3 Days in Lisbon
🚋 Complete Itinerary & Cost Guide
3 days in Lisbon is tight but doable if you focus on the essentials. Most travellers actually stay around 4 days. Here's a realistic day-by-day plan plus what it costs.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
This plan covers the essentials without burnout. Adjust based on opening hours, weather, and your stamina. Most days are 4–6 hours of activity with long meals and downtime built in.
Settle into your hotel, grab a light lunch, then ease into Lisbon with Tram 28 through Alfama at sunrise. Don't overbook day one — jet lag is real.
Belém — pastéis at Pastéis de Belém + Jerónimos Monastery. Pair it with a sit-down lunch nearby and an evening walk through a different neighbourhood.
Hit one final must-see (Belém — pastéis at Pastéis de Belém + Jerónimos Monastery), pick up souvenirs, and leave time for a relaxed lunch before your flight or onward train.
What does 3 days in Lisbon cost?
Estimates below are per person, including accommodation, food, local transport, and ~1 paid activity per day. Flights to Lisbon are not included — they vary wildly by origin.
Lisbon survival tips
Get a Viva Viagem card and load it with zapping — covers metro, tram, bus, ferry, and the elevators.
Real Portuguese seafood is north of Bairro Alto. Skip the restaurants on Rua Augusta — fully tourist traps.
Locals openly sell "drugs" to tourists near Rossio that are fake (oregano). Ignore.
When to go
April, May, September, October are the best months for Lisbon — the climate is at its best and crowds haven't peaked. Avoid August (crowded + expensive).