How to Spend 2 days in Lisbon
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Two days in Lisbon is short by any measure, but it's enough time to see the absolute highlights and get a sense of what our capital city offers.
Keep in mind that with just 2 days, you have no time for day trips and you won't be able to explore leisurely. You'll need to pack your days and be out and about from morning until evening.
If you can, I'd very much recommend adding on a 3rd day so that you can either see more of the city or get to enjoy a day trip to somewhere like Sintra, Óbidos, Fatima or many of the other great nearby sights. If you can't, I've tried to help you make the most of the time you do have.
Now, let's have a look at the plan.
Table of Contents
Lisbon planning cheatsheet
Plan your itinerary with expert advice
- Book a Portugal travel consultation with a local expert
My favorite hotels in Lisbon
- One Palácio da Anunciada - 5-star luxury off Avenida da Liberdade. $350/night
- Palácio das Especiarias - Old World charm & elegance in Chiado. $200/night
- Pousada de Alfama - modern little hotel in the heart of Alfama. $200/night
- Alegria Boutique Hotel - bright and airy rooms in Principe Real. $175/night
- Hotel Lis Baixa - small, but cheerful rooms for a bargain in Baixa. $150/night
- Hotel White Lisboa - excellent value with a pool in Avenidas Novas. $140/night
Guided tours and activities
- Private guided tours of Lisbon with Matilde (my favorite local guide)
- Tastes of Lisbon food tour
- Sintra & Cascais day trip (small group)
- Walking tour of the historic center (3 hours, small group)
- Private half-day Lisbon city tour by Tuk Tuk
How to get around
- Car rentals with DiscoverCars
- Metro and bus/tram routes with MetroLisboa and Carris
- Train tickets from Comboios de Portugal
- Taxis & rideshares with Uber and Bolt
Itinerary overview
With two days in town, you can only realistically expect to see so much, so before I get into the daily plan, I want to quickly go over what you'll be able to accomplish.
For more in-depth info on the city, have a look at our guide to Lisbon and article on where to stay in Lisbon.
Day 1
On your first day, you can cover the city center's principle neighborhoods of Baixa, Chiado, and Alfama. You'll also have a bit of time for a wander in leafy Principe Real and sunset followed by dinner in pleasant Graça.
Between these 5 neighborhoods you'll see many of Lisbon's most famous sights: Praça do Comercio, São Roque Church, Praça do Rossio, the Santa Justa Elevator, Sé Cathedral, São Jorge Castle, the Panteão Nacional, etc. and a great selection of viewpoints.
Seeing them on the same day makes sense because all these places are relatively close to one another. The entire day is doable on foot, but there are a few times (which I've noted) where I think getting a cab is a good idea.
Day 2
On your second day, dedicate the morning to the neighborhood of Belém which is home to the rest of Lisbon's iconic monuments and sights. Here, you'll visit the Jeronimos Monastery, have a pastel de nata at the famous bakery, and see the Tower of Belem, as well as a handful of other monuments and a collection of excellent museums (which you can choose to go inside or just enjoy the architecture from the street).
In the afternoon, get away from the crowds and a little bit off the beaten path in local neighborhoods like Campos de Ourique and Estrela before doing a little shopping in Bairro Alto!
Finish the day with a sunset cruise and a great dinner in Alfama.
Day 1 - The historic center
All in close proximity to each other are 5 of Lisbon's most central neighborhoods: elegant Chiado, bustling Baixa, medieval Alfama, chic Principe Real, and relaxed Graça.
In exploring these areas you'll wind your way past (and into) most of Lisbon's principle sights.
Morning - Alfama
Alfama is Lisbon's oldest neighborhood and really the only one that survived the massive earthquake that struck the city in 1755. As a result, you'll certainly notice how entirely different it feels from everywhere else you'll go in Lisbon.
The entire neighborhood is a densely packed medieval maze of tight streets, narrow alleys, and little squares hidden away. Steep stairs run up and down the neighborhood, passing by the open windows of pretty whitewashed buildings. It's all very atmospheric.
