Lisbon is one of Europe’s oldest capitals, older than Rome and shaped by Phoenicians, Moors, and seafaring explorers. Rebuilt in elegant grids after the 1755 earthquake, the city now flows from hilltop castles to riverside promenades, where the Tagus gleams like polished silver at sunset.

Expect steep, beautiful hills; yellow trams rattling past tiled facades; and nights of melancholic fado. Pastéis de nata (custard tarts) are a daily ritual, seafood is taken seriously, and neighborhoods—Alfama, Baixa, Chiado, Bairro Alto—each have a distinct beat.

Bring comfortable shoes, a light jacket for Atlantic breezes, and appetite for petiscos (Portuguese tapas). Many museums close on Mondays; popular restaurants require reservations. The Lisboa Card can save time and money on public transport and key sights.

Lisbon

Lisbon balances history and creativity: Moorish alleys in Alfama, Belle Époque storefronts in Baixa, and street art splashed across warehouse districts like LX Factory. Views (miradouros) crown nearly every hill; the best city souvenir is a camera roll full of light.

Top sights include Castelo de São Jorge, the Tile Museum (Museu do Azulejo), the riverfront monuments of Belém (Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower), MAAT’s swooping modern shell, the Carmo Convent ruins, and the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum. Between museums, linger in cafés—Lisbon’s coffee culture is thriving.

• Don’t miss these flavors: Grilled sardines in season, garlic clams (ameijôas à Bulhão Pato), octopus salad, bifana pork sandwiches, Queijo da Serra cheese, and a glass of ginjinha sour cherry liqueur.
• Great cafés and bakeries: Manteigaria (nata still warm from the oven), Fábrica Coffee Roasters, Hello, Kristof, The Mill, Copenhagen Coffee Lab.
• Dinner standouts: Cervejaria Ramiro (shellfish temple), Solar dos Presuntos (seafood classics), Taberna da Rua das Flores (daily chalkboard), Ponto Final (golden-hour views across the river), Belcanto (José Avillez’s 2-star showcase).
• Nightlife: Fado at Clube de Fado or Parreirinha de Alfama; cocktails at Pavilhão Chinês, Red Frog Speakeasy, or PARK rooftop; late vibes in Bairro Alto.

Where to stay (Lisbon):

• Search vacation homes on VRBO or hotels on Hotels.com.
• Splurge: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon (park views, polished service, spa and pool).
• Classic grand-dame: Olissippo Lapa Palace Hotel (resort-like gardens above the river).
• Design for families: Martinhal Lisbon Chiado Family Suites (kids’ club, kitchenettes, Chiado location).
• Stylish budget: Lisbon Destination Hostel (inside Rossio Station; private rooms available).

Getting to Lisbon (LIS) and around:

• Flights within Europe: compare on Omio (flights). London–Lisbon ~2h35 (from ~$60–150 one-way), Paris–Lisbon ~2h20.
• Flights from outside Europe: search on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. NYC–Lisbon nonstop ~6h45 (TAP), typical round-trip ~$500–900 outside peak.
• Trains and buses in Europe: check Omio (trains) and Omio (buses). Porto–Lisbon train ~2h45 (from ~$28–40); Lagos–Lisbon bus ~3h45 (from ~$12–25).
• Airport to center: Metro Red Line ~25 minutes (~€2 incl. Viva Viagem card). Taxi/Uber/Bolt 20–30 minutes, roughly €12–25 depending on traffic.

Day 1: Arrival, Baixa & Chiado at Golden Hour

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off jet lag with a mellow loop through Baixa’s grand squares—Praça do Comércio and Rossio—then slip into Chiado’s Belle Époque cafés. For a first caffeine hit, try Fábrica Coffee Roasters or a nata at Manteigaria where the pastry crackles when you bite.

Evening: Watch dusk from Largo do Carmo and gaze at the skeletal arches of the Carmo Convent, a haunting reminder of the 1755 quake. Dinner nearby: Taberna da Rua das Flores (daily market menu; arrive early for the waitlist), Solar dos Presuntos (garlicky clams, rice with lobster), or Bairro do Avillez (playful Portuguese flavors). Nightcap at Pavilhão Chinês, a curios-filled bar set in an old haberdashery, or Red Frog for speakeasy cocktails.

Day 2: Alfama, Tram 28, and a Tuk Tuk Sweep

Morning: Breakfast at The Mill (Aussie-Portuguese brunch; try the corn fritters) or Dear Breakfast (silky eggs, cold-pressed juice). Climb Alfama’s steps to Castelo de São Jorge for storybook views, then descend via the azulejo-framed Miradouro de Santa Luzia. Ride iconic Tram 28 for a photogenic circuit—go early to avoid crowds.

Afternoon: Join a local-led tuk tuk to cover Lisbon’s hills without the huff. This private 4-hour circuit threads Alfama, Graça, Baixa, Chiado, and Belém with witty context and photo stops.

