Lisbon is one of Europe’s oldest capitals, rebuilt in elegant stone after the 1755 earthquake and still crowned by the Moorish Castelo de São Jorge. Its seven hills deliver cinematic views—miradouros framed by bougainvillea, azulejo-tiled façades, and yellow trams rattling toward the Tagus. The city blends maritime history with modern design, from the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower to the MAAT museum’s swoop on the riverside.

Expect sun-splashed days, Atlantic breezes, and a food scene that swings between rustic tascas and inventive fine dining. You’ll sip Portuguese wines, bite into just-baked pastéis de nata, and hear fado spill from vaulted taverns in Alfama and Mouraria. Day trips open a door to storybook palaces in Sintra and surfy shores in Cascais.

Practical notes: Lisbon Airport (LIS) sits close to the center; the metro and rideshares are quick and affordable. Pick up a Viva Viagem card for unlimited-day transit, wear good walking shoes for cobbles, and keep an eye on belongings on Tram 28. Portuguese is the language, but English is widely understood in hospitality; tipping is modest but appreciated.

Lisbon

Lisbon is a mood—golden light, tiled streets, and balconies draped with laundry. Neighborhoods each have a flavor: Alfama’s medieval lanes, Baixa’s grand squares, Chiado’s cafés, Príncipe Real’s leafy parks, and Belém’s monuments to the Age of Discoveries. Ride Elevador de Santa Justa, linger at Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, and catch sunset over the 25 de Abril Bridge.

• Top sights: Castelo de São Jorge, Sé Cathedral, Praça do Comércio, Tram 28, Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, Monument to the Discoveries, MAAT, LX Factory.
• Food and drink: seafood at Cervejaria Ramiro or Solar dos Presuntos; bifanas at O Trevo; piri-piri chicken at Bonjardim; creative plates at Prado; pastries at Manteigaria and Pastéis de Belém.
• Fun facts: Lisbon’s “azulejos” aren’t just blue; they’re a 500-year artform telling stories across palaces, metro stations, and courtyards.

Where to stay (affiliate): Browse entire apartments and stylish stays on VRBO Lisbon or compare hotels on Hotels.com Lisbon. Expert picks: ultra-classic city views at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon; stylish and social at Lisbon Destination Hostel; family-perfect suites at Martinhal Lisbon Chiado Family Suites; resort-like riverside calm at Olissippo Lapa Palace Hotel.

How to get to Lisbon (affiliate): From European hubs, flights to LIS typically take 1–3 hours; check fares on Omio Flights (Europe). Long-haul travelers can compare options on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. In Europe, trains and buses link major cities—compare on Omio Trains and Omio Buses. From LIS, the metro Red Line reaches downtown in ~25–30 minutes.

Day 1: Alfama, Baixa & Belém by Tuk Tuk + Fado Night

Morning: Travel day. If you land early, shake off jet lag with specialty coffee at Fábrica Coffee Roasters (espresso nerds love their single-origin pour-overs) or Hello, Kristof (Scandi-minimal, great granola bowls). Pick up a Viva Viagem transit card and drop bags at your hotel.

Afternoon: Kick off with a private tuktuk overview that tackles Lisbon’s hills with zero sweat. Book the True 4Hour Private Tuk Tuk Tour: Discover Lisbon with a Local! to glide through Alfama, Graça, Baixa, Chiado, and out to Belém for riverside monuments and pastry stops.

Pause at Miradouro da Senhora do Monte for a breathtaking castle-to-river panorama, and, if your route swings via Belém, sample original custard tarts at Pastéis de Belém (served warm, dusted with cinnamon).

Evening: Dinner near Baixa/Chiado: try Solar dos Presuntos (classic seafood and rice stews), Prado (hyper-seasonal Portuguese produce and natural wines), or Taberna da Rua das Flores (daily chalkboard of small plates; arrive early). Then step into fado’s soul in Alfama—consider Clube de Fado (white-tablecloth, powerhouse singers) or Tasca do Chico in Bairro Alto (cozier and informal). Cap the night with a rooftop drink at Park Bar for sunset over terracotta roofs.

Day 2: Sintra Palaces, Cabo da Roca Cliffs & Cascais

Spend a full day among fairy-tale estates and Atlantic cliffs on the Sintra, Pena, Regaleira, Cabo da Roca & Cascais from Lisbon. It’s a small-group classic covering Pena Palace’s candy-colored turrets, the mystical wells and gardens of Quinta da Regaleira, windblown viewpoints at continental Europe’s westernmost point, and a seaside stroll in Cascais.

