Best things to do in Lisbon, Portugal – Ultimate 5-day itinerary

Best Things to do in Lisbon, Portugal - Ultimate 5-day itinerary -

Lisbon is a vibrant city full of history spread out through 7 hills overlooking the Rio Tejo.

The city is the 2^nd oldest capital city in Europe after Athens and tries its best to preserve its heritage.

The cobbled alleyways full of drawings, the colourful buildings and stunning architecture make our experience of walking around quite cinematic.

I am a Lisboeta or an alfacinha which are the names given to people that like me were born and bred in Lisbon. I love this city, the endless sunshine hours, its hidden viewpoints, the proximity to the ocean and its vibrant life day and night. I have been living near the city on and off during my adult life, but I admit every time I return it gets harder to leave.

The thing is that besides the amazing scenery, you also have the never-ending kindness of the Portuguese people, the delicious Mediterranean food and the golden hours of a place with pretty much good weather all year around.

One thing a true Lisboeta will tell you is that time here moves slow, and the atmosphere is playful but peaceful. This can actually be said about the entire country but what is important is that even the capital reflects this relaxing mood that is so Portuguese.

well, I can’t wait to tell you all my local tips so ….

let’s get into it!

Below you can find my 5-day itinerary I custom-made for you.

It is a compilation of touristy must-see places plus my favourite hidden not-so-touristy spots.

For each day you will find a description of all the places you are going to visit and then a straight-to-the point list of address for you to follow. I will talk about food and where to eat around in another dedicated post but I will leave some handy tips here as well.

The city is best explored on foot, as many of the narrow streets and surrounding attractions aren’t accessible by public transport. There are many hills, and each of them offers a different perspective of the city, so for this trip don’t forget to prepare your walking shoes (preferably with grip).

Lisbon is a safe city, and that’s one of the best things about it – you can walk at any time pretty much all over the city with no trouble.

Hope you enjoy this city, my hometown, as much as I do!

In this first day we want to get lost in the city side streets and alleyways. It is going to be a full day so prepare your walking shoes!!

Lisbon is full of hidden gems, so we are going to walk through the centre and try to find them on our own.

Start your day early in Rossio centenary and marble made train station, move onto Dom Pedro IV square otherwise known as Rossia square. This is the most central part of Lisbon and it is a place you will often cross while moving around. It has plenty of restaurants and coffee shops aging back to the time of reconstruction of the square after the earthquake of 1755 that completely wiped out the lower areas of the valleys of Lisbon. One of those coffee houses is Café Nicola said to be one of the first of its kind in Lisbon and a place used as a meeting point for writers such as the poet Bocage. It is a bit pricy but if you did not have your morning coffee it might be the place to go.

Next, we are heading up to Chiado, passing through Elevador de Santa Justa. Take your time to move up the hill and explore the area. First you want to check out the street Garrett then continue up to Carmo Convent. On the back of the Convent you can access the view point of the Elevador de Santa Justa.

Our next objective is slowly making our way up to Largo Luís de Camões. If you have the time check out one of the oldest libraries I know called Livraria Sá da Costa in Garret street and the famous A Brasileira (https://www.abrasileira.pt/um-espaco-com-historia/?lang=en). Next stop is Rua da Bica where you can see and catch one of the emblematic funiculars that this city holds. If you don’t want to wait for it to arrive, just make your way down and see it from the outside. Alternatively head to Museu da Farmacia viewpoint for another perspective of the town viewing down to where it meets the river. After this you want to make your way down the street of Elevador da Bica to the Time Out Market Lisbon for lunch or just find yourself a treat at the many restaurants in the Rua de S. Paulo.

Lunch is long gone and settled, and we are refreshed for another walk this time avoiding going uphill. Take the tram in Cais de Sodre heading to Mosteiro Jerónimos. Spend the afternoon in the area, visit the monastery, taste the famous Pasteis de Belém, cross the road to the costline in the direction of the Padrão dos Descobrimentos and make your way to the Tour de Belem for a beautiful sunset.

For diner, catch a bus from the monastery and head LxFactory, a trendy art center full of restaurants and arty retailers. From there you can also cross the highway to the river side to get to the Santo Amaro Docs also full of restaurants for every taste.