Featured activity (Viator): True 4Hour Private Tuk Tuk Tour: Discover Lisbon with a Local!
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Evening: Feast at Cervejaria Ramiro—start with prawns à la guilho (garlic-chili), clams, and a prego steak sandwich as a finale. If there’s still room, pistachio gelato at Nannarella. For fado, book Clube de Fado in Alfama or pop into Tasca do Chico (Bairro Alto) for informal fado vadio nights.

Day 3: Belém’s Monuments and a Progressive Food Tour

Morning: Metro or tram to Belém. Tour Jerónimos Monastery’s filigreed cloisters, then stroll to Belém Tower, sentinel of Portugal’s Age of Discovery. Refuel with still-warm pastéis at Pastéis de Belém—sprinkle cinnamon and powdered sugar as locals do.

Afternoon: Walk the riverside to MAAT for architecture and contemporary art, and pop into the CCB’s museum (MAC/CCB) for modern masters. Lunch ideas: O Pedrouços (seafood by the marina) or Pão Pão Queijo Queijo (fast, fresh sandwiches) if you want to keep moving.

Evening: Discover Lisbon’s flavors with a guided walking food and wine tour—think queijo, charcuterie, bacalhau cakes, petiscos, regional wines, and a shot of ginjinha—woven with neighborhood history.

Featured activity (Viator): Lisbon Small-Group Portuguese Food and Wine Tour
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Day 4: Full-Day Sintra, Cabo da Roca & Cascais (Guided)

Meet early for a small-group excursion to the fairytale hills of Sintra. Wander Pena Palace’s candy-colored terraces and fog-kissed park, then descend to Quinta da Regaleira to decode Masonic symbols and spiral down the Initiation Well. Trace the coast to Cabo da Roca, mainland Europe’s westernmost point, and unwind in Cascais, a chic former fishing town with a handsome bay. Expect 9–10 hours including hotel pickup; bring layers for microclimates.

Featured activity (Viator): Sintra, Pena, Regaleira, Cabo da Roca & Cascais from Lisbon
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Dinner back in Lisbon: Time Out Market for a choose-your-own feast (Miguel Castro e Silva’s bacalhau dishes, Marlene Vieira’s seafood, Manteigaria for dessert) or A Cevicheria for bright Peruvian-Portuguese plates under the giant octopus installation.

Day 5: Hidden Museums, LX Factory, and Sunset Rooftops

Morning: Coffee at Hello, Kristof (Scandi-minimalist vibe) or Copenhagen Coffee Lab. Explore the National Tile Museum—set in a 16th-century convent—for a crash course in azulejos from Moorish patterns to 20th-century panels.

Afternoon: Head to LX Factory, a creative hub beneath the 25 de Abril Bridge. Browse Ler Devagar bookstore’s catwalks and presses; share a legendary slice at Landeau Chocolate; lunch at Cantina (industrial-chic, wood-fired plates) or 1300 Taberna (seasonal Portuguese).

Evening: Stroll through Chiado to the world’s oldest operating bookstore, Bertrand (1732), then ride the Santa Justa Lift for views. For dinner, Ponto Final across the river (take the Cacilhas ferry; sunset is pure gold) or Zé da Mouraria for grilled fish and punchy house wine. Cap the night at PARK rooftop over a parking garage—DJs, skyline, and the bridge lit like jewelry.

Day 6: Fátima, Nazaré & Óbidos (Small-Group Day Trip)

Spend a varied day beyond Lisbon. In Fátima, visit the Sanctuary and Chapel of Apparitions, a major pilgrimage site since 1917. Continue to Nazaré, famed for record-breaking winter waves at Praia do Norte—then enjoy grilled fish in the old town. Finish in Óbidos, a walled medieval village of whitewashed houses and bougainvillea; sip ginginha served in a little chocolate cup. Expect ~9–10 hours.

Featured activity (Viator): Fátima, Nazaré and Óbidos Small-Group Day Trip from Lisbon
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Back in Lisbon, try Pharmacia (playful petiscos in the Pharmacy Museum building) or Tasca da Esquina (modern takes by chef Vítor Sobral). Nightcap at Foxtrot, an Art Deco bar with fireplaces and excellent classic cocktails.

Day 7: Gulbenkian or Riversides, Last Bites, Departure

Morning: Choose a calm finale: the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum (masterpieces from Ancient Egypt to Impressionism plus a serene park) or a riverside walk in Parque das Nações past Santiago Calatrava’s Oriente Station. Brunch at Seagull Method Café (brioche sandwiches) or a final nata flight at Manteigaria.

Afternoon: Airport transfer. If time allows, pick up tins of conservas (artisan canned fish) and a box of pastéis for the plane—sweet souvenirs that travel well.

Optional add-ons and tips:

• Consider a quick, customizable city overview if you’re short on time or traveling with mobility concerns.

Featured activity (Viator): Lisbon Private Driver and Customizable Tour
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In a week, you’ll have traced Lisbon’s story from Moorish ramparts to maritime grandeur and modern design, tasted its kitchens, and felt the Atlantic in your lungs. Keep the city’s rhythm with you: a slower morning, a late dinner, and always one more viewpoint before calling it a night.