We absolutely love Lisbon. Not only did we get to spent 2 days in Lisbon in 2019, we actually lived here for 3 months in 2020, and we even came back in 2021 for yet another amazing visit.
We’ve always enjoyed visiting Lisbon, and after having been here several times, we decided that now is the time to share our experiences with you. That’s why we’ve created this easy itinerary on how to spend 2 days in Lisbon for the first time.
It’s safe to say that Lisbon is one of our favorite capitals in the world. It’s such a beautiful place full of historical buildings, it has a great atmosphere, and it’s one of the sunniest cities in Europe. I mean, what’s not to like?
So, in this blog post, we will recommend an easy itinerary of what to see in Lisbon in 2 days for first-time visitors. Apart from going through the itinerary day by day, we’ll also share ideas on where to stay, what to pack, and how much it will cost you. Now, let’s get to it!
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Where to stay for 2 days in Lisbon
During our first weekend in Lisbon, back in 2019, we stayed in a guesthouse on the top of the hill in Bairro Alto. While we really liked the neighborhood, it was quite loud at night.
During our 3-month stay in Lisbon, back in 2020, we stayed in two different apartments in Alfama. And we absolutely fell in love with this area! Our first apartment was situated right next to the castle, and our second was located down by the coast. Alfama is definitely our favorite place to stay in Lisbon.
In 2021, we actually stayed in Almada where my sister lives. It was a lot quieter, and we don’t recommend you to stay here for a first-time visit to Lisbon.
Instead, we recommend that you find a hotel in one of the 3 neighborhoods: Baixa, Alfama or Bairro Alto. Because then you are within walking distance to many of the great things on your itinerary that you want to see during your 2 days in Lisbon.
We always use Booking.com when we’re booking hotels for our trips. Here are some suggestions of where you could stay during your 2 days in Lisbon.
Hotels in Lisbon
- Sunset Destination Hostel: Want to stay somewhere cheap? Check out this beautiful hostel that’s located at the foothill of Chiado and Bairro Alto. It has good ratings and a cozy rooftop with a small pool included.
- Local House Lisbon: Want something affordable for two? This place is located at the top of Bairro Alto, just by the viewpoint. All rooms come with a private bathroom.
- Ćurea Museum by Eurostars Hotel Company: Want luxury? Check out this 5-star luxurious hotel that’s perfectly located at the foothill of Alfama. This hotels offer an indoor pool, an archaeological exhibition, training facilities, and much more!
How to pack for 2 days in Lisbon
One of the things we love the most about Lisbon is the weather! The sun is (almost) ALWAYS shining! Last time I checked, Lisbon was in the top 3 of the sunniest cities in Europe. So chances are that you’ll have decent weather on your trip – even if you visit during winter.
While it can get really cold during winter, the temperature never really goes down to minus degrees. So even if you visit Lisbon during winter, then you don’t need to pack a thick winter jacket during your 2 days.
Here are some of our packing suggestions:
- Jacket, sweater, and jeans when visiting in the cooler months between October and April.
- Summer jacket, dresses, and shorts when visiting in the warmer months between May and September.
- Bring good footwear! No matter what time of the year you’re visiting, you need to bring some comfortable shoes if you intend to walk up and down the hills of Alfama and Bairro Alto. Trust us on this one! Bring some good walking shoes.
- Sunscreen and sunglasses! You of course need to bring some sun-protection when visiting one of Europe’s most sunny cities – this goes for all time of the year.
Full itinerary: 2 perfect days in Lisbon
Now, let’s jump straight into this itinerary!
We’ve divided this weekend itinerary between day 1 and day 2 in Lisbon. During day 1 you will stay in the city center and explore the many neighbourhoods of Lisbon, whereas in day 2, you will get a little bit out of the city center and venture over the Tagus River to see Lisbon from another perspective.
Remember, these are just suggestions on how we would plan a trip to Lisbon if we only had 2 days or a short weekend to see the city. So you don’t have to follow our itinerary step-by-step – all we hope to do is to inspire you. Enjoy Lisbon!
DAY 1 Lisbon itinerary: Explore the neighborhoods
There are so many interesting and beautiful neighborhoods you can explore in Lisbon! However, with limited time you should only aim to see a few of them.
