3 Days in Lisbon: A Day-by-Day Itinerary
Morning, afternoon and evening plans for three days, with travel times between stops, the tickets to book and what is closed in 2026.
Three days is enough for Lisbon’s old quarters, Belém and one big day out, as long as you group stops by neighbourhood and book three tickets before you fly.
This is a day-by-day plan for 3 days in Lisbon, with times, travel between stops and somewhere to eat in each block. It is a plan, not a ranking: for the ten best sights in order of importance, read our top 10 things to do in Lisbon for first-time visitors, then come back here to put them in order. We checked times, tickets and closures in October 2026.
Day 1: Alfama, the castle, Baixa and a sunset viewpoint. Day 2: Belém, LX Factory and the ferry to Cacilhas. Day 3: Sintra or Parque das Nações. Book Belém Tower, the Jerónimos Monastery and Pena Palace for fixed times before you go. The Santa Justa Lift and the Bica, Lavra and Glória funiculars are closed in October 2026.
How should you spend 3 days in Lisbon?
Put each neighbourhood on its own day so you never cross the city twice. Day one is on foot and mostly uphill, day two is flat and follows the river, and day three leaves the centre.
Take the hills first, while your legs are fresh. With only two days, keep days one and two and add a half day in Sintra if you can. If you are still choosing where to sleep, our guide to where to stay in Lisbon covers which neighbourhood suits this route.
Want photos of the two of you, not only of the buildings? A short private session on day one, in Alfama or on the riverside, is the easiest way to get them. Tell us your dates and we will check the light and plan the route.
See the Lisbon photographer pageWhat is closed or changed in Lisbon in 2026?
Many older itineraries still send you to places that are shut. We verified each item below in October 2026.
Santa Justa Lift
Closed since September 2025, after the Glória funicular accident. The operator has not confirmed a reopening date.
Plan as if it stays closedBica, Lavra and Glória funiculars
All three are stopped. Carris says the Glória will be rebuilt completely, with a return expected in the first half of 2029, and has given no date for Bica or Lavra. The separate Graça funicular reopened on 30 April 2026.
Walk, or ride bus 51E in place of the GlóriaBelém Tower
Open to visitors again since 27 May 2026 after restoration, with entry in fixed half-hour slots and a daily limit of about 900 people.
Book a slot and arrive on timeTram 28 still runs its usual 7 km line between Martim Moniz and Prazeres, and we found no official route change for 2026. Interruptions are common, so check Carris the evening before. The funiculars were the lazy way up to Bairro Alto, so the plan below walks instead.
Closures change quickly. Last checked in October 2026, from Carris statements as reported by Portuguese media. Look at carris.pt in the week you travel.
Day 1 in Lisbon: Alfama, the castle and a first sunset
Start early: Alfama’s lanes are empty before 09:30 and the castle opens at 09:00. You walk most of the day, so wear flat shoes.
Alfama and the castle
Start at the Sé cathedral, where Tram 28 passes the front, then climb through the lanes to the Miradouro de Santa Luzia and Portas do Sol. Finish at Castelo de São Jorge for the best panorama in the centre.
08:30 to 11:30Baixa, Praça do Comércio and Chiado
Walk downhill to Baixa for lunch, then to Praça do Comércio and the Rua Augusta Arch, which you can climb for a view over the grid of streets. Then climb through Chiado towards Bairro Alto.
12:00 to 17:00Sunset and fado
Watch the sun go down from the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, with the castle across the valley. Dinner and live fado follow in Alfama or Bairro Alto, and the small rooms need a reservation.
From sunset
The castle is open 09:00 to 21:00 until 31 October and 09:00 to 18:00 from 1 November, with last entry 30 minutes before closing, and it closes on 1 January, 1 May and 24, 25 and 31 December. The on-site museum was temporarily closed for works when we checked, so treat the walls and towers as the main event (official schedule). Allow about an hour and a half.
Sunset is about 17:45 just after the clocks change on 25 October, and as early as 17:14 around 7 December (sunrise-sunset.org), so be at the viewpoint 30 to 45 minutes before. Our guide to the best viewpoints in Lisbon has alternatives.
Walking times are our own estimates for an unhurried pace, not timetable figures. If the day feels long, skip the arch and go straight from lunch to the viewpoint.
Day 2 in Lisbon: Belém, LX Factory and the Cacilhas ferry
Day two is flat and follows the river. Book the Belém Tower and the monastery for fixed times first, then build the day around them.
- Morning: Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery. Take the Cascais-line train from Cais do Sodré, about 7 to 10 minutes. The tower opens at 09:30 on timed slots, then walk to the monastery, past the Monument to the Discoveries.
- Late morning: pastéis de nata. Pastéis de Belém is a short walk from the monastery, open every day, and has been baking since 1837. Take a table inside if the takeaway queue is long.
- Afternoon: MAAT and LX Factory. Walk the riverfront to the MAAT museum, then take tram 15E to LX Factory, an old industrial complex under the 25 de Abril Bridge with shops, restaurants and the Ler Devagar bookshop.
- Evening: ferry to Cacilhas. From Cais do Sodré the crossing takes about 10 minutes. Watch the Lisbon skyline turn gold from the south bank, then eat seafood at a riverside restaurant.
The Jerónimos Monastery is closed on Mondays and on 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 13 June and 25 December, and you book a date and time for entry (Visit Lisboa). At reopening, Belém Tower was reported open from 09:30 to 17:30, with last entry at 17:00, and tickets could be bought online or at the monastery box office. Slots are limited, so reserve before the day.
