Lisbon in 3 Days: tips, what to see, and much more

If you are planning a three-day trip to Lisbon, you should know what it is best to see in Lisbon in that time. Luckily, 72 hours will give you enough time to get to know the essentials of the Portuguese capital and also take an excursion to one of the most important sites around the city. To make the most of your trip, I leave you with this three-day itinerary designed to get the most out of the Portuguese city.

We will spend the first day of our trip to Lisbon getting to know the historic centre of the city, formed by the neighbourhoods of Alfama, Baixa, Chiado and Bairro Alto.

These neighbourhoods are home to many of the city's main tourist attractions and can be explored on foot in a single day. Here are the must-see places to visit in each of them:

Morning in the Alfama neighbourhood

The ideal place to start your visit to Lisbon is in the Alfama district. This neighbourhood grows under the castle of San Jorge and in its steep streets you can breathe the authentic essence of Lisbon. Originally a fishermen's neighbourhood, today it has become the most genuine area of the capital and the birthplace of Fado, Portugal's most popular musical genre.

This neighbourhood has several must-see spots:

• Its viewpoints, such as Portas do Sol or Santa Lucia, which offer very beautiful and complete views of the city.
• St. George's Castle.
• The National Pantheon.
• Lisbon Cathedral.

Booking a guided tour of Alfama is the best way to soak up Lisbon's culture and learn about its history, the best spots and even the origin of Portuguese Fado.

Baixa and Chiado walking tour

After spending the morning in the Alfama district, it is time to visit the Baixa and Chiado neighbourhoods. From Alfama you can walk down and start to see these neighbourhoods through Pedro IV square, next to which you will find the Baixa market, where you can have lunch and then walk down Rua Augusta to Comercio square. This shopping street links the two most important squares in Lisbon.

The Praça do Comércio is one of the city's nerve centres. It is reached by crossing the Arco de Rua Augusta, which can be accessed to go up to its viewpoint. In the square we have the statue of José I and its pier from which we can enjoy the Tagus River.

An excellent option for getting to know the Chiado neighbourhood is to book a tour of Lisbon, which takes in the area as well as the city's main monuments. Oh, and it also includes wine tasting, tapas and cream cakes - delicious!

Finish the day on a high note

In the afternoon you can retrace your steps along Rua do Ouro to the Santa Justa elevator. This is a lift that reaches a 45-metre high walkway that links the Baixa and Chiado neighbourhoods. You can go up to its terrace that serves as a viewpoint before leaving the top and visiting the convent do Carmo.

The church of the convent was left in ruins after the 1755 earthquake and can now be visited, offering a very special postcard view. It is rare to see a Gothic church whose ceiling is the sky itself. The convent also houses the archaeological museum of Do Carmo.

The streets adjoining the convent already belong to Lisbon's Bairro Alto. It is an avant-garde neighbourhood full of life and activity and is the ideal area to have dinner and end the day enjoying the city's nightlife.

The second day of our stay in Lisbon can be used for a day trip outside the city. The destination is well worth almost a full day. It is the Villa of Sintra, a complex of palaces declared a World Heritage Site in 1995.

In this link you have all the information you need to know to get from Lisbon to Sintra, although in my opinion it is best to book an excursion to Sintra from Lisbon. There is a lot to see in Sintra, so it will take you almost a whole day to get to know it. The main monuments you should visit are:

Pena Palace

The Pena Palace is the best known and most visited monument in Sintra thanks to its architectural variety and striking colours. The building is relatively modern, having been built in the 19th century, and is considered one of the most beautiful palaces in Europe. Eclecticism is one of the hallmarks of the Palacio da Pena with its mix of Romanesque, Mudejar and even Gothic styles.

Although the exterior has a lot of charm and the surrounding royal gardens are worth seeing, the interior of the palace can be visited and is also spectacular, so I recommend you buy a ticket for the Palacio da Pena.

