LisbonLisboaPortugal.com

The best independent guide to Lisbon

LisbonLisboaPortugal.com

The best independent guide to Lisbon

5 days in Lisbon; a suggested itinerary and tour for 2024

Five days is the ideal length of time to fully explore Lisbon, as well as experiencing the highlights of the surrounding region.

Within these five days you could spend three days exploring Lisbon, providing ample time to visit the many fascinating sights, indulge in delicious cuisines and revel in the vibrant nightlife. The remaining two days could be spent enjoying day trips to the charming towns of Sintra and Cascais, or - during the summer - a visit to one of the many glorious beaches in the region.

This guide will detail a suggested 5-day itinerary for Lisbon, ensuring you make the most of your time in this incredible city.
Related articles: 3 days in Lisbon - Lisbon beaches

Praça do Comércio Lisbon

The magnificent Praça do Comércio in the Baixa district

A suggested 5-day itinerary for Lisbon

A suggested five-day holiday to Lisbon spends three days in the city and has day trips to Cascais and Sintra. A recommended 5-day tour is:
• Day 1 – Alfama and Baixa districts of Lisbon
• Day 2 – Belem and Alcantara districts of Lisbon
• Day 3 – Day trip to Sintra
• Day 4 – The Parque das Nações and Príncipe Real districts of Lisbon
• Day 5 – Day trip to Cascais (or beach day trip in the summer)
• Friday or Saturday night - Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodre districts

An interactive map for the five-day tour of Lisbon is shown below. The coloured lines show suggested tour routes for each of the days in Lisbon. Note: Zoom out to see all of the points

Legend:
Day 1
- 1) Praça do Comércio 2) Elevador de Santa Justa 3) Rossio 4) Sé de Lisboa 5) Castelo de São Jorge 6) Miradouro de Santa Luzia 7) TimeOut market 8) Pink Street
Day 2 - 9) Torre de Belem 10) Mosteiro dos Jerónimos 11) Padrão dos Descobrimentos 12) Museu dos Coches 13) LxFactory 14) Bairro Alto
Day 3 - 15) Palácio Nacional da Pena 16) Quinta da Regaleira 17) Castelo dos Mouros 18) Palácio Nacional de Sintra
Day 4 - 19) Parque das Nações 20) Oceanário de Lisboa 21) Telecabine Lisboa 22) Príncipe Real district
Day 5 - 23) Cascais 24) Carcavelos beach 25) Santo Amaro beach 26) Costa da Caparica beach

Insight: A car is not required for this itinerary. Lisbon has excellent public transport, and there are direct train services to Sintra and Cascais.

The following section details each of the days in great depth and provides links to useful articles.

The first day – The Alfama and Baixa districts

The recommendation for your first day in Lisbon is to explore the historic centre, which covers the Alfama and Baixa districts.

Baixa is the grand centre of Lisbon, featuring magnificent plazas and wide avenues, while Alfama is the oldest area, consisting of a maze of medieval streets leading up to the castle.

The Baixa district was completely rebuilt after the devastating 1755 earthquake and now stands as the vibrant heart of Lisbon. It offers a vast array of restaurants, bars and shops, as well as many interesting tourist attractions, which include:
The Elevador de Santa Justa, a 19th-century wrought iron lift that transports visitors up one of the steepest hills in Lisbon
• The Rua Augusta is one of the main shopping streets in Lisbon, lined with open-air cafes and restaurants. • Rossio Plaza with its distinctive weaving-pattern cobbled pavements and grand baroque architecture.
The magnificent Praça do Comércio plaza, which was historically the centre for trade in Portugal.
• The Praça dos Restauradores with its obelisk, the pink Foz Palace and the art deco Eden theatre.
Related articles: Guide to Baixa

Elevador de Santa Justa

The top of the Elevador de Santa Justa, with its walkway to the Largo do Carmo

Teatro Nacional Dona Maria II

Rossio Plaza is the grand centre of the Baixa district

The Alfama district is the complete opposite of Baixa. Originally situated outside the city walls, it was historically home to the poor of Lisbon. Today, Alfama has been transformed into an artisan and immensely characterful area of Lisbon. The district is a labyrinth of narrow streets that ascend the steep hill up to the castle.

Being the oldest district, Alfama contains many of Lisbon's historic sights, including:
• The Castelo de São Jorge, from which mediaeval Portuguese kings ruled over Portugal.
• The Sé de Lisboa, the heavily fortified cathedral of Lisbon
• The Miradouro das Portas do Sol viewpoint
• The quaint yellow E28 tram as it navigates the narrow streets.
Related articles: Alfama Guide

Sé de Lisboa

The Se Cathedral

Alfama Lisbon

While exploring Alfama, expect to climb many steep hills

Miradouro das Portas do Sol

The Miradouro das Portas do Sol viewpoint

For your first evening in Lisbon, it is suggested to head to the lively tourist area around the Jardim Dom Luis in the Cais do Sodré district.

