The easiest way to build a Lisbon itinerary is to plan by neighbourhood, one area per day, because the city climbs across seven hills and doubling back costs you time. For a first visit, spend day one in Alfama and the castle, day two in the centre (Baixa, Chiado, Bairro Alto), day three in Belém, and add Sintra if you have a fourth day. Here is how to put it together, plus a ready-to-use plan.
How to Plan Your Days in Lisbon
Lisbon rewards walking, but the hills are real. Group each day around one area so you climb once and come down once. Book the big monuments online (Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower), start early at the busiest sights, and leave your evenings loose for dinner and a viewpoint at sunset.
Day 1: Alfama and São Jorge Castle
Open the trip at the Castelo de São Jorge (9am, around 15€) for the lay of the land, then walk down into Alfama. Stop at the Portas do Sol and Santa Luzia viewpoints, see the Sé cathedral, and stay for fado in a small Alfama house after dinner.
Day 2: Baixa, Chiado and Bairro Alto
Start at Praça do Comércio, walk up Rua Augusta, and take a coffee in the Chiado. Head up to the Bairro Alto and the São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint. Lunch at the Time Out Market, drinks in Cais do Sodré, dinner in the Bairro Alto.
Day 3: Belém and the Waterfront
Spend the morning in Belém: the Jerónimos Monastery (closed Mondays, around 12€), the Belém Tower, and a pastel de nata at Pastéis de Belém. In the afternoon, choose between the MAAT museum on the river or LX Factory for shops and street art.
Day 4: Day Trip to Sintra
Take the train from Rossio (about 40 minutes, a little over 2€ each way), then bus 434 around the sights. Pick two of the Pena Palace, the Moorish Castle and Quinta da Regaleira, not all three, and go early to beat the crowds.
Short on Time? A 2-Day Version
With only two days, keep day one (Alfama and the castle) and day three (Belém), and fold the centre into your walks between them. You will miss some corners, but you will still see the heart of Lisbon.
Where to Stay for This Itinerary
Base yourself in the Baixa, Chiado or upper Bairro Alto so everything is walkable. Alfama is beautiful but steep and lively near the bars at night. Wherever you stay, pack shoes with grip: the cobbles are slippery and the streets are steep.
Prefer a ready-made plan with a local? We design private Lisbon tours around your dates and pace. Contact us to shape your itinerary.
FAQ
How many days do you need for Lisbon?
Three full days cover the old town, the centre and Belém comfortably. Two days is enough for the essentials, and a fourth day lets you add Sintra.
What is the best order to visit Lisbon?
Plan by neighbourhood, one area per day: Alfama and the castle, then the centre (Baixa, Chiado, Bairro Alto), then Belém, and Sintra as a day trip.
Is Lisbon walkable?
Yes, most of the centre is best on foot, but the hills are steep. Group each day around one area and use trams, funiculars and the metro to save your legs.
What should you book in advance in Lisbon?
Reserve timed tickets for the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, and for the Pena Palace in Sintra, where queues are longest.