Grab a quick breakfast—Manteigaria’s pastel de nata plus a bica (espresso)—before pickup. For lunch, guides often suggest local Sintra spots (travesseiros puff pastries at Piriquita are a sweet must). Back in Lisbon by evening, dine at Cervejaria Ramiro (garlic clams, scarlet prawns, and a final prego steak sandwich) or Páteo in Bairro do Avillez (seafood-focused sharing plates in a lively courtyard).

Day 3: Tiles, Belém or LX Factory, and a Food & Wine Farewell

Morning: If you didn’t reach Belém on Day 1, head there early for Jerónimos Monastery’s stone filigree, Belém Tower, and the Monument to the Discoveries; MAAT is a striking add-on by the waterfront. Alternatively, explore LX Factory’s indie bookstores and design shops (Ler Devagar’s soaring shelves are catnip for readers), or dive into the National Tile Museum for a crash course in azulejos from Moorish patterns to modern panels.

Afternoon: Celebrate your last tastes of Lisbon on the award-winning Winner 2025 Undiscovered Lisbon Food & Wine Tour by Eating Europe, which weaves through local neighborhoods with four sit-down stops, classic petiscos, and Portuguese wines.

If your flight departs early afternoon, swap the tour for Time Out Market: assemble a grazer’s lunch from stalls like Marlene Vieira (seafood), Cozinha da Felicidade (petiscos), or a cheeky pre-flight pastry from Manteigaria’s outpost.

Evening: For late departures, squeeze in one last viewpoint at Miradouro de Santa Luzia (azulejo-lined terraces) or São Pedro de Alcântara. Quick bites that punch above their weight: bifanas at O Trevo, piri-piri chicken at Bonjardim, or sardines and caldo verde at O Velho Eurico. Then head to LIS: the metro Red Line takes ~25–30 minutes; taxis/ride-hails run ~15–25 minutes depending on traffic.

Dining & Coffee Shortlist (save for any day)

• Breakfast/coffee: Fábrica Coffee Roasters (third-wave espresso), The Mill (Aussie-Portuguese brunch), Seagull Method Café (all-day eggs and pancakes), Dear Breakfast (elegant takes on classics).
• Lunch: Time Out Market (choose-your-own Lisbon), Zé da Mouraria (hearty Portuguese daily specials), A Valenciana (wood-charred piri-piri chicken), Páteo 13 in Alfama (grilled fish on a sunny terrace).
• Dinner: Solar dos Presuntos (seafood rice and monkfish), Cervejaria Ramiro (shellfish temple), Prado (seasonal, wood-fired flair), Taberna da Rua das Flores (chalkboard petiscos), Belcanto for a splurge (two Michelin stars by José Avillez).
• Sweet stops: Manteigaria (pastéis de nata baked all day) and Pastéis de Belém (the original since 1837).
• Drinks: Park Bar (rooftop sunset), Foxtrot (vintage cocktail den), By the Wine (Portuguese bottles by the glass).

Getting Around & Tips

• Transit: Viva Viagem 24-hour passes cover metro, buses, trams, and some lifts—great value if you’re hopping around. Tram 28 is iconic but crowded; ride early or late, and watch for pickpockets.
• Taxis/ride-hail: Uber/Bolt are widespread and inexpensive for cross-city hops and late nights.
• Timing: Museums close Mondays more often than not; book Jerónimos and Pena Palace early for fewer lines.
• Etiquette: Service is leisurely; a 5–10% tip is appreciated at sit-down restaurants, round up for cafés and taxis.

Optional add-ons if you have extra time: Oceanário de Lisboa (world-class aquarium in Parque das Nações), Calouste Gulbenkian Museum (treasures from Mesopotamia to modern art), and a ferry hop to Cacilhas for a riverside meal at Ponto Final or Atira-te ao Rio with city skyline views.

Bookable highlights included in this itinerary:

• True 4Hour Private Tuk Tuk Tour: Discover Lisbon with a Local!
• Sintra, Pena, Regaleira, Cabo da Roca & Cascais from Lisbon
• Winner 2025 Undiscovered Lisbon Food & Wine Tour by Eating Europe

Three days in Lisbon pairs hilltop vistas with deep history and easy-going dining, capped by a fairy-tale escape to Sintra. You’ll leave with azulejos in your camera roll, fado in your ears, and a list of restaurants you’ll crave long after you’re home.