Rossio
Praça Dom Pedro IV
Rua Garrett
Carmo Convent, Museu Arqueológico do Carmo, Largo do Carmo, 1200-092 Lisboa
Elevador de Santa Justa
Livraria Sá da Costa, R. Garrett 100, 1200-273 Lisboa
A Brasileira, R. Garrett 122, 1200-205 Lisboa
Largo Luís de Camões, 1200-243 Lisboa
Teatro Nacional de São Carlos, R. Serpa Pinto 9, 1200-442 Lisboa
Miradouro de Santa Catarina/ café do Museu da Farmácia, R. Mal. Saldanha 1, 1249-069 Lisboa
Elevador da Bica
Padrão dos Descobrimentos
Torre de Belem + Confeitaria Nacional Belém
Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
Pastéis de Belém, R. de Belém 84 92, 1300-085 Lisboa
Palácio Nacional de Belém
Palácio Nacional da Ajuda
LxFactory, Rua Rodrigues de Faria, Lisbon
Ler Devagar, R. Rodrigues de Faria 103 – G 0.3, 1300-501 Lisboa

Today we will get to know a bit of the history of the town with a morning tour and try to have a slow afternoon with less walking (at least uphill). It is going to be a half slow day but with lots of sightseeing.

I love spending my free time on the rooftops and terraces, especially the lesser-known or hidden ones like Jardim do Torel. So today we will try to find time to see the sunset over Lisbon in one of my favourite spots.

Start your morning by heading to Terreiro do Paço (Praça do Comércio) from here you will be able to contemplate different options of touring the city:

Free walking tour with Hi Lisbon Walking Tours, my personal favourite way to get to know the rich history of the city. A Free walking tour through the city will take about 2h30 on foot. The best options of tours in my personal opinion is Alfama & Mouraria Free Tour – English and Baixa-Chiado Free Tour – English.
Tip based – recommended 10e per person – Available in English and Spanish

TukTuk tour particularly if you are with a larger group of friends and do not feel like walking this could be a very fun tackling the issue. I did one tour with Gabriel while researching for this article and loved the experience! https://www.tripadvisor.pt/AttractionProductReview-g189158-d25415166-Historic_Lisbon_Tour_in_Private_Tuk_tuk-Lisbon_Lisbon_District_Central_Portugal.html#REVIEWS
Booking recommended – 110e for a 6-person group (18e per person for a private tour)- Available in English, Portuguese and Spanish

Tram 28, Praça Martim Moniz 39, 1150-052 Lisboa. This option even though quite affordable came last because its popularity has made it quite hard to find a spot on this tram that is both used by tourist and locals on their way to work. Might be a good option in a low season, even though Lisbon is quite a popular place all year round.
https://www.lisbonportugaltourism.com/transportation/tram-28-route-and-stops.html

After the tour and some lunch, we will head to a wanderfull afternoon hooping between viewpoints and associated neiberhoods starting in Sé de Lisboa (Lisbon Cathedral) moving onwards to the the famous Miradouro de Santa Luzia and following by the Miradouro das Portas do Sol. If you want a quick coffee or cocktail with a view check out the rooftop Memmo Alfama Hotel Lisboa. From Portas do Sol go up the narrow roads to S. Jorge castle for a visit. Afterwards head to Jardim do Torel & Miradouro do Jardim do Torel for a picnic passing fist by the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte.

TheTorel garden is my favorite spot to watch the sunset over the hills in Lisbon but alternately you can always check out Miradouro da Graça.

Sé de Lisboa, Largo da Sé, 1100-585 Lisboa
Miradouro de Santa Luzia
Miradouro das Portas do Sol, Largo Portas do Sol, 1100-411 Lisboa
Miradouro de Santo Estêvão
Castelo de S. Jorge
Miradouro da Senhora do Monte
Jardim do Torel & Miradouro do Jardim do Torel
Miradouro da Graça

Today we will explore a different area of the city. Note – this day involves a lot of walking. Feel free to catch a tram or public transport any time between places. Particularly fun in the areas of Calçada da Estrela- S. Bento Street.

Wake up late and head up to Príncipe Real district to have a brunch. On the way, do a short stop in Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara for a quick overlook of the town and then lets brunch! There are many options for brunch in the area, but I liked a lot these two: JAC Brunch & Concept Store or Seagull Method cafe • Brunch café.

In front of Principe Real Garden, there is a renovated old palace full of really cool Portuguese fashion brands. If you are into arts, architecture and fashion this is a place to go. It is called EmbaiXada. On the back of EmbaiXada is Lisbon’s Botanical garden. These are the gardens of the ancient university of Science. Today is the National Museum of Science & Natural History also a really cool place to visit!

From the National museum make your way to Jardim da Estrela (12 minutes walking) and enjoy the walk thought old residential neighborhood. This is a place full of amazing food concept stores, great restaurants and coffee houses particularly surrounding Jardim Fialho de Almeida. If you are interested in Fado, Portuguese music genre born in the 18th century, the House-Museu Amália Rodrigues is also close by.

