Lisbon—Lissabon—sprawls across seven hills where Moorish lanes tumble toward the Tagus River and tiled facades catch the Atlantic light. Settled by Phoenicians and shaped by Romans, Moors, and seafarers, the city rose anew after the 1755 earthquake, marrying old-world alleys with grand Pombaline boulevards. Today, it’s a mosaic of azulejos, yellow trams, and music that lingers late into the night.

Come for the classics—Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery, Castelo de São Jorge—but stay for the miradouros (viewpoints), creamy pastéis de nata, and tascas serving garlicky clams and grilled sardines. Lisbon’s coffee scene is booming, from century-old cafés to roasters pulling syrupy espressos. With a mid-range budget, you can dine well, sip great coffee, and ride historic trams without breaking the bank.

Practical notes: public transit is cheap and reliable; a Viva Viagem card makes hopping between metro, tram, and ferry easy. Portuguese is the local language, but English is widely understood in central areas. Book timed tickets for popular sites (Jerónimos, Pena Palace), wear good shoes for hills and cobbles, and time sunsets at the city’s hilltop miradouros.

Lisbon

Lisbon rewards wandering. Drift from Alfama’s medieval stairways to Mouraria’s tiny tascas, up to Bairro Alto’s nightlife, down to Baixa’s neoclassical grid, and over to Belém’s monuments to maritime glory. Creative hubs like LX Factory and riverside promenades keep things fresh, while Principe Real offers leafy streets and indie shops.

• Top sights: Castelo de São Jorge, Sé Cathedral, Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, MAAT, Carmo Convent, National Tile Museum, Gulbenkian Museum.
• Iconic experiences: Ride Tram 28, listen to Fado in Alfama, sample pastéis de nata at Manteigaria or Pastéis de Belém, and chase sunsets at Miradouro da Senhora do Monte or Santa Luzia.
• Coffee & eats: Third-wave roasters (Fábrica Coffee Roasters, The Mill, Copenhagen Coffee Lab), classic cafés (A Brasileira), seafood temples (Cervejaria Ramiro), and petiscos (Portuguese tapas) at Taberna da Rua das Flores.

Where to stay: For easy sightseeing, base in Baixa/Chiado. For nightlife, opt for Bairro Alto (bring earplugs). For boutique and local vibe, choose Principe Real or Estrela. Browse stays on Hotels.com Lisbon or apartments on VRBO Lisbon.

Getting there & around: Fly into LIS (1–3 hours from most European hubs; low-cost fares often €40–€120 one-way). Compare routes with Omio flights. From Porto, trains take ~2.5–3h (from ~€15–€35)—check Omio trains. The metro Red Line runs from the airport to the center in ~20–25 minutes (around €2 with Viva Viagem); rideshares/taxis are ~€10–€20 depending on traffic.

Day 1: Arrival, Baixa & First Bica

Afternoon: Check in and shake off travel with a slow wander through Baixa and Chiado. Grab a first espresso—the local “bica”—at Manteigaria (also superb for pastéis de nata) or historic A Brasileira, where poets once argued over coffee. Take in Rua Augusta’s arch and the wide sweep of Praça do Comércio along the river.

Evening: Watch sunset from Elevador de Santa Justa’s viewpoint or the terrace at Carmo Convent’s ruins. For dinner, try Zé dos Cornos (no-frills grill; pork secretos and pica-pau) or Casa da Índia (roaring charcoal grill; piri‑piri chicken, sardines in season). If you have energy, finish with a ginginha (sour-cherry liqueur) at A Ginjinha by Rossio.

Day 2: Alfama, Castelo & Fado

Morning: Coffee and eggs at The Mill (Aussie‑Portuguese brunch) or a light start at Copenhagen Coffee Lab (rye toasts, great filter coffee). Climb to Miradouro da Senhora do Monte for panoramic views, then wind down through Graça to Alfama’s whitewashed lanes.

Afternoon: Explore Castelo de São Jorge (Moorish citadel, peacocks, city-over-river views) and the Sé Cathedral. Lunch near Mouraria at O Velho Eurico (daily chalkboard specials; expect a line) or Zé da Mouraria (massive portions of bacalhau à brás; go early). Pop into the Fado Museum to frame the evening.

Evening: Book a Fado night. Mesa de Frades (a former chapel) pairs candlelit intimacy with rotating singers; Clube de Fado is polished and classic; A Tasca do Chico is lively and informal with petiscos. Dine on caldo verde, chouriço assado, and grilled fish between sets; average spend €25–€45 depending on venue.

Day 3: Belém Monuments, Natas & River Glow

Morning: Take tram 15E or a train from Cais do Sodré to Belém (~20 minutes; a tram ticket on board is around €3+, cheaper with Viva Viagem). Start with Pastéis de Belém (still using the 1837 recipe), then tour Jerónimos Monastery—book timed entry to admire the Manueline cloister without the crush.

