What to do in 48 hours in Lisbon

If you’re visiting Portugal, Lisbon is a great place to start. With a character of its own, the city is well known for its vibrant nightlife, buzzing historical neighbourhoods, the hilly terrain that’s best covered by the famous charming yellow trams or simply on foot. The cobbled stone alleyways, grand cathedrals, winding streets and historical landmarks can be well explored within 1 day but if you can, spare at least 48 hours in Lisbon to do justice to this incredibly captivating city.

We visited Lisbon on our 10-day trip in Portugal. In fact, Lisbon was our starting point before we moved on to The Azores Islands & The Algarve in the south. The red rooftops, deep blue ocean, bakeries selling fresh pastéis de nata, waterside bars, garden cafes and narrow, steep streetways of Lisbon are best to visit in spring (May – June) or fall season (September – October) when the weather is a little mild. Summer months can we crowded and hot. While I preferred walking, you may choose to buy the 24 or 48-hour public transport card, also known as the "Viva Viagem" card, a rechargeable contactless card that can be used to pay for fares on buses, trams, metro, and trains. The card can be purchased and recharged at metro stations, newsstands, and other authorized locations.

Day 1: Alfama, Baixa & Cais do Sodré

If you have 48 hours in Lisbon, no matter where you choose to stay, start your journey into the heart of Lisbon city with a trip on the famed Tram 28 towards Alfama district. The tram passes through the most picturesque and historic neighborhoods in the city, crossing popular landmarks such as Se Cathedral, the National Pantheon, and the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. The narrow and winding streets that the tram traverses offer a unique experience.

When in Alfama, start by visiting a viewpoint which offers stunning vistas of the red rooftops and Tagus River, Miradouro de Santa Luzia. These sweeping views are a great introduction to the city from a vantage point. There’s also a charming café on the terrace where you can enjoy a quick drink before heading towards Castelo de S Jorge, a Moorish castle located on top of the hill, with gorgeous views of the city from the summit. There’s a ticket to enter the palace and the viewing point, but it’s totally worth it. A castle with rich history, it was originally built as a Muslim fortification, and later transformed into a royal palace, where the King of Portugal welcomed Vasco de Gama upon his return from India.

From here, head to the famous Baixa neighborhood, known as downtown Lisbon. Contrary to the narrow, winding mazes of Alfama district, Baixa is an a well-organized grid of spacious streets. The area is characterized by a high concentration of international chain stores and numerous hotels. Being the most tourist-frequented part of the city, it features Rua Augusta, the main pedestrian street, connecting the grand squares from 18th century.

If you have purchased the 24- or 48-hour public transport ticket, it allows you access to the Santa Justa Lift. A unique 19^th century marvel, this elevator transports you from Baixa to Largo do Camo. On the top, there’s a viewing platform that offers one of the best views of Lisbon. However, if you’ve already had enough of viewing points for the day, you can totally skip it and head to the next destination. One of the interesting squares to visit in Baixa is Praça do Comércio. Soak in the vibes as you stroll leisurely in this impressive plaza, located right next to the river.

From Praça do Comércio, walk towards Cais do Sodré, a vibrant area with several bars and cafes. This is where you’ll find Av. Ribeira das Naus, a waterfront area lined with popup cars and stalls. This is a really cool area to chill out for a while, as you sit on enjoy the views of the river while sipping on a pineapple rum cocktail. From here, you can visit Mercado da Ribeira, a traditional food market of Lisbon which is also home to the famous Timeout Market. A popular concept in Europe, this food hall offers some of the best gourmet options and local varieties.

To end the day, you may choose to ride the charming Elevator da Bica, a historical funicular that climbs the steep hill between Cais do Sodré and Bairro Alto. Or you may choose to leave Bairro Alto for the next day.

Day 2: Belém & Bairro Alto

You can get to Belem by either taking the train from Cais do Sodré or Tram 15 from Baixa.

Start the day by exploring the Belem Tower, a 16th-century fortress located on the banks of the river Tagus, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unfortunately, when we visited, the tower was closed so we couldn’t go inside. However, I highly encourage you to go inside and climb through Belém Tower to properly appreciate it. You will also have the opportunity to climb up the tower from where you’ll get iconic views of Belem as well as the river.

From the Belem tower, you can walk along the waterfront and soon you’ll arrive at Padrão dos Descobrimentos or the Monument to the Discoveries, an enormous 56-meter-high monument located on the banks of the river. If you didn’t manage to enter Belem tower, you have the option to climb up to the viewing platform at the top of the monument. There is also an exhibition on the lower level, commemorating the "Exposition of the Portuguese World" through the explorations of several navigators during the 15^th and 16^th centuries.

From here, walk towards Jerónimos Monastery, the only other UNESCO World Heritage Site in Lisbon. While we didn’t manage to go inside ourselves and spent time taking several photos of the beautiful architecture of the façade, it is known to be equally stunning from inside. The Church of Santa, which houses the tomb of Vasco de Gama, is also attached to the monastery and is free to enter once you have purchased the ticket to enter the monastery.

Right next to the monastery is the famous Pastéis de Belém bakery, known to be one of the most popular places in Lisbon to try the pastel de nata. Don’t be surprised if you see a massive queue to enter this place! What you could potentially do is opt for table service, which is easier to get.

From here, you now have the day free to explore Bairro Alto, if you didn’t manage to make it there the day before. One of the places I highly recommend visiting in the area is Esplanada Café. Located in the majestic garden Jardim do Principe Real, the perfect location to relax amidst the bustling city. Located in a district with lavish shops and eccentric bars, Esplanada Café is actually a refuge from the hustle and bustle.

Another unique place to visit in the area is Park Rooftop. A trendy, urban rooftop bar that offers panoramic views and a chilled-out vibe, it is located on the 6th floor of a parking garage in Barrio Alto. It is the perfect place to enjoy a sundowner.

Another unique place to enjoy the sunset in Bairro Alto is Miradouro de Santa Catarina. The vibe here is quite lively as well, with musicians and street performers playing in the late afternoon and evening hours. The viewing spot is next to the statue of Adamastor, a legendary sea monster that faces the ocean.

If you have more than 48 hours in Lisbon, take a day trip to Cascais and Sintra.

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Visiting The Algarve? Read here on How to Make the Most of The Algarve in 2 days.