour also runs in the afternoon and early evening, so you could flip the itinerary around for this day if you’d prefer to go sightseeing around the Alfama before your food indulgence. But we always like to begin with a tour, as you get some great insights from the local guide that can help shape the rest of your trip.

Check out our full review of the Lisbon food and wine tour.

Early afternoon: visit São Jorge Castle

The Lisbon food and wine tour conveniently finishes very close to the foot of the Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest neighbourhood, spread across one of the city’s seven hills.

Perched at the crest of the Alfama is São Jorge Castle, with its high walls visible from all across the city. And, naturally, from atop those walls you can enjoy some amazing panoramic views.

If you don’t mind a little exercise you can walk up the hill to the castle, but there’s a lesser-known shortcut that involves taking two hidden elevators, the second of which is tucked away inside a Pingo Doce supermarket.

At the top of the second elevator is Zambeze, a restaurant with an open terrace area looking out over the city. You can stop and enjoy the viewpoint here, but there’s much better to come as you venture higher! It’s a short walk up and around to the castle from here.

Both times I’ve visited São Jorge Castle there has been a long queue to get in. So, it’s a good idea to book a skip-the-line entrance ticket beforehand – or even better, you get free entry with a Lisbon Card.

Once inside, you can wander the grounds and walk along the intact walls of a structure that was built in the 11th century, and so has been central to Lisbon’s history for a thousand years. Also look out for huge, colourful peacocks in a special courtyard! And those views… wow.

Afternoon: explore the Alfama on foot

When you have finished exploring the castle grounds, you are perfectly poised to get lost wandering the quaint streets of the Alfama.

I won’t lie… every time I revisit Lisbon, the Alfama seems to get busier and busier with tourists. Depending on the time of year you’re visiting, you can expect it to be quite crowded. But, its fairytale charm makes it a must-see while you are spending 3 days in Lisbon.

The Alfama is one of the precious few areas of Lisbon that survived the devastating earthquake of 1755 largely intact. Around its winding streets, you can still see the Moorish influences that date back centuries, with white buildings and colourful tiles.

And the vantage points of the Alfama’s hills give way to some of the best viewpoints in Lisbon, like Miradouro das Portas do Sol and Miradouro de Santa Luzia.

The Alfama is also home to the beautiful Lisbon Cathedral, also known simply as the Sé. This has stood for 900 years and is the oldest church in the city, with its two stone clock towers rising over the rooftops. you can enter the main part of the cathedral in the daytime for free, except on Sundays.

Evening: see the spectacular sunset from Miradouro da Senhora do Monte

The most spectacular of Lisbon’s viewpoints is Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, the highest point of the city. It’s a particularly special scene at sunset, as crowds gather.

From the Alfama it’s a short and scenic walk, which takes you through the pretty neighbourhood of Graça. On the way you can stop at Miradouro da Graça, a cosy little viewpoint where you can buy a beer, take a seat, and look out across the city from a little terrace area.

Continue up to Miradouro da Senhora do Monte (and look out for street art murals along the way)! If you time it right for sunset, you will find lively crowds of people with music playing, and a couple of stalls selling drinks.

And the view is breathtaking. From this high perch, where the first king of Portugal once camped before conquering the city, you can see right across the many plazas, rooftops, turrets and hills, as the sun dips behind the Tagus River on the horizon.

Dinner: eat at Cantinho do Aziz, a hidden Mozambican gem

Peri peri chicken is a dish closely associated with Portugal, but it also has Mozambican roots, as it was first developed there using local ingredients. You will find some of Lisbon’s very best peri peri at Cantinho do Aziz, a Mozambican–Portuguese fusion restaurant tucked away on the hilly lanes of Mouraria, the Moorish Quarter that sits just below São Jorge Castle.

We ate here on the last night of our latest trip to Lisbon, and we were blown away. It’s probably my favourite restaurant in the city for both food and atmosphere.

