Lisbon, Portugal is a fantastic city to visit in Europe. The food is delicious, the people are friendly, the weather is great…what is not to like? Check out this guide on how to spend four days in Lisbon, Portugal. This a must-read itinerary for Lisbon.
Table of Contents
Day One
Take the Trolley
Lisbon reminds a lot of people, myself included, about San Francisco. The two cities have a lot of charm with steep hills scattered throughout the city, the vintage trams still in operation, and iconic bridges to admire from the viewpoints.
I tend to enjoy exploring cities by foot, but Lisbon is an exception because I LOVE trams. I instantly feel transported back in time. In fact, the Lisbon trams have been in use since 1873!
I recommend finding a tram that will take you to Praça Luís de Camões where we will kick off our 3 days in Lisbon.
Check out the World’s Oldest Bookstore
Speaking of old things still in operation…check out the world’s oldest operating bookstore, Livraria Bertrand – Chiado. If you’re a bookworm, it may be worthwhile to purchase something inside.
Explore the Carmo Convent
Now it is time to head to the Carmo Convent, less than a 5 minute walk from the bookstore. The convent was unfortunately destroyed in the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake. However, it makes an epic spot for getting a taste of history and seeing how much of this incredible architecture is still standing.
Tickets are €7 and it is not necessary to purchase in advance.
Elevador of Santa Justa
The Elevador of Santa Justa is a site to see just from the outside. However, it is also a unique experience to ride the iron lift to the top. Prepare to wait in a long line, though.
Savor a Bifana at O Trevo
Any Anthony Bordain admirers will love this lunch stop. Head to O Trevo and order a bifana, a simple sandwich served with marinated pork, mustard, and oil.
Try a Gingjinha
It’s vacation time, which means we can kick our feet up a bit, right? Well…kind of. My itineraries are usually jam-packed because I want you to experience as much of the city as possible. However, we all need a bit of a break every so often. Why not spice it up with a mid-day shot?
It’s time to try a gingjinha, the popular cherry liqueur found throughout Portugal. Throughout Lisbon, you’ll find plenty of gingjinha bars, typically small hole-in-the-wall spots where locals and visitors pop in to pay the 1 for the shot. If you’re lucky, you’ll even receive a cherry (that has been soaked in the liqueur) in your glass.
Two popular spots to try one are A Ginjinha and Ginjinha Sem Rival – both conveniently located down the street from one another. Double trouble!
Scenic Lookout
After lunch and a ginjinha, you may feel a bit drowsy. Let’s take a quick reset break at one of the many miradouros, or lookout, in the city. Nearby, you can find Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara.
During the summer, you’ll often find stalls selling trinkets, ice cream, and drinks.
Unique Streets: Green & Pink
Wandering around Lisbon, you’re sure to find some quirky streets. The two most well-known ones are Green Street and Pink Street.
Green Street gets its name from…the greenery! You’ll find tons of plants placed along the storefronts and even inside the cafes and boutiques. It’s a fairly short street, but cute to check out the local shops.
Pink Street may be the exact opposite vibe. Instead of the wholesome plants, you’ll find the street that was formerly the red light district in Lisbon. But don’t worry, it’s cleaned up a bit. That is if you arrive before 11pm. Then, it becomes party central!
Sardines Galore!
Head to The Fantastic World Of Portuguese Sardines – yes, that is literally the name. And while it talks a big game, it backs it up too! There are multiple locations around Lisbon.
Sardines are a huge part of the food culture in Lisbon, so it isn’t a surprise you’ll find them sold all over the city. At this store, you’ll find canned ones. You’ll find all variations of marinated sardines, octopus, and other seafood. Bonus: these make for a great gift or souvenir.
Sol e Pesca
Now that you’ve found Pink Street, it is officially time to munch on some sardines! Try your luck grabbing a seat at Sol e Pesca (they don’t take reservations). Here, you’ll feast on gourmet canned sardines. Believe it or not, that sentence is not a joke.
I admit, I pre-judged the idea of “canned sardines.” Let me say, I was blown away here! The different bites are flavorful and taste far from what you may imagine canned food tasting like.
Praça do Comércio
After your snack on Pink Street, you can easily access the Praça do Comércio, one of Lisbon’s main squares. See the large arch behind me in the picture below? Walk through there and you reach the square! You’ll find Lisbon’s tourist office, bars, restaurants, and shops. It also is a nice view since it is right along the river.
