Example trip

A long weekend in Lisbon

20 Nov – 23 Nov 2026

Castles, custard tarts and fado — Lisbon's hills, one neighbourhood at a time.

Chiado, Baixa and a night of fado

Arrival

Settle into Chiado with Lisbon's most famous bifana, wander down to the river at Praça do Comércio, then the Carmo ruins and a garden viewpoint before seafood and fado in Bairro Alto.

Day 1 · Fri 20 Nov

12:30

Arrive at your hotel in Chiado

13:45:00 – 14:30:00

O Trevo

Highlight~45m

Praça Luís de Camões 48, 1200-208 Lisboa, Portugal

Bourdain's favourite bifana (pork sandwich) — order it with mustard and a cold imperial.

14:45:00 – 15:15:00

Praça do Comércio

Highlight~30m

1100-148 Lisbon, Portugal

Walk through the Rua Augusta arch to the river.

15:45:00 – 16:45:00

Alfama: castle, flea market and tiles

Alfama

Up to the castle while it's quiet, the Santa Luzia viewpoint, Saturday's Feira da Ladra, a long Alfama lunch, the Tile Museum — and Ramiro's legendary seafood to finish.

Belém and the riverside

Belém

Jerónimos and Belém Tower (both shut on Mondays), warm pastéis de nata from the original bakery, a tasca lunch and LX Factory, then the Santa Catarina viewpoint before dinner back in Chiado.

Gulbenkian, then fly

Museums

One of Europe's great small museums and its gardens, a last lunch in Chiado, then the metro or a 20-minute taxi to the airport.

Day 4 · Mon 23 Nov

10:00:00 – 11:45:00

Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

Highlight~1h 45m

Av. de Berna 45A, 1067-001 Lisboa, Portugal

Egyptian to Lalique in one compact collection; leave time for the garden. Closed Tuesdays, open Mondays.

Trip prep

Booking

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Book: Taberna Sal Grosso

Due 6 Nov

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Book: Cantinho do Avillez

Due 6 Nov

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Book: Jerónimos Monastery

Due 13 Nov

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Book: Belém Tower

Due 13 Nov

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Book: Sea Me

Due 13 Nov

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Book: O Frade

Packing list

Documents & Money

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Passport or national ID card

Essential

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Card with no foreign-transaction fees

Essential

Contactless works almost everywhere, including public transport

Clothing

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Comfortable broken-in walking shoes

Essential

Expect 15,000+ steps a day

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Light waterproof layer

Make it yours — edit the stops, dates and packing list.

Get this trip — free

Largo do Carmo, 1200-092 Lisboa, Portugal

A Gothic church left roofless by the 1755 earthquake. Closed Sundays.

17:00:00 – 17:30:00

Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara

AI~30m

Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, Lisbon

Bairro Alto's garden viewpoint across to the castle.

20:00:00 – 21:45:00

Sea Me

Highlight~1h 45m

Rua do Loreto 21, 1200-241 Lisboa, Portugal

Modern Portuguese seafood — the fish counter is the menu.

Book →

22:00:00 – 23:30:00

A Tasca do Chico

Highlight~1h 30m

R. do Diário de Notícias 39, 1200-141 Lisboa, Portugal

Tiny, packed bar with fado vadio (amateur fado). Arrive early or queue.

Day 2 · Sat 21 Nov

09:30:00 – 11:00:00

Castelo de São Jorge

Highlight~1h 30m

R. de Santa Cruz do Castelo, 1100-129 Lisboa, Portugal

Go at opening to have the ramparts nearly to yourself.

11:15:00 – 11:35:00

Miradouro de Santa Luzia

AI~20m

Largo Santa Luzia, Lisbon

Tiled terrace over Alfama's rooftops; the famous Tram 28 rattles past right below.

11:50:00 – 12:40:00

Feira da Ladra flea market

Highlight~50m

Campo de Santa Clara, 1100-472 Lisboa, Portugal

Lisbon's flea market only runs on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

13:00:00 – 14:30:00

Taberna Sal Grosso

Highlight~1h 30m

Calçada do Forte 22, 1100-256 Lisboa, Portugal

Small and always full — book. Share several petiscos.

Book →

15:00:00 – 16:30:00

National Tile Museum

Highlight~1h 30m

R. Me. Deus 4, 1900-312 Lisboa, Portugal

Five centuries of Portuguese tiles in a former convent. Closed Mondays. Bus 759 or a short taxi from Alfama.