Here you'll find a wide variety of restaurants and bars, including the TimeOut food market, a popular spot to sample new Portuguese cuisine. Nearby is Pink Street, with its numerous bars promising a memorable night out!

Pink street

Pink Street comes alive late at night

The second day - The Belem district – 5 days in Lisbon

The majority of the second day is spent in the picturesque Belem district, with any remaining time allocated to visiting the Alcantara district.

Belem is a delightful district situated to the west of Lisbon and extending along the Tejo Estuary. It has a pleasant green and open appearance, encompassing numerous parks and formal gardens, as well as being the home to many of Lisbon's most famous tourist attractions.

Historically, the district was home to Lisbon's shipyards, from which many of the 15th-century expeditions to Brazil and Asia departed.

Later, the immense wealth that flowed into Portugal from the spice trade financed the construction of the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, arguably Portugal's most impressive religious building. Belem offers many other fascinating sights, including the following highlights:

Belem offers many other fascinating sights, including the following highlights:
• The Torre de Belem - A charming fort that originally stood in the centre of the estuary, protecting Lisbon from seaborne attacks.
• The Padrão dos Descobrimentos - an imposing monument that celebrates Portugal's rich seafaring history.
• The Museu Nacional dos Coches - a unique collection of horse-drawn carriages from around the world.
• Quake - an interactive museum that details the devastating earthquake that hit Lisbon in 1755.
• Museu Coleção Berardo - a contemporary and modern art gallery.
• Pleasant riverside footpaths with views over the Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge and Tejo estuary.

Finally, a trip to Belem would be incomplete without eating a Pastel de Nata (a custard tart) from Pastéis de Belém, the traditional home of the delicious pastry.

Padrão dos Descobrimentos Belem

The Padrão dos Descobrimentos is decorated with Portuguese explorers from the 16th century "Age of Discovery."

Torre de Belem

The charming Torre de Belem once stood in the centre of the Tejo Estuary

Mosteiro dos Jeronimos

The Mosteiro dos Jeronimos

In the afternoon, it is recommended to visit the Alcantara district, the trendy and artisanal area of Lisbon. At the heart of this flourishing creative scene is the LxFactory, a formerly abandoned factory that has been transformed into art studios, unique shops and stylish bars.

Nearby is the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Lisbon's premier art and history museum. Additionally, the Capela de Santo Amaro offers one of the best views of the region. For dinner, you can enjoy the trendy restaurants at the Doca de Alcântara.

For your second night, it is suggested to visit Bairro Alto, Lisbon's renowned nightlife district. Catering to all ages, the district offers intimate Fado venues, funky underground bars, stylish cocktail bars and a vibrant LGBT scene.

Bairro Alto always has an incredible atmosphere, with weekends seeing the socialising spilling onto the streets, creating a lively party atmosphere throughout the district.

Have you booked your hotel yet?

There is very high demand for accommodation in Lisbon, and we advise you to book your hotel rooms now before they sell out. To check current prices and availability, enter your holiday dates in the search box below:

 

The third day - day trip to Sintra

For the third day, a day trip to the enchanting town of Sintra is recommended. Sintra lies in the cooling hills of the Serra de Sintra, 25 km west of Lisbon.

Historically, this region was a favourite among the Portuguese nobility, and within the forested hills are extravagant palaces and luxurious 19th-century villas.

The standout attraction is the Palácio Nacional da Pena, a flamboyant palace with a vividly-painted exterior and ornately-decorated battlements. The interior has been restored to how it would have appeared in 1914, when the Portuguese nobility fled the country at the onset of the revolution.

Other popular tourist attractions in Sintra include:
• Palácio de Monserrate - A delightful 19th-century Arabic-inspired villa surrounded by tranquil gardens. This monument always has fewer tourists compared to the rest of Sintra.
• Quinta da Regaleira - A mock-Gothic mansion famed for its mysterious gardens that feature hidden passageways, a network of caves and an Initiation Well.
• Palácio Nacional de Sintra - A medieval palace, rich in history and tales, being the most used royal palace by the Portuguese nobility from the 15th to 19th century.

Insight: Sintra is a wonderful destination, but during the peak season it can suffer from over-tourism. It is advisable to always book tickets in advance and start your day trip early in the day.
Related articles: Sintra guide

Palácio Nacional da Pena Sintra

The wonderous Palácio Nacional da Pena

Castelo dos Mouros Sintra

The Castelo dos Mouros standing high above Sintra

After a long day of sightseeing in Sintra, it is suggested to have a relaxing sunset cruise along the Tejo Estuary for the evening activity.

