Must See~£7
Belém Tower
Belém
A lacy 16th-century riverside fortress that symbolises Portugal’s Age of Discovery.
- Suggested time: 1 hr
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Couples
Tuesday–Sunday, roughly 10:00–17:30; closed Mondays
Overview
Why go to Lisbon
Lisbon mixes faded grandeur with a creative, easygoing energy. Ride a yellow tram up to a viewpoint, graze at a food hall, then finish with live fado or a late night in Bairro Alto. Sintra and the beaches are an easy day out.
- Where
- Lisbon District, Portugal
- Recommended stay
- 3–5 nights
- Best time to go
- April–June and September–October for mild weather and softer light.
- Approx. daily budget
- £60–120 a dayPer person, excluding flights. Indicative.
- Getting around
- Trams, metro and funiculars help with the hills; wear comfortable shoes.
What does Lisbon cost?
Full cost guide- Budget traveller£55–80a day
- Mid-range traveller£110–155a day
- Luxury traveller£215+a day
Approximate per person per day, including a share of a twin room, and excluding flights. Not live prices.
Things To Do
See all 37 Top picks in Lisbon
Must See~£10
Jerónimos Monastery
Belém
A UNESCO-listed masterpiece of Manueline architecture, famous for its intricately carved cloister.
- Suggested time: 1h 15m
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Culture lovers
Tuesday–Sunday, roughly 10:00–18:30; closed Mondays
Must See~£13
São Jorge Castle
Alfama
A hilltop Moorish castle with sweeping views across the city and river.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Photographers
Daily, roughly 9:00–21:00 in summer and to 18:00 in winter
Day Trips~£21
Sintra Palaces Day Trip
Sintra (about 30 km)
A fairy-tale hill town of colourful palaces and misty forests, 40 minutes by train.
- Suggested time: Full day
- Book ahead
- Suits: Couples
Palaces open daily, roughly 9:30–18:30; timings vary by site
Hidden Gems
See all 13 Beyond the checklist
Local FavouritesFree
Alfama Wander
Alfama
Lisbon’s oldest neighbourhood: a labyrinth of stairways, laundry lines and fado-filled taverns.
- Suggested time: 2h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples
Open-air streets; always accessible
ViewpointsFree
Miradouro da Senhora do Monte
Graça
A sweeping hilltop terrace with one of Lisbon’s best views of the castle and river.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples · Photographers
Open-air; accessible daily
Hidden GemsFree
LX Factory
Alcântara
A creative complex of shops, studios and cafés inside a former textile factory beneath the 25 de Abril bridge.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- No booking needed
- Suits: Food lovers
Daily, roughly 10:00–20:00; shops vary and some close Mondays
ViewpointsFree
Miradouro de Santa Luzia
Alfama
A tiled terrace draped in bougainvillea, looking over Alfama’s rooftops and the river, and much prettier than the crowded viewpoints nearby.
- Suggested time: 30 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples · Photographers
Open-air; best at golden hour
Food & Restaurants
See all 13 Where to eat
Cervejaria Ramiro
A famous, lively seafood hall where you order by weight from a tank of shellfish, then finish with a steak sandwich.
Known for: Tiger prawns, goose barnacles, prego steak sandwich
About £25–45 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Groups
Manteigaria
A pastry counter with a glass wall so you can watch custard tarts come out of the oven warm.
Known for: Pastéis de nata
Under about £12 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Families
A Ginjinha
A tiny stand-up bar serving Lisbon’s cherry liqueur by the shot since 1840, right off Rossio square.
Known for: Ginjinha, with or without a cherry
Under about £12 per person
Local favourite Good for Groups · Couples
Taberna da Rua das Flores
A tiny tavern serving petiscos, or small plates, in a small room where queues are common; go early or late.
Known for: Petiscos, traditional Portuguese small plates
About £12–25 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
A suggested Lisbon itinerary
3 nights Friends
Lisbon · Sightseeing + Food + Nightlife
Lisbon hills, Belém and Sintra
Viewpoints and old-town lanes, custard tarts in Belém, and a fairy-tale day trip to Sintra.
- Day 1 · Alfama Wander, São Jorge Castle, Miradouro da Senhora do Monte
- Day 2 · Pastéis de Belém, Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, Bairro Alto Nightlife
- Day 3 · Sintra Palaces Day Trip, Time Out Market Lisboa
Plan Lisbon your way
Tell us your dates, who’s travelling and what you enjoy. We’ll build a first draft you can edit.