3 days in Lisbon

Portugal

This is the free preview of the Wayfinder guide to Lisbon: a realistic three-day plan with a morning sight, a specific lunch spot, an afternoon walk or museum, dinner before drinks, plus hotels for every budget, how local tickets work and the best day trips nearby.

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Day-by-day plan

Day 1 — City Essentials

☀️ Morning · 09:00 – 12:00
Jerónimos Monastery
Pure Manueline style, in Belém.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Pure Manueline style, in Belém.
Getting there: Metro / tram 28 Local network · Jerónimos Monastery from Baixa-Chiado · 10 min · €1.80
🍕 Lunch · 12:30 – 14:00
Time Out Market
The city's top chefs under one roof.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · The city's top chefs under one roof.
Other great options nearby
Cervejaria Ramiro · €€ · Legendary seafood.Map
Zé dos Cornos · €€ · Portuguese grill on a budget.Map
Getting there: Metro / tram 28 Local network · Time Out Market from Baixa-Chiado · 10 min · €1.80
🏛️ Afternoon · 14:30 – 18:30
Fábrica Coffee Roasters
Specialty coffee in Baixa.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Specialty coffee in Baixa.
Getting there: Metro / tram 28 Local network · Fábrica Coffee Roasters from Baixa-Chiado · 10 min · €1.80
🍷 Dinner · 19:30 – 21:30
Dinner at Taberna da Rua das Flores
Menu written daily on a chalkboard.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Menu written daily on a chalkboard.
Other great options nearby
Time Out Market · €€ · The city's top chefs under one roof.Map
Cervejaria Ramiro · €€ · Legendary seafood.Map
Getting there: Metro / tram 28 Local network · Dinner at Taberna da Rua das Flores from Baixa-Chiado · 10 min · €1.80
🍸 Nightlife · 22:00+
Fado at Tasca do Chico
Authentic fado vadio.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Authentic fado vadio.
Other great options nearby
Pink Street · €€ · Bars in Cais do Sodré.Map
Fábrica Coffee Roasters · €€ · Specialty coffee in Baixa.Map
Getting there: Metro / tram 28 Local network · Fado at Tasca do Chico from Baixa-Chiado · 10 min · €1.80

Day 2 — Neighborhoods & Local Flavor

☀️ Morning · 09:00 – 12:00
Miradouro Senhora do Monte
The best view, at sunrise.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · The best view, at sunrise.
Getting there: Metro / tram 28 Local network · Miradouro Senhora do Monte from Baixa-Chiado · 10 min · €1.80
🍕 Lunch · 12:30 – 14:00
Cervejaria Ramiro
Legendary seafood.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Legendary seafood.
Other great options nearby
Zé dos Cornos · €€ · Portuguese grill on a budget.Map
Time Out Market · €€ · The city's top chefs under one roof.Map
Getting there: Metro / tram 28 Local network · Cervejaria Ramiro from Baixa-Chiado · 10 min · €1.80
🏛️ Afternoon · 14:30 – 18:30
Pastéis de Belém
The original 1837 recipe.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · The original 1837 recipe.
Getting there: Metro / tram 28 Local network · Pastéis de Belém from Baixa-Chiado · 10 min · €1.80
🍷 Dinner · 19:30 – 21:30
Dinner at Taberna da Rua das Flores
Menu written daily on a chalkboard.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Menu written daily on a chalkboard.
Other great options nearby
Cervejaria Ramiro · €€ · Legendary seafood.Map
Zé dos Cornos · €€ · Portuguese grill on a budget.Map
Getting there: Metro / tram 28 Local network · Dinner at Taberna da Rua das Flores from Baixa-Chiado · 10 min · €1.80
🍸 Nightlife · 22:00+
Pink Street
Bars in Cais do Sodré.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Bars in Cais do Sodré.
Other great options nearby
Fábrica Coffee Roasters · €€ · Specialty coffee in Baixa.Map
LX Factory · €€ · Former factory, the Ler Devagar bookshop.Map
Getting there: Metro / tram 28 Local network · Pink Street from Baixa-Chiado · 10 min · €1.80

