Lisbon
A weekend in Lisbon: 2-day itinerary
Two days covers Lisbon's core: Baixa, Alfama and a tram or funicular on day one, Belém's monuments and museums on day two, with a sunset at a miradouro. Stay in Baixa, Chiado or Alfama to walk most of it. Add a third day only if you want Sintra or Cascais.
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GuideLisbon
Key facts
- Time needed
- 2 full days for the city core; 3 days if you add Sintra or Cascais
- Best base
- Baixa, Chiado or Alfama — walkable to most sights
- Getting around
- Metro, tram 28, funiculars; a rechargeable Viva Viagem card covers all of them
- Day 1
- Baixa, Alfama, Castelo de São Jorge, miradouros, evening in Bairro Alto
- Day 2
- Belém: Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, Torre de Belém, Padrão dos Descobrimentos, MAAT
- Book ahead
- Jerónimos and popular fado houses fill up; reserve online
- Budgetcheck
- 2026 estimate: €60–120 per person per day excluding hotel
Top picks
If you have one weekend, spend it on the two halves of the city that carry the most weight: the old town east of Baixa, and Belém to the west. Everything else — LX Factory, Parque das Nações, the beaches at Cascais — is a bonus you add if a flight lands early or leaves late.
Day one is a walking day. Start in Praça do Comércio, cut through Baixa's grid, climb into Alfama, and finish at a miradouro with a drink. Day two is a tram or train ride west to Belém, then back for dinner. That split keeps travel time low and puts the two biggest clusters of sights on separate days.
| Pick | What it is | Time | Cost (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castelo de São Jorge | Moorish hilltop castle above Alfama | 1.5–2 h | €15 |
| Tram 28 | Historic tram through Graça, Alfama, Baixa | 40–50 min end to end | Single ticket €3 |
| Mosteiro dos Jerónimos | Manueline monastery in Belém | 1.5–2 h | €12 |
| Torre de Belém | Riverside tower, UNESCO listed | 45–60 min | €8 |
| MAAT | Contemporary art and architecture on the river | 1–2 h | €11 |
| Miradouro da Senhora do Monte | Viewpoint over the castle and river | 30 min | Free |
| Time Out Market | Food hall in Cais do Sodré | 1 h | Pay per stall |
Prices are 2026 estimates; confirm on the operator's site before you go.
Prices and hours
Lisbon's sights mostly run on standard museum hours: roughly 09:00 or 10:00 to 17:30 or 18:00, with last entry 30–60 minutes before closing. Many close on Mondays, and several close on 1 January, Easter Sunday, 25 April, 1 May and 25 December. Check each site's own page the week you travel.
The Viva Viagem card is the practical answer to transport: buy one at a metro station, load it with credit, and tap it on the metro, trams, funiculars and buses. A single journey is around €2, and a 24-hour top-up is around €6.70 (2026 estimate). Tram 28 is the one route where pickpockets work the crowd, so keep bags in front of you.
| Item | Typical hours | Cost (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Castelo de São Jorge | 09:00–18:00 | €15 |
| Mosteiro dos Jerónimos | 10:00–17:30, closed Mon | €12 |
| Torre de Belém | 10:00–17:30, closed Mon | €8 |
| MAAT | 11:00–19:00, closed Tue | €11 |
| Tram 28 single | Runs all day | €3 on board |
| Viva Viagem 24 h | — | €6.70 |
| Coffee and pastel de nata | Cafés from 07:00 | €1.50–3 |
| Fado house dinner | Shows from 20:00 | €40–70 per person |
Hours change seasonally and on public holidays; treat these as planning figures, not guarantees.
Getting there
Lisbon Airport (LIS) sits about 7 km from the centre. Metro Line Vermelha runs from the airport to Alameda and on to Saldanha and São Sebastião; the trip to Baixa or Chiado takes roughly 25–35 minutes with one change. A taxi or ride-hailing car to the centre is 15–25 minutes outside peak hours and costs around €12–20 (2026 estimate). Aerobus-style buses also link the airport to Cais do Sodré and Rossio.
If you arrive by train, Santa Apolónia serves the east side near Alfama and Oriente serves Parque das Nações; both connect to the metro. From Porto, the Alfa Pendular takes about 2 h 50 min to 3 h 20 min to Oriente or Santa Apolónia. From the Algarve, trains run to Oriente and Entrecampos.
Once you are in the centre, most of the weekend is walkable. Baixa to Alfama is 15–20 minutes uphill; Baixa to Belém is too far on foot for a short trip, so take tram 15 or the Cascais line train from Cais do Sodré to Belém station.
- Airport to centre by metro: 25–35 min, around €2
- Airport to centre by taxi: 15–25 min, €12–20 (2026 estimate)
- Porto to Lisbon by Alfa Pendular: 2 h 50 min–3 h 20 min
- Cais do Sodré to Belém by train: about 10 min
- Baixa to Alfama on foot: 15–20 min uphill
FAQ
Questions people ask
How do I spend a weekend in Lisbon?
Day one: Baixa, Alfama, Castelo de São Jorge and a miradouro at sunset, then dinner in Bairro Alto or Cais do Sodré. Day two: Belém for Jerónimos, Torre de Belém and MAAT, then back for fado. Book the monastery and any fado dinner ahead.
Where should I stay for a weekend in Lisbon?
Baixa and Chiado put you within walking distance of most sights and the metro. Alfama is quieter at night and closer to the castle but hilly. Cais do Sodré and Bairro Alto are best for nightlife and noisier. For two nights, Baixa or Chiado saves the most time.
Is a weekend enough for Lisbon?
Yes for the city core. Two full days cover Baixa, Alfama, Belém and the main viewpoints at a comfortable pace. You would need a third day for Sintra or Cascais, and more for day trips further out such as Óbidos or Évora.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialVisit Portugal — official tourism site
- officialTurismo de Lisboa
- officialMetropolitano de Lisboa
- officialCP — Comboios de Portugal
- officialANA Aeroportos de Portugal — Lisbon
- secondaryWikivoyage — Lisbon