The Perfect Short Trip to Lisbon, Portugal: My Favorite Highlights

7 hours ago
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3 Day Lisbon Itinerary: What to See, Do & Eat

Lisbon had been on my travel list for a while, and after spending a few days exploring the city, I can definitely see why it’s such a popular destination. From colorful tile-covered buildings and historic castles to amazing food, beautiful viewpoints and a day trip to Sintra, there’s a lot to pack into a short visit.

We spent a few days in Lisbon, including a day trip to Sintra, and I think it was a great amount of time to see many of the highlights.

Here are some of my favorite things we did, saw and ate during our short trip to Lisbon.

Itinerary in Brief:

Day 1: Arrive, tile shopping, food tour
Day 2: Day trip to Sintra, dinner in Chiado
Day 3: Castelo de São Jorge , Alfama, Belem sights
Day 4: Depart

Tile Shopping

One of my favorite souvenirs from Lisbon is Portuguese tile, or azulejos! You’ll see them everywhere around the city, from colorful building facades to small decorative details, so I knew I wanted to bring some home with me.

I stopped at three different tile shops during our trip, and each one had something a little different. Some of the tiles were hundreds of years old, dating back to the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, while others were newer designs.

Antiquario Solar

This was a fun stop if you’re looking for antique Portuguese tiles. They have so many unique pieces, and it was really cool to see tiles that were hundreds of years old in person.

D’Orey Azulejos

Located in Chiado, D’Orey Azulejos is another great spot to browse for traditional Portuguese tiles. I loved looking through all of the different patterns and colors.

Fábrica Sant’Anna

Also in Chiado, Fábrica Sant’Anna was a favorite because they had a mix of traditional and more modern tile designs. They’re known for their handmade Portuguese ceramics and tiles, so there were lots of beautiful pieces to choose from.

Food Tour

One of our favorite ways to experience Lisbon was through a food tour in the Baixa neighborhood. It was the perfect way to explore the area, learn more about Portuguese culture and history, and of course, enjoy plenty of delicious bites along the way!

Some of my favorites included the bifana sandwich, tender pork marinated in wine and served on a simple bun with your choice of piri-piri sauce or mustard. I also loved trying cod cakes, a true Portuguese classic.

Fun fact: cod isn’t actually native to Portugal! However, it has become a major part of Portuguese cuisine over the centuries, thanks in part to trade routes where Portugal exchanged its famous port wine for imported cod.

Other Food Highlights

Of course, you can’t visit Portugal without eating lots of pastel de nata! These little Portuguese custard tarts have a flaky, crispy pastry crust with a creamy, sweet custard filling. They’re the perfect little treat, and we definitely had our fair share during the trip.

We really liked Manteigaria, a small pastry shop known for its freshly baked pastel de nata. You can find a few locations around Lisbon, so it’s an easy stop when you’re craving one!

Sacramento do Chiado

Sacramento do Chiado was one of my favorite meals in Lisbon. The restaurant has a really cool setting inside a vaulted stone cellar that was once part of an 18th-century palace. I ordered the cod three ways so I could try a few different preparations all on one plate, and honestly, I liked all three of them! If you want to try different Portuguese flavors in one meal, this was a fun way to do it.

Restaurante O Frade

Located in Belém, Restaurante O Frade was another food highlight. I especially loved the razor clams, and the walnut cake was so good! The dessert featured walnut three ways: in the cake, the sauce and the ice cream.

We also really enjoyed sitting at the counter, where we could watch the finishing touches being added to the dishes right in front of us. It made the meal feel a little more interactive and was fun to watch everything come together.

Sintra

Spending a day in Sintra is definitely a must-do when visiting Lisbon. It’s not far from the city and there are so many castles, palaces and beautiful sights to see. We spent the day exploring a few of the highlights and it was one of my favorite parts of the trip.

Pena Palace

The gem of Sintra! Pena Palace sits high on the hill and is one of those places that looks almost too colorful and whimsical to be real. We didn’t go inside because the line was massive, but honestly, I don’t think you have to. Walking around the outside of the castle and taking in all the colorful details was still so cool.

