The Perfect 3 Day Lisbon Itinerary: A Full Guide

Looking for a 3 day Lisbon itinerary that captures the best of what the city has to offer? In this itinerary, you will witness centuries old cathedrals, hip art scenes in refurbished factories, local delicacies, historic trams, and so much more! All at a pace that allows you to savour every minute.

Lisbon is a cool freaking city. With a mix of timeless architecture, hip art scenes, cozy hole in the wall bars and a fascinating history, Lisbon is always buzzing with life.

There are also sooo many things to see and do in Lisbon. If you are like me, you are looking to have a jam-packed itinerary filled to the brim with as much as you can. Well, you are in the right spot!

Whether you are spending a weekend getaway in Lisbon or stopping in on your longer vacation in Portugal, this 3 day Lisbon itinerary is perfect for travellers who want to see it all. Not only will you see the best that Lisbon has to offer, but you’ll be doing so at a pace that allows you to savour every minute of it. In this itinerary you’ll wander cobble stoned streets, admire intricately tiled buildings, ride old fashioned trams, hang out in hip artsy restaurants, visit historical cathedrals, and so much more.

Is 3 Days in Lisbon Enough?

Lisbon could be explored for days on end. However, if you are limited by a shorter weekend trip or want to explore more of Portugal, then 3 days is the perfect amount to experience what Lisbon has to offer.

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A Full Guide and Perfect 3 Day Lisbon Itinerary

Where to Stay in Lisbon:

It is important to choose a central neighbourhood to stay in for your 3 days in Lisbon. This will make it much easier to get around and see all the sights. The good news is, there are several great options for places to stay that are both central and super trendy. The best areas to choose from are:

• Baixa district | The historic downtown of Lisbon, Baixa is located pretty central to the sights and close to the Rossio train station, which can be great for day trips outside of Lisbon.

• Chiado district | Chiado is one of the best districts to stay in due to it’s central location to the best restaurants and Lisbon’s best things to do.

• Avenida da Liberdade | A great place to stay if you are looking for Luxury with a central location. This area of town is the up-scale district and is known for its trendy shopping strip.

• Alfama District | Not as central as the other districts, but a beautiful place to stay if you are wanting to spend most of your time in the historic portion of the city. It is also not too far from the centre of Lisbon so still a good option for this itinerary.

• Bairro Alto | This district is night life central. Bairro Alto is known for its parties. It can be a great place to stay if you are looking to be part of the night life scene.

I recommend staying in Chiado or Avenida da Liberdade.

Budget | Yes! Lisbon Hostel

Mid-Range | Hotel Borges Chiado

Luxury | Hotel Avenida Palace

Or search through more options for Lisbon hotels here.

How to Get Around on Your 3 Day Trip to Lisbon:

Lisbon is a very pedestrian friendly city. The majority of the sights are within walking distance from the city centre and anything that isn’t can still be accessed easily using their fantastic transportation network. With this being the case, I highly recommend against renting a car. There are tons of super narrow cobbled streets in Lisbon’s centre that can be very difficult to navigate in a vehicle.

Metro Card

If you plan to use public transportation, your best option is to purchase a metro card. Metro cards can be purchased from any metro station. The stations are marked by a sign with a red m and are located underground. The card itself costs only .5 euros and is reloadable. You can load a money amount or a 24 hour pass onto the card. Then you simply tap the card when using public transportation.

For this itinerary, I recommend the 24 hour pass for the second day of the trip. The 24 hours begins when you first use the card (not at the time of purchase). If you start using the card in the afternoon on day 2, it will still work for the following morning’s tram excursions. The rest of the itinerary is very walkable.

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Day 1: Alfama Neighbourhood and the City’s Centre

Breakfast of Pastel De Natas at Manteigaria

Start your trip off right by enjoying a tasty treat that is famous all over Portugal. Known as Pastel de Natas, these delicious little pastries consist of an egg yolk custard sprinkled with cinnamon. Pastel de Natas are particularly popular amongst tourists as a breakfast dessert and are best served fresh from the oven. If you have a sweet tooth like me, these will quickly become your new obsession.