These tours depart an hour before sunset (which varies depending on the time of year) and offer a riverside view of Lisbon before watching the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean.

There are many options available, from large river cruise ships to the romantic setting of a sailing yacht. The tours depart from the Terreiro do Paço ferry terminal, which is also the location of all the ticket offices.

Sunset over the Tejo Estuary

Sunset over the Atlantic Ocean and mouth of the Tejo Estuary

The fourth day - Parque das Nações and Príncipe Real

The fourth day features two different sides of Lisbon: the ultra-modern Parque das Nações and the authentically Portuguese Príncipe Real district

Parque das Nações was constructed for Expo 98 and is full of striking architecture intermingled with water-themed gardens. The district could be considered as an expansive urban park, complete with water exhibits, large plazas and picturesque parks, all of which are traffic-free. Parque das Nações is a great destination for families. Attractions within the area include:
• Oceanário de Lisboa - A magnificent aquarium with a focus on the world's oceans.
• Telecabine Lisboa - A cable car running the length of the park, offering spectacular views over eastern Lisbon.
• Casino Lisboa - The only casino in Lisbon providing high-end nighttime entertainment..
• Torre de Vasco da Gama - The tallest building in Lisbon
Related articles: Parque das Nações

Parque das Nações
Parque das Nações

The Iberian Lynx statue in Parque das Nações

Oceanário de Lisboa

The central tank in the Oceanário de Lisboa is mesmerising

Príncipe Real
Príncipe Real and the surrounding district of Estrela provide a chance to experience traditional and authentic Lisbon, albeit in some of the most affluent neighbourhoods of the city.

This area does not contain the same number of attention-grabbing sights as other districts, but instead offers a genuine Portuguese atmosphere.

A pleasant route is along the Rua Dom Pedro V and Rua da Escola Politécnica, which runs through the heart of Príncipe Real. Along this route are the Jardim do Príncipe Real, the boutique EmbaiXada shopping centre and Jardim Botânico de Lisboa. This enjoyable walk could be extended by walking to Rato, then on to the Marquês de Pombal plaza. From here, it is a downhill walk along the Avenida da Liberdade into the Baixa district.
Related articles: Príncipe Real guide

EmbaiXada Príncipe Real

The number 24 tram passing the EmbaiXada boutique shopping centre in Príncipe Real

Marquês de Pombal plaza

The Marquês de Pombal plaza looking down to the Tejo

The fifth day - Day trip to Cascais or the beach

The final day of this 5-day tour can be spent discovering the coastline surrounding Lisbon, either at the charming fishing town of Cascais, or by visiting one of the region's beautiful beaches.

Cascais was originally a fishing town that found favour with the Portuguese nobility in the 19th century. This gave the town a unique mix of traditional Portuguese character and high-end flare, which is still evident today.

Found in Cascais are elegant 19th-century villas, delightful parks and an exclusive marina complex, along with many beautiful sandy beaches. There are two pleasant coastal walks, either following the beachside promenade to Estoril or westwards along the rocky coastline to the Boca do Inferno cliff formation.
Related articles: Cascais guide.

Cascais

Cascais is only a short train ride from Lisbon

During the summer, you may choose to spend the last day relaxing on one of the many beautiful beaches near Lisbon. There are many outstanding sandy beaches near the city, and some of the best are the Praia de Carcavelos, the Praia de Santo Amaro, the Costa da Caparica or the many beaches near Cascais.
Related articles: Lisbon beach guide

Praia de Carcavelos beach

The Praia de Carcavelos on a hot summers day

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The best guide to Lisbon

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Costa da Caparica
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Cost of a holiday to Lisbon
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Lisbon museums

Thank you,
We really appreciate you visiting our website, but the digital world is changing for the worse.

Independent publishers like us face many new challenges. Search engines now prioritize ads over organic content, and AI replicates our hard work.

If you enjoyed our work, please bookmark our website to easily find us again or share it on social media with your friends and family.

We aim to keep our 1,600+ pages accurate and fully updated. If you spot any errors or outdated information, please contact us at: [email protected]

lisbon Portugal guide
top 10 lisbon
Secret Lisbon
Where to stay which district lisbon
48 hours lisbon
lisbon food and meals
Lisbon day trips
lisbon beaches
3 days in Lisbon
1 week in lisbon
24 hours in lisbon
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Baixa district lisbon
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Lisbon sunsets
Parque das Nações district lisbon
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sintra portugal
Costa da Caparica
cascais portugal
Lisbon viewpoints
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Cost of a holiday to Lisbon
wet day in lisbon
Lisbon museums