3 days in Lisbon
A 3-day route through Lisbon built from the stop base: 13 stops, timed with the walk between them. Change the pace or your arrival day and the plan is rebuilt.
Data checked on October 4, 2026
No arrival day set. Times below work on any day each stop is open. Watch the “closed” tags, or pick your arrival day above.
Day 1
Belém · Avenidas Novas
3 stops · 6 h 15 of visits · 18 min on foot
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9:30 am10:45 am
Belém Tower
A small 16th-century fortress on the riverbank, reopened in May 2026 after restoration. You climb narrow stairs through a few rooms to the terrace.
Pick one of the first slots of the day, when the stairs are quietest.
Entry is by time slot. Book your slot online on the official site before you go.
Open Tuesday to Sunday; closed Monday, 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 13 June and 25 December. The official site did not state a last-entry time, so confirm before you go.
Source: Museus e Monumentos de Portugal, checked October 4, 2026
- 18 min walk
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11:03 am1:03 pm
Jerónimos Monastery
A 16th-century monastery in the Manueline style, with a two-storey cloister and the church where Vasco da Gama is buried. Most of the visit is the cloister and the church.
Arrive at opening time. Tour groups reach the cloister from late morning.
Buy the cloister ticket online on the official site. Without one you wait at the ticket office, and the queue can be long in the middle of the day.
Open Tuesday to Sunday; closed Monday, 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 13 June and 25 December. The church has its own shorter hours and is closed on Sunday mornings.
See the guided visitSource: Museus e Monumentos de Portugal, checked October 4, 2026
- Too far to walk in comfort (about 103 min on foot). Take public transport.
- Lunch break
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2:44 pm5:44 pm
Calouste Gulbenkian Museum
A private collection of art from Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Islamic world, Europe and Asia, shown in a calm modern building with a garden.
A good choice for a rainy afternoon, or for a late Saturday visit.
Closed on Tuesday. Open until 21:00 on Saturday. Also closed 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 24 and 25 December. The garden is free and open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Source: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, checked October 4, 2026
- Running late? Drop Calouste Gulbenkian Museum first. Nothing is booked there.
Day 2
Castle, Alfama and Graça · Baixa, Chiado and the waterfront
6 stops · 8 h 30 of visits · 51 min on foot
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9:30 am1:00 pm
Alfama
The oldest quarter of Lisbon, a tangle of lanes, stairs and small squares below the castle. There is no list of things to tick off here. You walk, get lost and stop for a coffee.
Walk it downhill from the castle. In the morning the lanes are quiet; at night fado venues open.
Source: Turismo de Lisboa (Visit Lisboa), checked October 4, 2026
- 9 min walk
- Lunch break
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2:09 pm3:09 pm
National Pantheon
The Baroque church of Santa Engrácia, now a national monument that holds tombs of Portuguese figures. A staircase leads to a terrace with views over the river.
Go up to the terrace, where the view reaches the river and the Alfama rooftops.
Hours change by season. From October to March it is open 10:00 to 17:00; from April to September it closes at 18:00. Closed Monday.
Source: Museus e Monumentos de Portugal, checked October 4, 2026
- 15 min walk
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3:24 pm4:09 pm
Lisbon Cathedral (Sé)
A Romanesque cathedral from the 12th century with a plain, fortress-like facade. Entering the nave is free; the cloister has Roman and medieval ruins.
It sits on the way between Baixa and the castle, so it fits a short stop.
Closed on Sunday and on holy days. From May to October Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday run 09:30 to 19:00, and Wednesday and Saturday run 10:00 to 18:00. From November to April it is 10:00 to 18:00, Monday to Saturday. The official page did not list separate cloister hours.
Source: Sé de Lisboa, checked October 4, 2026
- 6 min walk
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4:15 pm5:15 pm
Praça do Comércio
A large riverside square framed by yellow arcades, rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake. The Rua Augusta arch leads from it into the grid of Baixa.
Come in the evening, when the stone turns gold and the cafés under the arcades fill up.
Source: Turismo de Lisboa (Visit Lisboa), checked October 4, 2026
- 10 min walk
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5:25 pm6:25 pm
Carmo Convent
The roofless Gothic nave of a convent that the 1755 earthquake left standing as a ruin. A small archaeological museum sits in the old apse.
A short stop between Baixa and Chiado, easy to fit between other sights.
Open Monday to Saturday, closed Sunday. From 1 November to 30 April it closes at 18:00 instead of 19:00. Also closed on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
Source: Museu Arqueológico do Carmo, checked October 4, 2026
- 11 min walk
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6:36 pm7:51 pm
Time Out Market Lisboa
A large food hall in the old Ribeira market, with stalls from well-known Lisbon chefs and restaurants. Easy for a meal where everyone picks something different.
Eat outside peak times, before 12:30 or after 14:30, to find a table.
Open Sunday to Wednesday 10:00 to midnight, and Thursday to Saturday 10:00 to 02:00. The hours in our plan stop at midnight.
Source: Time Out Market Lisboa, checked October 4, 2026
- Running late? Drop Time Out Market Lisboa first. Nothing is booked there.
Day 3
Parque das Nações · Castle, Alfama and Graça
4 stops · 6 h 30 of visits · 15 min on foot
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10:00 am1:00 pm
Oceanário de Lisboa
One of the larger aquariums in Europe, built around a central tank that you view from two levels. It is a good option in rain and for children.
It is on the Red metro line at Oriente, far east of the centre, so plan it as a half-day trip together with a walk along the riverside Parque das Nações.
Tickets are sold online by time slot. Booking ahead means you walk in at your chosen slot.
Open every day. Special hours apply on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January.
See ticketsSource: Oceanário de Lisboa, checked October 4, 2026
- Too far to walk in comfort (about 97 min on foot). Take public transport.
- Lunch break
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2:39 pm3:09 pm
Miradouro da Senhora do Monte
The highest viewpoint in the old centre, with a wide view of the castle, Baixa and the river. It is quieter than the better-known terraces.
It is a steady climb from Alfama, so go slowly or take public transport up.
Source: Turismo de Lisboa (Visit Lisboa), checked October 4, 2026
- 9 min walk
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3:18 pm5:48 pm
São Jorge Castle
The hilltop castle that looks over the whole city. You walk the walls and towers, and the viewpoint terraces are the main reason to come.
Go at opening time or in the last hours before closing, when the light is softer and there are fewer people.
Tickets can be bought online. Booking ahead saves time at the gate, especially at midday.
Open every day. From 1 November the castle closes at 18:00 instead of 21:00. The wall walks and towers can close earlier than the gate, depending on daylight. Closed 1 January, 1 May, 24, 25 and 31 December.
See ticketsSource: Castelo de São Jorge, checked October 4, 2026
- 6 min walk
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5:54 pm6:24 pm
Miradouro de Santa Luzia
A small terrace with tiled panels and a bougainvillea-covered pergola, looking over Alfama's rooftops and the river.
Come at sunset, or early to have it to yourself.
Source: Turismo de Lisboa (Visit Lisboa), checked October 4, 2026
- Running late? Drop Miradouro de Santa Luzia first. Nothing is booked there.