For just a short trip or a stop on your Portugal Road Trip, a Lisbon City break is always a good idea. Below is my guide to help you plan a fantastic Lisbon itinerary with Where to stay, how to get around, what to visit, the best views and some great Lisbon city tours. All you need to visit Lisbon in 3 days or more.
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A Lisbon City Break in Video
Let's start with a short video to give you an idea of what it is like to spend a few days in Lisbon on a city break:
Lisbon or Porto?
If you are still trying to decide between visiting Lisbon or Porto, have a look at my article where I compare them both: Porto vs Lisbon
Best views in Lisbon
Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the World. it is often referred to as the "City of Seven Hills" and many marketing names are using that concept.
However Lisbon has more hills than just 7, but you can list the most famous and reach that number.
The advantage of having so many hills it that you get some great viewpoints over Lisbon from every direction.
One of my favorite views is from the fortification walls of the Lisbon Castle: You can see the Tagus river really well and admire all the center of the city.
Another great angle is from Miradouro da Senhora do Monte.
It is a great platform, high on the hill. There are views in many directions, including the Castle itself.
The photo I have taken below was zoomed in. I recommend you take a pair of binoculars (check out my buying guide)
All the best viewpoints and things to do are included in my eBooks with practical maps to make planning easy:
Top things to do in Lisbon City center
If you are planning to visit many monuments while staying in Lisbon, consider the Lisbon Card including entries and transportation. Check out what it covers.
Monastery Sao Vicente de Fora
One of my favorite places to visit in Lisbon was the Sao Vicente Monastery. It is not as visited as other monuments, but it has an incredible collection of Azulejos tiles; They are everywhere! I really recommend it on your Lisbon City Break.
Both the church and the monastery were built in the 17th century outside of the city walls. The monastery actually dates back to the 12th century and was the most important monastic foundations in medieval Portugal. The current buildings were a reconstruction by King Philip II of Spain.
The main points of interest are:
- The brick vault of the cistern right as you enter
- The azulejos tiles
- The Pantheon dedicated to the Braganza Monarchs (in the old refectory)
- The delicate architecture of the cloisters
- The views from the roof including a great view of the National Pantheon
You can first visit the church for free, and then enter to the right and explore the many corridors and rooms of the monastery.
Lisbon Castle
One of the main monuments people visit in Lisbon is the Sao Jorge Castle (Castelo de Sao Jorge). On top of a hill, you really can't miss it!
The castle itself is not the most fascinating I have visited. But the park and fortification walls offer splendid views of the city!
People like going up there to drink a glass of wine while watching the sunset.
Learn more on my article about the Lisbon Castle.
Santa Justa Lift
Inaugurated in 1902, the Santa Justa Lift is a landmark in Lisbon. It is a fascinating iron structure of 45m (148ft) in height. It was designed by a student of Gustave Eiffel and allows people to easily climb one of the hills.
Learn more on my article about the Santa Justa Lift
Sao Roque Church
Built in the 16th century, the Jesuit church does not look like much from the outside. But wait until you get inside!!! It contains many chapels in the Baroque style from the 17th century. You see gold everywhere and an impressive painted ceiling.
One of the 18th century chapel was reportedly the most expensive chapel in Europe.
The only problem is to decide where to look first.
Carmo convent
The Carmo convent offers the visitor one of the main remaining ruins standing after the 1744 earthquake.
It had been founded in 1389 by the Carmelite Order and was home to 5000 books.
Today what remains has been turned into a museum by the Association of archeologists. The displays include a very heteroclite collection.
Learn more on my article about the Carmo Convent.
Lisbon National Pantheon
Originally the Church of Santa Engracia, it was converted to the national Pantheon in the 20th century.
One of the best views of this building is from the Sao Vicente monastery.
You can visit the Pantheon and discover the tomb of famous Portuguese personalities. And after that you can climb to the coupole and get out on the roof.
There are of course other monuments, churches and museums to discover in the center of Lisbon, but those were my top 6.
Top things to do in Belem Lisbon
The other famous neighborhood of Lisbon is Belem. Some of the most impressive architectural pieces in Portugal can be found there as well as renown museums.
Monastery Jeronimos
The Jeronimos monastery is absolutely Grandiose. It was classified by the Unesco along with the nearby Belem Tower.
Built in the 16th century, it has been designed in the Manueline style with rich ornaments. The main cloister is gorgeous from every angle.
The Façade of the church was modified in the 19th century.
Try visiting as early as possible to avoid the crowds.
Belem Tower
Built in the 16th century, it is one of the most famous monuments in Lisbon. The Unesco World Heritage site is a 30m high defense system on the Tagus river decorated in Manueline style.
I recommend going to the square to admire it from the outside. But if the queue is long, I think it is not worth it to get inside (and queue again inside to get to the top).
Learn more on my article about the Belem Tower.
Other Tower: Padrao Dos Descobrimentos
Another more modern tower has been built near the Belem Tower. It celebrates the Age of Discovery (or Exploration) during the 15th and 16th centuries.
Built in the 20th century, the viewing platform offers great panoramas and a view from above of the giant wind rosacea.
If you are planning to visit many monuments while staying in Lisbon, consider the Lisbon Card including entries and transportation. Check out what it covers.
Where to stay in Lisbon
Where to stay in Lisbon?
To get easy access to all main historic sights, the neighbourhoods of Baixa and Chiado are the most practical.
And if you want to experience the older quarters, you can stay in the nearby Alfama.
Lisbon accommodation Suggestions
By the time I booked my accommodation in Lisbon, I had difficulty finding a hotel in the area I wanted. So I booked an Airbnb: The Real Old Quarter House.