When you get to the Estrela Gardens stop and a look at the beautiful marble temple just in front. If you are interested in local markets, a short 10 min walk from the basilica you can find the Mercado de Campo de Ourique. Alternatively, head down following Calçada da Estrela to São Bento Palace. On the way down pass by the photogenic flower shop Saudade Flores Frescas because it is always nice to smell flowers! For another photo stop check out the alley Beco da Rosa that is close by!

These areas of the Calçada da Estrela- S. Bento Street is one of my favourites to explore full of hidden gems! You can either go down hill to Green Street Lisbon for dinner or follow the street to the Park Rooftop to watch the sun set (this trendy rooftop is located on the top of a car park building – hidden but super cool!

Close by is Praça Luís de Camões and we are close to our starting point and to the Bairro Alto district where you can enjoy a really typical Portuguese night out of chatting, drinking and dancing in the streets in front of tiny little pubs with affordable and tasty beverages!

Here are our top recommendations and addresses:

Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara
Seagull Method cafe • Brunch café, R. da Palmeira 23, 1200-311 Lisboa
JAC Brunch & Concept Store, R. da Rosa 240, 1200-348 Lisboa
Principe Real garden, Praça do Príncipe Real, 1250-184 Lisboa
EmbaiXada, Praça do Príncipe Real 26, 1250-184 Lisboa
Botanical Garden of Lisbon, R. da Escola Politécnica 58, 1250-102 Lisboa
National Museum of Science & Natural History, R. da Escola Politécnica 56, 1250-102 Lisboa
Foundation Amália Rodrigues
Jardim Fialho de Almeida
Casa-Museu Amália Rodrigues, Foundation Amália Rodrigues, R. de São Bento 193, 1250-219 Lisboa
Jardim da Estrela, Praça da Estrela, Lisbon
Basílica da Estrela, Praça da Estrela, 1200-667 Lisboa
Mercado de Campo de Ourique, R. Coelho da Rocha 104, 1350-075 Lisbon
Palácio de São Bento / Assembleia da República, Praça da Constituição de 1976, 1200-619 Lisboa
Green Street, R. da Silva, 1200-267 Lisboa

Sintra is a fantasy town full of palaces and with a moors castle surrounded by a humid forest that is quite rare in Portugal. On top of that is a half an hour train away from Lisbon!! No trip to Lisbon can go without a day in Sintra!

Take the time here and take it slow!

There is plenty to see, start by walking to the Palacio da Vila and visit the old town centre. Then I suggest visiting Palacio da Pena and/or Quinta da Regaleira!

You can also hike all the way from the train to the top of the moors castle – look up the offline maps available in the free MAPS.ME app in your phone.

Another of my favourite places is Monserrate palace. From Sintra old town you can catch a old tram that connects the village to the beaches or catch a bus to visit the Cabo da Roca for the sunset!

SIDE NOTE:

The truth is there is sooo much to do here that maybe a day will not be enough. If you enjoyed the country like vibes and old school palaces surrounded by greens, I might advise you to take half of the following day (5^th day) to come back here. However, there is a catch…. Public transports are slow and the relaxed “you have all the time in the world” Portuguese attitude might get under your skin if you are in a hurry to get somewhere (I know!! it gets me, and I am as Portuguese as one can get!). In that case, maybe play it safe and explore more of Lisbon with the suggestions I have for you!

We cannot leave Lisbon without having a proper look of the Avenida da Liberdade! For our last day, we will start by going up Avenida da Liberdade from Rossio and have some barista coffee. I suggest one of the following places:

Zenith, R. do Telhal 4A, 1150-346 Lisboa
Oui Mais Non, Tivoli Fórum, Av. da Liberdade 180 Loja 5A, 1250-146 Lisboa
Manifest Lisbon, Rua da Sociedade Farmacêutica 31, 1150-103 Lisboa

Do a small detour to check out the architecture and beautiful Arabic heritage of Casa do Alentejo that is close by.

For this last day, I suggest getting lost in Alfama with no particular destination. You can also visit the Museu do azulejo, Miradouro de Santo Estêvão and Miradouro da Penha de França which are all in that side of the city.

If there is time and you want to do something different you can always sign in for a ceramics workshop for example at Caulino Handmade Ceramic (duration 2h-3h, 60€) or Tiles Workshop Lisbon (times of the workshop: 5:00pm, 10:30am, 2h duration, €50.00). Both options require booking in advance.

For dinner, I recommend a very typical Portuguese restaurant, family owned and with really tasty food called A Provinciana which is close to our departure place near Rossio.