Afternoon: Walk the riverfront to Belém Tower (Age of Discoveries sentinel), then cross to MAAT for architecture and contemporary art; the rooftop is a stellar photo perch. Lunch on a budget at Pão Pão Queijo Queijo (fast, tasty pita/sandwiches) or sit down at 1300 Taberna’s Belém outposts near the cultural center.

Evening: Back in the center, stroll Ribeira das Naus at golden hour. Graze at Time Out Market: try Marlene Vieira’s seafood rice, Ground Burger’s smashburgers, and Landeau’s famed chocolate cake for dessert. Nightcap at PARK rooftop (set atop a parking garage; arrive before 9 pm to avoid a queue).

Day 4: Bairro Alto, Chiado & Principe Real—Live Like a Local

Morning: Start at Hello, Kristof (Scandi-leaning coffee, magazines) or Fábrica Coffee Roasters (nutty espresso, house roasts). Ride Tram 28 from Chiado to Estrela early to dodge crowds, then visit the Basilica da Estrela and its tranquil garden.

Afternoon: Shop indie labels and Portuguese design at Embaixada (a 19th‑century palace turned concept mall) and nearby boutiques. Lunch at Mercado de Campo de Ourique (a more local food hall—try Leitão à Bairrada sandwiches and croquettes), then browse ceramics at Fábrica Sant’Anna or Viúva Lamego showrooms.

Evening: For dinner, Taberna da Rua das Flores (blackboard petiscos; walk‑in only) or Cantinho do Avillez (modern Portuguese, fair prices). Bar-hop gently: Pavilhão Chinês (eclectic, museum-like cocktail bar) or Red Frog (speakeasy vibes; ring the bell). Keep an eye on hills—comfortable shoes are a must.

Day 5: Sintra Day Trip—Palaces in the Mist

Morning: Catch the suburban train from Rossio to Sintra (~40 minutes; around €2.50 each way; go early). Head straight to Pena Palace (timed ticket; shuttle from entrance saves a steep walk) to admire its Romanticist terraces, then walk the ramparts of the Moorish Castle for jaw‑dropping Atlantic views.

Afternoon: Lunch in the village at Tascantiga (petiscos; reserve if possible) and grab travesseiros (almond pillows) at Casa Piriquita for dessert. Explore Quinta da Regaleira’s gardens and the spiraling Initiation Well—equal parts myth and masonry. Consider a rideshare between sites to save time and legs.

Evening: Return to Lisbon for a seafood feast. Cervejaria Ramiro is the classic (go early; order garlic clams, scarlet prawns, and the steak sandwich “prego” for dessert). A solid backup is Marisqueira Uma (famous for arroz de marisco). Budget tip: share plates; seafood prices vary by weight.

Day 6: LX Factory, Riverwalk & Sunset Across the Water

Morning: Brunch at Dear Breakfast (egg-focused plates) or Seagull Method Café (pancakes, toasts, great flat whites). Head to LX Factory in Alcântara—browse Ler Devagar bookstore’s soaring stacks, pick up Portuguese prints, and sample Landeau’s dense chocolate cake.

Afternoon: Walk the river to the 25 de Abril Bridge and the Santo Amaro docks. If you skipped MAAT earlier, pair it now with a relaxed riverside bike ride toward Belém (there are several bike rental stands along the promenade). Coffee pit stop at Copenhagen Coffee Lab’s industrial-chic outpost.

Evening: Take the short ferry from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas (~10 minutes; a couple of euros) and walk the riverside path to Ponto Final for a sunset dinner—yellow tables, Lisbon skyline sparkling across the Tagus. Order Açorda de Marisco or grilled dourada; reserve ahead. Ferries run late, but check the timetable before lingering.

Day 7: Oceanário, Modern Lisbon & Farewell

Morning: Finish in Parque das Nações, Lisbon’s modern district. Visit the Oceanário de Lisboa (one of Europe’s best aquariums; allow ~2 hours), then ride the Telecabine cable car for river-and-bridge views. Coffee at Fabrica Coffee Roasters (Chiado) before last-minute shopping.

Afternoon: Grab a casual lunch—Honest Greens (fresh bowls) or Local Your Healthy Kitchen (light Portuguese-inspired plates). Swing by the National Tile Museum if you missed azulejos earlier, or pick up ceramics at Fábrica Sant’Anna near Chiado. Depart in the afternoon with a final bica and a pastel de nata for the road.

Evening: If your flight’s later, relax at Miradouro de Santa Catarina (a.k.a. Adamastor) with street musicians and river breezes. It’s an easy metro or taxi to the airport—aim to leave the center ~2 hours before departure.

Transit & ticket tips: Consider a 24‑hour public transport pass (metro, trams, buses) for heavy travel days; single on-board tram fares cost more than tapping a Viva Viagem card. For intercity connections before/after Lisbon, compare Omio trains, Omio buses, and Omio flights.

In seven days you’ll have tasted Lisbon’s past and present—tilework and palaces by day, Fado and sunsets by night, with excellent coffee fueling the hills. The city is generous to mid-range budgets, especially if you mix tascas and markets with a few well-chosen splurges. Saudades guaranteed.