The perfect itinerary for 3 days in Lisbon, Portugal’s magical capital

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Here’s my suggested itinerary for spending 3 days in Lisbon, Portugal. I know Lisbon fairly well now after recently staying there for just over a month, so hopefully I can recommend how to make the best of your time on a long weekend. Lisbon is quite a big capital city, with a lot to see and do, so ideally you need more than 3 days to take it all in and to do some day trips. But most of us are on a time limit so if you’re only there briefly, this guide should hopefully help you with an introduction to Lisbon. And I have a feeling you’ll want to go back for longer, anyway!

Lisbon is a beguiling city. Colourful, tiled streets lead up and down its many (MANY) hills, against a backdrop of the beautiful Tagus River. Tourists from all over the world flock to try the famous pastel de nata and ride the iconic yellow trams by day and to party in the vibrant Bairro Alto district by night. But despite its popularity, there’s always a quiet street or café in Lisbon where you can escape the crowds and just soak up the city’s vibes. Lisbon is also a wonderful gateway to the rest of Portugal. You could even spend 3 days in Lisbon before heading off to explore Porto, Faro, Madeira or countless other magical places that Portugal has to offer.

So settle down with a glass of vinho and see what you like the look of in my 3 days in Lisbon itinerary…

3 days in Lisbon itinerary: day 1

Start with a morning tram ride

My regular readers will be picking themselves up off the floor right now because I’m going to suggest something other than a free walking tour to start an itinerary… I think this is a first!

But one of the best ways to start exploring Lisbon is by getting on a tram. Specifically, tram 28. Not only will this push you straight into the spirit of the city, introducing you to its beautiful streets and passing by some of the best sights, but it’ll also save you a lot of energy you’d expend on clambering up Lisbon’s hills. There are a lot of hills. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be used to doing a lot of walking when on a city break. But it’s probably best you pace yourself in Lisbon. 25,000 steps a day up hills is a lot more tiring than the same on the flat…

Lisbon’s iconic yellow tram 28 will take you on a beautiful route through the city. And it doesn’t take too long (50ish minutes).

You can buy tickets on board but this is more expensive than paying using a pre-loaded card, the Viva Viagem. You can get these at metro stations for 0.50€ and top them up as you go. For 3 days in Lisbon, I’d suggest looking at what offers they have on (sometimes a 24-hour card is a good deal) or just shoving 20€ on it and seeing how you get on. 

Start at tram 28’s westernmost stop (Google Maps: Campo de Ourique). Make sure you get a window seat so you can stick your head out! Then enjoy the journey as if the tram is giving you a tour. Get off at Rua São Tomé. This is nearly the end of the line: you’re not missing anything.

Have a delicious lunch at Augusto

From the tram stop, it’s a short walk to the perfect café for lunch.

Augusto was one of my favourite spots for brunch or lunch when I was staying in Lisbon for a month. Their avocado toast is top notch but I also recommend the salad bowls, which are very fresh and seriously well made. Everything is seasoned well and there are so many different little herbs and seeds in them: attention to detail shows.

Given how much I tend to eat for evening meals in Lisbon, I’m always on the hunt for fairly healthy lunches. So far, nothing has beaten Augusto. It’s also beautiful inside. If you can get a seat in the window on a sunny day, it’s bliss.

Visit Castelo de São Jorge to see views and peacocks

After lunch, head to Castelo de São Jorge (only a 5/10-min walk). The castle towers above Lisbon on a hill, with lovely views over the river and the city from its walls. 

The site of Castelo de São Jorge has had fortifications on it since Roman times, around 200 BC. It’s seen the city through various rulers and sieges, from the Visigoths to the Moors to the Crusaders. Having said that, the castle you see today is far from original. It was completely destroyed by an earthquake in the 1700s and not rebuilt until the 1940s under Salazar’s rule.

But it’s more about the views than the building itself for me. It’s not one of those castles you can go inside and look at rooms etc; you just walk around the walls and get the gist of how it was. The viewpoint is excellent, looking across the majestic rooftops of Lisbon. It would almost be a peaceful spot if it wasn’t for a) the hordes of tourists and b) the very noisy resident peacocks. The peacocks are a delight, though. There are also quite a few cats hanging about with them and sunbathing on the walls.

