Lisbon travel blog — The fullest Lisbon travel guide & suggested Lisbon 3 day itinerary for first-timers

Santa Justa Lift

This unique elevator was built in the 19th century to connect the area of the top of the Bairro Alto hill with downtown Baixa. Santa Justa is also the symbol of Portugal’s progressive class. The lift fee is €5/round trip with a distance of 45m to the top, admiring the cityscape. Then follow the spiral staircase to the top for panoramic views of the Tagus River. Because the elevator is also part of Lisbon’s public transport system, you can get here free by using a day ticket or Via Viagem card.

Address: R. do Ouro, 1150-060 Lisboa, Portugal
Height: 45 m
Elevation: 13 m
Admission: €5/round trip

Ascensor da Glória

Lisbon is an ancient city with many hills and mountains, so for a long time the city has built tram tracks that bring people to the hills extremely convenient. These electric cars / trams / funiculars are characteristic of Lisbon, not only that they are also extremely stylish and outstanding not to be anywhere. Ascensor da Glória is one of the major tram routes that takes visitors to Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara. From here you can see the whole city.

Ticket price: EUR 3.6 / round trip.

Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

The Calouste Gulbenkian Art Museum exhibits many sculptures, jewelry and paintings, which are worth visiting with art lovers. The museum is open at 10 am – 6 pm all days of the week except Tuesday closed. Ticket price is EUR10 / person but is open for free on Sunday.

Church of Sao Roque (The Igreja de São Roque)

This church looks outside not so superficial and outstanding, but it is one of the oldest and most important churches in Lisbon. Entering the Capela de São João Baptista Chapel you will be overwhelmed by the exquisite touches of marble, which is considered one of the richest chapels in the world. In addition, you also have the opportunity to visit a museum with many historical relics and collections of religion and beliefs.

Address: Largo Trindade Coelho, 1200-470 Lisboa, Portugal
Construction started: 1590
Opened: 1619
Admission: Tickets to the church are free, but if you want to visit the museum you have to buy tickets for EUR2.5 / person.

Alfama District

This is a fairly quiet neighborhood with many vintage cafes, small alleyways for you to walk and explore. There are some places that will focus on restaurants for tourists, but the deeper you go into, the more you will feel the life of the Lisbon people themselves. The houses of indigenous people in very small alleys, sometimes you will see old people standing on the balcony, smoking a cigarette, talking about something incessantly. Many times we feel that these people do not welcome tourists repeatedly come and go in their alley.

Oceanário de Lisboa

For those who travel in a family group with young children because this is one of the largest aquarium areas in Europe. This place is quite far from the center and right on the Lisbon coast.

Address: Esplanada Dom Carlos I s/nº, 1990-005 Lisboa, Portugal
Opened: 1998
Hours: 10AM–6PM
Admission: €17.
Url: https://www.oceanario.pt/

Spots to see the city from above

In addition to the aforementioned locations such as Elevador de Santa Justa elevator, Ascensor da Glória, you can refer to some of the following locations if you want to see Lisbon from above with a beautiful view.

• Miradouro da Senhora do Monte: Watch the Lisbon sunset.
• Miradouro Sao Pedro de Alcantara: Beautiful view with park and sunlit trees
• Miradouro da Graca: For those who rent a room in this area and stay in a hotel with a beautiful balcony.

Joining a free walking tour

This is an extremely wonderful way for you to explore and learn more about Lisbon, by spending the first day here to joining this tour. After being guided by the tour guide to the main attractions, understanding a little about the culture, habits and information about the city’s people and traditions, then your next days of exploring will become more effective. Usually these tours are in English language.

Some free walking tours you can refer to:

• Lisbon Chill-Out Free Tour
• Pancho Free Tours
• New Europe Free Tours: Lisbon
• Discover Walks: Lisbon

Lisbon blog: Coastal area of the city

Jerónimos Monastery

Jeronimos monastery is recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage is really a great place and you definitely must-visit. The monastery was built to commemorate the expedition to India by Vasco da Gama, so perhaps this modern Renaissance-style Gothic style has something similar to the Taj Mahal in India. Visit the monastery, you also should visit Vasco da Gama’s grave right at the entrance.

