Lisbon, Portugal’s light-drenched capital, has been shaped by Phoenicians, Romans, and Moors, and rebuilt with Baroque grace after the 1755 earthquake. Today it’s a city of azulejo-clad facades, cable-climbing trams, and Atlantic sunsets glowing over terracotta rooftops. You’ll hear fado spill from doorways in Alfama and taste centuries of maritime history in every plate of seafood.

Beyond the postcard views lie neighborhoods with distinct rhythms: Chiado’s literary cafés, Bairro Alto’s nightlife, Belém’s Age of Discovery monuments, and the creative hubs at LX Factory and Intendente. Day-trip to Sintra’s misty palaces, then curve along the coast to wind-battered Cabo da Roca and seaside Cascais. Miradouros (viewpoints) become your daily ritual.

Practical notes: Lisbon is hilly—pack comfy shoes. Pickpockets target crowded trams (especially 28E), so keep valuables secure. A Viva Viagem card makes public transit seamless and affordable, and reservations are wise for headline restaurants and fado. Cuisine highlights include bacalhau à Brás, piri-piri chicken, grilled sardines in summer, and the essential pastel de nata.

Lisbon

Lisbon rewards wanderers: turn one corner for a hidden cloister, another for a tile-bedecked palace, and then a view that stops you mid-sentence. The city’s soul lives in its “bairros”—Alfama’s steep alleys, Chiado’s Belle Époque storefronts, Mouraria’s immigrant kitchens, and riverside Belém where Portugal’s explorers set sail.

• Top sights: Castelo de São Jorge, Sé Cathedral, Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, MAAT, LX Factory, Oceanário, Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, Time Out Market.
• Local flavors: Pastéis de Belém and Manteigaria for custard tarts, tinned fish (conservas), bifanas (pork sandwiches), and vinho verde. Try a shot of sour-cherry ginjinha near Rossio.
• Fun fact: Lisbon has more sunshine hours than any other European capital—expect golden-hour magic daily.

Where to stay: Browse stays on VRBO Lisbon or compare hotels on Hotels.com Lisbon. Tried-and-true picks: ultra-refined Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon (views over Eduardo VII Park), timeless riverside glamour at Olissippo Lapa Palace Hotel, family-friendly suites at Martinhal Lisbon Chiado Family Suites, and budget-chic bunk or private rooms at Lisbon Destination Hostel.

How to get there and around: Fly into LIS (Humberto Delgado Airport). Compare fares into Lisbon and within Europe via Omio flights. For regional trains (e.g., to Sintra or Cascais) or intercity routes, see Omio trains and Omio buses. Airport to city: 20–30 min by metro or 20–40 min by taxi depending on traffic (roughly €12–€20). A 24-hour public transport pass runs about €6–€7 and includes metro, trams, and many buses.

Day 1: Arrival, Baixa & Chiado, and a Tuk Tuk Welcome

Afternoon: Arrive and drop bags. Ease into Lisbon with a gentle Baixa walk—Praça do Comércio’s arcades, Rua Augusta’s triumphant arch, and Rossio’s wave-patterned cobbles. Coffee and a first pastel de nata at Manteigaria (watch pastries emerge from the oven).

Evening: Get your bearings with a lively city overview on a 2-hour eco tuk tuk ride. Book the Welcome Tour to Lisbon in Private Eco Tuk Tuk—it sweeps through Alfama, Chiado, and Belém highlights with photo stops and local commentary.

Afterward, dine at Taberna da Rua das Flores (blackboard menu of seasonal Portuguese plates) or Sea Me (market-fresh seafood; try the tuna “nigiri” with smoked salt). Nightcap at Pavilhão Chinês, a whimsical antique-filled lounge in Príncipe Real.

Day 2: Alfama Heights, Castle Walls, and Fado

Morning: Coffee at Fábrica Coffee Roasters or Hello, Kristof (Scandi vibes). Climb to Miradouro da Senhora do Monte for the city’s sweeping skyline, then descend to São Vicente de Fora monastery and the Sé Cathedral. If it’s Tuesday or Saturday, poke around the Feira da Ladra flea market for azulejos and vinyl.

Afternoon: Explore Castelo de São Jorge—ramparts with 360° views and peacocks strutting the courtyards. Lunch on a classic at Zé da Mouraria (grilled fish or their famed beef stew, portions to share) or grab a bifana at O Trevo near Largo Camões.

Evening: Reserve a fado dinner in Alfama. Clube de Fado pairs soulful sets with cod and clams; intimate A Baiuca offers a neighborhood feel. Sip a post-show ginjinha near Rossio, a Lisbon rite of passage.

Day 3: Belém Monuments, Waterfront Art, and a Food Tour

Morning: Tram or rideshare to Belém. Tour the Jerónimos Monastery (Manueline masterpiece) and the riverside Belém Tower. Refuel at the original Pastéis de Belém—sprinkle cinnamon and powdered sugar on still-warm tarts.

