The Best 2 Day Itinerary for Lisbon Portugal
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This is up there as one of our favourite destinations that we have visited which is why we had to create a 2 day itinerary for Lisbon, Portugal.
There is something about Lisbon that completely sucks you in and despite it being incredibly busy, there is something strangely relaxing about this city.
Whether you’re someone that enjoys a city break or you prefer a beachy break then this is the perfect city for you to visit. It is even better if you’re travelling with someone else and you both like to do different things when you’re travelling.
After visiting Portugal a few times for different lengths of time, we decided to create this itinerary for anyone that only has a short amount of time to spend in Lisbon.
This 2 day itinerary is best for anyone that is visiting Lisbon for the first time or is going back to the city to tick off some items from their bucket list that they didn’t get to do last time.
You will find the best places to stay in Lisbon for 2 nights, things to do over the course of 2 days for inspiration and of course a full 2 day itinerary for visiting Lisbon.
Quick 2 Day Itinerary
Day 1
08:00 Breakfast at Dear Breakfast.
09:00 Head to Praça do Comércio, the main square in Lisbon.
10:00 Take in some sights at Miradouro de Santa Luzia.
11:00 Wander around the Castelo de Sao Jorge.
12:30 Take the infamous tram 28.
13:00 Ride the Santa Justa Elevator.
14:00 Enjoy a late lunch at Estação Bica Pizza Pub.
15:30 Take some pictures down Pink Street.
16:00 Wander around the Time Out Market and eat some pastel de natas.
17:00 Explore around the Time Out Market area or head to Java rooftop for some drinks.
18:00 Experience a Fado night at Solido.
20:00 Enjoy Barrio Alto’s nightlife.
Day 2
Either head out to Sintra or follow this itinerary below.
09:00 Breakfast at the Brunch Cafe.
10:00 Explore the Miradouros.
13:00 LX Factory
16:00 – Jeronimos Monastery
18:00 – Belem Tower and either climbing to the top of the tower or enjoying a picnic as the sun sets.
19:00 – Free time exploring the city and discovering cocktail bars
Is 2 Days in Lisbon Enough?
It is no secret that there are a lot of different things to see and do whilst you’re visiting Lisbon that it can be hard to fit all this in within 2 days.
If it is your first time visiting Lisbon then we would recommend trying to spend more than 2 days in Lisbon because there truly is too much to see and do whilst you’re there.
However, if you’re on a bit of a strict schedule then you will be able to easily hit a lot of the main sights in Lisbon over the space of 2 days.
If you do have the luxury of more time in Lisbon then we would actually recommend spending between 5 – 7 nights if you’re able to. It is a beautiful destination and is worth spending as much time as possible in this incredible city.
For anyone that has seen the film series ‘After’, you may have seen Hardin enjoy a quick break to Lisbon in ‘After Everything: The Final Chapter’. Hardin takes time to visit Lisbon rejuvenate and find peace in himself and that is really the effect that this city has.
Where to Stay in Lisbon for 2 Nights
Whether you’re travelling on a budget so you’re looking for a decent hostel, exploring as a couple or a group of friends you will find some great options for you to choose from below.
We stayed in a couple of hostels whilst we were visiting Lisbon in Barrio Alto area but there are plenty of other great areas to stay whilst visiting Lisbon.
In our opinion, Barrio Alto is one of the best areas to stay in when you’re visiting Lisbon. Not only is it the prettiest area to visit but it also has the best atmosphere too.
We originally checked into one hostel when we arrived in Lisbon but we had a few issues with another traveller. Who sets their alarm at 3am and turns on the lights and wakes everybody up?!
We then quickly checked into another hostel in a private room, whilst we had a really good time and a comfortable stay, a lot of other guests have had troubles with this hostel so it’s not one that we would recommend to our readers for that reason alone.
Below, you will find other recommendations of places to stay in Lisbon so that you don’t experience the same issues that we did!