That said, it's also Lisbon's absolute most visited neighborhood and, therefore, very touristy. The crowds are intense from mid-morning until evening, and it can feel a bit overwhelming at times.
To avoid the crowds (to the extent possible), I recommend that you get started with your sightseeing as early as possible.
Here's how I'd structure the morning:
Go for a wander and catch some views
If you get here before 9:00 am, you'll largely have the neighborhood to yourself and you'll be able to get an appreciation for what it must have felt like to live here in medieval times. Wandering the cobblestone streets and admiring the views with no one else around is wonderful.
An 8:00 am start is even better, but I know that many will not feel excited about getting up so early on their vacation…
I'd start your walk near the Sé de Lisboa cathedral (which doesn't open until 10:00 am, but doesn't have much to see inside anyways) then slowly weave your way over to two great viewpoints: Miradouro de Santa Luzia and Miradouro das Portas do Sol.
The view from Miradouro de Santa Luzia
A staircase in Alfama
Sé de Lisboa cathedral
Alfama
São Jorge Castle
Visible from countless places in the city, the Castelo de São Jorge is one of the city's most iconic sights. Like most defensive fortifications, there isn't much to see inside, but walking along the walls and ramparts is lovely and the views over the city are fabulous.
There's a fair deal of walking involved when visiting the castle and it's quite large, so I'd recommend budgeting 1-2 hours for a visit.
Tickets cost 15 euros and can be bought on the official website.
It opens at 9:00 am, so if you get an early start wandering in Alfama, you could be here right around opening time (no lines).
The view from the castle's walls. Photo: Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Panteão Nacional
From the castle it's a pleasant walk over to the Panteão Nacional, an impressive 17th-century church built in Baroque style in which many important Portuguese figures are buried. It's a very cool building and also offers some fabulous views.
On the way here from the castle, you'll pass by the church of São Vicente de Fora, which you should go inside.
On Tuesdays and Saturdays a flea market - Feira da Ladra - takes place right next to the monument.
Entrance tickets to the Panteão cost 8 euros. For a reason that I cannot comprehend, very few people visit here, so there's no need to buy your tickets in advance. If you want to anyways, you can do so via the 3rd party vendor Tiqets.
Panteão Nacional. Photo: Arne Müseler / www.arne-mueseler.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE, via Wikimedia Commons
Afternoon - Baixa, Chiado, and Principe Real
Baixa and Chiado are two adjacent neighborhoods that are really one large one. To differentiate between them, consider that Baixa is the area closest to the water and right next to Alfama while Chiado is a bit uphill and west. Baixa feels more commercial while Chiado is a bit more residential, picturesque, and charming.
Baixa is quite flat and easy to walk around, but Chiado can be hilly in places. These are two of Lisbon's most heavily visited areas, so to enjoy them without the crowds (to the extent that's ever possible), I recommend that start your sightseeing as early in the morning as you're able to.
These are two of Lisbon's prettiest areas and they are full of impressive squares, gorgeous buildings, churches, and charming streets. There are loads of cafes, restaurants, bookshops, and theaters too.
Principe Real, on the other hand, is not a historic neighborhood but a rather upscale residential one. The grand Avenida da Liberdade boulevard runs up one side of it, lined with high end boutiques and fancy restaurants. The neighborhood is dotted with leafy square and parks and is very pleasant to walk around.
Exploring this are on your own is easy, but if you'd like the insight of a guide, I always recommend Matilde Mendes or Inês Valencia for walking tours. They're both Lisbon locals who are lots of fun.
Here's how I'd structure your afternoon:
Lunch and a walk in Principe Real
Catch a cab from the edge of Alfama (you won't find any within the neighborhood - the streets are too narrow) and have them drop you off in Principe Real, where you'll be having lunch.
