Hills & Tiles: A 4-Day Lisbon Itinerary with Sintra | Travileer

Four days of viewpoints, custard tarts and yellow trams, with a day in Sintra for the palaces.

Lisbon is built on seven hills, and the best things in it are the views from the top of them and the food at the bottom. This plan gives Belém its own morning, Alfama its own afternoon, a full day to Sintra's palaces, and the last day to the riverside and the neighbourhoods where the city eats. The metro is under two euros, Cascais is a two-and-a-half-euro train, and a custard tart from the original bakery is one euro thirty.

Trip details

  • Destination: Lisbon, Portugal
  • Duration: 4 days
  • Budget: moderate ($700 - $1,100)
  • Best season: April - June or September - October
  • Best for: Couples, first-time Portugal visitors, walkers who like a view
  • Interests: viewpoints, food, history, architecture, day trips, seafood

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1: Belém and the Age of Discovery

the monastery, the tower and the tart that started it all

  • 09:00 — Pastéis de Belém · Pastéis de Belém, Belém
    The bakery that has made the original custard tart since 1837, to a recipe from the monastery next door. Eat two warm, with cinnamon, at the counter; the queue for takeaway moves faster than it looks.
    Tip: Tram 15 or the train from Cais do Sodré to Belém, about 20 minutes.
  • 10:00 — Jerónimos Monastery · Jerónimos Monastery, Belém
    The Manueline masterpiece built on the profits of the spice route, where Vasco da Gama is buried. The church is free; the two-storey cloister, the reason to come, is 18 euros in 2026 and sells out on summer mornings.
    Tip: Book the cloister online the day before. Closed Mondays.
  • 12:00 — Padrão dos Descobrimentos and the riverfront walk · Padrão dos Descobrimentos, Belém
    The Monument to the Discoveries stands on the riverbank like a ship's prow, with Henry the Navigator at the front. Walk the promenade west along the Tagus to the tower; it takes fifteen minutes.
  • 13:00 — Belém Tower · Belém Tower, Belém
    The fortified tower that saw the caravels off. The exterior and the riverside setting are the point; the interior is a narrow climb and can be skipped if the queue is long.
  • 15:30 — LX Factory · LX Factory, Alcântara
    A former textile works under the 25 de Abril bridge, now bookshops, studios, rooftop bars and one of the city's best-known bookshops, Ler Devagar. A late lunch or an early drink here breaks the walk back.
  • 19:30 — Dinner at Time Out Market · Time Out Market Lisboa, Cais do Sodré
    The Mercado da Ribeira's food hall, where the city's best-known chefs run counters side by side. Loud, busy and a good first night: order from three stalls and share.

Dining highlight: Pastéis de Belém — Pastel de nata, $1.40 each. Warm from the oven, dusted with cinnamon, eaten standing. The rest of the world's custard tarts are copies of this one.

Day 2: Alfama and the castle

the oldest quarter, three viewpoints and fado after dark

  • 09:30 — Castelo de São Jorge · Castelo de São Jorge, Alfama
    The Moorish castle on the highest hill, with ramparts you can walk and a view across every red roof to the river. Go at opening before the coaches; the peacocks in the gardens are residents.
    Tip: The 28 tram passes below the castle but is packed by mid-morning; a taxi up the hill is cheap and saves the climb.
  • 11:30 — Miradouro de Santa Luzia · Miradouro de Santa Luzia, Alfama
    The tiled terrace with the classic view over Alfama's rooftops to the river, bougainvillea over the pergola. Free, and the best-placed cafe table in the city is here.
  • 12:30 — Lunch and a wander in Alfama · Alfama, Santa Maria Maior
    The medieval quarter that survived the 1755 earthquake: stairways, washing lines, tiny tascas with a prato do dia for 8 to 12 euros. Get lost on purpose; every lane leads downhill to the river eventually.
  • 15:30 — Museu Nacional do Azulejo · Museu Nacional do Azulejo, Xabregas
    Five centuries of the painted tiles that cover the city, in a former convent east of Alfama, including a 23-metre panel of Lisbon before the earthquake. The convent chapel alone is worth the ticket.
  • 20:00 — Fado in Alfama · Alfama, Santa Maria Maior
    The music of longing was born in these streets. The small casas de fado serve dinner while singers work the room; the amateur nights are cheaper and often better. Budget 30 to 50 euros with dinner.
    Tip: Book a day ahead. Silence during songs is expected; the room will tell you.

Dining highlight: An Alfama tasca — Portuguese home cooking, $9-13 set lunch. Grilled sardines, a glass of vinho verde and a view of a staircase. The prato do dia is the best deal in Western Europe.

Day 3: Sintra

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Day 4: Baixa, Chiado and the coast

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Where to stay

Memmo Alfama — Boutique, $180-300 per night, Alfama.

Alfama is the neighbourhood people come to Lisbon for, and this is the hotel that sits inside it with a view instead of on its edge.

  • A rooftop pool terrace looking over Alfama to the river
  • Inside the old quarter, five minutes from the castle
  • Quiet at night despite the location

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Lisbon, Portugal?

We recommend 4 days to experience the best of Lisbon, Portugal.

When is the best time to visit Lisbon, Portugal?

The best season to visit Lisbon, Portugal is April - June or September - October.

What budget should I plan for Lisbon, Portugal?

This itinerary is designed for a moderate budget of approximately $700 - $1,100.

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