Selina Secret Garden Lisbon – Perfect for Budget Travellers
Located only 100m from Barrio Alto, this hostel is set in the best position for you to explore around Lisbon. You can choose between dorm rooms or private rooms so no matter who you’re travelling with or how you like to travel, this is a perfect place for you to stay.
What is even better is that there is a stunning swimming pool available for those days where you just want to chill and enjoy the Portuguese sun. There is also a communal space for you to meet other travellers and an area for you to work if you’re a digital nomad.
The Lumiares Hotel & Spa – Romantic Hotel for Couples
Travelling as a couple to Lisbon is always a great idea and there are plenty of romantic spots in Lisbon for you to enjoy. This hotel is certainly one of the best places to stay for couples and is also in an ideal location for exploring together and making memories.
If you’re planning to stay at this hotel then you will absolutely want to visit the incredible rooftop whilst enjoying a drink with stunning views of Castelo de Sao Jorge and the River Tagus.
Wine & Books Lisboa Hotel – For a Relaxing Luxury Break
This hotel is a stunning option for anyone that is looking to relax and enjoy the finer things in life. Located in the Ajuda area, you are not as close to the Old Town but there are still plenty of beautiful sights nearby.
You will be able to visit the Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower which are conveniently very close by. Everything about this hotel screams luxury and you will have a very comfortable stay here.
Explore All Accommodation in Lisbon Here!
Things to do in Lisbon Over 2 Days
Lisbon has a lot of different attractions to offer tourists no matter what interests you have. This makes Lisbon a perfect destination for anyone travelling in a group that has different interests.
As there is so much to do in Lisbon, you won’t be able to squeeze it all in 2 days but you will be able to visit a lot of the main highlights to get to know the city.
Below, we’ve shared some of the main things that you can’t miss in Lisbon if you’ve only got 2 days for exploring. This is especially true if it is your first time visiting Lisbon then you will be overwhelmed with choices.
No matter what your interests are, below you will find plenty of options to keep you occupied for 2 days in Lisbon and see lots of different sights.
Time Out Market
As a first time visitor to Lisbon, you have to take a trip to the Time Out Market. The atmosphere alone is enough reason to visit. Picture yourself wandering through an indoor food market with an array of delicious smells enveloping your senses as locals and tourists alike chatter, look at the delicacies and pass you by.
It is an incredible market with plenty of different things to watch, eat and drink. If you’re travelling to Lisbon on a budget then we wouldn’t recommend eating here as the food can be expensive.
However, if you’re not on as much of a tight budget then you will definitely want to purchase a dish or two whilst you’re there. Whether you would like to try a delicious pastry, some fresh seafood or a sweet treat, you won’t be stuck for choice here.
As we say, even just going to the Time Out Market to experience the hustle and bustle is worth it. If you do decide to purchase some food then you may struggle to get a seat but there’s nothing stopping you heading outside and enjoying your food with the Portuguese sun beaming down on you.
Exploring Bairro Alto
If you read our section on where to stay in Lisbon then you may have already learnt that Barrio Alto is one of our favourite areas to visit in Lisbon.
When you’re wandering around Lisbon, even if you’re not staying in this area, we would recommend taking some time to get lost in the backstreets of Barrio Alto.
Imagine narrow cobblestoned streets with the sun gleaming above you and never knowing what you’ll find around each corner. You will also find that there are a lot of wonderful restaurants in Barrio Alto that are very well hidden too.
Look for small ‘hole-in-the-wall’ type places and you will be pleasantly surprised by how amazing some of the food is. Often, these are the best places to eat and you’ll get to try plenty of traditional, fresh Portuguese food.
Wander around the Miradouros
If you’re travelling as a couple, this is one of the most romantic activities to do in Lisbon. There are approximately 30 miradouros in the city for you to enjoy and every single one is unique in its own right.
Whether you’re looking for rooftop bars, stunning viewpoints from atop a hill or just somewhere to settle with a panoramic view of the city, there are plenty of miradouros for you to choose from.