There’s a camera obscura in one of the towers, something I always enjoy. Try to see one of the 15-minute sessions while you’re there. They can let you know the schedule at the gate when you go in. It costs 10€ to get into the castle and the camera obscura is included in that.

Check the official website for the Castelo de São Jorge’s opening times. They do vary depending on the time of year.

Head to a few more of Lisbon’s magnificent miradouros (viewpoints)

If Castelo de São Jorge has whetted your appetite for more glorious viewpoints in Lisbon, you’ll be pleased to hear that the next thing on this Lisbon itinerary is to see MORE VIEWS. Hooray.

From the castle, it’s a short walk to two of my favourite Lisbon viewpoints or miradouro. Start with Miradouro das Portas do Sol (Google Maps). This gives you panoramic views of the red rooftops and church spires dotted throughout the city, leading down to the water. Like most popular viewpoints, it does get busy. But I’ve visited many times over the years and I think it’s worth it. Even on a busy day, you can find a gap along the railings to enjoy an uninterrupted view. It’s where the ‘tour guide’ style photo of me at the bottom of this page was taken. I was surrounded by people but still got a shot with no one else in (after some mild throat-clearing to get people to shift).

Next, head to the Miradouro de Santa Luzia (Google Maps). I don’t think the actual view is as good from here because it involves fewer rooftops and is often dominated by a big ugly cruise ship. However, the viewpoint itself is by far the prettiest one in the whole of Lisbon. It’s a pergola tiled with the classic Portuguese blue-and-white azulejo, set in a small garden with a fountain and bright pink bougainvillaea blooming along the wall. Gorgeous.

Head into the heart of Lisbon at Praça do Comércio

From the miradouro, you can walk down to the main square in the city centre (Praça do Comércio) via the cathedral (Sé de Lisboa). I’m not really a cathedral person so I’ve never been inside it, only briefly admired its exterior. It’s 4€ if you want to pop in.

Once you get to the ginormous Praça do Comércio, you’ll probably need a moment to take it all in. It’s massive and busy, with a lot going on. Walk to the edge of the river where there’s a quay. Two marble columns on either side of some steps lead into the water. It’s a beautiful feature, a bit like a Portuguese version of a Japanese shrine gate in the sea: like the famous red one in Miyajima.

The whole square is just ridiculously pretty though. The fact it opens onto the water makes it uniquely alluring, and I also love the yellow-coloured buildings (yellow is the best colour). You can imagine visitors in days gone by arriving in the city by sea, their ships slowly pulling into the dock to be greeted by this view. It has the ‘wow’ factor as far as city entrances go.

I also like looking through Arco da Rua Augusta, the archway that leads from the square into the main commercial/shopping streets. Even with throngs of tourists, it perfectly frames the blue sky, a hint of the river and the equestrian statue.

Go and investigate the ever-popular Time Out Market

After wandering around the Praça do Comércio area, you may be in need of a break.

I’ve ummed and ahhed about including Time Out Market in this Lisbon itinerary. I’m not a huge fan of it but I can definitely understand why a lot of people love it and why most first-time visitors to Lisbon will want to go there.

Time Out Market is a food hall, where many of Lisbon’s best restaurants have a stall offering delicious dishes, including some very posh places doing more affordable street-food options. It’s one of the many cool food halls that have popped up and gained popularity in every major European city in the last decade or so. I generally enjoy them because you can go and sample lots of different food in one place and they always have a bit of a buzzy atmosphere. But Time Out in Lisbon is just too busy for me personally. Don’t let me put you off though: I suggest you go and have a gander at it.

I recommend snaffling a pastel de nata or two from Manteigaria‘s stall. They do the second-best pastel de natas in the world (only second to the famous Belém ones: more on those later). Delish. Enjoy one or two of them with a drink and decide whether Time Out is somewhere you’d like to pop back to at some point over your 3 days in Lisbon. The food stalls are excellent so if you do manage to get it during a rare quiet period, it’s worth it.