That’s why we suggest that you at only pass through Alfama, Baixa, and Bairro Alto during your first day in Lisbon. These 3 neighborhoods make up the heart of Lisbon’s city center, and it’s where you’ll find most of the popular attractions.
Are you short on time, but still want to see as much as possible? Then look into this walking tour that features most of the 3 neighbourhoods that we mention below in this blog post.
Historic neighborhood: Alfama
Begin your day in wonderful Alfama!
Alfama is the oldest neighbourhood in Lisbon, it’s where you’ll find the SĆ£o Jorge Castle, the cathedral of Lisbon, and several incredible viewpoints over the city and river. We absolutely loved Alfama, and it’s where we lived during our 3 months in Lisbon. So this neighbourhood will always be special to us.
Begin your day by walking up the hill, and enjoy the many beautiful Azulejos (tiles on the buildings) on the way. Your first stop of the day is to see SĆ© de Lisboa – also known as Lisbon’s Cathedral. Admire the cathedral from outside since it probably won’t be open for visits yet.
From the cathedral, you can follow the road upwards until you reach the Miradouro de Santa Luzia – one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Lisbon. Make sure to stop here and take plenty of times to enjoy the views.
Afterwards, you want to head towards Pastelaria Santo AntĆ³nio, and get your first taste of Lisbon. In this Pastelaria, you can taste some of the best Pastel de Nata’s in Lisbon – a traditional Portuguese custard tart. Absolutely delicious! Pair it with an espresso and you have the perfect combination.
With some sugar and caffeine in the body, you’re ready to go explore the incredible SĆ£o Jorge Castle! It’s located on the top of Alfama’s hill, it’s a castle ruin full of history, it has the best viewpoint over all of Lisbon, and beautiful peacocks are living in here. Plan ahead and book your entrance tickets here.
How to get to Alfama: You can get to Alfama by walking up the steep hill, by taking bus #377 to “Castelo”, or by hopping on the famous, yellow tram #28. Your choice! Buy the Lisbon card before your trip, and get free access to all transportation in Lisbon.
Related blog posts: Best things to do in Alfama & Lisbon’s Castle SĆ£o Jorge
City center neighborhood: Baixa
When you’ve spent the morning exploring Alfama, you should then move down the hill to Baixa.
This neighborhood is where you’ll find the big shopping streets, it’s where you’ll find the biggest tourist traps, and it’s where you’ll be approached by people trying to sell you stuff – basically, it’s the busiest neighbourhood in Lisbon, and it’s not where you want to spend your 2 days.
However, you can also find historical buildings, great coffee bars, and cheap lunch places in this area. So it’s a good place to eat lunch after exploring Alfama.
In the Baixa neighbourhood, you can also find the Elevador de Santa Justa, which is free to visit with the Lisbon Card. Afterwards, you should walk to PraƧa do ComĆ©rcio where you get get close to the river, and you can see to the other side of Lisbon named “Almada”. Enjoy a little walk next to the river until you reach Cais do Sodre.
From here you should walk upwards the hill towards Chiado.
Lunch Tip: If you’re on a tight budget, then head to the basement of the Celeiro grocery store for a cheap lunch. Here you can find super delicious (and vegetarian friendly) Portuguese canteen food. You can also choose take-away and enjoy your meal on a bench in the sun.
Hip neighborhood: Bairro Alto & Chiado
Alright, now that you’ve spent your morning and midday getting a taste of Alfama and Baixa, you should head up the hill to Bairro Alto and Chiado. This is where you want to spend your evening!
Why? Because it’s the top place for hip bars and small quirky places to eat.
During our first weekend trip to Lisbon, Glenn and I stayed in Bairro Alto. It was such a lively place at night, and I can 100% recommend it if you’re looking for a couple of cool bars. If you only have 2 days in Lisbon, then you should definitely end day 1 in this cool neighborhood!
There are a few things to see on the way. Right next to Chiado metro station, you’ll find Livraria Betrand, which is basically the oldest functioning library in the world. By the metro station, you’ll also find a statue of the famous Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa. Make sure to take a picture with him on the way.