The MAAT is open Wednesday to Monday, 10:00 to 19:00, and closed on Tuesdays (MAAT). If day two is a Tuesday, swap the museum for a longer lunch by the river. Our guide to Belém versus Alfama explains which suits a half-day better.
Peak-hour express trains on the Cascais line can skip Belém, so check which train you board. Tram 15E is the scenic alternative and takes 25 to 40 minutes from the centre.
Belém at golden hour, with the tower or the river behind you, is the place most visitors say they wish they had a photo. We can meet you there for a short private session, so tell us your date and we will check the light.
See our couple photography pageDay 3 in Lisbon: Sintra or Parque das Nações?
Pick one for the last day. Sintra is the classic day out and needs an early start. Parque das Nações is a flat, modern district and a better choice for a slower day or a rainy forecast.
Sintra and Pena Palace
Take the train from Rossio to Sintra, then the 434 bus up the hill to the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace. Choose two sights, not four, and be back in Lisbon for dinner. Our guide to the best day trips from Lisbon compares it with Cascais.
Best for: a full, active dayOceanário and the riverside
Take the metro to Oriente and walk through the park to the Oceanário, then stroll the waterfront under the Vasco da Gama Bridge. There is also a cable car along the river, so check its hours before you go.
Best for: a slower day, families
Trains from Rossio to Sintra take about 40 minutes and run roughly every 15 to 20 minutes, so an 08:30 departure gets you there for opening. Pena Palace tickets are for a fixed date and time. The palace is open 09:30 to 18:30 (last ticket 17:30) and the park 09:00 to 19:00, and the Essential Visit ticket is the standard adult option (Parques de Sintra, checked October 2026); check the current price there.
The Oceanário is open daily from 10:00 to 20:00 with last entry at 19:00, and general tickets start at €25.50 on the official site. From Oriente station it is about a 10-minute walk.
Photography in Sintra. The gardens, viewpoints and old-town streets are free to shoot in. Inside the monuments, each site has its own photography rules, and professional photography may need prior authorisation. Our Sintra photographer page explains how we handle it.
Where to eat during 3 days in Lisbon
You can eat well here without a reservation if you know what to order. We name only places we have verified and link to our longer food guides for the rest.
- Day 1 lunch. A bifana, a thin pork cutlet in a roll, at a counter in Baixa. It is the standard cheap lunch.
- Day 1 dinner. Fado with dinner in Alfama or Bairro Alto. Choose a small room, reserve ahead and stay quiet when the singer starts.
- Day 2 morning. A pastel de nata at Pastéis de Belém, eaten warm with cinnamon.
- Day 2 lunch. Time Out Market in Cais do Sodré is open daily from 10:00 to midnight, and until 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, so it suits any time of day.
- Day 2 dinner. Grilled fish and seafood in Cacilhas. Look for places where the fish is on display.
For specific names, see our guides to authentic Portuguese restaurants, seafood restaurants for every budget, the best pastéis de nata and the best fado houses.
What should you book before you go?
Three tickets and one reservation decide whether this plan works. Book them once your dates are fixed.
- Belém Tower. Reserve a half-hour slot for day two, as early as you can get one.
- Jerónimos Monastery. Book a date and time, and avoid Mondays, when it is closed.
- Pena Palace. Book a fixed-time ticket if you choose Sintra for day three.
- Fado. Reserve a table for the evening of day one, because the small rooms fill up.
For getting around, a 24-hour Carris and Metro ticket is listed at €7.25 in the 2026 Metro de Lisboa fares, and our guide to getting around Lisbon explains the cards and ferries. Arriving from the US, UK, Canada or Australia? Check the Portugal entry requirements before you book flights, and read our airport arrival guide for the first hour.
Can you add a photo session to your 3 days in Lisbon?
Yes, and day one or day two works best. Most people come home with plenty of photos of the city and very few of themselves in it. A private session with one of our local photographers, in Alfama in the morning or in Belém at golden hour, fixes that.
Every session includes professional editing, a private online gallery within 7 days, full-resolution files without watermarks and location scouting. A session covers up to two people, and more can join, up to 10 in total. Current prices are on the booking page. To book, choose a session, a location and a date, then message us to check availability or pay by card to reserve, and we confirm the details on WhatsApp. If you would rather not choose, the “Surprise me” option lets us pick the location.
Common questions
Is 3 days in Lisbon enough?
Yes, for the main sights: the old quarters, Belém and either Sintra or Parque das Nações. With two days, keep the old quarters and Belém.
Is the Santa Justa Lift open in 2026?
No. It has been closed since September 2025, and the operator had not confirmed a reopening date when we checked in October 2026. The Bica, Lavra and Glória funiculars are also closed; the Graça funicular reopened on 30 April 2026.
Do I need tickets for Belém Tower?
Yes. It reopened on 27 May 2026 with entry in fixed half-hour slots and a daily limit, so reserve a slot before your visit.
Should I do Sintra or Parque das Nações on day three?
Choose Sintra for palaces and a full, active day, and book Pena Palace for a fixed time. Choose Parque das Nações for a slower, flat day.
What is the best order for 3 days in Lisbon?
Alfama, the castle and Baixa on foot first, Belém and the river on day two, and the day trip last. This keeps each day inside one area.
Can I book a photo session during my 3 days in Lisbon?
Yes. Many visitors book a short session on day one or two, in Alfama, Belém or on the riverfront at golden hour. Pick a length on the booking page, and we confirm the details on WhatsApp.