Lisbon's hills and viewpoints reward slow exploration on foot and by tram, with the historic center, the riverside district of Belém, and a day trip to Sintra rounding out three days well.
Day 1: Alfama and the Historic Core
Ride the Tram 28 Historic Route through Alfama, Lisbon's oldest quarter, stopping to climb up to Castelo de São Jorge for city views. Walk down to Praça do Comércio (Commerce Square) by the river, then catch a Fado Performance in the evening — Lisbon's melancholic traditional music.
Day 2: Belém
Spend the morning in Belém, visiting the Jerónimos Monastery (Mosteiro dos Jerónimos) and Belém Tower (Torre de Belém) — and don't skip the original custard tarts at Pastéis de Belém nearby. In the afternoon, explore Bairro Alto and Chiado for shopping and viewpoints like Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara.
Day 3: Sintra Day Trip
Sintra, a fairy-tale hill town of colorful palaces about 40 minutes from Lisbon by train, is the essential day trip — the Pena Palace alone justifies the visit. Book palace tickets online in advance, as queues can eat hours of your day in high season.
Tips for Your Trip
- Lisbon is built on steep hills; comfortable shoes matter more here than in most European capitals.
- The historic Tram 28 gets extremely crowded — ride it early morning or consider it more for the route than a relaxed experience.
- Sintra's palaces are spread out and hard to see all in one day; pick two (Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira are the highlights) rather than rushing four.