3 DAYS IN LISBON PORTUGAL: A PERFECT ITINERARY FOR FIRST TIME VISITORS!

PLANNING A 3 DAY ITINERARY TO LISBON?

You’ve come to the right place! We’ve just come back from spending a wonderful long weekend in Lisbon, Portugal’s artsy, alternative and edgy capital.

3 days we’d say is the perfect amount of time to spend in Lisbon. All your days are jam-packed with epic sights, and you’ll leave feeling like you well and truly ticked it off!

Here’s the itinerary we followed, tweaked slightly from our recent “on-the-ground experience”. Where possible, it focuses on the more authentic, old-charm spots in Lisbon.

Sound good? Let’s do it! 🤩

Planning your trip to Lisbon?
Start here:

Skyscanner ↗ to find the best flight deals into Lisbon Airport (LIS).
Booking.com ↗ to browse the best places to stay in Lisbon.
🎟️ Viator.com ↗ to book unforgettable tours, like island hopping.
🛡️ Staysure ↗ for easy, reliable travel insurance (UK travellers only).

3 DAYS IN LISBON PORTUGAL ITINERARY

DAY 1: PHOTO OP, JARDIM DE TOREL (HIDDEN GEM), VIEWPOINTS & ALFAMA DISTRICT

ARRIVE INTO LISBON AIRPORT
Fly into Lisbon’s “Humberto Delgado Airport” Airport (LIS) early this morning. Lisbon is literally swamped with UBER drivers, so you’ll have no trouble booking one when you land.

There’s a set pick-up point for UBER at Lisbon airport. Leaving baggage claim, just follow the large signs gesturing to the left, where you’ll arrive into a lower level of a multi story car park in a minute or so. It’s not far at all.

Considering it’s a good 30 minute (ish) drive from the airport into Lisbon, we were surprised it only cost us €12!

The dedicated P2 UBER pick-up spot at Lisbon airport (LIS) — Leaving baggage claim at Lisbon airport, you’ll see large signage showing you where to go to pick-up your UBER. *Photo by Jordie.*

3-days-in-lisbon-portugal — © All photography copyrights reserved by 54 São Paulo.

WHERE WE STAYED IN LISBON 💤
54 São Paulo – Exclusive Apartment Hotel ↗ – “Superior one-bedroom apartment” is the room type we stayed in. Charming, stylish and modern.

Continental breakfast brought to your room each morning. Brilliant location near top sights and staff were so friendly and helpful.

👉🏼 Book your stay here (free cancellation) ↗

RUA DA BICA DE DUARTE BELO STREET
AKA. EARLY MORNING PHOTO OP!
Up early this morning to get of Lisbon’s most iconic photo spots to yourself. And no, it’s not the “whacky and tacky” Pink Street (honestly, that’s so overrated).

I’m talking about Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo street!!

This steep, narrow street is a visual icon: famous for its permanently static yellow “Ascensor da Bica” funicular in the foreground, and descending views of laundry-lined colourful buildings AND distant oceans all in one picturesque view.

The iconic Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo street in lisbon — The most iconic and beautiful street in Lisbon, Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo. *Photo by Liam.*

JARDIM DE TOREL (LISBON HIDDEN GEM!!)
Finding it by accident while scouring Google Maps, Jardim de Torel turned out to be one of Lisbon’s best kept secrets – and genuinely one of our favourite spots.

Jardim de Torel, a quiet little public garden and one of Lisbon's best hidden gems! — Myself and little man taking in the views at Lisbon’s Jardim de Torel. *Photo by Liam.*

Nestled high on a hilltop, this small public garden (complete with trees, greenery and benches) has incredible views across Lisbon, with the sea in the distance.

It feels authentic, serene and is a great spot to relax in quiet alongside the locals!

💡 Bring some snacks with you, this is the best place in Lisbon to have a picnic!

💡 Definitely get an UBER to Jardim de Torel, those hills on the way up were no joke! Easy part is walking back down.