Set on a narrow sloping alleyway and accessible by flights of steps, you will find a lively outdoor seating area undercover with fires burning and African music playing. You can see why it has been lauded by several food journalists.

We tried both the classic piripiri (the Mozambican spelling) and miamba wa macua, another house special of prawns and plantain cooked in coconut and palm oil sauce. Amazing!

Another great option nearby, especially if you’re into ramen, is Buga Ramen in Rossio. This is a super cool, brightly coloured little joint where your dishes might be served to you by cute little robots! The ramen is amazing too.

Night: Go for a beer tasting slider at Crafty Corner

You might associate Lisbon more with wine and local spirits, but there’s a great beer scene in the city too. Crafty Corner in the Alfama is a great place to discover the scene if you want to stay out a while on your first night.

Here we tried a tasting slider of 12 local craft beers. Not only is a dozen mini-pours a great way to convince yourself you are “just having one”, it’s also a great crash course in the range of local beer flavours. (And strengths…!)

Day 2: exploring Lisbon’s markets

There are some truly fantastic food markets in Lisbon, and the second day of our recommended itinerary focuses on exploring the best of them. There’s quite a bit of walking involved, deliberately through pretty neighbourhoods and past interesting sites, but there are public transport options if you prefer.

First, you can begin the day with another unforgettable city view, not to be missed!

Early morning: see the sunrise view from Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara

Bairro Alto is Lisbon’s “high neighbourhood” (literally what it means), and the best of all its vantage points is Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara. During the day and evening you might find pop-up stallls and local artists showcasing their work around the large viewing platform, and a lively vibe.

But the best time to enjoy Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara is undoubtedly at sunrise, when you can see that golden globe climb over the castle, cathedral and rooftops of the Alfama on the opposite hill.

If you’re staying around Rossio as we recommend, it’s a fairly short but steep walk up to the viewpoint.

Late breakfast: hit Time Out Market

Time Out Market is Lisbon’s most famous and modern food market, yet it sits on a historic food trading site. Housed in the old Mercado da Ribeira, a classic 19th-century market hall, it blends old and new: the traditional fresh-food market continues to operate in an adjoining hall, while Time Out Market brings a more upscale scene with gourmet stalls and contemporary foodie experiences.

Time Out Market opens at 10 am, but arrive earlier and you’ll find some stalls outside and nearby cafés serving coffee, while the old food hall is usually open from 6 am to 2 pm for an early browse.

There’s a varied choice of breakfasts. We enjoyed sitting down with some simple freshly baked bread with avocado, egg, tomato, coffee and juice. There are also stalls selling pastries and petiscos, and healthier options like fruit bowls.

Morning: stroll through Estrela to Campo de Ourique

The walk from Time Out Market to the Campo de Ourique neighbourhood – where we recommend heading for lunch – takes about 40 minutes, but you can break it up by exploring the magnificent basilica and scenic gardens in laidback Estrela. Plus some other sights along the way!

If you begin the walk by heading straight up behind Time Out Market you can wander through the pretty cobbled and narrow streets of Cais do Sodré as it meets Chiado. There are some interesting museums and galleries around this area if you want a stop off, like the Pharmacy Museum and Atelier Museu Júlio Pomar.

Make your way to Calçada da Estrela, which runs straight up towards Campo de Ourique. You will pass the magnificent São Bento Palace on your right, which is the seat of the Portuguese Parliament, and you can stop for a nice view from its steps (and if you’re lucky you might see the changing of the guards!).

A little further on from here you will reach Basilica of Estrela, which you cannot miss thanks to its huge, imposing white dome and bell towers. Inside, the basilica is decorated in dazzling pink and black marble, and you can climb 114 steps right up inside the dome for some breathtaking panoramic views across the city.

Just across the main road from the basilica is Estrela Gardens, one of the prettiest green spaces in Lisbon. There’s a little café with outdoor seating for a cuppa, or you can just wander among the exotic plants, trees and sculpted lake.

