Lisbon, Portugal’s sunlit capital, is older than Rome and famously rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake into a city of viewpoints, azulejo tiles, and sea-breezed boulevards. Its seven hills tumble into the Tagus River, where explorers once sailed toward the unknown. Today, you’ll find a blend of Moorish lanes in Alfama, Belle Époque squares in Baixa, and modern design along the riverfront at MAAT.

Beyond the city, Sintra’s misty palaces and the surf-washed cliffs of Cascais are an easy escape. In three days, you can savor Lisbon’s classics—Belém’s UNESCO treasures, the pastel-hued viewpoints, and a night of fado—while sampling petiscos, vinho verde, and the city’s celebrated seafood. Expect warm hospitality and late dinners; Lisbon truly wakes up after sunset.

Practical notes: Pickpockets target crowded trams (especially Tram 28), so keep valuables close. The metro is clean and reliable, ride-hailing is affordable, and contactless payments are widely accepted. Book top restaurants and Sintra tours in advance, especially spring through fall.

Lisbon

Lisbon charms with contrasts: centuries-old tiled façades next to street art, historic tascas beside contemporary wine bars, and golden light that seems made for long dusks. Start in Alfama for medieval lanes and miradouros; wander Chiado for cafés and bookshops; and head riverside to Belém for monuments to the Age of Discovery.

Top sights include the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower (both UNESCO), the hilltop Castelo de São Jorge, the elegant Praça do Comércio, and the quirky LX Factory creative hub. Food lovers should not miss a bifana sandwich, grilled sardines in summer, and pasteis de nata still warm from the oven.

• How to get to Lisbon: If you’re flying within Europe, compare fares on Omio (flights). From North America/Asia, check Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com (flights). From Porto, trains take ~2h45–3h15 and start around €10–€30; search and book via Omio (trains). Buses can be cheaper (3.5–4h) via Omio (buses).
• Airport transfer: Metro Red Line from LIS to city center takes 20–30 minutes (~€2 including Viva Viagem card). Uber/taxi is ~20–30 minutes, usually €12–€22 depending on traffic.

• Where to stay (handpicked):
  • Classic luxury: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon (resort-style spa, park views, refined service).
  • Family suites: Martinhal Lisbon Chiado Family Suites (kitchenettes, kids’ club in the heart of Chiado).
  • Historic glamour: Olissippo Lapa Palace Hotel (elegant rooms, hillside gardens, pool).
  • Style on a budget: Lisbon Destination Hostel (inside Rossio Station; social, central, excellent value).
  • Browse more stays: VRBO Lisbon | Hotels.com Lisbon

• Local flavors to bookmark:
  • Pastries & coffee: Manteigaria (nata specialists with open kitchen), Fabrica Coffee Roasters (single-origin espresso), The Mill (Aussie-Portuguese brunch), Copenhagen Coffee Lab (Scandi bakes).
  • Lunch classics: Zé da Mouraria (legendary bacalhau), O Trevo (bifana sandwich counter), Ponto Final in Cacilhas (riverfront rice dishes; go for sunset).
  • Seafood & dinner: Cervejaria Ramiro (shellfish temple; arrive early), Solar dos Presuntos (Minho seafood and rice stews), Taberna da Rua das Flores (chalkboard small plates; walk-in).
  • Drinks & fado: A Tasca do Chico (cozy fado), Clube de Fado (classic show with dinner), Red Frog (award-winning speakeasy; book), Pavilhão Chinês (eclectic, old-world bar).

Day 1: Alfama, Viewpoints, and Fado Night

Morning: Travel day. If you arrive early, shake off jet lag with a flat white at Fabrica Coffee Roasters (Rua das Portas de Santo Antão) and a still-warm pastel de nata at Manteigaria. Pick up a Viva Viagem transit card; a 24‑hour pass is great value if you’ll ride metros, buses, and trams today.

Afternoon: Get oriented the fun way on a tuk-tuk overview that weaves hilltop viewpoints with backstreet history. Reserve the True 4Hour Private Tuk Tuk Tour: Discover Lisbon with a Local! to cover Alfama, Graça, Baixa, Chiado, and Bairro Alto in one go; guides tailor stops for photos and stories.

