A Magical 2-Days in Lisbon Itinerary (Including a Sintra Day Trip)

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Whether you’re trying to decide how to allocate your calories or hours, figuring out a 2 day Lisbon itinerary is a stressful problem that I know well.

After all, this is Lisbon we’re talking about!

Portugal’s capital city has an endless supply of grand architecture, a history dating back to 205 BC, and a collection of eclectic museums you won’t find anywhere else in Europe.

…And, of course, the food. 🤤

So many Pasta de Natas, so little time.

My point? A weekend in Lisbon is not enough time to see everything the city offers, but some Lisbon is always better than no Lisbon.

For those of you who only have 2-days in the city and want to take a day trip to Sintra to live out your Disney princess fantasies – I got you.

Keep scrolling for the perfect 2-day Lisbon itinerary to maximize your time.

Psst…Want more Europe travel tips? Check out these other posts below:

Table of Contents

How to Get to Lisbon, Portugal

The best and quickest way to get to Lisbon from South Africa (or anywhere else in the world) is to fly.

To find the cheapest flights, hop onto Skyscanner. Use the filters to search dates across a specific month or a set of dates.

If you’re already in Europe (or not finding anything with Skyscanner), try Google Flights. I sometimes find better deals here and prefer it because it only shows flights from airlines, not middleman booking sites.

For those already in Europe, I highly recommend using Rome2Rio. Type in your departure and arrival cities, and the site will show you the CHEAPEST way to get there via plane, train, or bus.

Once you’ve found a route you like, it will take you directly to the booking site to lock in your deal. It will save you so much money and cut your route planning time in half.

Where to Stay in Lisbon, Portugal

Not sure where to book your hotel or Airbnb? Here are some of my favourite areas in Lisbon that you’ll love.

Chiado: Lisbon’s Historic Center

Want to stay close to Lisbon’s top attractions and within walking distance of restaurants and bars? Chiado is the neighbourhood for you.

It’s right in the heart of the action and close to metro stations and tram lines, making it easy to hop around and see everything on your Lisbon itinerary.

Top Places to Stay in Chiado, Lisbon

Alfama: Lisbon’s Oldest Neighbourhood

Picture yourself walking down cobbled streets, terracotta traditional houses, and past the iconic tram 28 route.

Close to Castelo de Sao Jorge, Santa Luzia church and the Lisbon Cathedral, it’s the perfect spot for history buffs.

Top Places to Stay in Alfama, Lisbon

Seixal: A Hidden Gem Outside The City

Don’t feel like staying in the city? In the mood for a more peaceful retreat? Spend your weekend trip to Lisbon in Seixal.

The quaint seaside town is only a 3 EUR ferry ride away and is a hidden gem. I spent 3-nights in an Airbnb here and loved it.

The streets are time capsules from the past. Wander around the beachfront, and you’ll come across ancient buildings from remnants of Lisbon’s decorative tiles.

Fun fact: The tiles in Lisbon were used to cover the outside of houses to protect them from the humidity of the Tagus River.

Lisbon Travel Tips

Is The Lisbon Tourist Card Worth It?

Hell yes! Choose from 24, 48, or 72-hour options, and you get a bunch of benefits that will save you so much money, like:

Unlimited travel on public transport, including the elevadores and the famous tram 28.
Access 38 museums and monuments, including Torre de Belém and Mosteiro dos Jerónimos.
Free train travel to Sintra and Cascais.
Free access to the Santa Justa elevator.

What’s the cost? The Lisbon Card is EUR21 for 24 hours, EUR35 for 48 hours, and EUR44 for 72-hours.

The Best Time to Visit Lisbon

The best time to visit Lisbon is over the two shoulder seasons. Spring (March to May) and Autumn (September to October) have mild temperatures, better accommodation prices, and far fewer crowds.

But if you’re in Europe for the summer, plan your 2-day Lisbon itinerary during the week. While the city still is heaving, you’ll beat the weekend travellers.

Plus, you’ll be around for some of the top festivals in Portugal, like Boom.

Pack Shoes With Grip

Lisbon is home to slippery cobbled stone streets. Do yourself a favour and pack a pair of Birkenstocks or sneakers with grip, or you may find yourself on the floor.

I had a pair of old sandals with me, and I had to walk carefully to avoid sliding all over the place.

Tap and Pay is (Almost) Everywhere

After getting pickpocketed in Paris, I only had my virtual FNB card. Luckily, almost every place (except the small grocery stores) accepts tap and pay.

I’m so happy this is becoming a normal payment method.

