4 days in Lisbon

Day by day

1. Day 1: Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower

   Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower and MAAT and the Tejo Power Station, then Fado evening in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Jerónimos Monastery

      Allow 1.5 hours (mid-priced). The church itself can be visited free through a separate entrance; save the paid cloister for early morning before tour groups arrive.

   2. Late morning

      Belém Tower

      Inside, a narrow spiral staircase climbs to a terrace with views along the Tagus.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Custard tart

      Pastéis de Belém next to the Jerónimos Monastery, and specialist nata bakeries in Chiado and the Baixa that bake throughout the day.

   4. Afternoon

      MAAT and the Tejo Power Station

      Allow 1–2 hours (low cost). Walk over the roof at sunset even if you skip the exhibitions, then continue along the river to Belém.

   5. Evening

      Fado evening

      Smaller tascas with fado vadio (amateur fado) are cheaper and more intimate than dinner shows; stay quiet during performances.

2. Day 2: São Jorge Castle and Alfama, the Sé and Santa Luzia

   São Jorge Castle, Alfama, the Sé and Santa Luzia and Tram 28, then Bairro Alto in the evening.

   1. Morning

      São Jorge Castle

      Visitors walk the ramparts and towers, explore archaeological remains of Moorish houses and look out over the Baixa, the Tagus and the bridges from shaded terraces where peacocks roam.

   2. Late morning

      Alfama, the Sé and Santa Luzia

      Allow Half a day (free). Start at Portas do Sol early in the morning and get deliberately lost on the way down; most lanes eventually lead to the river.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bacalhau à Brás

      Traditional tascas and restaurants across the Baixa, Bairro Alto and Alfama.

   4. Afternoon

      Tram 28

      It is a working public route as well as Lisbon's most famous ride.

   5. Evening

      Bairro Alto

      Dozens of small bars with cheap drinks, where most people stand in the streets; busiest from about 11pm.

3. Day 3: Miradouro da Senhora do Monte and Praça do Comércio and Rua Augusta Arch

   Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, Praça do Comércio and Rua Augusta Arch and Santa Justa Lift, then Cais do Sodré in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Miradouro da Senhora do Monte

      Allow 45 minutes (free). Arrive about 30 minutes before sunset to find a spot on the low wall.

   2. Late morning

      Praça do Comércio and Rua Augusta Arch

      The triumphal Rua Augusta Arch has a viewing platform over the square and the Baixa grid.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Grilled sardines

      Street grills in Alfama and Graça during the June Santo António festivals, and tascas with outdoor grills through the summer.

   4. Afternoon

      Santa Justa Lift

      Allow 30 minutes plus queue (low cost). If the queue is long, walk up to Largo do Carmo through Chiado and reach the top-level walkway from there.

   5. Evening

      Cais do Sodré

      The pink-painted Rua Nova do Carvalho and surrounding streets have late bars and music venues near the river.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Sintra

   About 40 minutes by train each way. Getting there: Suburban train from Rossio station to Sintra.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Sintra

      About 40 minutes by train (Suburban train from Rossio station to Sintra); about 25 km.

   2. Day

      Sintra

      Sintra's wooded hills hide the brightly painted Pena Palace, the Moorish Castle, the mystical gardens and initiation well of Quinta da Regaleira and the Monserrate palace. Steep roads link the sights, so use the local bus loop or tuk-tuks rather than walking everything.

   3. Evening

      Back in Lisbon

      Dinner: try Bifana.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Jerónimos Monastery and Fado evening before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 4 nights, Baixa and Chiado keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Alfama ($$$) suits couples, culture and first-timers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 13–17 hours of visiting over 4 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.5 hours in December to 14.9 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Lisbon
• 2 days in Lisbon
• 3 days in Lisbon
• 5 days in Lisbon
• 7 days in Lisbon

Questions travellers ask