There are two main parts of Jeronimos monastery with one part of the monasteries (have to buy tickets of EUR 10 but very worthy, the time to visit is quite long) and the another part is the main church. The church is free admission. The monastery is closed on every Monday.

Address: Praça do Império 1400-206 Lisboa, Portugal
Construction started: January 6, 1501
Admission: Monastery: EUR10, the Church: Free
Hours: 10AM–5PM, closed on Monday

Belém Tower

One of the “must-see” attractions in Lisbon, this 15th-century Belem Tower fortress used to be a place to guard the entrance of the Port of Lisbon, but is now recognized as a UNESCO Cultural Heritage and is the symbol of Lisbon tourism. Belem Tower is located at Tagus river estuary, about 6km from the city center. Because of its famous, tourists come here have to line up to visit quite crowded, admission is €6. Buy a ticket and climb up to 200 steps you will reach the top and overlooking the beautiful river Tagus.

Address: Av. Brasília, 1400-038 Lisboa, Portugal
Hours: 10 a.m. – 6.30 p.m.

Padrão dos Descobrimentos

The “exploratory monument” in the shape of a ship, sailing to the sea, The first one is Prince Henry, behind him are historical figures.

Day trips – Joining tours to explore surroundings areas from Lisbon

Lisbon not only has beautiful scenes in the city, the neighborhoods of this city are also worth exploring and traveling easily by local trains.

Some day trips for you refer to.

• Sintra: Nestled in the mountains, 40 minutes away from Lisbon, perhaps this is the most popular destinations for tourists with historical sites, the National Palace, the castle built in the 12th century by Moors people.
• Cascais: A traditional small fishing village, 30 minutes away from Lisbon by train, it is also known for its beautiful beaches, sunbathing on fine white sand, enjoying the taste of the sea, it is great, right?!
• Obidos: This area is further away with an hour’s train from Lisbon, formerly owned by the Portuguese Queen and now it is one of the most beautiful villages in Portugal.

Lisbon travel blog: What and where to eat in Lisbon?

With its excellent geographical location and long coastline, along with its long history of ocean exploration, Lisbon as well as Portugal are extremely famous for seafood, especially fresh seafood. It’s very famous for Bacalhau – marine fish caught from the North Atlantic and salted. In addition to the Mediterranean climate, Portugal is also grow excellent fruits, vegetables, olives and wines.

Some famous foods to try in Lisbon

• Alheira de Mirandela, a type of sausage with main ingredients is chicken
• Bacalhau is the name of a cod, more than a famous traditional dish in Lisbon capital in particular and Portugal in general
• Francesinha is a combination of 2 slices of sandwiches, the inner core consists of steak, bacon, sausage and spicy sausage.
• Sopa de Cação uses extremely fresh ingredients, which are shark meat
• Porco Preto – The dish using main ingredients from black pigs

Some good restaurants are appreciated, you can refer to.

Time Out Market Lisboa: Of course, visiting any city that wants to learn about food then the fastest and best way is go to the local markets. This market is large and tidy, clean, there are many restaurants, food booths, cafes concentrated, divided into counters, looking very neat, eye-catching, dubbed as the culinary center of Lisbon.

Address: Av. 24 de Julho 49, 1200-479 Lisboa, Portugal
Hours: 10AM–12AM / Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 10AM–2AM;
Telephone: +351 21 395 1274

Cafe Martinho Da Arcada: This shop is very crowded and therefore expensive too, but it has a long history (open since 1782), famous for Pastéis de bacalhau (codfish fritters). This dish in a restaurant is usually served as an appetizer, but in a cafe, eating this dish with sipping coffee, very delicious.

Address: Praça do Comércio 3, 1100-148 Lisboa, Portugal
Hours: 7AM–11PM / Closed: Sunday
Phone: +351 21 887 9259
Url: http://www.martinhodaarcada.pt/

Cervejaria Ramiro: One of Lisbon’s most famous eateries for seafood, the locals eat here also a lot. Seafood here is very diverse and super delicious, the price is also moderate (the coffee here also has 1 EUR only). Before ordering, remember to take a look at the shrimp and crab, because sometimes you can’t even imagine how big they are. Crabs are rich, fat and delicious.