WALK BACK DOWN TO THE CITY (2 VIEWPOINT STOPS)
From Jardim de Torel, leisurely walk back down towards the city, stopping at two scenic viewpoints along the way.

After 20 minutes you’ll reach Miradouro da Graça, then around 8 minutes further downhill you’ll reach Miradouro das Portas do Sol. A beautiful viewpoint, though sadly this time not a hidden gem. It was super busy when we visited.

💡 There’s a short staircase on the right leading up to Miradouro das Portas do Sol. Take a quick peek down there, it opens out into a street art tunnel and a quaint courtyard at the bottom. Come back up afterwards.

Panoramic views of Lisbon as seen from Miradouro das Portas do Sol viewpoint — Lisbon as seen from the popular Miradouro das Portas do Sol viewpoint. *Photo by Liam.*

Quirky staircase leading up to Miradouro das Portas do Sol viewpoint in Lisbon — Staircase leading up to Miradouro das Portas do Sol. *Photo by Jordie.*

3-days-in-split-croatia-itinerary — The courtyard at the bottom of the Miradouro das Portas do Sol staircase. *Photo by Jordie.*

YOU’RE NOW IN ALFAMA DISTRICT
What I really want you to notice here are the winding streets as you continue down the main road from Miradouro das Portas do Sol.

You’re now in Alfama, one of Lisbon’s oldest districts!

For us, this is the epitome of Lisbon: narrow, bustling, maze-like alleys, laundry-lined cobbled streets and tight tram lines weaving their way through the wonderful chaos.

RIDE TRAM 28 (OPTIONAL)
If you wanted to experience Lisbon’s iconic Tram 28, you can catch it from Martim Moniz tram stop in Alfama and ride it back down into the city centre instead.

Alfama District, Lisbon. Shows winding hill street with yellow tram as focal point — Lisbon’s narrow, bustling street – full of trams and tourists squeezing by. *Photo by Jordie.*

DINNER AT SEAME FISH RESTAURANT
We love food, but wouldn’t usually class ourselves as “foodies”. We’re not ones to seek out fancy restaurants.

But Liam’s boss was so adamant we try Sea Me Peixaria Moderna fish restaurant on our visit, we had to give it a go. Specifically to order the Dourada (Sea Bream) fish.

It’s a fish market-style restaurant, where you head to the back to choose your fish straight from the ice.

It was pretty pricey (for us anyway) but to be fair, it was and still is the best / freshest fish I’ve ever tasted in my life!!

💡 Easily reserve your table online through Google.

Dourada (Sea Bream) fish at Sea Me Peixaria Moderna fish restaurant in Lisbon — Thankfully they had one Dourada (Sea Bream) fish on ice, so we shared half each. It was so fresh and delicious! *Photo by Jordie.*

DAY 2: LX FACTORY, OCEANARIUM & SEA ME RESTAURANT

LX FACTORY
Grab a 10 minute UBER east of Lisbon to LX Factory, a trendy creative hub set within former industrial buildings.

This now vibrant mini-town is packed with cafés, restaurants, unique shops and art spaces. It has a great energy to it, and we loved all the cool, quirky (and impressive) street art seemingly everywhere you look!

It’s a great spot to grab food or drinks, or simply have a wander. Our favourite place there was Ler Devagar, a really cool bookstore with an industrial-meets-vintage feel.

💡 We came early in the morning and while most shops were open, it was pretty quiet. If you want to experience it at its liveliest, come in the afternoon instead.

Inside Ler Devagar, one of the coolest bookstores in Lisbon! — Inside Ler Devagar bookstore at LX Factory, one of our favourite spots here. *Photo by Jordie.*

Example of the impressive street art in every corner of LX Factory, Lisbon — Pass this crazy tree before stepping into Lisbon’s crazy windy streets. *Photo by Jordie.*

LISBON OCEANARIUM
Turns out, Lisbon is home to one of the best aquariums in the world (and Europe’s second largest): Oceanário de Lisboa!

