How many days · Lisbon · Portugal
How many days do you need in Lisbon?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
4 days is the sweet spot for Lisbon, and 3 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Three days covers Alfama and the castle, Baixa and Chiado, Belém and an evening of fado. A fourth day is best spent in Sintra; with a week, add Cascais or the beaches, Évora and the Arrábida coast.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 4 days
- Minimum
- 3 days
- Day trips available
- 6
- Daylight
- 9.5 h (Dec) to 14.9 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, São Jorge Castle and Tram 28 |
| 2 days | Rushed | Tram 28, Praça do Comércio and Rua Augusta Arch and Santa Justa Lift |
| 3 days | Good | Fado evening, Alfama, the Sé and Santa Luzia and Miradouro da Senhora do Monte |
| 5 days | Relaxed | The highlights plus a day trip to Sintra |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Sintra and Cascais and Estoril |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Lisbon add up to roughly 17–23 hours of visiting time — about 2–3 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Alfama, the Sé and Santa Luzia (Half a day), Fado evening (2–3 hours) and Calouste Gulbenkian Museum (2–3 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Jerónimos Monastery | 1.5 hours | Belém |
| Belém Tower | 45 minutes–1 hour | Belém |
| São Jorge Castle | 1.5–2 hours | Alfama |
| Tram 28 | 40–50 minutes end to end | Graça |
| Praça do Comércio and Rua Augusta Arch | 1 hour | Baixa |
| Santa Justa Lift | 30 minutes plus queue | Baixa |
| Fado evening | 2–3 hours | Alfama |
| Alfama, the Sé and Santa Luzia | Half a day | Alfama |
| Miradouro da Senhora do Monte | 45 minutes | Graça |
| Calouste Gulbenkian Museum | 2–3 hours | Avenidas Novas |
| Lisbon Oceanarium | 2–3 hours | Parque das Nações |
| National Tile Museum | 1.5–2 hours | Xabregas |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 4 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 3 days | Focus on Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower |
| With children | 5 days | Slower days and time for Lisbon Oceanarium |
| With day trips | 6 days | Add Sintra and Cascais and Estoril |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 9.5 hours of daylight) than in June (about 14.9 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Lisbon with other destinations
Questions travellers ask
+Is 3 days enough in Lisbon?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 4 days is more comfortable. Three days covers Alfama and the castle, Baixa and Chiado, Belém and an evening of fado. A fourth day is best spent in Sintra; with a week, add Cascais or the beaches, Évora and the Arrábida coast.
+Is a week too long in Lisbon?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Sintra and Cascais and Estoril.