Enjoy an evening meal and drinks in the Bairro Alto area

For your evening meal and drinks, I’d suggest heading to the Bairro Alto area. The specific bit I like best is along Calçada do Duque. This is a street up a hill, consisting of endless steep stairs. Sounds painful I know, but it’s got a great atmosphere at night when all the bars and restaurants are lit up. Some have fairy lights overhead too. It’s lovely.

There are SO many places to eat and drink in this area. You might want something specific and I’m sure you’ll find something you like. But here are some of my favourite spots. I’ll make all the names into Google Maps links so you can easily find them.

For an early evening drink, I like The Little Wine Bar. It has a great selection of local wines and the staff really know their stuff. And it’s a good location for people-watching as passers-by haul themselves up the steps. Just remember that you’ll be one of them soon… so proceed with caution on the wine! Toca da Raposa is a great cocktail bar just around the corner. I think you should have an extra-fancy cocktail to celebrate your first evening of 3 days in Lisbon. It would be rude not to.

As for restaurants, here are a few ideas in the Bairro Alto district:

• Bairro do Avillez. This has multiple eateries in one building: a tavern, a courtyard and a pizza place. The tavern is just as you go in. It does some lovely small plates to share. If you want to splash out and have a treat, head to the courtyard (called Pateo). Dishes are great but expensive: think 30€ for cod. It’s in a stunning, Instagrammable setting, with high ceilings, lights and plants galore.
• AO26. They do brilliant plant-based/vegan versions of classic Portuguese dishes.
• Vado Gatti Pizza. If you want something casual, their sourdough pizzas are spot on.
• Versículo d’O Faia. Go here for amazing seafood.

3 days in Lisbon itinerary: day 2

Enjoy an arty morning in Belém

Day 2 of your 3 days in Lisbon is going to be centred around art and eating: two of my favourite things!

We’re heading to Belém, to the west of the city. Hop on tram 15 going towards Alges Jardim. Depending on where you get on the tram from your hotel/apartment, the journey takes around 35 minutes. 

Belém is home to one of the best art collections I’ve ever been to. At the time of writing, this is transitioning from being the Museu Coleção Berardo to reopening as the Museum of Contemporary Art, part of the Centro Cultural de Belém. It’s still in the same location and fully open during this transition period (early 2023), so it’s fine to visit. And it’s only 5€ to get in. Bargain. Check opening times on the official website; it’s shut on Mondays and free to get in on the first Sunday of the month. 

The museum is the most-visited museum in the whole of Portugal, and I can understand why. It’s so well done. The art is beautifully laid out in a user-friendly way. You’ll discover new artists you’ll like as well as see work by ones we all know (think Warhol, Dali, Pollock, Picasso). It’s a fantastic way to spend a few hours. Make sure you get a thumbs-up photo with the big golden thumb. It’s the law.

Try the best pastel de nata in the world

After your arty start to the day, head towards the centre of Belém from the museum. Make sure you go past the Belém Tower in the sea for a great photo opportunity (about 10 mins’ walk) and the huge Jerónimos Monastery (another 15 minutes).

Just after this, you’ll spot the world-famous Pastéis de Belém (Google Maps). There’s usually a ridiculous queue outside! 

Belém is famous for producing the best pastel de nata in Lisbon, in Portugal and in the world. Some people will whinge that some other, usually obscure, place does it better. But I’ve spent loads of time in Portugal over the years, including a 3-month stint of living there, and I am yet to find anything that comes close to a Belém nata. They’re creamy, warm and perfectly crispy. No soggy bottoms here. 

Don’t be alarmed by the queue. It moves surprisingly quickly. The staff are akin to Aldi checkout staff, whizzing through orders on autopilot. Also bear in mind that the queue is for the shop, where you buy to take away. You can bypass the queue and go straight through to the café area where there’s table service. The café also serves savoury food, so you could actually have lunch there if you fancied.

I like getting some nata to take away though. Eating one in the street the second you get outside after paying, while it’s still hot, is just PERFECTION. Then you have to eat another to check that it really was that amazing and it wasn’t just a fluke…

Head to the uber-cool LxFactory for lunch 

If you were restrained and only gulped down one pastel de nata and saved the rest to devour in your hotel later, you may be ready for lunch soon. Get tram 15 again and alight at Estação De Santo Amaro.

