Lisbon and Venice are cities that turn daily life into theater—one stage set on seven hills over the Atlantic, the other floating across a web of canals. Portugal’s capital rose from the 1755 earthquake to become a city of light and azulejos, where fado spills from taverns and trams rattle past tile-fronted façades. Venice, born from maritime grit, stitched 118 islands together with bridges, palaces, and a legacy of art that defined the Renaissance.

Over seven days, you’ll savor Lisbon’s café culture and seafood temples, day-trip to fairy-tale Sintra and Cascais, then jet to Venice for gilded basilicas, cicchetti bars, and an island hop to Murano and Burano. Expect world-class museums, lived-in neighborhoods, and markets as lively as concert halls.

Practical notes: bring comfortable shoes for cobblestones and stairs; reserve popular sites in advance; watch for pickpockets on crowded trams and vaporetti; and in Venice, consider a 24–72-hour vaporetto pass. Some peak days in Venice have a small entrance fee for day-trippers—overnight visitors typically register with their lodging. Portuguese and Italian dining skews late; embrace the rhythm.

Lisbon

Lisbon is equal parts sunlit viewpoints and soulful backstreets. Alfama’s lanes climb to Castelo de São Jorge; Belém’s Manueline masterpieces showcase the Age of Discovery. Modern creativity thrives at LX Factory and MAAT, while markets and tasca kitchens keep tradition on the table.

• Don’t miss: Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, Tram 28, miradouros like Portas do Sol and São Pedro de Alcântara, Time Out Market, the azulejo-rich National Tile Museum.
• Eat and drink: Cervejaria Ramiro (shellfish), Taberna da Rua das Flores (daily chalkboard plates), O Velho Eurico (no-frills Alentejano flavors), Zé da Mouraria (legendary bacalhau), Manteigaria (pasteis de nata). Cocktails at Red Frog or a rooftop sunset at Park.
• Stay: Search stays on VRBO Lisbon or Hotels.com Lisbon. Specific picks: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon (classic city views), Olissippo Lapa Palace Hotel (resort-like gardens), Martinhal Lisbon Chiado Family Suites (family-friendly), Lisbon Destination Hostel (budget-chic in Rossio).
• Getting in: For international flights, compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If you’re already in Europe, also check Omio flights.

Day 1 — Arrival in Lisbon: Baixa to Alfama

Afternoon: Land at LIS and ride the metro (30–35 minutes) or taxi (€15–25) into the center. Grab an espresso and your first pastel de nata at Manteigaria in Chiado, then stroll Baixa’s grid to Rossio Square and the Neo-Manueline train station. Pop up to the Carmo Convent ruins for a time-capsule frame of the 1755 earthquake story.

Evening: Climb to Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara for golden-hour views of Castelo de São Jorge. Dinner nearby at Taberna da Rua das Flores (arrive early; blackboard menu of petiscos like razor clams with coriander) or Cervejaria Ramiro (warm bread and head-on shrimp, then a prego steak sandwich for dessert). Finish with a shot of ginjinha near Rossio.

Day 2 — Hills, tiles, and Belém

Morning: Wake with a flat white at Fabrica Coffee Roasters. Walk Alfama’s maze: Sé Cathedral, Miradouro das Portas do Sol, and Castelo de São Jorge for red-roof panoramas. Pause at the National Tile Museum if you’re a design lover—its 1,000+ azulejos tell Portugal’s story in blue and white.

Afternoon: Tram or rideshare to Belém for Lisbon’s crown jewels: Jerónimos Monastery’s stone filigree and Belém Tower’s fortress grace. Taste the original custard tarts at Pastéis de Belém, then follow the Tagus to MAAT’s wave-like roof and the riverside path. Late lunch at Time Out Market—try Cozinha da Felicidade’s cod, O Prego da Peixaria’s steak sandwich, or Marlene Vieira’s seafood.

Evening: Join the city’s top-rated tasting walk, blending history with hearty portions: Winner 2025 Undiscovered Lisbon Food & Wine Tour by Eating Europe. Expect 4 sit-down stops across Baixa and Mouraria—think cured cheeses, bifana pork sandwiches, wines from Dão and Setúbal, and a primer on street art.

Day 3 — Sintra and Cascais day trip

Trade city streets for palaces and sea cliffs on this small-group excursion: Sintra and Cascais Small-Group Day Trip from Lisbon. You’ll weave through the candy-colored Pena Palace, mysterious Quinta da Regaleira gardens, wind-whipped Cabo da Roca (continental Europe’s westernmost point), and the resort town of Cascais.

Tip: Wear layers; Sintra’s microclimate runs cooler than Lisbon. Back in the city, keep dinner easy with grilled sardines at Pateo 13 in Alfama or roasted octopus at O Velho Eurico near the cathedral.

Venice

Venice is not a museum; it’s a living lagoon. Gondoliers still navigate trade-era thoroughfares, fishmongers still shout at the Rialto, and neighborhood bacari pour ombra (small glasses of wine) beneath laundry lines. The magic is in the mix: Byzantine gold in St. Mark’s, Titian’s color in church side-chapels, and lace and glass artisans at the city’s edges.