All I need now is for the ATMs to become tap and pay, and I’ll be sorted.

How to Get Around Lisbon

Lisboa Airport Transport: Located only 20 minutes from the city centre, getting from Lisboa Airport to your hotel is quick and easy. The metro is located right outside of the arrivals terminal, as well as several bus lines that’ll take you directly into Lisbon. If you don’t want to slum it, you can also grab an Uber or a metered taxi.

Metro, Trams and Buses: Once you’re in the city, your public transport options are almost limitless. If you get the Lisbon Pass, it includes unlimited public transportation, which already makes the card worth it.

Uber: Lisbon has Uber! If you’re travelling in a group, it can be cheaper to split the fare rather than paying for public transport. Plus, it will take half the time.

Lisbon Itinerary Day 1: Explore Lisbon’s Top Attractions

Visit Torre de Belem for Sunrise

Belem is an iconic district in Lisbon. Once a major dockyard in the 15th century, it’s full of fascinating nautical history.

The star of the show is, without a doubt, the Torre de Belem.

Not only is the 16th-century fortification a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it’s also one of the few buildings to survive Lisbon’s catastrophic 1755 earthquake.

While you can go inside to see the museum, the lines are long, and the crowds feel overwhelming during peak season. If you’re a morning person and a photographer, I recommend coming here for sunrise and booking your entry ticket for Torre de Belem in advance.

The light is incredible!

You’ll have the entire beach around the Belem Tower to yourself, and you can snap away without any photo bombers.

For the rest, come here around 8-9 am. The tower only opens at 10 am, so if you’re lucky, you can get a few decent pictures before the masses descend.

Stuff Your Face at Confeitaria de Belém

Confeirtaria de Belem is the home of the original pastel de nata, Portugal’s signature pastry. Monks first created these delicious treats after the Liberal Revolution of 1820 to bring in money for the Jerónimos Monastery.

Today, you can first the original shop and stuff your face with flaky pastry and its delectable creamy egg filling.

Word of caution: One cannot eat a single pastel de nata.

Make sure you budget for seconds, thirds, fourths and possibly fifths.

Visit Jerónimos Monastery

After stuffing your face with a bit of history, continue your feast with a stop at Jeronimos Monastery.

Built in the 16th century (and somehow surviving the devastating 1755 earthquake), the building became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

For architecture geeks, it’s the best example of the Manueline style in Lisbon.

…Er…What’s that?

It’s a style of architecture made up by King Manuel 1. The royal took his favourite elements from Late Gothic, Mudejar, Italian and others to create his unique ostentatious style.

On a budget? You can visit the main chapel and see the tomb of Vasco da Gama for free or pay EUR 7 to explore the monastery itself.

Want to see the monastery from a unique perspective? You can book a helicopter ride that’ll take you over Jeronimos Monastery, Belem Tower, the Cristo Rei statue, and the 25th of April Bridge.

LX Factory

LX Factory is an open-air shopping area that’s the perfect pit stop for a coffee or lunch break.

Here, you’ll find dozens of cafes, restaurants, speciality shops and bookstores.

But the star of the show?

Ler Devagar.

It’s one of the most unique bookstores in the world. Once a warehouse, it’s now home to floor-to-ceiling shelves of books and art exhibitions.

If you’re visiting Lisbon and it’s raining, Ler Devagar is the perfect spot to curl up with a book, grab a matcha latte and wait out the storm.

Praça do Comercio and Elevador de Santa Justa

After lunch, hop onto a tram and head towards Praça do Comercio, aka Commerce Square.

It’s a beautiful plaza with yellow Pombaline-styled buildings and a massive statue of King Joseph I.

While you’re here, you can hop onto the Santa Justa Lift for an aerial view of Lisbon.

The entrance for the elevator is EUR 5, and it’s open from 7:30 am to 11 pm and 9 pm in the winter.

Visit a Miradouro for Sunset

There’s no better way to spend a sunset in Lisbon than at a Miradouro.

…A what now?

These are terraced viewpoints that you can find all over the city.

Go to at least one during your weekend in Lisbon, and you’ll have sweeping views over the city’s iconic orange rooftops and the gorgeous Tagus River.

Here are some of the most popular miradouros to add to your Lisbon itinerary:

Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara
Miradouro das Portas do Sol
Miradouro de Santa Luzia
Miradouro da Graça
Miradouro da Senhora do Monte

Experience Lisbon’s Insta-Famous Pink Street

End your first day in Lisbon with a visit to Rua Nova do Carvalho. Once the city’s red-light district, the street’s dodgy brothels and shady bars are a thing of the past.