You can get Pastel de Natas from pretty much every single bakery in Portugal. However, there are definitely bakeries known for having the best. Manteigaria comes highly recommended by locals and was my personal favourite bakery to get deliciously fresh Pastel de Natas. The bakery can be found in Chiado, one of Lisbon’s best and most central neighbourhoods. You may even get the chance to watch the bakers at work on display, before tasting their yummy little masterpieces.

Praca Do Comercio

Next on your 3 day Lisbon itinerary, head a short ways away to Praca do Comercio. This magnificent plaza is located along the waterfront and is known to be one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. The square features an enormous arch and a historic statue in its centre. It also has gorgeous views of the Ponte 25 de Abril, also known as the golden gate bridge of Lisbon. Take your new favourite pastries and sit by the water to enjoy the view.

Take a Free Walking Tour of the Alfama Neighbourhood

After a beautiful start to the morning, join a free walking tour of the Alfama neighbourhood in the late morning/mid-day. Walking tours usually last from 2 – 3 hours and are a perfect introduction to the city. Not only will you learn more about Lisbon’s fascinating history, you’ll also get a better gage for what the city has to offer. I loved using this as a way to discover what parts of the city I want to explore the most. The guides are typically amazing and introduce you to great local spots. Some will even give great tips on what to see and do while you are there.

The Alfama area is also the most beautiful part of Lisbon. The oldest district in the city, Alfama was the only surviving neighbourhood of a devastating earthquake that happened in the mid 1700s. Here you’ll find the oldest architecture, intricately designed tile buildings, narrow winding cobble stone streets, and a more authentic Portuguese cultural experience.

Experience Pink Street During Daylight

Take a short break after the walking tour, before heading out again to explore more of this awesome city. Famous in Lisbon for being one of the best spots to enjoy local night life, pink street is cool as heck during the day too. The street is quite literally bright pink and colourful umbrellas hang above decorating the street from above. Visiting during the day brings the perfect opportunity for some great photos away from the crowds.

Dinner at Chapitô à Mesa

After a long day of sightseeing, it’s time to enjoy a delicious dinner with a view. Chapitô à Mesa is a popular spot located in the heart of the Alfama neighbourhood. The food is amazing and you’ll enjoy seeing the amazing city views lit up at night. During peak season, you will definitely need to make a reservation to ensure a spot.

Miradouro de Nossa Senhora do Monte

Finally, finish off your spectacular first day in Lisbon by visiting it’s highest “miradouro” (viewpoint). Also known as ‘Our Lady of the Hill viewpoint’, you will have an almost full panoramic view of the city. It is a sight to behold at night, as the entire city glows below you and the bridge is lit up across the water.

Day 2: The ‘Newer’ Side of Town and Belem

Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara

Today on your 3 day Lisbon itinerary, you will be exploring the “newer” side of town. That basically means it was built after the earthquake that happened in the mid 1700s. A great place to begin is at another amazing viewpoint that overlooks the city from the opposite side of town. Discover why Lisbon is known as the city of 7 hills as you hike your way up stone streets to this gorgeous view. The walk itself is a great way to get a feel for the city and has lots of cool things to see along the way.

Take Photos of a Graffitied Tram at the Elevador da Gloria

Lisbon is known for its amazing street art, which can be found literally everywhere. On buildings, construction scaffolding, in subway stations and even on some of the trams. Located right next to the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, you will find the Elevador da Gloria, a colourfully painted tram filled with beautiful street art. The street the tram runs along is also covered in tons of graffiti, so you can take a walk to enjoy these interesting displays of artistic expression.

See a Roofless Church at the Carmo Convent

A short walk from the graffitied tram, your next stop on today’s itinerary is the Carmo Convent. The church is built with a beautiful gothic style architecture, but what is most interesting to see is that it has no roof! The church lost its roof in the mid 1700s earthquake and was never rebuilt. There is no need to go inside, but take a walk around the building to appreciate its unique architecture.

See a Unique (and Cheaper) Side of the Santa Justa Elevator

Located right next to the Carmo Convent, is a sort of secret entrance to the top of the Santa Justa Elevator. On my first day in Lisbon, I took a walking tour and one of the first pieces of advice our local guide gave us was not to ride the Santa Justa Elevator. It costs 8 euros and there is usually a huge line up to wait in. Instead, there is actually a completely different way to get to the top of the tower that requires no entrance fee or line.

Right beside the Carmo Convent, there is a bridge that leads directly into the top of the elevator. The views from the top are amazing and even better, completely free!