Lisbon is a goldmine for stunning views and miradouro-hopping is something that you absolutely need to do whilst you’re in Lisbon. Whether it’s your first time visiting the city or you’ve been before, there are still plenty of different spots for you to appreciate the city.
Take a day trip to Sintra
One of the best things you can do whilst you’re visiting Lisbon is take a day trip to Sintra. If you’re only visiting for 2 days then you may be put off by the idea of leaving the city to explore another area when there is so much to do in Lisbon itself.
However, this is one of the biggest draws for tourists travelling to Lisbon. Sintra is a real-life fairytale and presents visitors with plenty of photographic opportunities perfect for any aspiring influencers or magpies for pretty views.
Not just that but Sintra also offers plenty of different sights to see within itself including palaces, monasteries and castles.
If you’ve never visited Lisbon before then it is completely understandable that you may want to give Sintra a miss until your second visit. However, if you’ve visited Lisbon before or you’ve already seen Sintra on Instagram then we would absolutely recommend taking a visit.
BEST DAY TRIPS TO SINTRA
- Sintra & Cascais Small-Group Day Trip From Lisbon
- Sintra Full-Day Private Tour – A Journey Through Wonderland
- Sintra Full-Day Small-Group Tour: Let the Fairy Tale Begin
Castelo de Sao Jorge
Dive into the incredible history of Lisbon and wander around the medieval grounds of Castelo de Sao Jorge. If you’re lucky then you may even see some gorgeous peacocks roaming the grounds.
This castle is truly one of our favourite spots in Lisbon to enjoy some stunning views of the city. If you’re feeling up to it then you can also enjoy a glass of wine or prosecco whilst breathing in the view.
There is an admission fee to enter the castle but in our opinion, it is still well worth visiting even just for the view. You can purchase your admission tickets in advance below.
Belem Tower
Before you leave Lisbon, one of the things that you really want to see is the Belem Tower. This beautiful tower is a stunning sight to see and in particular, we would recommend you visiting around sunset.
If you’re a fellow travel blogger or photographer then seeing the Belem Tower at sunset is a perfect photo opportunity. You will see the reflection of the tower bouncing off the waters with the orange sky as a backdrop.
You can choose to enter the tower and go to the top to get a great view from above. It does cost to enter the tower but it is not too expensive. Other than if you’re climbing to the top of the tower, you may not spend much time here other than to see the infamous tower in all its glory.
Switch it up by packing a picnic and enjoy the sun setting over the tower with your loved one by your side. It is easily one of the most romantic places to visit in Lisbon.
Ride Tram 28
One of the most popular tourist attractions to visit in Lisbon is riding the infamous yellow tram 28. This tram stops outside some of the most popular tourist sights so it is no wonder that it is very popular with visitors.
The only downside of riding tram 28 is that it is also renowned for pickpockets. Due to this, you will want to be extra cautious with your personal belongings whilst you’re on the tram.
We have created a guide dedicated to tips for avoiding pickpockets when you’re visiting Europe so make sure to check that out before you visit.
If you enjoy your tram ride then why not head out on a Hills of Lisbon Tram Tour to learn more about the beautiful city and give your feet a rest at the same time?!
Santa Justa Elevadore
Whilst you’re visiting Lisbon, one of the things that you can’t miss is visiting the Santa Justa Elevadore. You will head up 45m and experience stunning views across the city.
There is a charge to be able to experience the elevator but it is not too expensive and if you’re considering purchasing a Lisbon City Card then often the access to the elevator is included within the card with the hop-on hop-off bus tour.
Fado Night
One of the most unique things to do in Lisbon is to experience a Fado evening. Fado is a type of music that is popular across Portugal and Lisbon is renowned for its remarkable Fado nights.
There are lots of different spots where you can experience Fado across the city. It is worth taking some time to check which locations are holding a Fado night whilst you’re going to be in Lisbon to decide which one you would rather.
We recommend when choosing a Fado night that you select a venue where you can enjoy some tapas whilst listening to the show. We’ve popped some recommendations below to help narrow down your options!