After walking around Chiado, you can walk around the streets of Bairro Alto. Walk upwards the hill until you reach Miradouro de SĆ£o Pedro de AlcĆ¢ntara, another great viewpoint in Lisbon! Now all that’s left is to find a nice place to eat a Portuguese dinner and celebrate that the first day out of your 2 days in Lisbon is over – and hopefully, you had an amazing day!
Dinner Tip: If you’re looking for a small, hip and cozy bar in Bairro Alto, which serves good drinks and cheap eats, then check out Tasca Mastai. We were lucky to find this place on our first weekend trip to Lisbon!
Pub Crawl: Want to experience the nightlife in Bairro Alto with other travellers? Then go ahead and join a pub crawl in Bairro Alto.
DAY 2 Lisbon Itinerary: Visit BelƩm Tower & Almada
All right, now that you’ve got a taste of Lisbon by visiting the most iconic neighborhoods, we would then suggest you to spend your second day visiting the surroundings of Lisbon.
Now remember, this is just a suggestion of how your itinerary in Lisbon could look like!
You can also stay in the incredible city center and keep exploring the beautiful colorful tiles, the old buildings and museums, or just soak up the sun with an espresso in your hand (Lisbon style!) BUT if you want to explore a little bit further, then here are 2 suggestions for your itinerary that you could do as small trips out of Lisbon’s city center.
BelĆ©m Tower & JerĆ³nimos Monastery: UNESCO buildings
Torre de BelĆ©m, also known as the Tower of Saint Vincent, is one of Lisbon’s most iconic and incredible old buildings. Located in the Tagus River, 7 kilometers out of the city center, it’s the perfect place to go for a little day trip during your 2 days in Lisbon.
The BelƩm Tower was built in the 16th century and served as a gateway to Lisbon for the Portuguese explorers, but really, the beautiful tower had many purposes over the years. Since 1983, Torre de BelƩm has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You can either see the beautiful tower from the outside for free, or pay ā¬6 to go inside. You can get your ticket online beforehand or enter for free with the Lisbon Card. The opening hours vary depending on season, but my advice is to just get there a bit before 10 AM, when it opens, because it gets super busy and crowded during the day.
Afterwards, go and visit the incredible JerĆ³nimos Monastery, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the BelĆ©m Tower. Then end your exploration with another delicious custard tart at PastĆ©is de BelĆ©m.
How to get to BelƩm Tower: You can either take the tram, bus or train to BelƩm from Lisbon. We took the train from Cais do SodrƩ Station to BelƩm Station and walked the remaining kilometer to the tower. Remember, transportation is free with the Lisbon Card.
Almada & Cristo Rei: Across the river
When you’re done exploring the BelĆ©m area, it’s time for the next point on your Lisbon Itinerary. So return to Cais do SodrĆ©, and If you find yourself ready for some lunch at this point, then you can visit the nearby food market named Mercado da Ribeira.
After lunch, it’s time to go to the Almada neighbourhood on the other side of the river. From Almada you have excellent views over Lisbon since it’s located opposite the city – yet not many tourists venture to this part of Lisbon.
The main thing to see in Almada is the big Jesus statue named Cristo Rei. The Jesus statue is 28 meters tall, but the platform it stands on is 82 meters tall, which means the momument has a height of 110 meters in total! What’s better is that you can take the elevator up to the 82 meter tall platform and get an amazing view over Lisbon for just ā¬6.
Even if you don’t like heights, and thus prefer to stay grounded, then you should still visit the area because of the beautiful viewpoint of Lisbon. Visiting Cristo Rei is especially nice in the late afternoon and early evening – just before sunset.
Upon visiting Cristo Rei, you should head to Cacilhas. This is where you’ll find some of the best fish restaurants in Lisbon.
We ate here a couple of times, and we can really recommend getting the Dourada! The fish in Portugal is fresh and cheap – it’s some of the best fish we’ve had around the world! So we would recommend you to end your 2 days in Lisbon with some fresh Portuguese fish.