A nice drop off point is Praça da Alegria, a lovely square right next to Avenida da Liberdade. From here, you can have a meal at one of the many restaurants that surround the square or walk a few minutes in the direction of the Botanical Garden where you will find a whole host of excellent restaurants.
Regardless of where you wind up, go for a walk and enjoy your surroundings. After crowded and touristy Alfama, being in elegant and mostly local Principe Real is a nice contrast.
Praça da Alegria in Principe Real
Avenida da Liberdade on the eastern edge of Principe Real
Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara
From Praça da Alegria (or elsewhere in Principe Real), it's a fairly easy walk to the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, one of Lisbon’s most beautiful lookout points. You'll be able to see over Baixa and Alfama, including São Jorge Castle. The viewpoint is a huge square with gardens, fountains, and kiosks where you can get a drink or a coffee.
The view from the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara
Igreja São Roque
From the viewpoint, you're just a 5-minute walk to my favorite church in the city, Igreja São Roque. Originally built in the late 1500s, it has since been rebuilt a handful of times. It looks extremely plain on the outside which only enhances it's absolutely dazzling interior.
Take some time to soak it in and admire all the gold, marble, semi-precious stones, hand painted tiles, and sumptuous paintings.
While you can walk straight here from the viewpoint, you could also go for a bit of a detour through the neighborhood of Bairro Alto (in which the viewpoint is located). I ordered the route so that you would come from Principe Real because the walk to Baixa/Chiado is downhill, so you could take advantage of that fact!
The interior of the church. Photo: Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Convento do Carmo
Another quick walk will bring you to Convento do Carmo, a convent that was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake. All that remains are its pillars, arches, and some crumbling walls, forming a sort of open-air museum. There's also a small archaeological museum on-site that is worth having a look at.
Figure you'll want about an hour here.
Convento do Carmo. Photo: Pedro J Pacheco, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Praça Luis de Camões
Continuing your walk through Chiado (where you now are) make your way to Praça Luis de Camões, one of the prettiest squares in Lisbon. Named after a famous Portuguese poet, the square has been a central meeting point for locals for centuries.
It's the perfect place to do some people watching and the streets all around it are pleasant to wander. If you want a snack, be sure to grab a pastel de nata at A Manteigaria, a great little bakery right on the square.
Nearby, Rua Garrett is home to two famous sights: Livraria Bertrand (one of the oldest bookstores in the world) and the famous A Brasileira cafe, which was a famous haunt of famous Portuguese writers like Fernando Pessoa. I'd take a look at both, but wouldn't bother going inside either.
Praça Luis de Camões in the Chiado neighborhood
A Brasileira cafe
Praça do Rossio, Elevador Santa Justa, and Rua Augusta
Getting towards the end of your walk in the center, now make your way over to Praça do Rossio (officially called Praça Dom Pedro IV) which sits directly in front of the pretty Rossio train station. I'd recommend walking down the pedestrianized Rua do Carmo to get there.
Along the way, you'll pass directly in front of the famous Santa Justa Elevator, which is entirely unmissable. Even if you somehow don't look up and see it, you'll know it from the enormous line of people snaking around the block. If you had more time, I might say it was worth it to wait in line and go up, but you don't, so I'd skip it. The main reason to take it is to enjoy the view, and you'll already visit plenty of great viewpoints.
Like Praça Luis de Camões, Praça do Rossio is one of the city's main squares and it's always crowded with a mix of locals and visitors. The Rossio train station is right on its edge and worth taking a look inside (train stations are always fun to poke your head inside!).
On the southern end of the square is Rua Augusta, one of Lisbon's most famous streets. It's extremely touristy so I certainly wouldn't suggest stopping anywhere for food or drinks, but it's pedestrianized and nice to walk down (and it brings you Praça do Comercio)
Praça do Rossio
Santa Justa Elevator
Rua Augusta
Praça do Comercio
About 10 minutes by foot along Rua Augusta will bring you to Praça do Comercio, Lisbon's original main square right on the banks of the Tagus River. Enjoy the enormous space, walk down to the riverfront, and then stroll under the pretty arcades that line the square.