My Review:
- Location: Really good location not far from the waterfront. Busy neigborhood.
- State: Quite modern inside. All equipment needed included.
- Check-in: Very nice host - a small hiccup to check-in so we had to wait. But errors happen.
- Breakfast: N/A - rental
- Like in many old buildings in Lisbon, there are steep stairs to reach the flat.
OTHER SUGGESTIONS
- QUIET LUXURY - The Boutique Hotel Santiago de Alfama is a charming quiet Eden close to many historical sites. Excellent breakfast. Check out photos and prices
- BEAUTIFUL DECOR - If you like hotels with perfect modern decor, have a look at The Lift Boutique hotel. Close to the Santa Justa Lift in the Baixo neighborhood. Check out Photos and Prices
- B&B STYLE - the Augusta Boutique house is a small B&B on the pedestrian street. If the weather permits, you can enjoy a fantastic breakfast on the rooftop terrace! Check out photos and prices
- GREAT LOCATION - The hotel Riverside Alfama is very close to the river. Rooms are modern and clean. Easy access to many sites and restaurants? Check out photos and prices
- BUDGET OPTION - The Sunset Destination hostel is a great option for those with a smaller budget. Great location and it even has a small pool! Check out photos and prices
For other options, check out the best rated accommodations in Lisbon on Booking.com
Getting around Lisbon
Walking + Funiculars + Tuk Tuk
The most common way to move around Lisbon and visit the various monuments is by walking and using the Funiculars to climb the hills. However, the touristy ones get crowded fast so you can also hire a tuk tuk to get up hill.
Hop on Hop off
Lisbon has its own hop on hop off bus. It is not as practical as the one in Porto (see my Porto city guide) but it can help you see a large portion of the city, sitting at the top of the bus. See the route and Get tickets
Tours
Join a tour to learn more about the city and what to see. Check out my suggestions in the next section.
Taxi
A taxi can also be a good option. For example, I took a taxi from the Belem Tower to the St Gorge Castle and it saved me a lot of hassle and time for something like 15 euros.
To and from the airport
The airport is not that far from the city. Here are 2 options based on your budget:
- Personally, I had booked a van and it was really practical. Check out Private Transfers. I found the price reasonable.
- The Aerobus shuttle - Get your ticket
Great Lisbon City Tours and activities to consider
Want to learn more about Lisbon or look at it with another perspective? Here is my selection of Great Lisbon City Tours you could join:
Gastronomy Tour
Taste the flavors of Portugal! Join a Lisbon food tour for 3 hours discovering local eateries.
You will learn more about and taste wine, pesticos, beers, Café and many delicacies
Private Walking Lisbon City Tour
Get an insider's view of Lisbon on a private guided walking tour: visit historic neighborhoods, ride on a vintage tram, and see old cafés and boutiques.
Sunset Sailing
Change your perspective and see the whole city of the Lisbon from the Tagus river at sunset. 2 hours off the coast.
Live Fado Show
If you love searching for the soul of a city and listening to live music, then experience the live 'Fado in Chiado' show and discover the music that expresses the true soul of Lisbon and has been declared Cultural heritage by the Unesco.
Street Art Tour
Graffiti, Urban art and large-scale installations, visit Lisbon with a different viewpoint.
Electric Bike Tour
For those who don't want to walk around but still want to enjoy the outside, discover the city with minimum effort using electric bikes! Cruise some of the “7 Hills of Lisbon” in an eco-friendly way.
Lisbon is quite photogenic, check out Andrea's selection of the most instagramable spots in Lisbon
2-day Lisbon itinerary
We might not have the same preferences but here is a 2-day Lisbon itinerary that covers an introduction to different aspects of the city.
Day 1
- Head to Belem
- Visit the Jeronimos Monastery
- Admire the Belem Tower from the outside
- Get to the top of Padrao Dos Descobrimentos
- Head back to the city center
- Explore the Sao Jorge Castle
- Rest
- Enjoy a Fado Show
Day 2
- Get up in the Santa Justa Lift and admire the view from the platform
- Visit the ruins of the Carmo Convent
- Discover the impressive Sao Roque church
- Head to the Alfama district and walk around
- Visit the Sao Vicente Monastery
- Wander the streets of Lisbon
Itinerary Lisbon in 3 days
If you have the chance to spend a long weekend with 3 days in Lisbon. I would to the 2 days above as Day 1 and Day 3
And cut the weekend with a discovery of the Unesco town of Sintra.
It has some incredible palaces to explore, especially the Pena Palace. You can book a private tour to Sintra or join a small group tour that also includes the cliffs of Cabo da Roca and the beaches of Cascais.
This was Lisbon in 3 days 🙂
1 week in Lisbon itinerary
If you decide the stay a whole week in Lisbon, I recommend the 3 days as above and to get out of the city for the remaining days.
There are many great day trips to enjoy from Lisbon. You can find my whole selection with information on my article about the best day trips from Lisbon.
Here is an overview of what you could visit:
- Obidos and the fantastic Unesco Heritage Monasteries in the North of Lisbon - Check out Program and price
- Discover Tomar with the stories of the Knight Templars and the impressive convent - Check out Program and price
- Head East to discover the intriguing town of Evora and enjoy some wine tasting - Check out Program and price
- Enjoy beaches and search for dolphins in the Arrabida Reserve - Check out Program and price
- Take a boat tour to discover the fascinating Berlanga archipelago - Check out Program and price
Want to see more of PORTUGAL?
I wish you a great Lisbon City Break!
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Great guide and info! Ty!