BEST FADO NIGHTS IN LISBON
- Intimate Live Fado Show in Lisbon with Port Wine
- Fado in Chiado
- Lisbon Fado Experience: Walking Tour, Dinner and Live Music Show
- Lisbon: Authentic Fado Show, Dinner and Night Tour
Partying in Bairro Alto
Barrio Alto is easily one of our favourite areas of Lisbon to visit and it is also one of the best areas for nightlife too.
Head out into the streets and let the party begin! You will find tourists and locals alike congregating in one of the many bars. One of the best parts about the nightlife in Lisbon is that even when the bars are full, people will buy drinks and enjoy the atmosphere on the street too.
We found a great little hole in the wall that sold hot dogs and beer for only 5 euros too. The atmosphere in Barrio Alto is incredible and it’s not too expensive either.
BEST BAR CRAWLS IN LISBON
- Lisbon Night Pubcrawl: 1 Hour Open Bar, Shots & VIP Club Entry
- Private Bar Crawl in Lisbon
- Lisbon Wild Pub Crawl
LX Factory
LX Factory is one of the coolest places to visit when you’re in Lisbon and is perfect for any type of traveller. From great food, street art, beautiful views and a vibrant atmosphere, you are set for a great time here.
Not just that but you will also find that there are plenty of different events going on throughout the year so you will never know what you’re going to find when you’re visiting the LX factory.
Wander down Pink Street
Pink Street is one of the top Instagrammable sights for most travellers visiting Lisbon. This is a street that you will frequently see on social media.
In our opinion, it is not the most awesome thing to do whilst you’re in Lisbon but that’s only because there is so much competition. At night, you will find this street come alive with travellers and tourists enjoying a drink or two.
If you’re visiting Pink Street and looking for an awesome Lisbon caption or two then make sure to check out our post for plenty of inspiration.
Bucket List Adventures in Lisbon
- Tandem Paragliding over Lisbon
- CMAS Open Water Diver Course Near Lisbon
- Sky Walk Lisboa: Helicopter Flight, Sailing Waterfront & Old Town Walking
- Jeep Trip to Sintra & Cabo Da Roca from Lisbon
2 Days in Lisbon Itinerary
Day 1
08:00 Enjoy some delicious breakfast at Dear Breakfast before heading out on a full-on day of exploring.
09:00 Head to Praça do Comércio and take in the atmosphere of this vibrant square. This is one of the most popular tourist spots to visit and a bustling hub.
10:00 Take in some sights at Miradouro de Santa Luzia before it gets incredibly busy with tourists. If you have time, you may want to take a seat and people watch with a beautiful view.
11:00 Enter Castelo de Sao Jorge and wander around the castle grounds taking in the views, learning more about the incredible history and spotting peacocks along the way.
12:30 Take the tram 28 and spot some of the popular tourist sights whilst you’re at it. Whilst you’re on the tram, make sure that you watch out for pickpockets on the tram.
13:00 Ride the Santa Justa Elevator appreciating a unique set of views across Lisbon.
14:00 Enjoy a late lunch at Estação Bica Pizza Pub, this is one of our favourite spots in the city and we loved watching the trams go past as we enjoyed some delicious food and drinks.
15:30 If you want to take some pictures down Pink Street then now is the time to do it as it is not far away from Estação Bica Pizza Pub but be warned that it may be quite busy.
16:00 Wander down to the Time Out Market and take in the sights, aromas and maybe even try a pastel de nata if you have any room left!
17:00 Before heading off for your Fado night, take some time to explore around the Time Out Market area or head to Java rooftop for some drinks.
18:00 Experience a Fado night at Solido. Make sure that you order some of their delicious tapas dishes to enjoy whilst you’re listening to the music and taking in the atmosphere.
20:00 Head out to Barrio Alto to enjoy some of Lisbon’s renowned nightlife and truly immerse yourself in the atmosphere of this area.