17:30:00 – 18:00:00

Miradouro da Senhora do Monte

AI~30m

Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, Lisbon

The highest viewpoint in the city; golden hour if the season's right. Taxi or bus up — it's a steep climb.

19:30:00 – 21:15:00

Cervejaria Ramiro

Highlight~1h 45m

Av. Alm. Reis 1 H, 1150-007 Lisboa, Portugal

No reservations: take a ticket by 19:00 and expect a wait. Garlic prawns, clams, and a steak sandwich for dessert.

21:30:00 – 23:00:00

Casa Independente

Highlight~1h 30m

Largo do Intendente Pina Manique 45, 1100-285 Lisboa, Portugal

Bar in an old Intendente mansion with a leafy courtyard.

Day 3 · Sun 22 Nov

09:30:00 – 11:00:00

Jerónimos Monastery

Highlight~1h 30m

Praça do Império 1400-206 Lisboa, 1400-206 Lisboa, Portugal

Book a timed ticket — the queue otherwise runs past the Pastéis de Belém door. Closed Mondays.

Book →

11:10:00 – 11:40:00

Pastéis de Belém

Highlight~30m

R. de Belém 84 92, 1300-085 Lisboa, Portugal

Skip the takeaway line and sit inside; they come warm with cinnamon and sugar.

12:00:00 – 12:30:00

Padrão dos Descobrimentos

AI~30m

Doca de Belém, Lisbon

Riverside monument with a huge compass-rose map at its foot.

12:50:00 – 13:35:00

Belém Tower

Highlight~45m

Av. Brasília, 1400-038 Lisboa, Portugal

Closed Mondays. Timed tickets help.

Book →

14:00:00 – 15:30:00

O Frade

Highlight~1h 30m

Calçada da Ajuda 14, 1300-014 Lisboa, Portugal

Small Belém tasca with a counter — Alentejo-style rice, pork and petiscos. Book.

Book →

16:00:00 – 17:15:00

LX Factory

Highlight~1h 15m

R. Rodrigues de Faria 103 Piso 3, 1300-501 Lisboa, Portugal

Converted factory of shops and cafés; don't miss the Ler Devagar bookshop. Tram 15E or the Cascais train to Alcântara.

18:30:00 – 19:15:00

Miradouro de Santa Catarina

AI~45m

Rua de Santa Catarina, Lisbon

Hilltop terrace over the river and the 25 de Abril bridge, with a kiosk for a drink. Tram 15E or a taxi back from Alcântara.

20:00:00 – 21:45:00

Cantinho do Avillez

Highlight~1h 45m

R. dos Duques de Bragança 7, 1200-162 Lisboa, Portugal

José Avillez's relaxed Chiado restaurant — Portuguese with a global twist.

Book →

22:05:00 – 23:20:00

Pavilhão Chinês

Highlight~1h 15m

R. Dom Pedro V 89, 1250-093 Lisboa, Portugal

An eccentric bar crammed with collections of toy soldiers and curios. Opens 21:00 on Sundays.

12:30:00 – 13:45:00

Taberna da Rua das Flores

Highlight~1h 15m

Rua das Flores 103 109, 1200-194 Lisboa, Portugal

Chalkboard-menu petiscos; no reservations at lunch, so arrive near opening. Metro São Sebastião → Baixa-Chiado (one change) or a 15-min taxi.

14:30

Leave for Lisbon Airport (LIS)

Documents

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Check passport validity, EES registration and whether ETIAS applies yet for your nationality

Due 23 Oct

Logistics

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Plan your airport transfer: metro to Baixa-Chiado (~30 min, one change) or a ~20 min taxi

Due 17 Nov

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Set up contactless payment — Lisbon's metro and trams accept tap-to-pay

Due 17 Nov

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Download offline maps of the city

Due 18 Nov

Shoes with good grip

Essential

Lisbon's polished calçada cobbles are slippery and steep

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Windproof layer

The Atlantic wind picks up on the miradouros and by the river

Tech & Accessories

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Phone charger and power bank

Essential

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EU plug adapter (Type C/F)

Essential

Miscellaneous

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Small crossbody bag with a zip

Busy sights and metros attract pickpockets

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Refillable water bottle

Toiletries

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Sunglasses and sunscreen