Passionate, sophisticated, and devoted to living the good life, Portugal is both a stereotype come to life and a country more diverse than you ever imagined. This delightfully sunny part of Europe boasts cosmopolitan cities, medieval castles, sensational wine, and picturesque coastlines. At the very heart of Portugal lies Lisbon, a hilly, coastal metropolis — one of the oldest cities in the world — a captivating hub perfect for a weekend getaway. Lisbon can be easily explored on a weekend, and this detailed Lisbon travel guide will help you get the most out of the city during your stay.
Wandering through the winding cobblestone streets of Portugal’s colorful capital, it’s easy to fall in love with Lisbon. Seven cinematic hillsides overlooking the Rio Tejo cradle Lisbon’s postcard-perfect panorama of cobbled alleyways, ancient ruins, and white-domed cathedrals- a captivating scene that’s been crafted over centuries. The city is finally having its moment in the sun, thanks in no small part to more flights, its inexpensive cost of living, and its lovely year-round climate.
Apart from enjoying the mouthwatering pastel de nata, incredible seafood, and affordable European charm, design lovers will discover an entirely different side of the city. Sprinkled between colorful tiled buildings and medieval architecture is a host of design-centric spaces, high-quality culinary experiences, and boutiques that offer a one-of-a-kind shopping experience.
I took a solo trip during the off-season and indulged in everything Lisbon has to offer. For those quite familiar with my blog you know I don’t shy away from the finer things in life and my visit to Lisbon was down-right – indulgent. This itinerary has options for every type of traveler – from the luxury enthusiast to the budget solo traveler, so read on for my favorite places to stay, shop, and eat in Lisbon.
Best Time To Visit: During the shoulder season (between the months of March & May or September & October) when the weather is still great and the crowds have thinned out.
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Nostalgia
The key to Lisbonian indulgence is a slow pace and conscious savoring of detail. While you’re walking down its ancient streets you’ll experience an interesting feeling: one the Portuguese have a word that conveys a feeling of yearning, nostalgia, and melancholy: Saudade. It’s not a word with a direct translation in English, but you’re sure to understand it after a single visit to Lisbon. It’s something you feel while watching a Fado performance – music characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor, and infused with a sentiment of resignation and fate.
Where to stay in Lisbon, Portugal
If you’re looking for luxury accommodations with authentic Portuguese flair, make sure to stay at this historic renovated townhouse: Verride Palacio Santa Catarina. A former palace turned contemporary retreat, Verride Palácio de Santa Catarina sits at the heart of Lisbon’s old town, a beautiful labyrinth of winding lanes, tight archways, and stone-paved terraces. With an award-winning restaurant, a rooftop bar, and a swimming pool offering panoramic views of the river and city, this historic hotel is an experience in and of itself. The accommodations boast arguably one of the most impressive in-room bathrooms in Lisbon, lined with the famous Portuguese hand-painted tiles, known as azulejos. Each room has immaculately preserved original details, such as wooden sculptured ceilings, rococo-style plasterwork, and hand-painted silk wallpaper, which all contrast with exquisite modern décor.
Is there anything better to relieve your stress than relaxing in such an impressive bathroom and soaking in such a bathtub? I think not.
Day 1: Explore the vibrant city center
Get ready to start walking.
Day one gets us acquainted with the heart of the city with a stroll through the Chiado, Alfama, and Baixa neighborhoods. This meandering route might lead you to such treasures as a church covered in blue-and-white azulejo tiles, a tiny art gallery housed in a converted grocery shop, or a shady plaza with a flea market boasting local crafts.
💡 Traveler’s Tip: Ditch the heels, pack your comfiest walking shoes. Lisbon is famous for its winding cobbled streets and steep hills. While some vertical hikes can leave you a bit winded, it is a small and highly walkable city. One way to get around the city is with an electric bike or scooter and the Gira app makes it a lot easier — download it and you can grab a bike right from the street.
Much like the Spanish, the Portugues savor their mornings in as well as their mid-afternoon siestas. Many major stores and businesses generally open at 10 am at the earliest. This even includes many breakfast places. If your hotel doesn’t offer an early breakfast, I have two restaurant suggestions that serve amazing food and even better coffee. Make sure to try the ham toast at Augusto Lisboa – an exceptional cafe in Chiado – or Curva, a cute cafe that is also part art gallery part contemporary gift shop.
Once you’ve enjoyed your savory breakfast, head over to Alfama, one of Lisbon’s oldest areas, full of steep streets that are lined with shops selling traditional crafts and cafes. The Church of São Vicente de Fora, National Pantheon, & Sé de Lisboa are some notable attractions of the area. If you’re brave enough for a little bit of a hike, you’re going to want to observe the most famous castle in Lisbon – Castelo de S. Jorge. There’s also an option to hire a TukTuk up the hill, but from what I remember, they can be a little pricey.
