Here’s how to spend two days in Lisbon if you’re visiting Portugal.
I recommend staying at least two days, as the city is full of things to see and do – plus the atmosphere is really enjoyable, you will spend hours wandering in the charming little streets.
Lisbon is Portugal’s capital, set on seven hills along the Tagus River. It is known for its colourful tiled buildings, historic funicular rides, lively neighbourhoods, and breathtaking miradouros (viewpoints).
Here’s the ultimate Lisbon itinerary, from Bairro Alto and Alfama to Praça do Comércio, including many miradouros!
- Day One – Alfama: Praça do Comércio – Miradouro de Santa Luzia – Miradouro das Portas do Sol – Castelo de São Jorge – Café da Garagem – Miradouro da Graça – Miradouro da Senhora do Monte – Jardim do Rio
- Day Two : Pink Street – Time Out Market – Miradouro de Santa Catarina – Rua Verde – Bairro Alto – Sao Pedro de Alcantara
Day One
Day One Circuit : 8 stops, 45 minutes of walk.
Start off your day at Praça do Comércio, the heart of Lisbon. It used to be the royal palace square, and was rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake. This grand plaza faces the Tagus River (which you can see in the background of the 3rd picture below), and is framed by arcaded buildings (on picture 2).
A few minutes from the square is Pastel de Nata Manteigaria – a bakery known for making one of Lisbon’s best custard tarts, freshly baked throughout the day. It costs 1,3€ per tart and they are indeed delicious.
10 minutes from the main square is Miradouro de Santa Lucia. Perched in the heart of Alfama, this viewpoint offers one of Lisbon’s most charming views. Picture this: vibrant azulejo-tiled walls, blooming bougainvillea on the pergolas, and stunning views over the rooftops and the Tagus River.
Just a few steps from the previous viewpoint is Miradouro Porta do Sol. This one is a lively terrace overlooking the pastel buildings, church towers, and with the Tagus River in the background. THE perfect spot to start your day in Lisbon.
5 minutes of walk will take you to Castelo de São Jorge. This Moorish fortress was built on the highest of the seven hills of Lisbon in the 11th century. It can be visited for its ruins, ramparts and stunning views.
Entrance fee: Tickets are 15€ for adults, 7,5€ if you are under 25.
Opening hours: Everyday from 9am to 9pm.
Café da Garagem is located 10 minutes from the castle and it is the perfect morning break. This cozy café inside a theater with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Lisbon is an absolute hidden gem, absolutely worth stopping by to soak up the view while having a drink or a slice of cake.
Now this one is set beside a little church and shaded by pine trees, only 7 minutes from the café. Miradouro da Graça offers a peaceful atmosphere with panoramic views over Lisbon’s hills, with the 25 de Abril bridge and the Tagus River in the background.
Another 10 minutes will take you to the next stop. Miradouro da Senhora do Monte is the highest viewpoint in Lisbon and will reward you with the most breathtaking view of this city, the castle, the bridge and the river, what’s more to ask? If you can, try to make it for sunset, you will not be disappointed by the incredible scenery.
If you want to end this day beautifully with a sunset, head to Jardim do Rio. You will need to pay a ticket for the ferry to cross the river and get to the other side of Lisbon. Here’s the location of the ferry terminal. Getting from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas takes around 10 minutes, and after 20 minutes of walking (or taking a bus), you will arrive to Jardim do Rio, a park alongside the river. The whole waterfront with the restaurants (such as Ponto Final, be prepared for A LOT of stairs), is really lovely and one of the best places to see the sun go down over the river.
Day Two
Day Two Circuit : 7 stops, 40 minutes of walk.
Start of your second day at Pink Street. Once Lisbon’s red-light district, this pink-painted street is now one of the city’s liveliest nightlife areas.
A few steps from Pink Street is the Time Out Market, a buzzing food market with many traditional food stalls. This is the perfect place for sampling Portuguese cuisine.
Opening hours: Everyday from 10am to midnight.
A 10-minute walk will take you to our first viewpoint of the day. Miradouro de São Catarina is another great spot to enjoy the views with a lively atmosphere, but it is also close to Elevador da Bica – one of the most beautiful streets in all of Lisbon. It’s the perfect place to watch the old funicular (1892) and with a stunning background. However, I wouldn’t recommend paying to use it “just for fun”, as it gets crowded and it only goes up this street, for a pretty expensive price. Other funiculars in the city are way more useful and as fun to experience.
Rua Verde, located 10 minutes away from the previous stop, is a charming street with green balconies and beautiful façades.
From the previous stop, a 15 minute walk will take you to Bairro Alto. A Bohemian neighbourhood with narrow streets.
While in Bairro Alto, you can head to the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara. This landscaped terrace is one of the best panoramic views over Lisbon.
Closeby is the Botanical Garden of Lisbon, but honestly it does not look like a botanical garden, more of a city park which you have to pay to enjoy. So if you want to visit something else in the afternoon, here are my top 3 alternatives, that you can also combine for a third day of visit if you have more time in Lisbon :
LX Factory is a creative hub in a former industrial site, with many little shops, cafés, and cultural events.
Opening hours: everyday from 10:30am to 10:30pm.
MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture & Technology): This futuristic riverside museum showcases contemporary exhibitions in a huge space.
Entrance fee: 15€ for adults, 8€ for students.
Opening hours: Everyday from 10am to 7pm.
There are 3 major things to experience in Belém: Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Tower and the famous Pastéis de Belém. Let’s go into a bit more detail.
The Jerónimos Monastery is a late Gothic Manueline-style monastery built in 1501 and now a UNESCO site. I’d really recommend booking your ticket in advance on their website because there is always a very long queue in front.
Entrance fee: 18$ for adults, 9€ for people over 65 or under 24.
Opening hours: Everyday from 9:30am to 5:30pm. Closed on Mondays.
On your way back from the monastery, you can make a stop at Pastéis de Belém. This bakery is a Lisbon institution, serving the original custard tarts since 1837. Spoiler: they are indeed the best. One pastéis costs 1,5€.
Opening hours: Everyday from 8am to 10pm.
Lastly, you can check out the Belém Tower, but it is currently undergoing some renovation. It is a fortress built in 1515 to guard the harbor, a bit underwhelming if you ask me, only nice to stop by if you are in the area already. Below are pictures of the Garden of Belém, a nice place to stroll and the only shade you’ll get in Belém during a hot summer day.
Entrance fee: 15€ for adults.
Opening hours: Everyday from 9:30am to 6pm. Closed on Mondays.
That’s it for my Lisbon itinerary!
I hope this article gave you a better idea of what to expect from a two days trip in Lisbon, it’s definitely a beautiful city to visit if you are coming to Portugal !
If you plan on coming to Lisbon soon you can check out my article about the best viewpoints in Lisbon.
If you need more information about what to know before going to Portugal, you can check out this article.
If you need a custom itinerary, you can fill this form and I’ll make your own personalised itinerary.