Lunch: eat like a local at Campo de Ourique Market

When I first visited Lisbon I met the owner of a coworking space and told them I was going for lunch at Time Out Market that day. They said to me “Time Out Market is great, but if you want to try a food market the locals like, go to Campo de Ourique instead. It’s my favourite!”

So I changed plans that day and walked to Campo de Ourique Market for lunch. This little suburban neighbourhood might be a little out of the way, but it really is worth the detour for a market lunch.

While it’s much smaller than Time Out Market, Campo de Ourique has quite a similar story; the hall opened in the 1930s as a traditional farmers’ market, but has recently been revamped as a modern gourmet food hall. It feels a lot less touristy than Time Out, and the prices are lower.

There’s quite a mix of local and international food. On that first visit I had a Portuguese dish called pica pau, which was so good it has now become an obsession of mine! And when I insisted on bringing Lisa here for lunch on a subsequent visit together, we had an enormous and delicious boat of sushi.

Tip: if you really don’t want to walk all that way from Cais do Sodré to Campo de Ourique in the morning, you can take the famous Tram 28, which follows the exact route, and you’ll be ticking off another off the classic things to do in Lisbon.

Afternoon: Eduardo VII Park, art museums and Saldanha

After lunch, you might want to potter around the neighbourhood a bit to explore the shops or see sights like Santo Condestável Church. But when you’re ready, take a slow stroll (working off that lunch) in the direction of Eduardo VII Park. This huge, sloping park is at the heart of Lisbon, with more big views and lots of intriguing places to explore close by.

It’s about a half-hour walk at a steady pace from Campo de Ourique to the park, through the elegant neighbourhood of Rato with its 19th-century tiled buildings, local restaurants and quiet offices. If you want a coffee stop along the way, Simpli Coffee Braamcamp (part of a local chain) is a nice spot just before you reach the park.

Eduardo VII Park is a 64-acre sculpted green space that stretches up a long slope, with a tall white monument near the top commemorating the revolution of 25 April 1974. Take a steady stroll up and you will find an observation deck by the monument where you can look back down over the city towards to river.

Just across from the top of the park you can stop by Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, home to one of the world’s most significant private art collections. The museum’s stark, almost brutalist concrete architecture feels unexpected in Lisbon, although the nearby Palace of Justice is another example of this style.

The art collection at the museum is remarkably wide-ranging, with specimens from Ancient Egypt to the Orient, plus original works by the likes of Rembrandt, Turner, Monet and Manet. It is set among grounds with ponds, sculptures and walkways, another nice place to slow down for a while.

When you’re finished here, it’s a short walk into Saldanha, a less touristy Lisbon neighbourhood becoming known for its local cafés, shops and coworking spaces. It’s an interesting little corner of the city to explore.

You could make a little stop at 3D Fun Art Museum Lisboa, bringing a very different artistic experience with a collection of funny optical illusions and 3D images.

And for those of you who can’t get enough of Lisbon’s markets, Mercado 31 de Janeiro is a quirky local favourite in this area. It’s only open until 2pm, so it won’t fit into today’s stroll, but it’s a fun excuse to start another morning with a coffee and wander around like a local in Saldanha if you’re staying in the city a bit longer.

Dinner: try a traditional Fado experience

For the full experience of Lisbon, you must try a fado show on one night of your trip. This local music genre has been central to the city’s culture for over 200 years, emerging as a form of shared expression in public houses where working-class communities would gather.

The style is quite simple, typically a three-piece ensemble with a vocalist accompanied by a guitarra and a viola or bass viola. Its melodic, often melancholy vocals are rich with storytelling narratives.

These days, fado nights are a bit more polished and performative and the raucous early days. Fado houses will often put on shows over a well-to-do dinner, with musical interludes between each course.

