Welcome to Lisbon, where you’ll have an amazing experience exploring the city’s wonders. From ancient neighborhoods to mouthwatering cuisine and breathtaking views, your time in Lisbon will be filled with unforgettable moments. Curated below is a guide for 3 days in Lisbon. 3 days is the minimum time I believe you should spend in Lisbon as there is a ton of sights to see and places to explore. Let’s dive into your 3 day adventure in Lisbon and create memories to last a lifetime.
Table of Contents
- How to get to Lisbon
- Where to Stay in Lisbon
- 3 Day Itinerary for Lisbon
- Extra Time in Lisbon? Do a surf camp in Cascais!
- Where to Next?
How to get to Lisbon
Coimbra to Lisbon
Lisbon is a very accessible city by plane, train, or bus. I first went from Coimbra to Cascais by bus for a week long surf camp. Then from Cascais I took a train to Lisbon. Below is a quick overview of how I did this:
- Coimbra to Cascais – Rede Expressos bus for 5 euros from Coimbra bus station to Cascais (Alcabideche). From there I took a public bus to get to my surf camp.
- Cascais to Lisbon – From my surf camp, I took an Uber to the Cascais train station for about 6 euros. I took the train to Lisbon (Cais do Sodre) for 2.30 euros. Train times can be found here and they are very frequent. Then I took an Uber from outside the train station to my hostel for less than 4 euros.
Anywhere else to Lisbon
Like I said, Lisbon is a very accessible city. Rede Expressos and Flixbus being the best bus options, with Rede Expressos being much cheaper. The Comboios de Portugal train line can cheaply get to Lisbon from anywhere in Portugal.
Where to Stay in Lisbon
I stayed in Lisbon for a total of 5 days and 4 nights to give myself a full 3 days in Lisbon and 2 travel days. I ended up staying in two hostels: Urban Garden Hostel for 2 nights, and Goodmorning Solo Traveller Hostel for 2 nights.
Urban Garden Hostel
This was an ok hostel for a couple nights. After I booked I received a confirmation email that also let me know that I will be staying in a property that is detached from the main hostel. I was fine with this, until I spent my first night in it. The detached property was only further up the street from the main hostel. It was in what looked like a residential apartment building where they converted one floow into a hostel. I don’t know exactly what I didn’t like about it, but the vibe was off. The bathrooms were fine, the kitchen was also fine, the rooms were mediocre, but I just wasn’t feeling it.
To book at Urban Garden Hostel, use the buttons below to find which site has the best price:
Goodmorning Solo Traveller Hostel
This hostel was my favorite hostel in possibly all of Portugal. There was a big social vibe, the volunteers were incredibly friendly, the free breakfast was good, and the hostel was very comfortable and clean. Finding the hostel was a bit of an adventure. The entrance of the hostel is inside a store. If you find the hostel on Google Maps, there is a picture showing you exactly which door to walk through. You’ll have to ring a bell to be let inside. Location of Goodmorning Solo Traveller is perfectly central and within minutes of the Rossio train station. Overall, great experience staying here and can’t recommend it enough.
To book at Goodmorning Solo Traveller Hostel, use the buttons below to find which site has the best price:
Unique Stays in Lisbon
Are you looking for a charming and stylish hotel to stay in Lisbon? Maybe even something with a touch of luxury in a gorgeous location? Then check out the chic hotels listed in Places of Juma’s blog post. From stunning views to beautiful designs, these hotels will surely enhance your experience in Lisbon.
3 Day Itinerary for Lisbon
First Day:
- Ride the historic Tram 28 through Lisbon to get a quick view of everything the city has to offer. Riding the tram is a very popular tourist attraction, so be sure to get there early to avoid long lines. To further avoid the long lines, get on the Tram at the Campo Ourique (Prazeres) station and ride the route backwards. This way you will end near the city center, where you are likely staying.