Quinta da Regaleira

The Quinta da Regaleira is another spectacular palace in the Sintra complex. Historically linked to Masonic rites, it is a place full of symbolism and mystery, so it is highly recommended to visit it with a guide to discover all its secrets.

The initiatory well in its gardens is one of its most striking points. It is an inverted tower, hence the name "well", with a spiral staircase that runs along its 9 floors.

Sintra National Palace

In the centre of Sintra and visible from almost the entire town is the National Palace. It is a peculiar building in Arabic style crowned by two peculiar chimneys. In this case the main attraction is inside, as its rooms have mosaics made up of very well preserved tiles.

The Palace of Monserrate

The Monserrate Palace is less well known than the other palaces, but it has also earned the reputation of being the hidden gem of Sintra. The building has an architecture clearly influenced by the Arabian style and a spectacular garden with more than 3,000 species of exotic plants.

These are the essential sights of Sintra but there are a few more worth visiting if you have time, such as the Castelo dos Mouros, the Convento dos Capuchos or the Chalet and garden of the Countess.

Technically, Belém is not a neighbourhood of Lisbon. It was once a separate locality but the growth of the capital has absorbed this area, which is home to some of the most famous monuments in the city and the whole country.

On the third and last day in Lisbon we will be able to get to know this area in depth and visit the Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower, two of the most important symbols of Lisbon, as well as other monuments and experiences typical of this historic area.

The best way to get there is to take tram number 15 from the centre. It takes about 20 minutes. There is a stop in the Plaza del Comercio square and near the square there are also the docks from where you can take a boat to go sailing along the Tagus as an alternative.

Jerónimos Monastery

The first and most important sight to visit in Belém is the impressive Jerónimos Monastery. I say first because it is the most visited monument in Lisbon and between the queues and all that there is to see in the complex, it is easy to take up a large part of the day. However, all the time we spend there is justified.

The monastery was declared a World Heritage Site thanks to its architectural and artistic value. Its cloister and church were the fruits of the golden age of discovery in Portugal and this is reflected in the magnificence of the place.

Booking tickets to the Jerónimos Monastery in advance is almost obligatory, due to the number of people who want to visit it. The entrance fee is 17 € and it is open every day of the week except Mondays.

Tasting the pastries of Belém

After visiting the monastery, it's time to try one of Belém's most famous traditions: its pastries. These pastries of puff pastry and cream were made by the Hieronymite monks and can be tasted all over Lisbon. However, the place par excellence is the original factory, which is located right next to the Jerónimos Monastery.

After eating and recharging your batteries, it is almost obligatory to try these pastries with a coffee if you want to enjoy the full Lisbon experience.

Monument to the Discoveries

This spectacular 50-metre high monument was built in 1960 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator and as a tribute to all the adventurers and discoverers who marked the history of Portugal. It is located on the banks of the Tagus and you only have to cross the wide avenue in front of the monastery to get there.

Belém Tower

The Belem Tower is one of the symbols of Lisbon. From the monument of the discoveries we only have to follow the Avenida Brasilia in a westerly direction away from the monastery to get there. It takes 5 minutes to reach its gardens and you will find the tower overlooking the river.

In fact, this small fort juts out into the Tagus and, in addition to its defensive role, served as a prison and a lighthouse. Its architecture is quite peculiar for this type of construction and you can go inside to visit the dungeons and its rooftop terrace with views of the river.

From the edge of the tower there are spectacular views of the river and the 25th April Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in Europe.

Belém Museums

If after seeing these monuments we still have time left over and want to see more, Belém offers the possibility of visiting its many museums. The options we have are:

• The Carriage Museum.
• The Berardo Museum of Contemporary Art.
• The Electricity Museum.
• The Museum of Popular Art.
• The National Museum of Archaeology of Lisbon.

The latter is my recommendation, as it is located in the east wing of the Jerónimos Monastery and houses the most important archaeological collection in Portugal, but, as you can see, the Belém neighbourhood has something for everyone.

The best way to conclude our trip to Lisbon is to attend a fado concert, for a 100% Portuguese experience.