How to get to Almada Neighbourhood: You can take the ferry from Cais do SodrĆ© to Cacilhas. It doesn’t take long, and getting onto the river is also a nice way to enjoy Lisbon. If you want to avoid the ferry, then you can easily grab a taxi or Uber to Almada and back.
How much to budget for 2 days in Lisbon
The cost of your weekend in Lisbon depends on where you stay and eat, the activities you want to do in 2 days, and whether you’re traveling alone or as a couple.
We made a short list over what we found to be the average prices in Lisbon. This can hopefully work as an estimation guide, so you can estimate a realistic budget for your 2 days itinerary in Lisbon.
Accommodation Prices
- Low budget: ā¬20-30 per night for one bed in a hostel.
- Mid-range budget: ā¬80-110 per night for a nice double room.
- Luxury budget: ā¬200-400 per night for a double room in a 4/5-star hotel.
Food & Drink Prices
- Cheap eats: ā¬5-10 for a dish
- Mid-range restaurants: ā¬10-20 for a dish
- Upscale restaurants: ā¬30+ for a dish
- Drink prices in bars: Espresso ā¬1-1,5 // Beer ā¬1,5-3 // Glass of wine ā¬2-4
Activities Prices
- Castelo de SĆ£o Jorge: ā¬15
- Santa Justa Elevador: ā¬5,30
- Museums in general: ā¬5-15
- BelĆ©m Tower: ā¬6
- Cristo Rei: ā¬6
- FREE: Free walking tours, beaches, churches, and viewpoints
Transportation Prices
- Airport to Lisbon by metro: ā¬0,5 for VIVA Viagem metro card + ā¬1,65 for the trip
- The metro, bus, and tram only cost ā¬1,65 per journey with a VIVA Viagem metro card.
- Uber prices: ā¬5-15 per trip.
Are 2 days or a weekend in Lisbon enough
No.
We know this whole blog post is built on the concept of what to see on a 2-day itinerary in Lisbon. However, it’s meant to be a “Taste of Lisbon”-guide for first-time visitors. Because once you’ve been here, chances are that you’ll most likely want to return in the future!
We absolutely LOVE Lisbon. It’s one of our favorite cities in the world, and it’s luckily also where one of my dear sisters live! So we can always find a reason to return to this lovely sunny city in Europe – and honestly, we cannot wait to be back on Portuguese soil.
2 days in Lisbon is clearly not enough to really appreciate this incredible city, but it’s long enough to see some of the most popular sights and get a taste of its beauty.
We hope you enjoyed this blog post about what to see with just a 2 days itinerary (or a weekend trip) in Lisbon. Remember, these are just our top recommendations for what we think you ought to see – you can always mix and match to your taste.
If you have any questions about visiting Lisbon, then don’t hesitate to leave a comment below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks for reading and happy travels!
Check out some of our other blog posts from Portugal:
Just visited Lisbon. Iād say you really need 3 days to look round the center, then extra days for visits outside the centre, so a day for Cascais, maybe a day for Sintra. I had 3 full days there and it felt like Iād missed quite a bit like the Alfama and the castle, but perhaps I was taking too long siestas š
Hi Martin, I totally agree with you. Looking back, I think I was very optimistic when I wrote this itinerary. If it’s your first time in Lisbon, then I would definitely recommend staying in the city center or around. Thank you for bringing my attention to it. I’ll make sure to update it when I find the time for it.
I hope you enjoyed Lisbon š How did you find the city?
Hello! I have really enjoyed reading your blog and the helpful tips especially about Bragg. We stayed in the Alfama for 5 nights at the start of our Portugal trip (before we saw your blog raves about it) and will be returning to Lisbon for one night before we fly back to the USA at the end of October. Wondering if you have a final night in this beautiful city hotel suggestion? We are In The Azores now- highly recommend!
Hi Victoria, I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner! It makes me so happy to hear that you found my blog helpful during your trip in Portugal – I hope it has been absolutely wonderful. The Azores are definitely on my bucket list, and I cannot wait to visit someday! Can you recommend one of the islands? Also, I updated this blog post with some hotel recommendations, but if you enjoyed your stay in Alfama, then you can always just go back there š
Enjoy your last days in Portugal and have a safe trip home.
Best, Cecilie.