Afterward, linger at Miradouro da Senhora do Monte or Portas do Sol for postcard vistas over terracotta roofs and the Tagus. If you prefer a guided tasting walk this afternoon, swap the tuk-tuk for the Lisbon Small-Group Portuguese Food and Wine Tour—expect multiple bites (queijo, presunto, canned fish delicacies) and regional wines.

Evening: Feast on seafood at Cervejaria Ramiro—go for garlic clams, scarlet prawns, and a prego (steak sandwich) “for dessert.” Alternative: Solar dos Presuntos for oven-baked cod and sea-bream rice. Cap the night with live fado in Alfama at Clube de Fado (classic, reservations recommended) or slip into A Tasca do Chico (intimate, often standing room). If cocktails call, Red Frog’s speakeasy menu is one of Europe’s best.

Day 2: Sintra Palaces, Cabo da Roca, and Seaside Cascais

Make a full-day escape to Lisbon’s romantic backyard. Join a small-group excursion—no logistics, just palaces and Atlantic views: Sintra and Cascais Small-Group Day Trip from Lisbon. You’ll typically visit Pena Palace’s storybook turrets, stroll the mystical gardens of Quinta da Regaleira, pause at Cabo da Roca (continental Europe’s westernmost point), and enjoy free time in chic Cascais before returning to Lisbon (expect ~9–10 hours, usually from about €75–€120 depending on season).

Food tips on tour: In Sintra, grab travesseiros (almond pillows) or queijadas (cheese tarts) from a traditional bakery. For a sit-down petiscos lunch near the historic center, try Tascantiga (small plates) or Cantinho Gourmet (Portuguese classics). In Cascais, Santini serves heritage gelato perfect for a seaside stroll.

DIY option: Prefer going at your own pace? Take the train from Rossio Station to Sintra (~40 minutes, ~€2.50 each way, plus €0.50 card). Start early for Pena Palace, then Quinta da Regaleira; bus 403 connects to Cabo da Roca, and another bus or Uber continues to Cascais for the train back to Lisbon. It’s a big day—but unforgettable.

Back in Lisbon (evening): Dine in Chiado: Taberna da Rua das Flores (walk-in only; rotating chalkboard dishes) or By The Wine (tapas and excellent by-the-glass list). If energy remains, wander Bairro Alto’s lively lanes or settle into Pavilhão Chinês for nightcaps amid vintage curios.

Day 3: Belém’s UNESCO Heritage and Riverside Design

Morning: Head to Belém by Tram 15 or train (~20–25 minutes). Start at the Jerónimos Monastery to admire its Manueline cloisters, then walk to the Belém Tower—a sentinel of Portugal’s seafaring golden age. Pop into the sleek MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture & Technology) for striking riverfront architecture and rotating exhibitions.

Refuel with still-warm Pastéis de Belém dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar. Coffee tip: the café’s espresso bar moves faster if you don’t need a table. For a second breakfast, Copenhagen Coffee Lab’s Belém outpost pours excellent pour-overs and has excellent sourdough.

Afternoon (before departure): Return toward Cais do Sodré for a quick lunch at Time Out Market (look for fried cuttlefish at Marlene Vieira, croquettes at Croqueteria, or modern bacalhau at Henrique Sá Pessoa’s kiosk). If time allows and you want one last guided spin, consider a breezy electric tuk tuk loop like the Welcome Tour to Lisbon in Private Eco Tuk Tuk (about 2 hours; great for quick highlights en route to the hotel). Otherwise, pick up last-minute tins of conservas (sardines, mackerel) at a specialty shop for edible souvenirs, then transfer to the airport.

Airport timing: Plan ~30 minutes by metro or 25–40 minutes by car depending on traffic. International flights recommend arriving 2.5–3 hours prior to departure.

Good to know: For intercity trains and buses beyond Lisbon (e.g., to Porto, Algarve), search and book with Omio (trains) and Omio (buses). If you’re connecting to Lisbon from another European city by air, compare on Omio (flights); if flying long-haul, check fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

In three days, this Lisbon itinerary threads together old-world neighborhoods, riverfront monuments, and a dreamy Sintra detour, with plenty of Portuguese food and wine along the way. You’ll leave with sunlit photos, a playlist of saudade-laced fado, and a desire to return for longer.