Once you’ve enjoyed your savory breakfast, head over to Alfama, one of Lisbon’s oldest areas, full of steep streets that are lined with shops selling traditional crafts and cafés. The Church of São Vicente de Fora, National Pantheon, & Sé de Lisboa are some notable attractions of the area. If you’re brave enough for a little bit of a hike, you’re going to want to observe the most famous castle in Lisbon – Castelo de S. Jorge. There’s also an option to hire a TukTuk up the hill, but from what I remember, they can be a little pricey.
Castelo de S. Jorge is one of Lisbon’s most distinctive monuments & rewards visitors with the most incredible view over Lisbon and beyond. After the castle visit, make sure to visit one (or both!) of the two most scenic viewpoints in Lisbon – Miradouro de Santa Luzia or Miradouro das Portas. I visited Miradouro on a sunny, clear day, and enjoyed an amazing view as I listened to street performers play classical guitar while singing Portuguese classics as a vermillion sun was setting over the Atlantic. If any experience captured the soul of Lisbon, it was this one. If at any point you want to enjoy a nice glass of wine try SOL Restaurante e Jardim next door for panoramic views and a great wine selection and atmosphere.
Look out for the yellow Tram 28, it’s a cute little cable car that takes you around Alfama, the Moorish Corner, & up through the most touristic parts of Lisbon. One stop along the train’s path is Praça do Comércio, the iconic Lisbon city square. It’s a great place to people-watch and eat, but also a meetup spot for a couple of notable city tours. Two tours I recommend are Best of Lisbon Small-Group Guided Walking Tour, or the 4Hour/Half Day Tuk Tuk Tour of Lisbon.
Look out for the yellow Tram 28, it’s a cute little cable car that takes you around Alfama, the Moorish Corner, and up through the most touristic parts of Lisbon. One stop along the train’s route is Praça do Comércio, the iconic Lisbon city square. It’s a great place to people-watch and eat, but also a meetup spot for a couple of notable city tours. Two tours I recommend are Best of Lisbon Small-Group Guided Walking Tour, or the 4Hour/Half Day Tuk Tuk Tour of Lisbon.
For a sweeping view of Lisbon’s skyline, ride the Elevador de Santa Justa. It’s a century-old elevator that connects to a 45-meter-tall viewing platform. The elevator was originally steam-powered and offers a gorgeous view of the city, as well as a small restaurant on the top platform. A ride costs 5.15 €, but you can access the viewpoint (without a ride) for 1.50€.
By now you should be feeling a little hungry for some lunch. Time Out Market (known as Mercado da Ribeira in Portuguese) is a vaulted warehouse featuring more than two dozen popup versions of the city’s best restaurants and bars. After browsing the numerous mini-restaurants, I opted for Marlene Vieira where I tried a fantastic octopus with crushed potatoes sitting atop a cod risotto for lunch. I paired the dish with a glass of local wine. In many cities where you have to spend quite a bit for an opulent sensory experience, Lisbon makes it so easy to enjoy both yourself and life in general.
Next, visit the picturesque Pink Street. Decades ago, it was Lisbon’s “red light district”, but now this has transformed into one of the coolest spots near the river. Snap a photo on this vibrant pink street or under the rainbow umbrella canopy.
Nearby you will find the famous Bica – a yellow lift that you have seen at least once when checking photos from Lisbon. Take the tram up to the top of the street of Bica to reach Bairro Alto. This area of Lisbon is famous for its nightlife, but it’s cool to visit during the day as well. Stroll through tiny Portuguese streets, and maybe grab a drink – or two.
Shopping
Somewhere A Process – This concept shop for home goods is owned by a French woman with really good taste.
A Vida Portuguesa – A Vida Portuguesa, whose name means “the Portuguese life,” is a must: This Iconic Portuguese store curates a selection of home goods from local artisans.
Caza das Vellas Loreto – This antique candle shop, dating back to 1789, sells candles in an assortment of colors. The shop is part of the Lojas com História project, which aims to preserve and celebrate the city’s historic shops.
Companhia Portuguesa do Chá – Housed in an old shoe store dating back to 1880, the Companhia Portuguesa do Chá —Portuguese Tea Company— is a completely unique tea store created by an Argentinian who shares his passion for tea with 200 varieties of teas from all over the world.
Carmesimbowtie – A shop in Barrio Alto that makes beautiful custom hats and ties for both men and women.