Address: Av. Alm. Reis nº1 – H, 1150-007 Lisboa, Portugal
Hours: 12PM–12:30AM. Closed: Monday
Phone: +351 21 885 1024
Url: http://www.cervejariaramiro.pt/

Taberna da Saudade – Bairro Alto: This is a restaurant right next to our hotel so it is convenient to go back and forth. This eatery specializes in seafood, generally ok. The seafood soup is enough for two people to eat, full of shrimp and fish, and it is quite good to eat bread with soup.

Address: Travessa da Queimada 26A | Bairro Alto – em frente ao Jornal A Bola, Lisbon 1200-365, Portugal
Phone: +351 918 859 042
Hours: 5PM–2AM

Taberna da Rua das Flores: This restaurant serves very good traditional Portuguese food, in the evening they often transform a little, so look more seemingly trendy. The shop looks quite small and simple.

Address: Rua das Flores 103, 1200-213 Lisboa, Portugal
Phone: +351 21 347 9418
Hours: 12–11:30PM. Closed: Sunday

A Merendinha do Arco: Also serves traditional Portuguese food located nearby Rossio Square. The dishes here you can choose from like Bacalhau, Clams Bulhao Pato (clams often used in Lisbon as a snack), and Portuguese stewed meat.

Address: R. dos Sapateiros 230, 1100-486 Lisboa, Portugal
Hours: 8AM–8PM. Closed: Sunday
Phone: +351 21 342 5135

Lisbon city guide: Suggested Lisbon 3 day itinerary (Lisbon 3 days 2 nights)

Day 1: Square Praca do Comercio – Café Martinho Da Arcada – Rossio Square – Gambrinus Restaurant

Praca do Comercio is the largest square in Lisbon, spread out near the banks of the river Tagus.

Café Martinho Da Arcada is the oldest cafe in Lisbon.

Rossio is Lisbon’s central square, where Manueline Rossio train station is located. You can enjoy a cup of coffee at the outdoor bar or sit and view at the fountain.

Gam Gambrinus Restaurant specializes in traditional Portuguese cuisine, this is definitely the ideal place you should not miss.

Day 2: Alfama – Castle Castelo de Sao Jorge – Bica restaurant do Sapato – Fado Museum

Alfama as mentioned above, to explore alley corners with beautiful scenery, you can walk wandering to feel all the ancient beauty here.

Fado Museum is a place to show Portuguese culture, such as sad song, a play.

Day 3: Mosteiro dos Jeronimos Castle – Palacio de Belem Museum – Coches Royal Museum

Mosteiro dos Jeronimos Castle, a great architecture of Lisbon, as mentioned above, it was recognized as a world cultural heritage in 1983. The castle is also a symbol of a prosperous period of Portugal.

Royal Coches Museum is a place to store the collection of vehicles of Portuguese kings over time. Among the oldest artifacts is King Philip II’s chariot from the seventeenth century and the three XVII King Joan chariots displayed in the same room.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in and from Lisbon you can refer to

• Private City Transfers between Lisbon and Porto
• Private Lisbon Airport (LIS) Transfers for Lisbon City Centre
• Private Lisbon Airport (LIS) Transfer for Lisbon
• Shared Lisbon International Airport (LIS) Transfers for Lisbon
• Lisbon City Card
• Lisbon Experience Walking Tour
• Best of Lisbon Walking Tour
• Sintra, Cascais, and Estoril Day Tour from Lisbon
• Lisbon Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours
• Lisbon Small Group City Tour: The Most Complete
• Secret Food Tour in Lisbon
• Fatima & Porto Guided Tour from Lisbon
• Belém and Sintra Pena Palace Small Group Day Tour from Lisbon

Are you looking for a day trip to Sintra, read more: Sintra travel blog — The fullest Sintra travel guide & how to make a perfect day trip to Sintra from Lisbon.