Rooftop Drinks
Wind down your night with a nightcap overlooking views of Lisbon and the water. Lisbon actually has a fairly large offering of a rooftop bars scattered throughout the city. I drank at Noobai, as I was already right next to the Miradouro de Santa Caterina.
The cocktails hit the spot and the views from here are priceless. Try to make a reservation to ensure a spot.
Day Two
Pasteis de Belem
During your four days in Lisbon, I hope you eat as many pastel de nata as your stomach can possibly handle. On the second day in Lisbon, you’ll spend the entire morning exploring nearby Belem. Belem is situated just on the outskirts of Lisbon. You can walk or easily take the #15 tram from the city center.
First, fuel up at Pasteis de Belem. It is the best pastry shop you can enjoy in Belem.
Jeronimos Monastery
After sufficiently filling up on pastries, it is time to head to an architectural marvel, the Jeronimos Monastery. This former monastery was built in the 1500s and the details and beauty are exquisite. Oh, and remember the infamous earthquake of 1755? It withstood it with almost no damage! Divine intervention?
I recommend getting your ticket in advance for a 9:30AM entrance time to avoid the crowds as best as possible (look how it looks like I had the place to myself!).
Monument to the Discoveries
The Monument to the Discoveries is a tribute to famous Portuguese explorers. In fact, its location in itself is part of the tribute, given it sits along the Tagus River, where many of the explorers set sea.
Henry the Navigator is the the main figure on display, at the front of the group, but there are many other important navigators along both sides. You are able to go inside and have another lookout. However, since there is a lot on today’s agenda, I suggest moving along.
Tower of Belem
Another site to observe during your time in Belem is the Tower of Belem. This former fort was utilized as the departure and arrival point for Portuguese explorers. For €9 you can access and explore the tower.
Personally, I would skip going inside and just admire the tower from the outside. Based on reviews and feedback from friends, it takes about 5 minutes to see everything.
LX Factory
Next on our list of things to do in Lisbon is to head over to the LX Factory. I suggest taking a cab or Uber here (either of which are extremely affordable in Portugal!)
LX Factory is now a surplus of funky cafes, restaurants, and shops (all with unique, artsy vibes) that sit in a former factory warehouse district. After the factories had been sitting abandoned for years, the concept of LX Factory emerged and it is now a bustling and hip area to explore.
Ler Devagar Bookstore
One of the highlights at LX Factory for me was wandering through the Ler Devagar bookstore. They not only have a large collection of books, but also prints and cards.
Landeau Cake
As a self-proclaimed chocolate addict, ANY chocolate is good chocolate. However, I was not prepared for how mind-blowing the Landeau chocolate cake would be. Surely, I had read the reviews, but the cake was truly top-tier.
In fact, it was so good I may or may not visited another location later in the trip for another slice… Obviously, there is much more to see at LX Factory, so check it out for yourself.
Alfama Food Tour
In all honesty, who DOESN’T like exploring new cities via their stomachs? Food tours encompass the best of both worlds. I mean, you stuff your face while learning the city’s history. Sounds amazing to me.
I booked this tour through Viator and left in a food coma. We wandered through the Alfama neighborhood and had over a dozen tastings of local cuisine. During the tour, you learn all about the unique history of the Alhambra neighborhood and while wandering the narrow and winding streets.
I was sooo full, which means an incredible food tour.
Night Cap at Jam Club
I read some reviews stating Jam Club is the best place to go for solo travelers or any traveler looking to connect with others. Sounds right up my alley!
What makes Jam Club so special is the staff. They mingle with all of the clientele, asking which country everyone is from, and then try to strike up conversations amongst the tables. It has a very communal feel of strangers all chatting amongst each other. Rare in these days of social media and everyone on their phone!
They often have musicians playing and if you’re as lucky as I am, a Brazilian musician might invite you on-stage to assist with the makeshift tambourine (aka an empty beer can with some beans inside).
If you’d like to socialize, check it out! I still keep in contact with some of the friends I made at Jam Bar.
Day Three
Since you have four days in Lisbon, today we will explore some noteworthy, nearby towns: Sintra, Colares, and Cascais. These are accessible via train, car, or a tour. I thought the tour would be the best option as the idea of renting a car or navigating the train was a bit overwhelming to me.