Luvaria Ulisses – Alas, one of a few leather glove shops left in the world! The quality of the leather, design and stitching is bar none.
For those seeking a culinary experience
Freshly baked bread, olives, cheese, red wine or crisp vinho verde (young wine), chargrilled fish, cataplana (seafood stew), smoked meats – the Portuguese have perfected the art of cooking simple, delicious meals. There are some incredible restaurants scattered around the city, and after all that walking, a gastronomical experience is somewhat of a necessity when visiting Lisbon and certainly not something to compromise on in your itinerary.
Enter Prado: A farm-to-table modern fine-dining and completely Portuguese experience that has earned its spot on Michelin’s list. Prado (‘Meadow’) is led by talented young chef António Galapito and boasts a menu with dishes crafted with seasonal and fresh local ingredients. The fare here is a fusion of Portuguese food with international influences. Choose something from the sea or from the land: as the Iberico pork tenderloin, quinces & chocolate peppers. To go with the food, the wine list comprises only organic, biodynamic, and natural wines. The average price per person is around $35, so click here to see what’s on the menu and cinch a reservation.
After dinner, it’s time to experience something truly Portuguese: Fado. Fado, as mentioned previously, is a musical performance characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor, and infused with a sentiment of resignation and fate. Fado is performed at several stages throughout the city, and some restaurants allow live performances at dinner time. Finding a live performance can be arranged the day of, either by contacting your hotel for recommendations, by visiting the NowInPortugal website, or by checking the available tours by Devour Tours. I found a food and wine walking tour with incredible ratings (2,000+ positive reviews) that I had book-marked before arriving in Lisbon, see more at Undiscovered Lisbon Food & Wine Tour with Eating Europe
Day 2 – Sintra
A Lisbon to Sintra day trip is a magical voyage into the birthplace of Romanticism. Packed with colorful fairy tale palaces, rambling hilltop castles, and exotic flora, there are plenty of magical things to do in Sintra.
Optional tour: Sintra and Cascais Small-Group Day Trip from Lisbon
How to get to Sintra: I don’t recommend driving to Sintra. Parking at the palace or in the nearby town is tough, and you don’t want to waste half your day trying to find a parking spot. Instead, I recommend taking the 45-minute train from Lisbon. Once there, you can find public buses that can take you to the Sintra entrance and the other nearby attractions.
Once you arrive in Sintra, it’s time to start your day of exploration! The whole area is a dedicated UNESCO World Heritage Site, which should clue you into how much there is to see.
Start your day at Pena Palace
Pena Palace was originally a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary, then a monastery in the 15th century. It was devastated by the earthquake in the 18th century. Sintra was then converted into a flamboyant and decorative summer palace for the Portuguese royal family by King Ferdinand II. His mix of Gothic, Moorish, and Renaissance influences created a mishmash of decorative styles. What resulted was the Palácio da Pena, completed in 1854.
Surrounding Pena Palace is Parque de Pena, a landscaped park of infinite shades of green painting the surrounding park creating an idyllic scene, frequently hidden under the veil of the mists that characterize the Sintra Hills. While there, a tour guide told me that Queen Maria II had once mentioned to King Ferdinand that she would like a beautiful garden, so Ferdinand not only designed this park himself, but he also imported hundreds of different species of trees, flowers, and other fauna originating from the four corners of the earth. Nowadays, the park is home to special types of flower hybrids that can only be found in Sintra.
Lunch in Sintra town- Take a stroll around Sintra to admire the cute shops, churches, and townhouses. After you’ve taken in the old town and energized yourself with some grub, head towards Quinta da Regaleira.
Quinta da Regaleira
What Ferdinand began; others would continue. A Quinta is a private estate, and Quinta da Regaleira is particularly enchanting. It includes a grand Gothic estate and extensive gardens. The land that the Quinta da Regaleira now sits on was bought by António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro from the Viscountess of Regaleira in 1892 – hence the name. Carvalho Monteiro was quite wealthy, and the estate he had built between 1904 and 1910 is also known as “The Palace of Monteiro the Millionaire.” The palace is impressive enough with gothic turrets rising into the air and ornate features carved into the façade, but the real attraction is the remarkable gardens.
The star site of Quinta da Regaleira is the deep well that tunnels into the ground. Taking the spiral steps to the bottom is one of the best things to do in Sintra. This spiraling well is just one of several features in the gardens that represent ancient secret orders like the Knights Templar and the Masons.
At the Initiation Well, you’re meant to follow the spiral staircase all the way to the bottom, and then exit via a hidden tunnel.