This takes you to the wonderful LxFactory, an old industrial area full of warehouses, all revamped into hipster bars, restaurants and shops. I’ll tell you more about it in the next point but it’s one of my favourite places in the city and an absolute must-do during your 3 days in Lisbon.

There are loads of brilliant cafés there, so take your pick. I love sitting outside a nice one, sipping an Aperol Spritz and watching all the cool locals pass by. Maybe try the lovely Therapist, which does delicious bruschetta, salads, noodles, burgers and more. A lot of it is vegan and all of it is beautifully done. It’s set in a light and airy glasshouse-type space. Really cool.

Browse all the independent shops in LxFactory

Eating achieved, it’s time to see everything else LxFactory has to offer. It’s one of the best places for picking up some unique bits and bobs to take home with you. All the shops are independent and many sell wonderful vintage, recycled, artisan and/or handmade things. 

Some of my favourite shops in Lx Factory are these:

• Ler Devagar – a beautiful bookshop, which sells plenty of English-language books. It’s well known for having a very Instagrammable model of someone riding a bike hanging from the ceiling against a backdrop of books. Great for a browse.
• Cerâmica Factory – a lovely ceramics shop selling Portuguese pieces. All sorts from vases to dining plates. Good for birthday presents for friends.
• Light House Portuguese Concept Store – I can’t find a website for this, but it’s a great little shop selling loads of unique delicate jewellery, accessories and hairbands. I collect hairbands, so I LOVE it. I always have to buy myself a present from here.

Inside the main warehouse, you’ll find loads more spread over several floors, including several good vintage shops and art spaces. Basically, it’s well worth setting aside a few hours for a rummage.

Have some early evening wines at Insaciável, followed by a tiny bit more art…

When you’re all shopped and hipstered out, head back into the centre on trusty tram 15. Get off at Santos and walk up to where the Santos district merges into the Madragoa district. This is my favourite area and where I usually try to stay when I’m in Lisbon. It’s full of wonderful bars, restaurants and art galleries. And yet it isn’t too touristy at all. 

The excellent and atmospheric Insaciável (Google Maps) is one of my favourite spots here. It’s a small wine bar owned by a friendly French couple (I think? Certainly one of them is French!). They really know their wines, which is handy as I know absolutely naff all about wine. There are plenty of local wines on the menu and it’s just a lovely place to sit outside and watch the world go by while working up an appetite.

After your drinks, head up to Galleria Madragoa. It’s a wonderful, tiny gallery showcasing local contemporary art. There are only a couple of rooms, so it’s very quick to look round. It doesn’t close until 9pm. And it’s handily located opposite the best restaurant in the whole of Lisbon, which is where I’m about to recommend you eat…

Try the best restaurant in Lisbon for your evening meal: Da Noi

Currently, I’m travelling full-time and doing an awful lot of eating out around Europe. I’d say Lisbon’s Da Noi is one of the best restaurants I’ve ever eaten at on my travels.

It is beyond exceptional. Not to mention the fact it’s just really, really cool. There’s nothing I love more than a warm summer evening in a city, standing outside a bar where people are spilling into the street with their drinks. Da Noi is the perfect place for this. You can even collect your drinks from a window in the tiled wall of the building, leading into the bar. Too good!

Food-wise, I recommend getting some small plates to share. I love the white bean stew, the asparagus and courgette stracciatella, the vegan cheese with black garlic, and the scallop carpaccio with orange jam and dill. EVERYTHING is delicious and surprisingly affordable considering the quality. Each small plate is under 9€. You need six for a couple. They do also do mains (around 14€) if you don’t want to share.

Let me know in the comments if you go; I’d love to know what you had and if you loved it as much as I did. Food is so subjective but everyone I’ve recommended Da Noi to so far has fallen in love with it.