These days after sunset, you can find chic bars and nightclubs, making it the perfect spot to experience Lisbon’s famous nightlife.

Photo Tip: If you want a picture here, come mid to late morning. The street is clean from the previous night’s shenanigans, and despite its Instagram status, it’s not as busy as you think.

Lisbon Itinerary Day 2: Day Trip to Sintra

Much like Paris, a day trip to Sintra is always a good idea.

Only 30 km away from Lisbon, the colourful town is a real-life fairy tale. Explore mist-shrouded palaces next to dewy forests and estates with secret tunnels wedged between rolling green hills.

It’s pure MAGIC!

No wonder Lord Byron dubbed it “Glorious Eden”. It really is the gift that keeps on giving. If you have the time to spend a night here, do it!

You’ll miss the day trip crowds and have more time to explore Sintra’s 12+ enchanting castles and palaces.

…But if you’re like me and short on time, here’s how to get the most out of your day trip.

Get to Sintra Early

How early? You’ll want to arrive at 8:30 am the latest.

Why? The crowds.

You can’t avoid them entirely, but getting to your first palace as soon as it opens means you’ll have some peace and sanity before the madness descends.

The best way to get to Sintra from Lisbon is via train. Trains leave the station every day at 30-minute intervals and cost EUR 2.30 each way.

Got a Lisboa card? You’re in luck! It includes one return train trip to Sintra.

If you’re travelling in a group and feeling bougie, you can get an Uber to and from Sintra, but it’s the most expensive option.

girl standing in sintra castle in portugal

Book Combo Tickets in Advance and Save $$$

As one of the top attractions near Lisbon, you can expect crowds in Sintra even during the shoulder and off seasons.

With this in mind, buy your tickets in advance either online or at the ticket office in town.

If you don’t, you can’t skip the line and waltz straight into your palace of choice.

Plus, the more castles you add to your basket, the bigger your combo ticket discount.

Choose 3 to 4 Sintra Castles to Explore

Here’s the thing.

The Sintra castles aren’t small. There’s a lot to see on the inside, the outside, and around each estate.

While it’s tempting to try to tick as many off your bucket list as possible, you’re setting yourself up for exhaustion and castle fatigue.

For my day trip to Sintra, I visited the following:

Pena Palace: The star of the show. Explore the exterior first before heading inside if you want photos without people. Then go inside.
Quinta da Regaleira: Home of the well that sinks nine floors underground to represent the nine circles of hell. Legend has it the tunnels here were used for secret rituals back in the day.
Monserrate Palace: You’ll need to take an Uber ride to get here, but it’s a stunning palace with spellbinding Moorish, Indian and Gothic design elements.

What to Eat in Sintra

Before you head back to Lisbon, stop for lunch at one of these charming cafes and restaurants in Sintra.

Romaria de Baco: Escape the crowds in Sintra’s centre and venture down a side street to Romaria de Baco. A Portuguese restaurant serving local favourites and plenty of wine, of course.

Tascantiga: Located right above the Pipa Fountain, Tascantiga is the perfect lunch spot. Feast on croquettes, bacalhau sandwiches, or grilled portobello mushrooms, and try to snag an outdoor table (if the weather is on your side).

Bar do Fundo: When it comes to lunch with a view, Bar do Fundo is hard to beat. The restaurant lies west of Sintra’s centre and overlooks a golden beach. Watching the sunset from here is incredible if you’re spending the night in Sintra.

When you’re done, head to a local bakery and try some of the pastries originating from Sintra, like:

Travesseiros: The signature dessert of Sintra. It’s a crispy puff pastry made with a rich cream of almonds and egg yolks.

Quijada: These small pies are found everywhere in Portugal and were once used as a form of payment in Sintra.

Go on a Sunset Cruise Along The Tagus River

If gallivanting between castles hasn’t completely wiped your battery out, book a sunset cruise along the Tagus River.

It’s a wonderful way to end your weekend in Lisbon and experience the city from a different viewpoint.

Plus, you get drinks!

Most tours will take you past Lisbon’s top sights, including the Christ the King statue, 25 de Abril Bridge and Belem Tower.

Did you enjoy this 2 days in Lisbon itinerary?

I hope you’re ready to tackle your weekend in Lisbon! I hope this post gave you plenty of inspiration for what to do with two days in Lisbon.

Did I leave anything out that deserves a mention? Got any questions? Hit ya gurl up in the comments below.

If you like it, then you better put a pin on it!