How to spend 72 hours in Lisbon - Best things to do and see
A sweet escape in November can be hard to find in Europe, but never impossible. This November my boyfriend and I went on a 3 day citytrip to Lisbon and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. With the colorful streets, amazing people and beautiful monuments, it was more than we could have wished for. And you can experience it as well!
Things to do in Lisbon
Day 1 - Lisbon
1. Lisbon – Explore the city
Get up early and explore the colorful streets of Lisbon by foot. One of the most colorful street of Lisbon is Calçada da Glória. This is a small, uphill street where two trams pass each other on their way up and down. You can take the tram or you can walk through this amazing street. Everywhere you look, you will find colors and paintings.
2. Lisbon – Pinkstreet
Colors on the walls is something you can find everywhere in Lisbon, but on this street you will find the color on the floor. Pink street is just as the name says, a pink street with cute colored umbrella’s above the street and little restaurants that open in the evening. Just around the corner of the street there is an amazing burger place: Dallas Burger Joint. Definitely worth a visit when you’re there.
3. Lisbon – Take the train to Bélem
On the western side of the city, there is a district called Belém. You can reach this place by train or bus. The public transport is easily to use with lots of options. We planned our trip through Google Maps by filing in the place we wanted to go to and Google will give you all the options you need. Most options start from one of the biggest train stations of Lisbon, Cais do Sodré. Downstairs you can get your tickets at one of the tickets machines. We took tram 15E and got out at the stop ‘Mosteiro Jerónimos’.
4. Belém – Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
5. Belém – Padrão dos Descobrimentos
The Padrão dos Descobrimentos is a monument in honor of the Portuguese explorers who explored the world in the 15th and 16th centuries. The structure is 52 meters high and is built in the shape of a ship. The building is so big and detailed, that you will be in awe at the sight. You can also visit the top of the monument, but I would recommend you do this as early as possible, because the square next to it tends to get really busy and your view will be clouded with people.
6. Belém – Lunch by the river
Padrão dos Descobrimentos and the Belem Tower can be find on the side of the Tagus River. As well as these incredible monuments, you can finds lots of foodtrucks here. We decided to get a bite at ‘Mister Tapas’ and it was delicious. Of course you also pay for the location, but it is worth the money. With a stunning view, chill music on the background and happy people, this is the perfect lunch spot on a warm autumn day in Lisbon.
7. Belém – Belém tower
One of the highlights in Belém is the Belém Tower. This monument is also part of the Unesco World Heritage. It is located in the sea and can be reached by a small bridge. Unfortunately when we visited, it was temporary closed, but hopefully when you get there, it will be open again and you will be able to see it from up close.
8. Lisbon – Museu Nacional do Azulejo
At the end of the day you can hop on bus 728 to the eastern part of the town. Here is a beautiful museum located that shows tiles from all over the world. Because Lisbon is known for its many buildings with tiles all over the walls, the museum found the best location for its exposition. Exploring the museum will take you around 1/2 hours and cost €5 each person.
Tip : The museum closes at lunchtime from 13:00 to 14:00, so make sure you stop by this place before or after this time.
Day 2 - Lisbon
1. Lisbon – Breakfast at Parque Eduardo VII
Start your day at Parque Eduardo with a lovely breakfast from the local baker or supermarket. The park is pretty quiet and has a lot of benches to sit on. Airplanes can be seen flying just above the park. Enjoying your breakfast in the park is a great and relaxing way to start your second day in Lisbon.
2. Lisbon – Explore Parque Eduardo VII
After breakfast it’s time to explore the Park. It’s pretty big and has a few spots you don’t want to miss out on while you’re here, so let me list them down for you.
Pavilhão Carlos Lopes
Flower Garden
(Walk to the left from Pavilhão Carlos Lopes)
Parque Eduardo VII
Miradouro Parque Eduardo VII
3. Lisbon – Lift Santa Luzia/ viewpoint
The Santa Luzia lift is 45 meters high and was build in the beginning of the 1900s. You can visit the lift and enjoy the spectacular view over the city. But you can also skip the long line and walk around the lift to go to the view point next to the top of the lift. Here is a cute little restaurant that sells Pastel de Bacalhau.
4. Lisbon – Convento do Carmo
Just around the corner of the viewpoint of Lift Santa Luzia, you can find a museum/ monument: Convento do Carmo. This monument is an old monastery with a church next to it. In 1755 there was an earthquake and a big fire that destroyed the church. Now you can look at both buildings and visit a museum inside the monastery.
Tip : Do not visit this monument on a Sunday because then the monastery will be closed.