3 days in Lisbon itinerary: day 3

For the last day, you can either stay in Lisbon because the list of things to see there just never ends, or you could go out of Lisbon and do a little day trip on the train. Directly, I’ve done a plan for staying in Lisbon. Further down, there’s an alternative plan for your last day: doing a day trip to Cascais, a gorgeous seaside town you can easily do on the train down the coast. Either plan would work as a fantastic last day of your itinerary!

Take in some morning views from Cristo Rei

When wandering around Lisbon, you’ll have spotted an iconic monument on the other side of the river, on top of a hillside. This is the Santuário de Cristo Rei, a giant statue of Jesus on top of a 75-metre-high column in the Almada district. It may look familiar because it’s based on the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.

It’s a bit of a mission but I recommend making the journey over to Cristo Rei to see the view of Lisbon from there. It’s nice to see the whole city from across the river, for a bit of a different perspective.

Hop on bus 753, which starts at Marquês de Pombal. Get off at Portagem, which takes about 40 minutes. From there, it’s a 10-minute walk uphill to the monument. It’s not the most scenic journey, although you do get to go over the bridge, but don’t worry. The journey back on the ferry (yes, ferry!) is way better. More on that below…

Once you’re there, it’s 6€ to go up the Cristo Rei to its observation deck. Hilariously when I went, the lift was broken so I couldn’t do it! So the above photo is taken from just outside. It’s still a stonker of a view. 

Enjoy a seafood lunch in Almada before a fun ferry ride

After the monument, walk down to get the tram from Almada to Cacilhas. You could also get a taxi, which would be under 10 minutes. Cacilhas is where you need to get the ferry back over to Lisbon, but I really recommend having lunch here before you do that.

Taberna Pikiki is an excellent restaurant in Almada. As you’re in a fishing area, you have to go for a seafood option, and Pikiki’s prawns and fish tacos are an absolute treat. Everything is fresh, simple and unassuming but done to a very high standard. I’ve recommended it to two friends already and they’ve loved it.

After lunch, get the ferry from Cacilhas back into Lisbon (Cais do Sodré). You can use your Viva Viagem on the ferry (around 1.30€). It’s about 10 minutes across the river and it’s a fun little journey. You’ll notice that locals use it to commute and get about: it’s not just a tourist thing. Unfortunately, you can’t stand outside on it, so make sure you get a window seat.

Visit the incredible National Tile Museum

Back on dry land, I suggest you head to one of my favourite little museums in Lisbon. If you’re anything like me, you’ll have fallen in love with the Portuguese azulejo (tiles) and their iconic blue-and-white designs. Well, there’s a whole museum where you can feast your eyes on them.

The Museo Nacional do Azulejo (National Tile Museum) is a real gem. I’ve deliberately put it at this point in your Lisbon itinerary because it’s only a 10-minute bus ride from Cais do Sodré, so you can hop off the ferry and onto a bus. Get the 210 towards Prior Velho, alighting at Igreja Madre Deus.

The museum is located in a former convent and it still has an amazing tiled chapel inside, full of gold and impressive azulejo. That’s incredible in itself. But you’re really there to see tiles, tiles and more tiles. And there are loads of them, including the longest azulejo scene in the world (I think it’s 23 metres). The museum is only 5€ to get in (check opening times on the official website). 

If you don’t fancy tiles, you could go to the excellent National Museum of Contemporary Art (MNAC) instead. I love that museum and feel bad that I’ve not found space/time for it in this guide. But as you’ve already seen plenty of art on day 2 of this 3-day Lisbon itinerary, I’d recommend giving the tiles a go even if you think they’re not your thing. They really are impressive and a classic Portuguese thing to see.

Walk down beautiful Green Street

After the tile-fest, head back to the Santos area of town. I think you’ll love seeing one of my favourite spots in Lisbon: Rua da Silva. But as you’re a bit out of the way at the tile museum, the quickest way to get there is via Uber/Bolt. You can get a tram but it’s about 30 minutes.

Anyway, the lovely Rua da Silva is informally known as Rua Verde Lisboa. This of course translates as ‘Green Street’. And it’s not hard to see why… Welcome to the jungle!