Day 3 — Art, Coffee & Hidden Gems

☀️ Morning · 09:00 – 12:00
Alfama on foot
Narrow streets, fado and hanging laundry.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Narrow streets, fado and hanging laundry.
Getting there: Metro / tram 28 Local network · Alfama on foot from Baixa-Chiado · 10 min · €1.80
🍕 Lunch · 12:30 – 14:00
Zé dos Cornos
Portuguese grill on a budget.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Portuguese grill on a budget.
Other great options nearby
Time Out Market · €€ · The city's top chefs under one roof.Map
Cervejaria Ramiro · €€ · Legendary seafood.Map
Getting there: Metro / tram 28 Local network · Zé dos Cornos from Baixa-Chiado · 10 min · €1.80
🏛️ Afternoon · 14:30 – 18:30
LX Factory
Former factory, the Ler Devagar bookshop.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Former factory, the Ler Devagar bookshop.
Getting there: Metro / tram 28 Local network · LX Factory from Baixa-Chiado · 10 min · €1.80
🍷 Dinner · 19:30 – 21:30
Dinner at Taberna da Rua das Flores
Menu written daily on a chalkboard.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Menu written daily on a chalkboard.
Other great options nearby
Zé dos Cornos · €€ · Portuguese grill on a budget.Map
Time Out Market · €€ · The city's top chefs under one roof.Map
Getting there: Metro / tram 28 Local network · Dinner at Taberna da Rua das Flores from Baixa-Chiado · 10 min · €1.80
🍸 Nightlife · 22:00+
Fado at Tasca do Chico
Authentic fado vadio.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Authentic fado vadio.
Other great options nearby
LX Factory · €€ · Former factory, the Ler Devagar bookshop.Map
Pink Street · €€ · Bars in Cais do Sodré.Map
Getting there: Metro / tram 28 Local network · Fado at Tasca do Chico from Baixa-Chiado · 10 min · €1.80

Day trip idea: Sintra · 40 min by train from Rossio → Sintra · ≈ €2.30

Where to stay in Lisbon

Budget / boutique

Lisbon Destination Hostel

Lisbon · Rossio · ⭐ 8.8 · €€ · ≈ €80–110 / night

Check availability

Mid-range

Hotel Santa Justa

Lisbon · Baixa · ⭐ 8.9 · €€€ · ≈ €150–200 / night

Check availability

Luxury

Bairro Alto Hotel

Lisbon · Praça Luís de Camões · ⭐ 9.3 · €€€€ · €400+ / night

Check availability

Flying in from overseas

What travelers from the US, Canada, Australia and Asia need to sort out before a long-haul trip to Lisbon.

Flight time & jet lag: Most long-haul flights land in Europe early morning. Plan a light first day — a walk and an outdoor lunch beat a museum. This 3-day plan keeps day 1 gentle so you can push through to a local bedtime.
Entry requirements: US, Canadian, Australian, Japanese, Korean and Singaporean passport holders enter the Schengen Area visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180, but must register for ETIAS online before departure. Passport should be valid 3+ months past your return date.
Phone & data (eSIM): Skip roaming charges: install a Europe-wide eSIM (Airalo, Holafly or your carrier's international day pass) before you leave home. One eSIM covers the whole trip, including day trips across borders.
Power adapters: Type C/F outlets at 230V. US and Canadian travelers need a plug adapter; check that hair tools are dual-voltage.
Money & cards: Tap-to-pay works nearly everywhere in Lisbon. Use a card with no foreign transaction fee, always choose to be charged in the local currency, and carry about 20 in small bills for markets and restrooms.
Airport to city: Book nothing in advance for the airport run — Lisbon has a train or express bus that beats a taxi on both price and time. The transport section below has the official operator and ticket app.

Full long-haul planning guide

Practical tips for Portugal

Transport & tickets: CP Comboios for trains · rechargeable Navegante (Lisbon) or Andante (Porto) card · few contactless gates
Tipping & payments: 5-10% for a good meal · optional · Tap & Go with a contactless card or Apple Pay directly at the validators in Lisbon.
Emergency numbers: 112
Power sockets: Type C / F · 230V

When to go: events in Lisbon

Festas de Santo António
June · Festival
Grilled sardines and street parties in Alfama.
Wonderland Lisboa
Nov – Jan · Christmas market
A market in Parque Eduardo VII with an ice rink.
Feira da Ladra
Tuesday & Saturday · Market & fair
An antiques market in Alfama.

Day trips from Lisbon

Sintra
40 min by train · from Rossio → Sintra · ≈ €2.30
Pena Palace · Quinta da Regaleira · Cabo da Roca
Cascais
35 min by train · from Cais do Sodré → Cascais · ≈ €2.30
Beaches · Boca do Inferno · Cycling along the cliffs

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3 days in Lisbon, Portugal — an hour-by-hour plan with real restaurants, hotels at every budget and local transit tickets. Built for travelers flying in from the US, Canada, Australia and Asia.

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