7 days in Lisbon

Day by day

1. Day 1: Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower

   Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, then Fado evening in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Jerónimos Monastery

      Belém · 1.5 hours · mid-priced. Ticket queues for the cloister are long in summer; buy online or with a Lisboa Card and arrive at opening time.

   2. Late morning

      Belém Tower

      Belém · 45 minutes–1 hour · mid-priced.

   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. 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: MAAT and the Tejo Power Station and São Jorge Castle

   MAAT and the Tejo Power Station and São Jorge Castle, then Bairro Alto in the evening.

   1. Morning

      MAAT and the Tejo Power Station

      Belém · 1–2 hours · low cost.

   2. Late morning

      São Jorge Castle

      Alfama · 1.5–2 hours · mid-priced.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bacalhau à Brás

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

   4. Evening

      Bairro Alto

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

3. Day 3: Alfama, the Sé and Santa Luzia and Tram 28

   Alfama, the Sé and Santa Luzia and Tram 28, then Cais do Sodré in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Alfama, the Sé and Santa Luzia

      Alfama · Half a day · free.

   2. Late morning

      Tram 28

      Graça · 40–50 minutes end to end · low cost.

   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. 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

      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.

5. Day 5: Miradouro da Senhora do Monte and Praça do Comércio and Rua Augusta Arch

   Miradouro da Senhora do Monte and Praça do Comércio and Rua Augusta Arch, then Príncipe Real in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Miradouro da Senhora do Monte

      Graça · 45 minutes · free.

   2. Late morning

      Praça do Comércio and Rua Augusta Arch

      Baixa · 1 hour · free.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bifana

      Snack bars and tascas throughout the city; look for counters where workers stand and eat at lunchtime.

   4. Evening

      Príncipe Real

      Cocktail bars and the centre of Lisbon's LGBTQ+ nightlife.

6. Day 6: Day trip to Cascais and Estoril

   About 40 minutes by train each way. Getting there: Suburban train from Cais do Sodré along the coast.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Cascais and Estoril

      About 40 minutes by train (Suburban train from Cais do Sodré along the coast); about 30 km.

   2. Day

      Cascais and Estoril

      A seafront promenade links it with Estoril and its casino.

   3. Evening

      Back in Lisbon

      Dinner: try Clams Bulhão Pato.

7. Day 7: Santa Justa Lift and Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

   Santa Justa Lift and Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, then Santa Apolónia waterfront in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Santa Justa Lift

      Baixa · 30 minutes plus queue · low cost.

   2. Late morning

      Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

      Avenidas Novas · 2–3 hours · low cost.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Clams Bulhão Pato

      Cervejarias (seafood beer halls) such as Cervejaria Ramiro in Intendente and others around the Baixa and Avenida da Liberdade.

   4. Evening

      Santa Apolónia waterfront

      Home to Lux Frágil, one of the city's best-known clubs, with a rooftop terrace over the river.

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 7 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 15–20 hours of visiting over 7 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
• 4 days in Lisbon
• 5 days in Lisbon

Questions travellers ask