Moorish Castle

The Moorish Castle was another fun stop in Sintra, with amazing views of the town and surrounding hills. It’s fun to walk along the old stone walls and take in the scenery from above. You can also get great views of Pena Palace from here, which sits just above the castle.

Sintra Town

Sintra itself is a cute little town to wander around and grab some food or a snack before heading off to your next castle. It’s a nice place to take a break in between all of the sightseeing.

Quinta da Regaleira

This is where you’ll find the famous Initiation Well, and wow, it was SO much bigger in person than I expected! Walking down the spiral staircase into the well felt like something straight out of a movie. I honestly felt like I should have been wearing a cloak on my way down to be initiated into a secret society.

Castelo de São Jorge

One of the can’t-miss sights in Lisbon, Castelo de São Jorge sits high on one of the city’s hills, making it the perfect spot for taking in incredible views over Lisbon and the Tagus River. We loved wandering around the castle grounds and taking in the views from different spots throughout the property.

And one of the most unexpected highlights? The peacocks! They roam freely around the castle grounds, which made exploring the historic site even more fun.

Alfama

After visiting the castle, take some time to walk around the Alfama neighborhood. It’s right nearby, so it’s an easy area to explore while you’re already in this part of Lisbon. There are narrow streets, colorful buildings and plenty of little shops and restaurants to pass along the way.

Belem Sights

The Belém area has a few of Lisbon’s most notable sights, so I definitely think it’s worth squeezing into your trip. That said, it was probably my least favorite area of Lisbon. It felt much more touristy than the rest of the city, and there isn’t nearly as much shade, so it was especially hot when we visited. I’d still recommend spending a few hours here to see the main sights, but I wouldn’t plan to spend your entire day in Belém.

Riverfront Walk + Discoveries Monument

Take a walk along the riverfront and check out the Monument to the Discoveries. The monument celebrates Portugal’s Age of Discoveries and the explorers, navigators and other important figures who played a role during this period. It’s designed like the front of a ship, with Henry the Navigator at the front and other historical figures lined up behind him.

It’s a great area to walk around while taking in the views of the Tagus River, and the monument itself is pretty impressive to see up close.

Belém Tower

Belém Tower is one of Lisbon’s most iconic landmarks and is definitely worth seeing while you’re in the area. It’s right along the water, so you can easily combine it with the riverfront walk.

Jerónimos Monastery

Jerónimos Monastery is another one of Belém’s major landmarks. The architecture is beautiful and it’s one of those sights you’ll want to stop and admire, even if you don’t spend a ton of time inside.

Pastéis de Belém

Of course, you can’t come to Belém without stopping at Pastéis de Belém, which is known as the birthplace of the famous Portuguese custard tart. They still use the traditional recipe, and I thought the crust was a little drier and crunchier than the pastel de nata we tried at other shops around Lisbon.

Personally, I actually preferred the ones from Manteigaria, but that’s for you to decide! I’d still recommend stopping here to try the original and see which one you like best.

Tropical Botanical Garden

The Tropical Botanical Garden was probably the one thing I wouldn’t go out of my way for. It felt a little unkempt when we visited, so I don’t think it’s a must-see.

The peacocks were pretty cool to see, though! If you didn’t see them at Castelo de São Jorge, this could be a fun little stop to add to your day.

Tips for Your Trip to Lisbon, Portugal

Perfect for a Short Trip. Direct flights from Boston to Lisbon take about 6 hours, and the 4-hour time difference makes Lisbon a surprisingly easy destination for a short trip.
Bring comfortable walking shoes. Lisbon is incredibly walkable, but the steep hills and cobblestone streets can be challenging.
Use public transportation when needed. The metro, trams, and trains make it easy to get around Lisbon and take day trips to places like Sintra.
Stay somewhere central. Chiado, Baixa, and Alfama are convenient areas for exploring many of Lisbon's major sights on foot.
Don't skip a food or wine tour. It's a fun way to try Portuguese specialties while learning more about the city's food and culture.
Plan at least one day for Sintra. It's an easy day trip from Lisbon and one of the highlights of visiting the area.