• Don’t miss: St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Rialto Market (mornings), Dorsoduro’s galleries, the Jewish Ghetto in Cannaregio, sunset along the Zattere.
• Eat and drink: Cicchetti at Cantine del Vino già Schiavi or Osteria Al Squero; sit-down at La Zucca (vegetable-forward Venetian), Antiche Carampane (seafood), Osteria Al Portego (cosy classic), Anice Stellato (Cannaregio favorite). Coffee at Torrefazione Cannaregio; sweet stops at Pasticceria Tonolo.
• Stay: For quiet nights and easy museum access, pick Dorsoduro; for classic address book convenience, San Marco or San Polo; for local vibes and value, Cannaregio. Search VRBO Venice and Hotels.com Venice.
• Getting there from Lisbon: Morning flights LIS–VCE are ~3h10 nonstop in season; otherwise 1-stop in 4.5–6h. Typical fares run ~$80–$250 depending on date. Search on Omio flights.

Day 4 — Fly to Venice, settle in, cicchetti crawl

Morning: Depart Lisbon for Venice. Upon landing at VCE, choose transport: Alilaguna boat to San Marco or Zattere (60–75 minutes, ~€15), land bus to Piazzale Roma (20 minutes, ~€10), or private water taxi (fastest, scenic, ~€120+).

Afternoon: Check in, then orient yourself between Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s Square. Duck into the shadowy Gothic arcade of the Palazzo Ducale and linger in Piazza San Marco—don’t rush inside yet, that’s for tomorrow. Espresso break at Caffè del Doge near Rialto.

Evening: Do as locals do: a cicchetti crawl. Start at Osteria Al Squero (tiny sandwiches and baccalà mantecato facing a gondola repair yard), continue to Cantine del Vino già Schiavi for artful toasts and a glass of friulano, and finish at Al Timon in Cannaregio with a spritz by the canal. For a sit-down dinner, La Zucca’s pumpkin flan and tagliatelle with artichokes are standouts—book ahead.

Day 5 — St. Mark’s and the Doge

Morning: Dive straight into Venice’s power center with a guide and pre-reserved access: Skip-the-Line: Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica Fully Guided Tour. Walk over the Bridge of Sighs, read the Republic’s politics in Tintoretto’s canvases, and decode the gold mosaics of the Basilica.

Afternoon: Lunch in Castello at Osteria Alla Staffa (handmade bigoli, seasonal lagoon fish). Wander Dorsoduro: the Peggy Guggenheim Collection courtyard is a serene pause; the Punta della Dogana point gives one of the city’s best open-air panoramas.

Evening: Consider a classic gondola ride (standard fares ~€90/30 minutes before 7 pm, €110 after)—go just before sunset for honeyed light on the Grand Canal. Dinner at Antiche Carampane for the fried mixed seafood and spaghetti alle vongole; reserve and let the staff steer you to what’s best from the Rialto market.

Day 6 — Murano and Burano artisans

Morning–Afternoon: Board a private boat for an intimate lagoon loop: Murano & Burano Islands Guided Small-Group Tour by Private Boat. Watch a glass master shape molten color in Murano, then stroll Burano’s rainbow canals and peek into a lace atelier. Bring a small tote if you plan to shop; artisans often accept cards.

Evening: Back in Venice, unwind in Cannaregio. Grab seats by the water at Al Timon for grilled meats or split a tagliere of cold cuts and cheeses. For something sweet, Pasticceria Tonolo’s bigne and tiramisù are late-night favorites.

Day 7 — Hidden Venice and departure

Morning: Cappuccino and a krapfen at Pasticceria Rosa Salva, then a quiet loop through the Jewish Ghetto’s campo, artisan mask shops in Santa Croce, and the photogenic book-stacks of Libreria Acqua Alta. If you’re museuming, Scuola Grande di San Rocco’s Tintoretto cycle rewards even a short visit.

Afternoon: Quick lunch of tramezzini (soft triangular sandwiches) at Bar alla Toletta before you depart. From your stop, budget 60–75 minutes to reach VCE by Alilaguna or 20 minutes to Piazzale Roma for the airport bus. If staying longer in Italy, check Omio trains for smooth hops to Verona, Padua, or Bologna, and Omio buses for budget options.

Travel logistics between cities

• Lisbon → Venice flight: Aim for an early departure; most routings are 3h10 nonstop in peak season or 4.5–6h with one change. Compare fares and times on Omio flights.
• Local passes: Venice ACTV passes run roughly €25 (24h), €35 (48h), €45 (72h); Lisbon’s Viva Viagem card works on metro/trams/buses and can be topped up as you go.

Where to sleep (quick picks):

• Lisbon: Lapa’s hilltop serenity at Olissippo Lapa Palace; family-friendly suites at Martinhal Chiado; classic grandeur at Four Seasons Ritz; budget design at Lisbon Destination Hostel; or browse VRBO Lisbon.
• Venice: For quieter nights pick Dorsoduro; for postcard centrality, San Marco/San Polo; for value and space, Cannaregio. Search Hotels.com Venice and VRBO Venice.

Good to know: Venice day-tripper fees apply only on select peak dates—overnight guests typically just register with their accommodation. In Lisbon, keep valuables close on Tram 28 and in crowds. Both cities reward early mornings before tour groups: empty alleys, patient light, and locals at the counter.

Optional add-ons if you have more time: In Lisbon, a half-day wine tasting in Setúbal or a surf lesson in Carcavelos; in Venice, a guided “hidden Venice” walk in Cannaregio or an opera night in a palazzo salon.

In one week, you’ll move from Lisbon’s sun-washed miradouros and fado-lined alleys to Venice’s mirrored canals and artisan islands. It’s a compact, culture-forward itinerary with just enough structure to hit the highlights—and enough breathing room to chase your own discoveries. Boa viagem and buon viaggio.