Lisbon, PortugalBy ArrivLast checked
Plan a trip to Lisbon
Seven hills, tiled facades, and the best food value in Western Europe. Wear shoes with grip, because the pavement is polished limestone and it turns into a skating rink the moment it rains, which it does.
- Couples
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Free to run, and you keep editing after. Add who's coming or a pace like “slow mornings” to shape the result.
Lisbon at a glance
A 3 to 5 day trip to Lisbon comes down to a few decisions: which stops earn a morning, whether you sleep in Baixa / Chiado or somewhere cheaper, and whether the month you picked was the right one. This page has an opinion on each. Change any of it once it is on the map.
- How long
- 3–5 days
- When to go
- March to June, then September to October. Summer is hot and Sintra gets very busy. Winter stays mild at around 60°F with more rain, which is a fair trade if you want the trams to yourself.
- Getting around
- Get the card. The metro, trams, and funiculars cover the hills, and since a Viva Viagem card works across all of them, one tap handles the day. Trains to Sintra and Cascais leave from Rossio and Cais do Sodré.
What to build the plan around
- 1
Alfama
The oldest quarter, a maze below the castle, so take Tram 28 up and walk down.
- 2
Belém
The monastery, the tower, and the original pastéis de nata at Pastéis de Belém, which is half a day west of the center.
- 3
Time Out Market
A food hall with the city's better chefs in one room, though it is busy at one and at eight.
- 4
Sintra
Forty minutes by train for Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira, both of which need timed tickets now.
Where to stay in Lisbon
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- Baixa / Chiado
- Flat and central with the best transport links, which puts most of the city inside a walk. Browse stays in Baixa / Chiado
- Alfama
- The most atmospheric and the steepest, so bring a small suitcase if you are climbing to the door. Browse stays in Alfama
- Príncipe Real
- Uphill from Chiado, with the best restaurants and shops, though it goes quieter at night. Browse stays in Príncipe Real
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More itineraries to copy
Each one opens as a map with every stop already placed.
Lisbon planning questions
- How many days do you need in Lisbon?
- Plan on 3 to 5 days, though how you split them matters more than the total. Three days covers Alfama, Belém, and the center. Five makes room for Sintra and a Cascais beach afternoon, and Sintra wants a whole day because everybody underestimates the walking between the palaces.
- What is the best time to visit Lisbon?
- March to June, then September to October. Summer is hot and Sintra gets very busy. Winter stays mild at around 60°F with more rain, which is a fair trade if you want the trams to yourself.
- Where should I stay in Lisbon?
- Book Baixa / Chiado if you are undecided, because it is the most convenient of the three and the choice you are least likely to regret. Flat and central with the best transport links, which puts most of the city inside a walk. Two others are worth comparing before you commit, and the difference is mostly rate against how far you walk. Alfama: The most atmospheric and the steepest, so bring a small suitcase if you are climbing to the door. Príncipe Real: Uphill from Chiado, with the best restaurants and shops, though it goes quieter at night.
- How do you get around Lisbon?
- Get the card. The metro, trams, and funiculars cover the hills, and since a Viva Viagem card works across all of them, one tap handles the day. Trains to Sintra and Cascais leave from Rossio and Cais do Sodré.
- What should I see first in Lisbon?
- Go to Alfama early in the trip, before the days start filling up with things you booked later. The oldest quarter, a maze below the castle, so take Tram 28 up and walk down. The other three stops can go in whatever order the map makes easy, since none of them depends on the others.
- Is there a free Lisbon itinerary I can copy?
- Yes, and reading it costs nothing. Arriv has a Lisbon itinerary with every stop mapped and a day-by-day order to follow, which is enough to plan from without touching it. Duplicate it into a trip of your own and the dates, the places, and the order are all yours to change.