Bustling, narrow Green Street is overflowing with potted plants, climbing up the walls and dangling down from balconies. Everywhere you look, even in winter, something will be in bloom. In the afternoon heat, it’s a proper little shady oasis. At night, strewn with colourful hanging decorations and fairy lights, so it’s just as magical. Of course, Green Street is highly photogenic and Instagrammable so it’s popular with tourists. But it’s also got a lovely vibe to it. The residents all seem to know each other and everyone out on their balconies watering their plants will be stopping for a chat with each other.

Have some early evening craft beers and (try to) see the funicular 

Once you’ve seen Green Street, it’s an easy (and pleasant) walk to a few good craft beer bars in Lisbon.

Start at Neighbourhood Cafe, which is a cool, tiled café known for speciality coffee. Coffee is lost on me as a tea drinker. But they also do a good selection of Portuguese craft beer, including from the best brewery in Lisbon. Dois Corvos is a fairly new, independent brewery that does hoppy craft beer really well. They do an excellent sour too, which is the kind of beer I love, but most people will probably fancy their session IPA. I was actually going to try to fit in a trip to their taproom into this 3 days in Lisbon itinerary but it’s quite far out of town so logistically it doesn’t work too well when you’re trying to cram things in. If you’re in Lisbon for longer though, or if you’re a big craft beer fan and want to make the pilgrimage there, you should go. It’s a very cool taproom, located in Marvila (Google Maps).

Anyway, after Neighbourhood, head to Musa da Bica. This is another nice craft beer bar. You can sit outside and it’s quite a good spot for people-watching, especially if you’re there when locals are finishing work and heading out for the evening.

It’s right by the Elevador da Bica. This is one of the most-photographed sights in Lisbon. It’s a bright yellow funicular (the same yellow as the trams) and it connects Largo do Calhariz to Rua de São Paulo by running up and down an incredibly steep hill. When I was in Lisbon for a month, it was closed the entire time for restoration. So that’s why I don’t have a photo. It’s now up and running again, so please go and see it – and have a ride on it for me!

Enjoy another delicious evening meal

For your evening meal, there are loads of options you can walk to around this area. You may want to look up something you particularly fancy on Google. But as I’ve tried and tested so many, here are some of my restaurant recommendations:

• O Botanista by Ortea Vegan Collective – As the name suggests, this is a botanical-themed restaurant. The interior is gorgeous and has more plants in it than Green Street! They have an extensive vegan menu and it’s popular with locals. The cocktails are excellent too.
• Pastanaga – Another lovely restaurant with very friendly and helpful staff. The fish dishes come with plenty of vegetables, which I love (hate having to order them separately!) and everything is cooked to perfection. It’s a cosy setting and feels very Lisbon-like to me.
• Estrela da Bica – A very nice, simple and small restaurant. If you fancy some sharing plates, give it a try. The cabbage and stilton dish is particularly memorable and the desserts are always fantastic.

Any of those would be an excellent ‘last supper’ to nicely round off your 3 days in Lisbon. 

And if you want to swap day 3 in Lisbon for a day trip…

If you’re just browsing this itinerary for ideas but you’re actually staying for longer than 3 days, you should definitely do a day trip out of Lisbon. But even if you’re only in Lisbon for 3 days, you might want to get out of the city for the final day and do a day trip. There are so many beautiful and interesting places easily reachable by train or bus. The only problem is picking one!

Everyone always wants to do Sintra. And perhaps if you’ve never been to Lisbon before and you’re really into castles, you won’t be able to resist its lure. However, after spending a month in Lisbon and doing quite a few day trips, I’m going to tell you that Sintra is a) the busiest BY FAR and b) not the most enjoyable. 

A lovely day trip from Lisbon: the seaside town of Cascais

Cascais is a gorgeous town with a beautiful lighthouse and beaches, not to mention plenty of bars and restaurants. There’s no specific big attraction there like a castle or cathedral, so it’s much more relaxed and less crowded than Sintra. I love just wandering along the beach, watching the sea and stopping at a few bars for a wine or cocktail. I have a full guide to things to do in Cascais, so do go and read that to get to know it properly.

