Visit one of the oldest cities in the world and one of the most fun cities in Europe! Lisbon has delectable food, a thriving nightlife, and a deep history. You could spend a week exploring everything there is to see in this large city, but if you only have a few days you can read below for the best 3 Day Lisbon and Sintra Itinerary!
I have been to over 45 countries, with plenty of capital cities, but Lisbon is by far my favorite! This city has such an endearing community and a wonderful atmosphere that will make you fall in love. Below you will find my guide to 3 days in Lisbon and Sintra. You can easily mix things around and change things up for your own schedule.
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Table of Contents
3 Days in Sintra and Lisbon
Day 1: Alfama District and Bairro Alto
You should dedicate a lot of time to see the gorgeous Alfama district, the oldest and in my opinion the prettiest district in Lisbon. Make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes, because you will be exploring this area on foot!
If you are a true foodie, make sure that you sign up for a food tour in Lisbon. This food tour was one of the highlights of our trip and I highly recommend booking it early! We met Ruthy at the Miradouro das Porto del Sol, a great vista to take pictures of the Alfama district. Alfama is the oldest district in Lisbon and one of the most picturesque as well. Ruthy was a friendly and chatty Portuguese woman that took us through the streets of Alfama trying all of the local food along the way. We started by eating the best Pasteles de Natas (so good we went back for more!), drank coffee, tried bacalhau (a fried cod dish), and ended with a feast of sausages and port at a local restaurant.
After the tour you can continue to explore the streets of the Alfama district. You should also make sure to visit the Church of Santa Engracia. The architecture on the inside is beautiful but if you go upstairs you can get a lovely view of Lisbon from the balcony. Then walk to the Castle of Sao Jorge, where you can climb along the castle walls and get some of the best views of Lisbon. If you have extra time or want to take public transportation, you should take the tram 28 that runs through this district. After all of your exploring, you can stop into one of the local restaurants for dinner or a drink before heading back to the hotel to change.
To truly experience Lisbon, you should go out and enjoy the nightlife. The Portuguese go out very late and they stay out until the early hours of the morning. The liveliest area to go out is the Bairro Alto. Once you get to this area you will find large lines out of the door of various dance clubs and people drinking on the street. You can pop into a quiet bar to grab a drink and sip it while you wait in line for another club. You can dance, drink, and get late night bites on the street until you are too tired to stay out any longer.
Day 2: Belem District
On your second day you can explore the Belem district, a popular district for many tourists to visit. It is situated on the Tagus River and it was one a thriving port area. Now there are plenty of historic landmarks and sights to fill your day of exploring.
You should start your tour at the Jeronimos Monastery. If you show up and there’s a long line, don’t let that deter you- it’s worth it. This Monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Sight and it has a lot of religious significance. As soon as you walk in, you will notice the stunning architecture. The walls and columns have beautiful stone carvings that are incredibly intricate and you could spend a long time staring at these alone. While you’re inside make sure to check out the church which has magnificent stained glass windows and ornate details.
The original recipe for Pasteles de Natas was created at the monastery, so in order to pay your respects you can head over to Pasteis de Belem the bakery that still uses this secret recipe. TRAVEL TIP: Many people will be lined up outside, but you will get the pastries much quicker if you go into the restaurant and wait to be seated. We were seated within ten minutes, coffee mugs and plates of Pasteles de Natas covered the table.
Once you’re full, you can head over to the famous Belem Tower. The tower sits along the river and it was created for defensive purposes. Canyons are situated along the edge of the towers walls. You should go inside if you have time to learn more about the tower’s history and you can get views of the river from the top.
Other Things to See in Lisbon:
Day 3: Sintra
Sintra is a historic town full of castles and palaces that make you feel like you’re in a fairy tail. It is one of the most popular day trips from Lisbon, and you can get there by car or train. Additionally there are plenty of organized day tours that will take you around many of the sites that Sintra has to offer.
Sintra is a historic town full of castles and palaces that make you feel like you’re in a fairy tail. It is one of the most popular day trips from Lisbon, and you can get there by car or train. Additionally there are plenty of organized day tours that will take you around many of the sites that Sintra has to offer.
From the center of town, you can take a tuk-tuk or taxi to the top of the hill to see Pena Palace first. Pena Palace is a vibrant, colorful palace that was constructed in the middle ages and that is visible throughout the town of Sintra, because it resides on the top of the hill. When you get to the top you can grab a ticket for your entry at one of the electronic stations in order to skip the large lines. If you plan on visiting the other sites in Sintra, make sure you get a combination ticket. You will want to spend a few hours walking around the colorful palace and wandering through the gardens.
We didn’t have time to see anything else, but if you do then you should walk to the bottom of Pena Park, you can head to the Moorish Castle. This is a bit of a walk from the Park, so you can also taxi there if you want. You can spend a couple hours there before heading down to town.
When you’re done exploring, you can head back to Lisbon and enjoy the rest of your night. Lisbon is so large that you could spend a week there and not see everything. If you only have 3 days in Lisbon, then I think this guide will help you see the best sights!
Let me know in the comments if you enjoyed this itinerary!
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