City Guide

Lisbon in three days: hills, trams, and the light

The miradouros, the old quarters, and day trips worth taking. How to do Lisbon in three days.

By the Dayfari editors · 2026-09-28 · Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon's light is famous for a reason: the city glows, especially in the late afternoon when the sun hits the tiled buildings and the Tagus. It's hilly (very hilly), beautiful, and more affordable than most of Western Europe.

Three days: the old quarters, Belem, and a day trip. Wear good shoes; the cobblestones and gradients are no joke.

Day one: Alfama and the castle

Start in Alfama, the oldest quarter: the maze of streets below the castle, the miradouros (viewpoints) at Portas do Sol and Graca, the Sé cathedral. Walk up to São Jorge Castle for the full panorama.

Photo: Miguel Vieira [2] · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Afternoon: the Baixa and Chiado for the grand squares and shopping streets, then the Bairro Alto as evening approaches. The Bairro Alto is the nightlife quarter: dinner early, then the streets fill with bar-hopping crowds.

Day two: Belem

Take the tram to Belem: the Jerónimos Monastery (the Manueline architecture is stunning), the Belém Tower, the Monument to the Discoveries. And the pastéis de Belém: the original custard tarts, served warm, from the bakery that's been making them since 1837.

Photo: Alvesgaspar · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Afternoon: the MAAT museum (the building is the attraction) or the riverside walk back toward the center. Evening: fado. The traditional music houses in Alfama and Mouraria are touristy and genuinely moving; book a dinner show.

Day three: day trip

Sintra (40 minutes by train): the Pena Palace's fairytale colors, the Moorish Castle, the Quinta da Regaleira's initiation well. It gets crowded; go early. Alternatively: Cascais for the beach town version, or the Cristo Rei statue for the views.

Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Evening back in Lisbon: check what's on. The city's live music scene (fado houses, jazz clubs, the big concert venues) runs year-round, and the rooftop bars with Tagus views are the perfect final night. Our Lisbon pages track the listings.