Praça do Comércio in Baixa
Evening - Dinner and drinks in Graça
At this point, you may want to take a break from all the walking. So, I recommend you get a taxi and ask them to drop you off in Graça, a very pleasant and very local neighborhood.
If it's nearing sunset (or even if not), I'd recommend going direct to the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte viewpoint which offers one of the most expansive views over the city and river.
From there, just go for a walk and enjoy your surroundings. While tourists now visit, Graça is still a real residential neighborhood (albeit a busy one) and it's always alive in the evenings with a nice mix of locals and tourists shopping, eating, drinking, and socializing.
For a great dinner, a personal favorite is Sant’Avó. They serve very good Portuguese regional specialties in a non-touristy setting.
The view from Miradouro da Senhora do Monte in Graça
Largo da Graça square
Day 2 - Belem, Campos de Ourique, and Bairro Alto
Many of Lisbon's grand sites and best museums are in Belém and it is well worth spending the morning (and maybe early afternoon) exploring this area at the southwestern edge of the city.
In the afternoon, you'll head to lunch in the pleasant and un-touristy Campos de Ourique neighborhood, and then have a walk around Estrela or Bairro Alto.
End the day with a sunset cruise and a great dinner in Alfama.
Morning - Belem and its monuments
Belem is a riverfront neighborhood on the western edge of Lisbon's city center. Its home to many of the city's main sights, monuments, and palaces, as well as most of its most important museums.
The two main sights are the Jeronimos Monastery and Torre de Belem, which can be visited in about 3 hours. If you're interested in entering a museum or two, you should add at least 1 or 2 more hours to your visit, and I'd recommend another hour for a walk along the riverfront and time to snack on some pasteis de nata.
Because you don't have much time in Lisbon, I've condensed a visit into just the morning.
To get out here, catch the 15 tram from Praça da Figueira or Praça do Comércio to the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos stop. Or… call an Uber or Bolt.
To avoid the intense crowds (and enormous lines), I'd recommend buying your entrance ticket to the monastery in advance and getting here at or before opening time (9:30 am). You can purchase tickets directly on the Monastery's official website.
Here's how I'd order the morning:
Pasteis de Belem
On arrival to Belem, first stop off at the famous Pastéis de Belém bakery, home to the original pastel de nata. While this has become a super touristy place, I still have to admit, they are the best ones I’ve tried. Even if you arrive early, expect for the line to be huge. That said, it moves very quickly so don't worry.
Outside the famous "Pasteis de Belem” bakery
Jeronimos Monastery
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this monastery is a splendid example of Manueline architecture and is home to the tombs of some of Portugal's most notable personalities, like the navigator Vasco da Gama, the poet Luís de Camões, and the writer Fernando Pessoa.
It's just a few steps down the road from the bakery.
This is easily one of the most visited sites in Lisbon, and for good reason. The lines can be intense, so it is absolutely imperative that you arrive with a ticket to avoid wasting time. Once inside, make sure you visit both the cloisters and the church where Vasco da Gama is buried. Give yourself anywhere from 1-3 hours for a visit, depending on your level of interest.
Buying your tickets in advance is absolutely imperative if you want to avoid waiting in an endless line and losing your entire morning. Do so via the official website. The entrance fee is 18 euros.
Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
Torre de Belem
You've almost certainly seen photos of this already, but if you haven't, it's a Manueline defensive fortification and tower in the Tagus River. It survived the 1775 earthquake and is one of Lisbon's enduring monuments.
It's neat to enter, but if you're tight on time, the most impressive aspect of it really is the structure and location.
The walk over here from the monastery takes about 15 minutes.
Torre de Belem
Padrão dos Descobrimentos and MAAT Museum
From the tower, you can stroll along the riverfront, walking all the way to the awesome MAAT Museum (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) whose design mimics a wave. The exhibits here range widely and frequently change, so have a look on their website to see if there's anything that interests you. I don't typically go inside, but it's worth visiting just for the location and the phenomenal architecture.
