3 Days in Lisbon: A Relaxed Itinerary for Exploring Portugal's Capital
The coastal city of Lisbon is known for its steep and narrow streets, many of which are cobblestone. In fact, the city was built on seven hills, so seeing all of it is a daunting feat for your feet. I always recommend taking some sort of city tour when you first arrive in a new city because it helps you understand the layout, you hear a bit about the city’s history and it gives you an idea where you want to spend more time. Thankfully there are some fun ways to take the Lisbon city tour.
One of Lisbon’s beautiful city squares
I recently spent 3 days in Lisbon (pre and post my hiking trip on the Azores) with some of my favorite female friends. We loved our time in Lisbon, but there are a couple of things we would have done differently. This post is the way we would recommend spending 3 days in Lisbon.
Day 1 - Guided Tour of Lisbon
Schedule a tour of the city. If you are comfortable riding a bike, I think you would really enjoy the e-bike tour. On our e-bike tour, our guide Jorge was really knowledgeable and competently lead us around the maze of streets that is Lisbon. We stopped here and there so Jorge could highlight a variety of historical and cultural aspects.
Lisbon is not a very bike-friendly city, so we felt lucky to have Jorge’s expert guidance. He lead us up every one of the 7 hills, over cobblestone streets - some with trolley tracks running through them - to terrific views of the city from different angles. We learned of Lisbon’s shaky past with major earthquakes and how it hired the same architect who designed the Golden Gate bridge to help them out. You may recognize the bridge design in the photos below.
This was a really fun way to see most of Lisbon in about 3-4 hours. If biking is not your preferred mode of transportation, I found several interesting-looking tours that might be more to your liking.
I would also recommend taking a food tour early on in your visit to Lisbon, day one if you can make it work. It will clue you in to regional and local specialities that you can look for throughout the rest of your time in the country. Included in the list I linked above is a Pastel de Nata baking class. I highly recommend sampling the delightful Pastel de Nata, even if you choose not to learn how to make them. They were definitely a highlight for me!
Traveler Tip # 1: Stay in the Chiado or Baixa neighborhoods. They are charming, walkable neighborhoods with beautiful town squares, a variety of restaurants and shops.
Day 2 - Sintra
Sintra sits on the hill northwest of Lisbon and is easily accessible by train. Or you can join a small group guided of tour from Lisbon for the day to get you there more efficiently. Sintra is known for its beautiful and whimsical palaces and castles, most of which were built by the Portuguese aristocracy in the late 1800s. A friend gave us the hot tip to arrive in the evening to enjoy an orientation walkabout in a much less crowded village. If we had arrived slightly earlier in the evening we would have been able to tour the Biester Palace because it is open later into the evening. It was nice to wake up in Sintra and be at the gates of Pena Palace right around opening time, 9:00am. We knew we were squeezing a lot into one day, so we opted to buy a ticket to wander around the grounds and the exterior areas of the palace and not do an interior tour. If you only have one day to take in Sintra, don’t skip Pena Palace, even if it’s just to wander around the grounds and around the outside of the castle. It is such a unique property. If you have more time, book a tour and learn the story of the palace. We lingered near English-speaking guides whenever possible to pick up some bits and pieces, and we all wished we could hear more of the stories surrounding this extraordinary place.
Traveler Tip # 2: Bring some extra layers to Sintra even if it is hot in Lisbon. You might need them against the wind that is common up there.
We hiked down the hill a little ways to the Moorish Castle, which has been standing on that windy hill for much longer than the other grand buildings. Some think it might have been built in the 7th century. Because of its great age, the castle is rougher and is probably considered more of a ruin. It was fun to walk all over and around its walls. It does offer a great view of the Pena Palace, if the clouds aren’t obscuring it.
The Moorish Castle in Sintra
Our last stop, after a delightful lunch and pastry break, was to Quinta de Regaleira. Yet another stunning castle surrounded by incredible grounds that we enjoyed exploring. What makes Quinta de Regaleira stand out from the others is its mysterious Initiation Well, which according to rumors was previously used to initiate candidates into the brotherhood of the Knights Templar. It is truly one of most unique structures I have ever spiraled into. We were there in May and there were some lines, but apparently the lines and crowds can get very overwhelming in peak season. It is recommended to arrive in the morning when the grounds first open at 10am.
Travel Tip # 3: Plan your time in Sintra ahead of time. Some sights require timed entry tickets and the hours vary from place to place, so it is worthwhile to figure out your schedule in advance.
I hope you are getting the message that even though Sintra can be conquered in a day, there much to see and do there, and 2 days would not be wasted.
Day 3 - Lisbon Free Form
Since the first day was spent being guided throughout Lisbon, the last day is meant for spending more time in those Lisbon neighborhoods that piqued your interest. It’s time to stop at a sidewalk cafe for lunch or a glass of wine. It’s time to wander through the maze of narrow streets and discover the character that makes Lisbon what it is.
We stayed in Baixa and loved its central location. Baixa is pretty touristy, as is the neighborhood of Chiado next door, but we enjoyed the many outdoor markets we found that were set up in the beautiful squares scattered throughout these sections. Alfama is the oldest neighborhood in Lisbon and is a great place to explore to understand more about the authentic culture and history of Lisbon.
Maybe the perfect ending to your time in the coastal city of Lisbon is a sunset cruise aboard a sailing yacht. From the water, you willl have a great view of Lisbon's most iconic monuments, including the Belém Tower, Discovery Monument, and the 25th of April Bridge.
Wherever you choose to roam on this final day, don’t forget to treat yourself to one last Pastel de Nata. Your taste buds will thank you.
What I loved most about Lisbon was that it never felt rushed.
The city invites you to slow down, linger over a pastry and coffee, and take one more stroll through its winding streets. In just three days, you'll experience grand plazas, hilltop views, and hidden corners that make Portugal's capital so special.
If Lisbon has been on your travel wish list, consider this your sign to go. Three days is enough to fall in love with the city and perhaps start dreaming about where to explore next in Portugal. If you're ready to plan your own Portuguese adventure, I'd love to help you create an itinerary that matches your travel style.
A Call For Your Stories . . .
Travel, in general, lends itself to the possibility of things going wrong. In the moment, these travel troubles are inconvenient at best, but later can turn into funny and crazy stories that you love to tell. For an upcoming blog post, I want to hear your Travel Mishap Stories. You can send me an email or click on this link to share your story.