Many of the fado houses are located around Chiado, Bairro Alto and the Alfama. You can often go for walk-ins but it’s still a good idea to book in advance.

If you want to learn more about the fado story, the Fado Museum in the Alfama is well worth a visit. You might be able to squeeze that into the first day of this itinerary when you’re in the area.

Night: sit down in a Lisbon wine bar

If you want to stay out a bit after dinner and soak up the Lisbon nighttime atmosphere, this is a good opportunity to try one of the city’s superb wine bars. Many of the best ones are around Chiado, like By The Wine.

Day 3: Belém, the riverside and Chiado

A lot of Lisbon’s charm comes from its riverside setting, and for the final day of our 3-day Lisbon itinerary we focus around the waterfront.

Hop on a 15E tram or the Cascais train early and head to the neighbourhood of Belém, where you can explore some of the city’s most striking and historic landmarks, plus an array of museums.

Breakfast: dine in the historic Pastéis de Belém

Pastéis de nata are probably Portugal’s most famous food export, and they originated right here in Belém. In the 18th century, monks in Jerónimos Monastery starched nuns’ clothing with egg whites, and found a way to repurpose the leftover yolks by making sweet custard tarts.

A few paces away from the monastery still stands the original café where they were first sold to the public: Pastéis de Belém.

The interior of the café is deceptively large, with a gigantic hall to the rear where you can sit down for breakfast. Make sure you try some pastéis de nata, but there are lots of other pastries, sandwiches, petiscos and fresh drinks you can have to start the day.

Morning: explore Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower and riverfront museums

Two buildings in Belém stand out above all others: Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower. Together, the pair are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Entry to both is free with a Lisbon Card.

You could easily spend a full day exploring both, and maybe sneak in a museum or two along the river as well, but we suggest focusing on what you most want to see inside, and admire the rest from the outside.

Jerónimos Monastery is a seriously impressive building, standing 300 metres long and covering around 11,000 square metres. Built in the 16th century, it was a long-time residence for the monks of the Order of Saint Jerome (the same monks who invented pastéis de nata!).

You’ll need a good couple of hours if you want to explore inside, but it’s a worthy experience to witness an interior on a par with the likes of Doge’s Palace and La Sagrada Familia for the wow factor.

Belém Tower is a much smaller construction, standing 30 metres high overlooking the River Tagus estuary, which it was built to protect. You’ll need around 45 minutes to take a look around inside, although if I’m honest, the best views are from outside, especially from the walkway along the river.

If you walk along the riverside from Belém back towards downtown Lisbon, you’ll pass a cluster of museums and galleries, including the museums for popular art and contemporary art, and Quake, a reimagining of the infamous 1755 earthquake.

Our favourite is the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT), where we saw fantastic temporary displays by Vivian Suter and Anthony McCall. There’s always something interesting on here.

Lunch: grab a bite at Village Underground (with other options nearby)

Keep walking along the riverside, and just after the 25 de Abril Bridge you will find Village Underground Lisboa, a cool creative space constructed of old buses and shipping containers. You can grab some street food here and sit outside, or try another option nearby:

• LX Factory is another creative hub under the bridge, set a little further back from the river, known for it indie shops, cafés and street art vibe.
• Último Porto is a hidden gem on the dockside, almost obscured by shipping containers and vessels. It’s a bit of a pain to find, but serves some outstanding seafood, open until 4pm.

If you fancy taking in another spectacular view, you can ride up the Pilar 7 Bridge Experience and see the city from the top of the colossal iron structure. It’s free with the Lisbon Card.

Afternoon: see the sights of Chiado and relax in local coffee shops

By your final afternoon, if you’ve followed our 3-day Lisbon itinerary your legs will probably be a bit weary and you’ll want to slow down a bit! Chiado is the perfect place to do that while catching a few more of the city’s classic sights.