Day 2
Today you can choose to either take a day trip out to Sintra which will take up the whole of your day or spend some more time exploring around Lisbon itself.
If you decide to visit Sintra then you can skip the remainder of this itinerary, however, if you’re looking to explore more around Lisbon then carry on reading.
09:00 If you’re not too hungover from your night out in Barrio Alto then you will want to grab some delicious carbohydrates at the Brunch Cafe. You may want to get there quite early as it can be quite busy at times.
10:00 Explore around the many different viewpoints!
13:00 Wander over to LX Factory to take in the street art and enjoy a spot of lunch at one of the many restaurants in this urban area.
16:00 Take some time to head over to Jeronimos Monastery and wander around the area.
18:00 After finishing at the monastery, go to Belem Tower and choose whether you want to climb to the top of the tower or not. Spend the late afternoon here watching the sunset and potentially even enjoying a picnic whilst the sun sets.
19:00 Spend your final evening seeing Lisbon at night, enjoying some cocktails at some stunning cocktail bars and appreciate the city.
Portugal Destinations to Visit After Lisbon
Faro
Another favourite Portuguese destination to visit is Faro in the Algarve. We’ve got plenty of different resources for anyone that is planning to visit Faro and it has a lot to offer tourists.
One of the main reasons people visit Faro is to take a trip out to the Benagil Caves and the Ria Formosa Lagoon. There are also plenty of day trips for you to enjoy from Faro so you will be able to spend a good amount of time in the Algarve.
It will take around 2 hours by train to get from Lisbon to Faro and is definitely the cheapest and quickest option for you to travel there. Alternatively, you can look at renting a car and driving there instead as it makes for a pleasant journey too.
Coimbra
In between Lisbon and Porto, you will find the beautiful city of Coimbra which is a perfect resting stop if you’re planning to explore more of Portugal or planning to make your way to Porto.
With plenty of history and culture, there is a lot of appeal for tourists to visit Coimbra. If you have the time to spend a few days there, you can also explore some of the waterfalls close by and go kayaking too.
You can choose to take the bus or train from Lisbon to Coimbra and this will take approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes depending on which service you choose to get on.
Sintra
As we mentioned throughout this post, one of the main draws for people visiting Lisbon is to take a day trip to Sintra. In our opinion, it is one of the most beautiful places that we’ve had the pleasure to visit in Europe.
If you’re only spending 2 days in Lisbon then this may not be ideal to go to Sintra during this time as you won’t want to miss out on your time in Lisbon.
However, if you have a spare day or 2 after you’ve visited Lisbon then we would highly recommend taking the time to visit Sintra. It will take you around 40-50 minutes depending on which train station you go from. This is definitely the easiest way to get to Sintra unless you’re renting a car and driving around Portugal.
Albufeira
Heading into the Algarve, Albufeira is a popular tourist spot for anyone looking to enjoy the beaches and the small old town of Albufeira.
There are a lot of small towns to visit within the Algarve and Albufeira in our opinion is one of the best day trips to take from Faro so you can explore both of these destinations if you have the time especially if you’re flying home as the closest airport is Faro.
Once again, you can get the bus or the train from Lisbon to Albufeira and it will take you around 2 hours and 45 minutes so it is quite a short journey for you to continue travelling throughout Portugal.
Spend Your 2 Days in Lisbon Now!
Lisbon is an incredible destination to visit within Portugal and you will certainly discover the reason why it is the capital too. We feel that 2 days is not enough in Lisbon but that is only because you will only be able to get a small taster of what it has to offer.
There are so many different activities, museums and experience within Lisbon for travellers to enjoy that you will not be able to do it within 2 days.
If it’s your first time to Lisbon then we would recommend finding a way to extend your stay or realise that you’re not going to be able to do absolutely everything.
However, with that in mind, you can certainly see some of the main sights within Lisbon during 2 days so if this is all the time you have then you will certainly be able to get it done.
If you’re taking a trip to Portugal then don’t forget to check our other Lisbon and Portugal resources below!