We had no idea until our UBER driver from the airport recommended it. It turned out to be one of the best surprises of our trip!! And as you can imagine, our little boy LOVED it.

Young boy marvelling at the central global ocean tank in Lisbon's Oceanarium — Looking into Lisbon’s Oceanarium “global ocean” felt like being inside a submarine under the sea. Photo by Jordie.

The main attraction is a colossal central tank representing the “global ocean”, home to over 100 species including sharks, rays and massive schools of fish.

It’s absolutely huge and viewed from multiple levels. Tbh it actually feels like you’re in a submarine looking into the ocean, you can’t see the through to the other end.

All I could think about was how strong that glass must be to hold all that water 😅 Turns out, it holds 5 million litres of it!!

Surrounding it are smaller habitats representing different ecosystems, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, each just as fascinating in their own right. Not just fish – they’ve even got adorable puffins, penguins and sea otters 🥹

💡 Lisbon’s Oceanarium is outside the main city, a 20 minute drive. You can hop on the metro to “Oriente” to get there or just grab an UBER. It cost us about €8 to get there.

💡 Lisbon’s Oceanarium is of the best things to do in Lisbon on a rainy day, or to be honest, any day!

DAY 3: (FULL DAY TOUR) SINTRA, PENA PALACE, REGALEIRA, CABO ROCA & CASCAIS

FULL DAY TOUR
Time to get out of Lisbon and explore! Experience the very best of the famous Sintra and Portugal’s coastline without worrying about any logistics on this small-group Lisbon to Sintra, Pena, Regaleira, Cabo Roca and Cascais day tour.

The fact 98% of previous customers gave it 5* won us over to book, and it didn’t disappoint!

PENA PALACE
This tour gets you to the bright and bold Pena Palace right as the gates open, giving you the best chance to experience it before the crowds arrive.

You can either opt for a standard ticket to explore the exterior, or upgrade to also access inside the palace rooms.

The Pena Palace in Sintra on a slightly drizzly day. To the left you can just make out the landscape below. — The drizzly clouds cleared up slightly here! *Photo by Jordie.*

We visited on a pretty drizzly morning (apparently it has its own microclimate!), but it didn’t dull its beauty at all. I especially loved the detailing underneath the walkways – the tiling was incredible.

💡 From the entrance gate, the walk up to Pena Palace is a steady incline with a few steps along the way. Take your time.

Check availability for this ‘Lisbon to Sintra, Pena, Regaleira, Cabo Roca and Cascais day tour’ ↗

Pena Palace, Sintra — Pena Palace on the walk back down, it started clearing up as we left! 😆 *Photo by Jordie.*

The incredible tiling detail on the exterior of Pena Palace, Sintra — Still dreaming of this tiling under the walkways of Pena Palace’s exterior. *Photo by Jordie.*

SINTRA VILLAGE (QUINTA DA REGALEIRA CASTLE)
You’ll have around 2 hours of free time in Sintra village. While it’s lovely, it is quite small, so we recommend using this time first to walk about 10 minutes out to Quinta da Regaleira castle, just on the outskirts.

Make sure you pre-book your entry tickets to Quinta da Regaleira online ↗ in advance once you know your tour date (not included in tour). The “no tickets” queue was sooo long when we visited we were able to skip straight past.

💡 Double check with the tour company on this first, they recommended for us to select the 11.30am – 12pm slot.

Wandering the grounds of Quinta da Regaleira castle in Sintra — Wandering the grounds of Quinta da Regaleira. *Photo by Jordie.*

The famous “Initiation Well” is inside the grounds and included with your entry, so once you’re in, you’re free to explore it. That in itself is worth the ticket, it’s really cool!

The Initiation Well at Quinta da Regaleira castle. *Photo by Jordie.*

Afterwards, head back into Sintra village to browse the traditional shops and cafés. Its a great spot to try one of Portugal’s famous custard tarts or shot of Ginjinha – a cherry liqueur often served in a chocolate cup!