I booked a tour through Viator and although I wish we had more time a certain stops, the convenience of the tour, along with all of the stops we got to see, made it well worth it.
Sintra
First, we stopped in the town of Sintra to learn some history. Previously a resort town for Lisbon’s royalty, today Sintra is a cute and charming town about 30 minutes by car from Lisbon.
National Palace of Pena
The Palace of Pena is a must-see when you are in Sintra. Originally a monastery, the earthquake of 1755 destroyed most of it. After years of abandonment, it was re-completed as a palace in 1854.
Colares
Next, you head to Colares, a beautful coastline village. Here, you can also visit the Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in mainland Europe. I think it may also be up for competition to potentially be one of the most windiest points as well.
Cascais
For many years now, Cascais has been known as summer destination for Europe’s rich and famous. Given I am neither rich or famous (yet), a lunchtime visit is sufficient enough. If you are looking for a traditional meal stop at Jardim dos Frangos.
However, if you wish to stay longer and explore, Cascais has plenty to offer.
I am not going to lie, it is sweltering in the summer here. Thankfully, the beach is just a skip away for you to take a dip. Warning: it is quite small. So if you do want to plan a beach day or break here, understand it may be difficult to find a spot.
After enjoying some sun, the tour heads back to Lisbon for you to finish out your day with a few more sites to see.
Igreja de Sao Domingos
The Church of Saint Dominic, known locally as Igreja de Sao Domingos, once was the largest church in Lisbon. The church has withstood many hurdles: the earthquake of 1755 and a fire in 1959. Nonetheless, the church still exists and is a national monument of Lisbon.
Time Out Market
Are you at the point in the trip where no one can agree on where to eat dinner? Make life easy and head to Lisbon’s Time Out Market. Here, you’ll find some of Lisbon’s favorite restaurants with stalls serving their most popular dishes.
The entire group can order something different and everyone can still eat together! Win, win!
Day Four
Hearty Breakfast
I realize not everyone wants to only eat pastel de natas for breakfast during four days in Lisbon. Sometimes you just really crave a breakfast sandwich. I’ve got you covered.
For anyone wanting a hearty breakfast, fresh squeezed juices, or changes their mind and still wants a pastry (yes, they serve pastels here), I recommend Conqvistador Brunch Cafe.
Fill up here and now you’re only steps away from your next destination – the Castle!
Castle de Sao Jorge
By this point during your four days in Lisbon, you’ll have already seen the castle from various points throughout the city given it sits perched high on a hill and easy to spot. Today, we are going to check out the St. George Castle firsthand.
The castle was erected a LONG time ago (we’re talking BC); in fact, excavators guess humans lived here starting from the 8th Century BC.
That being said, the castle clearly has a LOT of history. It is worth wandering the castle, garden, and museums for a couple hours to better understand Lisbon’s history. Tickets are €15 for adults.
National Pantheon
The National Pantheon is a 17th century monument that today is the burial site for important Portuguese figures. One of the highlights is the large terraces on top offering beautiful views overlooking Lisbon.
Tickets cost a few euros and you can purchase at the entrance.
Mosteiro S. Vincente de Fora
Next, head to the Monastery of Saint Vincent of Fora. You can meander to see the church, sacristy, and an incredible 360 degree viewpoint at the top.
Fado Museum
There are a couple other museums you may want to explore with any leftover time in Lisbon. My recommendations are: The Museum of Fado, The Azulejo Museum (Museum of Tiles), and The National Coach Museum.
I personally wanted to learn more about the history of fado. This museum provides a nice walk-through explaining what fado is, providing examples, and highlighting the lives of some of the most famous fado performers.
Do you know why fado tends to sound so mournful and sad? Head to the museum and find out!
Sunset at Largo Portas del Sol
On your final night of your four days in Lisbon, head to Largo Portas del Sol for an amazing sunset view. There are some kiosks serving drinks, so grab a seat and unwind on your final night.
That wraps up my guide on how to spend four days in Lisbon, Portugal!
Here are some additional travel articles you may enjoy:
- How to Spend 2 Days in Porto, Portugal
- How to Spend 2 Days in Seville, Spain
- How to Spend 1 Day in Segovia, Spain
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