Located at the Atlantic Ocean with an estimated population of 505,526 and considered to be one of the largest countries in Portugal, Lisbon has always been one of the most vibrant and charismatic cities in all of Europe. Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal offers the world with its effortlessly blended heritage, modernism and a glorious climate year-round.
In this feature, we’re sharing some of the amazing places to visit in Lisbon in only three days! Three days is the perfect span of time to visit a place and discover it to its fullest. Within these three days, you can visit many tourist attractions, devour yourself with some traditional Lisbon cuisines and envelope yourself with the vibrant nightlife. Without a doubt, you’ll be left with lasting memories of your time in this wonderful city.
Day 1
Enjoy the views
Too many people assume their first day will be made worthless by jet lag. However, the moment you’ve arrived in this beautiful city, you’ll be pumped up with excitement. Your first day in Lisbon should be about enjoying yourself and also getting rid of jet lag. The best way to do so is to get out and enjoy a ‘pinch me, I’m in Lisbon’ walk while breathing in the fresh air and enjoying the spectacular views. Some of the sweat-worthy places to visits are:
Praça do Comércio: A commerce square that was built next to the old Royal Palace that used to exist before it was destroyed by the great earthquake in 1755. Previously, the square was known as Terreiro do Paço (Palace Yard) but was completely remodeled and renamed as Praça do Comércio. The breeze from the Tagus river gives it a more relaxing and favourite meeting place for both locals and tourists to unwind.
Alfama district: Right next to Praça do Comércio is Alfama district, one of the oldest areas in Lisbon that survived the earthquake. Alfama is best enjoyed during daytime, especially when the alleys aren’t too crowded with tourists and locals and you’ll be able to enjoy a walk around the winding cobblestone streets with the most scenic labyrinth you probably might’ve ever seen. Simply grab yourself a cup of Portugese coffee accompanied with a few pastéis de natas (Portuguese egg tart) pastries and enjoy the view.
Miradouro Portas do Sol: Miradouro also known as viewpoints in Portuguese. It’s a word on numerous city signs. Portas do Sol, on the other hand is referred to as the Sun Gate. If you’ve reached the place early enough, you’ll be able to enjoy the sunrise views of the traditional Alfama houses with red roofs and churches. At that moment, you simply would wish time stood still!
Day 2
A Belém Adventure
The second day on your itinerary is all about adventure and not just any ordinary ones, it’s the Belém adventure. Belém district, located in the west of Lisbon is home to countless of Portugal’s historical buildings and landmarks. The green parks and open spaces at Belém today were once a massive shipyard and harbour. Belém district is located far from the city center, so be prepared to spend, most probably the entire day here. But do not worry, it will be a day well spent.
Info: It was at Belém where Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer and the first European to reach India by sea, spent his last night before he discovered the route to India.
There’s a lot of stunning locations to be discovered while you’re in Belém and some of it includes:
- The Aos Combatentes do Ultramar war memorial. (The monument pays tribute to thousands of Portuguese soldiers that have lost their lives fighting in colonial conflicts.)
- The Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT) museum.
- The Museu de Marinha or also known as the Navy Museum.
- The President’s residence.
Apart from that, while you’re there, do not forget to pay a visit to Pastéis de Belém, a large bakery cafe offering Portuguese baked goods including breads and hot baked tarts.
Day 3
Castle Time
We’re pretty sure from your second day, you’ve spent a great amount of time in the city. So, skip the city tours on your third day in Lisbon and get ready to go for a day trip.
Now, it’s time to check out the nearby Sintra! What’s Sintra you may ask, well, Sintra is a picturesque town tucked between the lush green hills that goes all the way to the Atlantic. Isn’t that amazing! Oh yes, and let’s not forget that the place is also stacked with castles.
Going on a daytrip, would probably won’t be enough to check out all the castles, but we’re pretty sure that you’ll be able to spend some great times at the most prominent ones such as:
Park and National Palace of Pena or commonly known as Pena Palace is one of the world’s most magnificent palaces worldwide as it exemplifies the 19th century Romanticism style of architecture.
Castle of the Moors: The Castle of the Moors is located at the hilltop in the central Portuguese civil parish of Santa Maria e São Miguel in Sintra. The castle is over 1000 years old and it’s older than Pena’s Palace. It’s famous for its high fortified stone walls with guard towers and occupied with massive battlement towers. Plus, it has a great panoramic view of the area. On a clear day, you will not miss the splendid view of the ocean!
Quinta da Regaleira: Last but not least, Quinta da Regaleira has a stunning gothic facade with quirky gardens that was inspired by the owner’s mystic ideologies. The palace is definitely a magnet for tourists from all around the world.
Best time to travel
The best time for a visit would be during the spring season which is from March to May as well as autumn season; September till November.