Can confirm, the Ginjinha shot is delicious!! I’m not a fan of custard myself, so I’ll leave that one to you 😉

Reserve this ‘Lisbon to Sintra, Pena, Regaleira, Cabo Roca and Cascais day tour’ (free cancellation) ↗

Pastel de nata CUSTARD tarts display in Sintra — Portugal is famed for its “Pastel de Nata” custard egg tarts. *Photo by Jordie.*

A close up shot of a Ginjinha cherry liqueur served in a chocolate cup! — As is Ginjinha – a cherry liqueur often served in a chocolate cup! *Photo by Jordie.*

CABO DA ROCA (QUICK STOP)
The westernmost point of mainland Europe, with dramatic cliffside views over the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a quick but memorable stop.

💡 There’s public toilets here, but it’s €1 (cash) to use them.

CASCAIS TOWN (LAST STOP)
Final stop is Cascais: once a fishing village, now a beautiful, affluent coastal town with a premium feel.

You’ll have around 1 hour 45 minutes here, before heading back to Lisbon. A great amount of time to explore the boutique-lined streets or simply relax by the sandy bay!

💡 Look out for the sand dunes as you drive into Cascais.

Book your spot on this ‘Lisbon to Sintra, Pena, Regaleira, Cabo Roca and Cascais day tour’ ↗

YOU’LL HAVE NO PROBLEM GETTING AROUND LISBON

IS LISBON WALKABLE?

Yes… but to a point. The main central areas (around Baixa, Chiado and along the waterfront) are relatively flat and very walkable, with shops, restaurants and sights all within reach.

But just know, the further inland you go, the hillier it gets! And we’re not talking gentle slopes – Lisbon’s hills are steep. Many streets are cobbled, uneven and often stepped, which is beautiful, but not always the easiest to navigate.

Sometimes you even go down a hill, to LITERALLY go back up again!! That’s when you stare at your Google Maps and say – COME ON, really??

And if you’re travelling with a pram, Lisbon’s hill can be an absolute killer. (Ask me how I know 😅)

GETTING AROUNG LISBON BY UBER

Uber is hands down the easiest and most convenient way to get around Lisbon! There are Ubers everywhere, and they arrive fast. Like… really fast.

Just don’t make the mistake I did and book one before you’re actually ready. I thought I had a minute, ran to grab my bag, came back… and the UBER had already arrived and gone 🙃

So yeah, make sure you’re fully ready before you hit confirm!

TUKTUKS IN LISBON

You’ll see loads of tuk-tuks around Lisbon, especially in the busy tourist areas. But we wouldn’t recommend them.

Many aren’t well regulated, and we saw police stopping and speaking to several drivers while we were there. They’re also often weaving through busy traffic, which look safe at all.

If you need transport, 100% stick with Uber. It’s easier, safer and usually cheaper too. Most importantly, run by locals!

FINAL THOUGHTS: 3 DAYS IN LISBON ITINERARY

And there you have it! An epic 3 days in Lisbon itinerary, packed with the authentic side of the city we personally loved, and a perfect plan for first-time visitors who want more than just the standard “tick off” sights.

3 days in Lisbon is ideal: Enough time to pack in the adventure, but still slow down and actually enjoy it.

From hilltop gardens with killer views, to colourful palaces, vibrant art hubs, coastal towns and even one of the world’s best aquariums – it’s got everything!

Feel free to tweak the order of the days to suit your trip, whether that’s working around weather, tours or just how you’re feeling.

We hope you found this itinerary helpful. You are going to have the BEST time in Lisbon. Please do get in touch at hello@theflainstravel.com if you follow this guide, we’d love to hear from you!! 😊

A photo of Jordie, the author of this specific blog post and owner of the wesbite.

This blog post was written by Jordie Flain!

Founder of TheFlainsTravel.com

A travel-obsessed Sagittarius creating honest, easy-to-follow guides. Powered by tea, chocolate and a slightly concerning amount of tomato ketchup.

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