- While you are in the area, explore the historic neighborhood of Alfama. Get lost in its narrow streets, admire the colorful buildings, and if you’d like a closer look, visit the Lisbon Cathedral called Se.
- Catch a beautiful sunset at one of the cities many viewpoints. Miradouro da Senhora do Monte is an excellent spot to catch sunset and a nice view of the city. A few other spots are: Miradouro da Graça, Miradouro de Santo Estêvão, and Miradouro de Santa Luzia.
- Finish the day with dinner and experiencing Fado, the soulful Portuguese music, by attending a live performance in one of Lisbon’s traditional Fado houses. A couple to recommend: Mesa De Frades, Casa de Linhares, and O Corrido (Casa de Fado).
Second Day:
- Head to the Belém district and visit the iconic Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery. Don’t miss the chance to try the famous Pastéis de Belém, a traditional Portuguese pastry. To get to Belém take Tram 15 from Praça da Figueira to Largo da Princesa, which is the closest stop to Belém Tower.
- Make you way back to Lisbon by stopping at LX Factory, an industrial complex turned creative hub filled with art galleries, trendy shops, and cozy cafes. Continue on to the charming district of Baixa using Tram 15 or walking 45 minutes. Explore the impressive Praça do Comércio and Arco da Rua Augusta.
- If time permits, visit the Carmo Convent, a picturesque gothic church that was destroyed by an earthquake in 1755.
- End the day with a delicious dinner in the trendy Bairro Alto neighborhood, known for its vibrant nightlife.
Third Day :
- Wake up early for your final day in Lisbon to take a day trip to Sintra. From Rossio train station catch a train to Sintra (not Portela de Sintra). Right outside the train station in Sintra is the 434 tourist bus which will take you around Sintra. Tickets can be bought online or in person before boarding the bus. If you only plan on visiting the castles (Moorish Castle, Pena Palace, Sintra Palace, and Quinta da Regaleira) along the 434 bus, I recommend only getting the Circuito Pena ida e volta for 7.60 euros. If you plan on visiting other areas in addition to the castles then I would recommend the hop on hop off bus for 24 hours.
- Moreover, I highly recommend visiting Pena Palace first because it is the most popular and gets very busy. There are timed tickets to enter the actual palace so make sure you book these in advance. Furthermore, visiting the garden is another ticket with no timing.Visiting Pena Palace first would mean skipping the Moorish Castle if you only got the Circuito Pena ticket. Also, I recommend visiting Quinta da Regaleira which is only a short walk away from the Sintra Palace.
- Grab lunch at one of the spectacular restaurants around Sintra Palace in between seeing the castles.
- Return to Lisbon by train. Visit the lively Mercado da Ribeira, also known as Time Out Market. Indulge in a variety of gourmet dishes from different local vendors for dinner.
Extra Time in Lisbon? Do a surf camp in Cascais!
Before my visit to Lisbon, I decided to spend 5 days at a surf camp in Cascais. I booked the 5 day 4 night surf package with Surf Cascais. This is where I booked from: https://www.booksurfcamps.com/surf-cascais-surf-school-surf-villa-shop/5-day-full-pack-surf-camp-with-a-yoga-lesson-in-cascais.
I cannot recommend Surf Cascais enough. From staying in the beautiful surf house, meeting new people, the free breakfasts, social activities in the evenings, and the amazing surf instructors, I couldn’t expect any better. In essence, I had an amazing time here and I also improved my surfing.
Where to Next?
After spending an epic 3 days in Lisbon and maybe even doing the surf camp in Cascais, your next stop could be Lagos. Lagos is magnicent and picture-esque with its blue waters, stunning cliffs, and enormous rock formations. This is a spot one cannot miss.
Check out this 2 week itinerary in Portugal to help plan your next trip.
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I’m jealous. I really wanted to visit Sintra when I was in Portugal. I can’t wait to go back. It looks like you have a great itinerary.
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