Castelo dos Mouros
Castelo dos Mouros sits on another rocky peak of the hill just a few hundred meters away. It was built in the 8th and 9th centuries by the Moors (Muslims that occupied the Iberian Peninsula at the time). The castle is now a sight to behold with its walls meandering up and down the contours of the hill. Each turret provides excellent views over the surrounding area. Inside a small exhibition explains Moorish history with artifacts found during various digs.
Eat: Cervejaria Ramiro
After a full day at Sintra make sure to head back into town for Cervejaria Ramiro. Made famous by the late Anthony Bourdain, the three-floor beer house offers a wide selection of seafood. Get your hands dirty with a menu that is almost entirely focused on the bounty of the sea. He enjoys percebes (gooseneck barnacles), langoustines, clams, sapateira (crab) with wine, and giant camarões (tiger prawns), paired with a side of Sagres beer. For dessert – because this makes sense – he orders a traditional Lisboan option: a prego – that’s a garlic steak sandwich with mustard.
Day 3: Belem Tower, Jeronimos Monastery, & of course, Pasteis de Nata
On day three, we head southwest to the Belém neighborhood. Getting there is very easy from Praça do Comércio, just take the 728 bus or take the picturesque tram ride 15E that departs every 15 minutes.
Start the day off at Belem Tower (Torro De Belem). The tower symbolizes Portugal’s maritime and colonial power during the so-called Age of Exploration (beginning in the mid-to-late 15th century), when Europeans increasingly traveled to different parts of the world to expand their knowledge of and control over global resources, people, and lands.
Around the corner, you will find a 16th-century Jerónimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located close to the river in the Belém neighborhood. Combining characteristics that span Flamboyant Gothic, Moorish, Baroque, and early Renaissance, the monastery is a fascinating emblem of the Portuguese spirit of discovery and contains a wealth of history. It opens at 10 am and the entrance fee is 10€.
Once you’re done at Jerónimos, sit for a bit next door at the famous cafè Pastéis de Belém, which has been making custard tarts, based on a recipe from the monastery that dates back to 1837. If you are in the mood for some actual food, try Restaurante Adega de Belém for some fresh and delicious seafood.
From Belém, you can take a walk on the promenade and enjoy the views of Ponte 25 de Abril (the bridge) or grab a taxi and head to LX Factory. The main attraction of LX Factory is the Ler Devagar bookshop. It introduced a new concept of a bookshop as a meeting place, a space for debating ideas, for reading, for indulging in the artistic experience, or — now — for taking that perfect photo. Nowadays, it is considered one of the 20 most beautiful bookshops in the world. Trust me, it is worth the hype! And after a selfie or two, you can discover the coolest project in Lisbon and the rest of LX Factory.
Eat: Da Noi Lisboa
Da Noi Lisboa is a secluded restaurant and wine bar with a cozy yet sophisticated atmosphere. A friend recommended the truffle gnocchi and I was not disappointed. Along with gnocchi, I savored Beef Carpaccio with a glass of Casa de Esteira while spending a good hour chatting with the bartender that could easily double as an Abercrombie model. Left Da Noi slightly tipsy with a newfound appreciation of Portuguese men – ugh I mean wine!
On a Budget?
Here are some affordable stays and eats in the city.
Stay: We Hate F Tourists: cute boutique hostel that also organizes fun day trips and evenings around the city. I also stayed here during my stay and is by far my favorite hostel I’ve ever stayed in.
Shop: El Ganso, HUMANA Vintage, UP! town lisboa
Breakfast & lunch: Mil Sabores Lisboa
Dinner: Floresta Das Escadinhas
Drinks: BacoAlto
PS — Are You Booking a Trip Soon? Here’s my travel checklist!
These are the sites I use most to book my own trips. Using the links below is a great way to support my travel journalism at no extra cost to you.
Book Your Flights
Use Skyscanner to find the best flights. It searches 100s of airlines and websites across the globe to ensure you’re not missing out on any route options or deals.
Book Your Accommodations
Use Booking.com for hotels and guest houses. They have the biggest inventory and consistently offer the best rates.
If you prefer backpacking, Hostelworld is your one-stop shop for affordable accommodations and hostel reviews.
Book Your Tours & Experiences
Use Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours and experiences. They are my favorite tour search engines. I always check both as their inventory varies depending on the destination.
Transfer Money
With Wise, you can transfer money to most international bank accounts. They offer some of the best conversion rates and can be used to fund Gojek and Grab accounts.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
I never leave the country without travel insurance. My favorite company that offers the best all-around coverage is World Nomads. They offer a good travel insurance plan that covers things like lost luggage, theft, illnesses before your trip, emergency medical care, and shady travel agencies. Don’t travel without it!