Afternoon: Walk the Tagus promenade to MAAT for architecture and contemporary art, then browse the Coach Museum if you love gilded history. Grab a light bite at Darwin’s Café or head back toward Cais do Sodré.

Evening: Taste Lisbon’s hidden culinary corners on the Winner 2025 Undiscovered Lisbon Food & Wine Tour by Eating Europe—a dine-in, multi-stop experience with regional wines and stories that connect dishes to neighborhoods.

If you prefer a DIY evening, graze at Time Out Market (look for Miguel Castro e Silva’s bacalhau items and Asian Lab’s noodles), then drinks at Red Frog Speakeasy (reservations recommended).

Day 4: Contemporary Lisbon, Oceanário, and Rooftop Sunset

Morning: Breakfast at Dear Breakfast (eggs, pancakes, cold-pressed juices). Metro to Parque das Nações for the Oceanário de Lisboa, one of Europe’s best aquariums—kids and adults love the central tank’s manta rays and sunfish.

Afternoon: Stroll the modern riverfront, ride the cable car for views of the Vasco da Gama Bridge, then return west for design-forward browsing at LX Factory. Pop into Ler Devagar bookstore and snag a late-afternoon espresso at Wish Slow Coffee House.

Evening: Sunset cocktails at Park, a rooftop perched atop a parking garage with bridge-and-river views. Dinner at Solar dos Presuntos (Minho-style seafood rice, prawns “à guilho”), or Alma if you’re in the mood for contemporary fine dining—book well ahead.

Day 5: Sintra’s Palaces, Cabo da Roca Cliffs, and Cascais Coast

Trade city streets for mountain mist and sea spray on a full-day small-group excursion. Book the Sintra, Pena, Regaleira, Cabo da Roca & Cascais from Lisbon—it covers the dreamlike Pena Palace, underground initiation wells of Quinta da Regaleira, windswept Cabo da Roca (continental Europe’s westernmost point), and the elegant marina town of Cascais. Expect 9–10 hours with hotel pickup options.

Dinner: If you linger in Cascais, try Mar do Inferno for grilled fish by the surf. Back in Lisbon, celebrate with shellfish at Cervejaria Ramiro (order scarlet prawns and buttery garlic clams, then end with a prego steak sandwich).

Day 6: Tiles, Tram 28E, and Neighborhood Taverns

Morning: Start with coffee and a croissant at Copenhagen Coffee Lab. Head to the Museu Nacional do Azulejo to trace Portuguese tilework from the 16th century to modern artistry—don’t miss the panoramic Lisbon tile panel. Ride the photogenic Tram 28E afterward; be mindful of pickpockets.

Afternoon: Lunch at Mercado de Campo de Ourique—less touristed than Time Out; find octopus salad, croquettes, and artisanal gelato under one roof. Browse independent boutiques in Campo de Ourique or Príncipe Real (ceramics and Portuguese woolens make great souvenirs).

Evening: For a rustic feast, try O Velho Eurico (succulent pork ribs, cod fritters) or the tiny Taberna da Esperança (Iberian tapas and Alentejo wines). After, settle into old-school art deco vibes at Foxtrot for cocktails and a quiet chat.

Day 7: Gardens, Gulbenkian Art, and Farewell Flavors

Morning: Check out early and store bags. Wander the Gulbenkian Museum for a sublime collection from Egyptian artifacts to René Lalique jewelry, then decompress in the lush museum gardens or nearby Estufa Fria greenhouse.

Afternoon: A final lunch at Bairro do Avillez (shareable petiscos—smoked mackerel pâté, pica-pau beef)—or go classic with Frango assado (piri-piri chicken) from a neighborhood churrasqueira. Pick up last-minute tins of sardines and mackerel for gifts. Depart in the afternoon with a heart full of saudade.

Optional Add-Ons if You Have Extra Energy

• Guided tuk tuk deep dive: True 4Hour Private Tuk Tuk Tour: Discover Lisbon with a Local!

  

• Alternate food crawl: Lisbon Small-Group Portuguese Food and Wine Tour

  

Getting around (quick costs & times): Lisbon Airport to Baixa: ~25 min by metro; Sintra by train from Rossio: ~40 min, about €2–€3 each way (use Omio trains to compare routes); Cascais by train from Cais do Sodré: ~35 min, similar fare. Taxis/ride-hail are plentiful; cross-town rides often €6–€15.

Booking pointers: Reserve Pena Palace time slots (Sintra tours often include this), popular restaurants (Ramiro, Alma, Belcanto), and fado houses. For flights across Europe and into Lisbon, search on Omio flights. For stays, compare on Hotels.com or browse apartments on VRBO.

Seven days in Lisbon balances layered history and live-in-the-moment joy—tiles and trams by day, fado and feasts by night. With palaces in Sintra and sunsets along the Tagus, you’ll leave with a new favorite city and a promise to return.