5. Lisbon – Pastel da Nata
A must try in Lisbon is the Pastel de Nata. The term pastéis de nata is Portuguese for “cream pastries”. I am a real sweet tooth, but not a lover of cream. But this combination is one you don’t want to miss out on. Once we discovered this, we kept buying them more and more. Lucky for us, you can buy them almost everywhere in Lisbon.
6. Lisbon – Cathedral of Lisbon & Tram 28
When you think about Lisbon, you will think about the yellow trams that ride through the whole city. This is a famous transportation option to use, but also fun to watch. Lots of trams pass each other in front of the Cahthedral of Lisbon. The trams come and go, so the chance of you getting a typical Lisbon picture is 100% guaranteed.
7. Sunset at Castelo de São Jorge
A perfect way to end the day is by exploring Castelo de São Jorge. Get your tickets online or at the entrance of the castle. The tickets differ between €5 and €10 euro because it depends on your age. Once inside, you will instantly see the beautifull view that the area has to offer. You can look over the water and the city. This was definitely my favorite viewpoint in Lisbon.
Walk a little bit further and climb up the stairs of the castle. Make sure to be there around sunset and watch the sun go down behind the city for a magical moment.
Day 3 - Sintra
Setting an alarm early in the morning is one of the hardest things to do, but sometimes it can be rewarding. When visiting Sintra, I would recommend you to set the alarm at 7 oclock in te morning and try to catch the train to Sintra around 8. I know, it’s early, but you will be one of the first people to arrive and that’s worth a lot. Within only 40 minutes the train will take you to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra.
1. Sintra – Castelo dos Mouros
Once arrived at the station, you can take the bus to the first castle, Castelo dos Mouros. Once inside, it will feel like going back in time. We had the place almost to ourselves, so waking up early was definitely worth it.
Want to know more about Sintra? Also read Wonderful Sintra in one day – A day trip from Lisbon
2. Palácio da Pena
The most famous place in Sintra is the ‘Park and National Palace of Pena‘. This place has so much color to offer and every corner of the palace is different which keeps it interesting.
3. Quinta da Regaleira
One of the least crowded ones is Quinta da Regaleira. It’s a huge area with a big castle and lots of small buidings . Definitely a must see.
Want to know more about Sintra? Also read Wonderful Sintra in one day – A day trip from Lisbon
4. Park and Palace of Monserrate
My personal favourite place in Sintra, is the Palace of Monserrate. From the colorful nature to the beatifull palace, this place has it all.
Want to know more about Sintra? Also read Wonderful Sintra in one day – A day trip from Lisbon
How to get around
By foot – Lisbon is a city with some pretty steep hills which sometimes can make the journey a little bit harder. But overall the city can easily be done by foot, because all the places are pretty close to each other. So when you feel tired get some rest or eat a Pastel de Nata and everything will be okay.
Scooter (step) – Everywhere you look you see electric scooters. At first we really liked walking around and at the same time exploring the city. But at the end of our second day we wanted to try something different. We rented a “Bird” scooter. You can rent one for 24 hours for only €10. Me and my boyfriend shared one together, but for this price you can also rent two if you’d like. If you want to save some enerqy I would recommend renting one of these scooters.
Public transport – We used a lot of the public transport while being in Lisbon. It is one of the easiest, fastest and cheapest ways to get around the city. I always use google maps to guide me from one place to the other. You just have to type in where you want to go and the app will tell you which train, bus or tram to get.
Taxi – From the airport to the city centre we took a taxi for €10. On our way back to the airport we took an Uber for only €7. This way of transport is realy affordable if you have a bigger distance between the places you want to go to.
Travel costs
Lisbon is a destination that can easily be done on a budget, but if you’d like, there is always a fancier option. Down below I will list some of the most common expenses per day.
Food €15 – €40
Ho(s)tel €15 – 60
Transportation €0 – €10
Entrance tickets €5 – €30
Extra information
Food – Lisbon is a big city with a lot of restaurants and that means a lot of options. We used Google and TripAdvisor for some recommendations, but it is also fun to walk through the streets and pick a restaurant you like.
Hotel – During our time in Lisbon we stayed at the “Green Heart Hostel”. We had our private room, but had to share a bathroom. The location of the hotsel was amazing and with less then 15 minutes of walking, you are standing in the city centre.
Weather – The weather in Portugal is know for its good temperatures, even in the low season of Europe. Me and my boyfriend visited this city in the beginning of November and it was still above 20 degrees. Of course it differs every day/ each year, but most of the time the weather in the south of Portugal is warm and nice. So if your looking for a place to escape the cold, this is a good destination from October till May.
Words you can use – Local people always appreciate it when you can speak a few words in their language. Here are some words you can use while being in Portugal.
Thank you Obrigado (M) Obrigada (F)
Good morning Bom Dia
Good afternoon Boa tarde
Good evening Boa Noite
Yes Please Sim por favor
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