Oh and Cascais is SO good for seafood, as you’d expect from a seaside town in Portugal. There’s a fantastic little sushi place I like called Suki – perfect for lunch. And there’s also the unique experience of visiting the quirky seafood restaurant A Nova Estrela. They do marvellous local fish dishes, all with generous servings of vegetables and rice/potatoes. But the real joy in it is the lady who owns it, who is such a character. You get shots after your meal and a polaroid photo of yourselves! It’s also inexplicably full of clocks, so you won’t miss your train home.

• How to get to Cascais from Lisbon for a day trip: Get the Cascais line train from Cais de Sodre (40 mins), using your Viva Viagem card. It’s a lovely journey along the coast and feels much shorter than it is. Trains run handily late.

3 days in Lisbon itinerary – useful information for your trip

Where to stay in Lisbon

The one thing I don’t like about Lisbon is the price of accommodation compared with everywhere else in Portugal. Such is the way of capital cities! It’s a real challenge to find anywhere decent within my usual budget (around 85€ for a city centre place).

Anyway, I’ve done my best and shortlisted a few accommodation options for you to look into. All prices are correct at the time of writing.

• Apartments: Here are two I’ve got saved for my next trip to Lisbon. Both are in Santos, my favourite area, and they require a 3-night minimum stay:
  • Santos Apartment with Balcony – For about 99€ a night, you get this incredible apartment with azulejo-themed decor and an actual balcony. It’s gorgeous. I really hope it’s free next time I go!
  • Santos Apartment – For about 77€ a night, you get this nice, basic apartment.
• Affordable hotels: 
  • You can’t go wrong with Ibis/Ibis Styles hotels and Lisbon has a few of them. They’re still not that cheap at 110/120€ per night, which includes brekkie. But you know what you’re getting and they’re always central. I recommend Ibis Liberdade, Ibis Styles Marquês de Pombal or Ibis Styles Liberdade.
  • For a bit more, the Empire Lisbon Hotel is good. It’s about 120€ per night, including brekkie. And it’s handily by Alameda metro station.
• Swanky hotels: I thought I’d include a couple of posh options just in case I have anyone reading my blog who’s just won the lottery:
  • Solar do Castelo is just over 200€ a night and looks lovely (great location too).
  • Or there’s my dream hotel: Jardim da Lapa by Shiadu. I’ve been inside this when a friend stayed there. It’s pink and beautiful! For about 300€ a night, you get an infinity pool, stylish rooms and did I mention it’s bright pink?!

How to get around Lisbon

Much of Lisbon’s centre seems walkable, but after a few days of going up very steep hills, you’ll naturally start wanting to use the trams and buses a bit more. The hills mean business. I usually walk everywhere and I’m very used to doing 25,000 steps a day, but even I have to admit defeat at a few points and get on a tram.

For 3 days in Lisbon, buy a pre-paid Viva Viagem public transport card. These are available at metro stations for 0.50€ and then you can top up as you require. See what offers they have on (sometimes a 24-hour card is a good deal) or just shove 20€ on it to start with. 

Lisbon has both Uber and Bolt (with plenty of electric cars available). But I’d recommend sticking to public transport as much as you can. It’s quick and easy compared with being sat in traffic.

When to visit Lisbon

I always find myself recommending most European capitals in spring or autumn when they tend to be quieter. The same goes for Lisbon. The weather tends to be lovely at these times of the year, too. Avoid school holidays like the plague, for obvious reasons. 

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You might also like some of my other Portugal travel guides:

• 40 lovely things to do in Tavira, Algarve
• Where to eat in Tavira: the best restaurants and cafés
• 25 fabulous things to do in Faro, Algarve
• A guide to Fuseta, Portugal – an unspoilt fishing village in the Algarve
• A guide to Mértola, Portugal: a hidden hilltop gem
• 3 days in Porto: the perfect itinerary
• 10 beautiful day trips from Porto by train/bus
• 45 things to do in Funchal, Madeira
• The best restaurants in Madeira and Funchal
• The best bars in Madeira and Funchal
• A guide to spending a week in Madeira: a 7-day itinerary without a car
• The best beaches in Madeira and how to reach them.

And if you’ve used one of my travel guides and enjoyed it, you can also buy me a drink. Cheers. 

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