Begin by heading to Rua Augusta Arch, which you can reach directly from pretty much anywhere along the riverfront by hopping on the 15E tram. This 30-metre-high arch that faces the river across Praça do Comércio, built in the aftermath of the ruinous 1755 earthquake, is one of most iconic symbols of Lisbon.

From the arch, take a short walk to Santa Justa Lift, a few minutes away. This formidable iron lift has been running for over a century. You can ride it up to the upper hills of Chiado (free with the Lisbon card), or alternatively you can climb up some hidden stairs and passageways behind it.

In the upper section of Chiado you can explore slowly, dipping into great local coffee spots like Fábrica Coffee Roasters or Simpli Coffee Chiado.

If you have time to squeeze in another landmark, make a stop at Carmo Convent – the most striking remnant of the 1755 earthquake. Once Lisbon’s greatest church, only the skeleton and arches of its structure remain intact, like a stark monument to the tragedy that took 50,000 lives.

Dinner: have an authentic local meal at Casa da Índia

For one last meal in Lisbon, rather than sitting down somewhere fancy, how about an authentic, no-nonsense Portuguese restaurant that locals love? Casa da Índia is always packed and buzzing, with a tavern feel to it. You might need to queue a little for a table.

In true tasca fashion, you can kick things off with a few classic petiscos, which are simple, salty, and very snackable. We had a fantastic fish dinner here for a main, and by all accounts the peri peri chicken is great too.

Night: go partying on Pink Street

If you want to go big on your last night in Lisbon, you’ll find the city’s most raucous nightlife scene on Pink Street. This former red light district in Cais do Sodré is now a cacophony of loud bars, clubs and mayhem spilling into the streets.

Even if you’re not a night owl, just wandering through the street is an experience, with music, lights and laughter everywhere.

Day trips from Lisbon (to mix up your itinerary!)

Our itinerary for 3 days in Lisbon is focused in and around the city. But if you have extra time and you’d like to explore some of the amazing places within close reach, these are some great day trips from Lisbon you can try.

Cascais

The pretty beach town of Cascais is only a 40-minute train ride from Lisbon and makes for a great little trip, even just for an afternoon.

Cascais has a scenic beach front and charming town centre packed with shops, bars and places to eat. Just outside the centre, near the train station, is Mercado da Vila, another local food market that has been transformed by Time Out to mix traditional grocery stalls with modern foodie delights.

But when we visited Cascais, the real standout was taking a walk along the seafront to Boca do Inferno, the “Devil’s Mouth”. When the ferocious waves crash against this elegant rocky arch it sends spray cascading high into the air, a jaw-dropping sight to see.

It’s especially mesmerising at sunset. We sat down for drinks and light traditional bites at The The (not a typo, it’s really called The The), an outdoor bar and café with the perfect setting to watch the waves erupt in golden light.

Sintra

Sintra is easily the most famous day trip from Lisbon, and it’s popular for good reason. This storybook hilltop town, dominated by the bright yellow-and-red Pena Palace and surrounded by a lush natural park, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site just 30 kilometres from the city.

You can combine this classic trip with Cascais in a full day trip to Sintra, Cascais and the Cabo da Roca cliffs.

Arrábida Natural Park

A lesser-known beauty near Lisbon is Arrábida Natural Park, a huge protected area spread across a peninsula dotted with stunning beaches and flanked with rugged mountains and forested hills. It’s about an hour’s drive south of the city.

I spent a few days staying in the reserve on a remote working trip, at a little retreat called Casal Do Frade set among gardens and walkways. It makes for a wonderfully serene getaway as an alternative to the city, or the area is simply a great day out exploring the beaches and coastal towns like Sesimbra.

Lisbon itinerary 3 days: map

You can click the map below to browse the places to eat, stay and explore featured in our itinerary for 3 days in Lisbon:

Planning to visit Porto on your trip to Portugal as well? Check out our itinerary for 2 days in Porto.

Got any of your own recommendations for 3 days in Lisbon? Share your ideas in the comments below.

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