Visit Belem Tower

In the afternoon, take a short train ride to Belem. Belem is a district located in the western part of Lisbon and is host to several of Lisbon’s tourist attractions. This part of town is particularly known for Belem tower. The tower was originally constructed to defend the city with canons built into its walls, but was later converted into a lighthouse. These days it is a wonderful tourist attraction and a beautiful tower highlighting Lisbon’s unique architecture.

Taste a Pastel de Belem

Fun fact, Belem is actually home to the original recipe of the Pastel de Natas. Invented in a monastery in Belem, this is the only location that knows the original recipe and can be called a Pastel de Belem. Everywhere outside of this original bakery are only allowed to call their interpretations Pastel de Natas.

Jerónimos Monastery

After spending some time admiring the Belem tower and tasting the delicious Pastel de Belem, it is time to admire some more fascinating architecture. And you can do so at the Jerónimos Monastery. If you like history and old gothic-style buildings, this monastery will be a welcome addition to your 3 day Lisbon itinerary.

LX Factory

After some time exploring in Belem, take a train back towards the centre of Lisbon. However, instead of heading all the way back, make a stop to see the LX factory. The hip and artsy scene in Lisbon, the LX Factory is a co-op venue filled with cool bars, restaurants, art galleries, book stores, and other artsy shops. It was a highlight on my trip to Lisbon and a great place to get dinner after a long day of exploring.

My personal favourite shop in the LX factory was an awesome bookstore called Ler Devagar. Industrial design meets art and culture. Also, if you like Mexican food, check out Mex Factory for a great place to eat.

Read Related Post: 9 Adventurous Things to Do in Portugal

Day 3: Tram 28 and Revisiting Favourite Spots

Hop on and off of Tram 28

Tram 28 is one of the city’s original tram routes that still runs through Lisbon today. It also happens to follow a route that takes you through some of the coolest parts of the city, passing tons of tourist attractions along the way. Tram 28 is definitely on the touristy side, the locals even call it the tourist tram, however it is popular for good reason. Purchase a 24 hour metro pass and spend the morning hopping on and off the old fashioned tram.

Some Tips for Enjoying Tram 28:

• Arrive early in the morning to avoid some of the crowds

• Get on at the Martim Moniz stop (the beginning of the tram route) to have a chance at getting a seat

• Keep a close eye on your valuables. This tram is known for pick-pockets targeting tourists

• Purchase your metro pass in advance to avoid having to pay with coins on board. This will also allow you to hop on and off

Some notable sights you will see along the tram route are Lisbon Cathedral, the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora, some beautiful viewpoints located near the Gracia and Lg. Portas Sol, and many more.

Lunch at the Time Out Market

After spending the morning exploring on tram 28, head to the Time Out Market for lunch. The market prides itself on hosting the city’s best restaurants and artists. It is another hip scene to explore and a great place to enjoy delicious Portuguese food.

Explore More of your Favourite Spots

One thing I quickly noticed about my time in Lisbon, is that I spent a lot of time going back to explore my favourite spots. Spend your final afternoon in Lisbon, going back to the sights you really liked or simply wandering around enjoying what you find along the way.

Dinner and a Fado Show

Spend your last dinner immersed deep into Portuguese and Lisbon culture by attending a Fado show. Head for the Alfama neighbourhood for the most authentic shows and spend your evening enjoying delicious food, wine and the melancholic soul-filled tunes of Lisbon’s signature music.

Explore Lisbon at Night

If you still have the evening to spare, spend your last night exploring Lisbon’s best sights at night. Lisbon hits different at night with its beautiful and historic architecture all lit up. My personal favourites to see at night were the Lisbon cathedral, the trams and the enormous archway located in Praca do Comercio.

Final Thoughts on the Perfect 3 Day Lisbon Itinerary

There you have it! The perfect 3 day Lisbon itinerary for adventure travellers who love to explore as much of a place as they can. You won’t be wasting any time with this jam-packed itinerary full of Lisbon’s best things to see and do. From exploring Lisbon’s beautiful architecture to experiencing the buzzing life and culture of the city, you will see it all.

If you have anything to add or any questions, feel free to comment below! Also, show some support and receive more adventure travel content right to your inbox by subscribing.

Happy adventuring!

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