My GlobieCities / Lisbon, Portugal
City guideLisbon in 48 hours 🚋
Day 1 is old Lisbon: Alfama, the castle, the viewpoints and Baixa. Day 2 is Belém for the monastery, the tower and the original custard tarts, then sunset and dinner in Bairro Alto. Wear comfy shoes; the hills are no joke.
Day 1: Alfama and the old center
- Alfama. Lisbon's oldest neighborhood: steep alleys, laundry lines and fado bars.
- São Jorge Castle. Hilltop castle with the best view over the red roofs and the river.
- Miradouros. Free viewpoints all over the city. Santa Luzia and Senhora do Monte are favorites.
- Baixa and Praça do Comércio. The grand riverside square, rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake.
Day 2: Belém and Bairro Alto
- Jerónimos Monastery. A huge, lacy stone monastery and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Belém Tower. A 16th-century fort on the river. Fine from outside if the queue is long.
- Pastéis de Belém. The bakery that's been making custard tarts since 1837. The takeaway line moves fast.
- Bairro Alto at night. Dinner, then drinks in the street with half of Lisbon.
Eat this
- Pastel de nata: the custard tart. Warm, with cinnamon on top.
- Bifana: a garlicky pork sandwich and the perfect cheap lunch.
- Bacalhau: salt cod. Portugal claims to have hundreds of recipes for it.
Skip this
- Queuing an hour for Tram 28 at Martim Moniz. Walk the route, or catch it further along. Watch your bag on board.
- Street sellers in Baixa offering "hash". It's usually bay leaves.
Getting there
Trains from Porto and the rest of Portugal arrive at Santa Apolónia or Oriente. Lisbon Airport is close to the center, and the red metro line runs from the airport into town.
Coming from somewhere else in Europe? Compare trains, buses and flights to Lisbon on Tryp.com (yes, that's where our team works; see About). Planning more of Portugal? Here's Tryp's Portugal travel guide.
Quick answers
Is 48 hours enough for Lisbon?
It's enough for Alfama, the castle, Belém and a night in Bairro Alto. Add a day for Sintra's palaces.
Is Tram 28 worth it?
The ride is fun, but queues at the start can be long and it gets packed. Walking the route covers the same sights.
How do I get from Lisbon airport to the city center?
Take the red metro line from the airport and change to other lines for the center. Taxis are also quick, since the airport is close to town.
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