Along the way, you'll pass by a pretty marina and the enormous Padrão dos Descobrimentos monument. This monument (Monument of the Discoveries) was built in 1960 and pays homage to the brave Portuguese explorers and sailors who charted new paths around the world during the Age of Portuguese Discovery. It's just a monument, so there's no going inside.
Padrão dos Descobrimentos
The MAAT museum. Photo: Herbert wie, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Afternoon - Lunch in Campos de Ourique, a walk in Estrela, and some shopping in Bairro Alto
For the afternoon, I recommend you visit a less touristy part of Lisbon and head to the nearby neighborhood of Campos de Ourique (by cab). The neighborhood is a bit of a gastro hub and although it's very recently started to become more known with visitors, it's still very much a local area.
Lunch in Campos de Ourique
From Belem, you should get a cab and head straight to the pleasant Campos de Ourique neighborhood for lunch. This is a middle-to-upper-middle class residential area that has one of the best food scenes in the city.
The excellent Mercado de Campo de Ourique covered market is full of vendors and restaurants and makes for a good choice, especially if you're traveling with people who don't always agree on what to eat. All around the market and the neighborhood you have many great places to eat, so do a little research and pick somewhere you like.
Also do some people watching in Jardim da Parada, a pleasant tree-lined square.
The Mercado de Campos de Ourique
Inside the market
Jardim da Parada
Casa Fernando Pessoa
While in this "neck of the woods”, the Casa Fernando Pessoa is a very good museum dedicated to… Fernando Pessoa, one of the most famous Portuguese writers of all time. Unfortunately, it's all in Portuguese and he's generally not very well-known outside of Portugal and Brazil, so it may not be of interest to you. Even if you don't visit, the museum's restaurant is quite good.
The exterior of the Casa Fernando Pessoa museum
Jardim da Estrela Park and the Estrela neighborhood
From Campos de Ourique, you should walk over to the gorgeous Jardim da Estrela park which is always full of locals, expats, and visitors. It's one of my favorite green spaces in Lisbon.
I like being in this area because it's a pleasant and middle/upper middle class area, but aside from some expats, it's still mostly local residents. Because you'll have spent almost a day and a half in such heavily touristed areas, it's nice to get to see something different.
So, go for a walk and see what you discover.
Jardim da Estrela park
Shopping in Bairro Alto (or how about the Botanical Gardens?)
After seeing a bit of Estrela, the world is really your oyster and what you do depends on your energy levels.
If you're not tired, I'd recommend heading over to Bairro Alto and browsing the cool shops and boutiques that have moved in there over recent years. It's also just a pretty neighborhood, so nice to walk around in and it's great for a late afternoon drink as it's full of trendy bars and cafes.
Another option could be to return to Principe Real and enter the Botanical Gardens.
All of these neighborhoods are a "good” walk or a short cab ride away.
I'd recommend leaving this part of your day open as you'll probably have a better feel for how you might like to spend it after you've already spent a day in Lisbon.
A street in Bairro Alto
Evening - A sunset cruise and dinner in Alfama
End your trip to Lisbon with a boat ride down the Tagus River from which you'll get to see the city from a totally different perspective and catch a fabulous sunset. You'll find plenty of companies offering this, but I usually recommend opting for a 2-hour ride that will get you back in time for dinner. This tour on Viator is always a solid option.
Once back from your cruise, I'd suggest having a delicious dinner at Agulha no Palheiro in Alfama. Make sure to book though as it is tiny, and it fills up quickly.
Sunset over the Tagus River
More Portugal travel info
For more advice on planning your trip to Portugal, have a look at some of our other guides and itineraries!
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Hi, I'm Leonor, and I've been a tour guide and travel consultant here in Portugal for the last 20 years. If you're looking for some local advice on your trip, I'd love to help!
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