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Weekend in Lisbon: discover the places not to be missed in 2 days

Have you ever thought about spending a weekend visiting the Portuguese capital but you don’t know what places to see in Lisbon? In this article I’ll show you a detailed itinerary so that you can discover some of the wonders in this beautiful city.

Weekend in Lisbon – Day 1

In order to enjoy your weekend to the fullest, my suggestion is that you get to Lisbon first thing in the morning. In other words, don’t hesitate to book the first flight to the city.

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Once you have arrived to Lisbon, take the metro near the airport (red line) and then the green line in Alameda in Cais do Sodré direction.

Information: in the metro station you can purchase the pass “Viva Viagem” and charge it with two trips.

Next, get off at Intendente metro station to start discovering the places to see in Lisbon. If you want to leave your luggage behind while exploring the city, you can go to Rossio station where you’ll have electronic lockers at your disposal (if you do this, return to Intendente station afterwards).

After walking for 700 metres (you can see the travel plan at the bottom of the page), you’ll arrive at one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the city, Miradouro da Senhora do Monte.

Don’t hesitate to stop there for some minutes, the time for you to relax and to enjoy the wonderful views over the city.

Next stop is the viewpoint Miradouro Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen (formerly known as Miradouro da Graça), where you can also enjoy the amazing views over the Portuguese capital. These are two of the places to see in Lisbon that you can’t miss!

miradouro-de-sophia-de-mello-breyner-andresen-lisboa-portugal

Continue your stroll for more 450 metres until you get to the Monastery and Church of São Vicente de Fora. You can visit the church for free but don’t hesitate to pay the ticket to visit the monastery and discover its wonderful interior.

You can even go up to the roof where you can admire the wonderful views over the city. The upside of this viewpoint is that it isn’t so crowded when comparing to the other two mentioned above – you’ll be able to take amazing pictures and enjoy the sights more peacefully.

Right behind the monastery you’ll find Feira da Ladra, the oldest flea market in Lisbon.

If you stroll downwards a few metres, you’ll find Panteão Nacional (National Pantheon), another of the places to see in Lisbon, one that you can’t miss!

This is the burial place for important Portuguese figures in the most diverse areas, important figures like the fado singer Amália Rodrigues, the poet Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen and one of the best Portuguese football players of all time, Eusébio.

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Next, you’ll enter the oldest quarter in the city, Alfama, the soul of Lisbon. Begin in the street Rua dos Remédios, and then lose yourself in the alleys Beco do Surra, Beco da Lapa.

Return to Rua dos Remédios and take the Escadinhas do Arco da Dona Rosa; afterwards take the alley Beco do Outeirinho da Amendoeira. When you get to the street Rua do Vigário, look for Rua de Santo Estêvão and make your way to the viewpoint with the same name.

miradouro-santo-estevao-lisboa-portugal

Next, go downwards until you get to the Museum of Fado (Museu do Fado) where you can know more about the origins of this music genre, unique in the world – you don’t have to visit this museum though.

After the museum, proceed through the street Rua do Terreiro do Trigo until you get to the square (Largo) with the same name; next, take the alley next to the building nº 13 to admire the Moorish Wall (Muralha Moura) that dates back to the time of the Moorish occupation, as the name points out.

This is the perfect time to go to the viewpoint Miradouro das Portas do Sol, next to the square Largo de São Miguel – here you’ll get another perspective of the places to see in Lisbon, the ones that you’ve already seen and others that you’ll see later on.

After resting for a while, proceed towards the street Rua de São Tomé, until the nº 42, where you’ll find an amazing work of art by Vhils honouring Amália Rodrigues, the biggest fado singer ever.

rua-de-sao-tome-amalia-rodrigues-lisboa-portugal

Proceed to the street Rua dos Cegos, then Pátio de Dom Fradique and finally to the street Rua do Chão da Feira until you get to Arco do Castelo.

You have arrived to one of the places to see in Lisbon, the castle of São Jorge. Before you visit it, lose yourself in the streets surrounding the castle; afterwards, if you have time and want to, explore this city unique monument.

I have to warn you that you can be disappointed when you visit the castle. You’ll have to pay for the tickets and, inside, in addition to the garden and the ramparts you can also access a viewpoint that offers to visitors the most amazing views over the city of Lisbon (similar to those you’ve been before, free of charge, in the beginning of our itinerary).

After having visited the castle’s quarter, make your way down towards , Lisbon’s cathedral and oldest church in the Portuguese capital.

catedral-de-lisboa-portugal

Next, go towards the iconic square Praça do Comércio and make a stop in front of the church Conceição Velha and admire this beautiful façade.

igreja-da-conceicao-velha-lisboa-portugal

End your stroll in the square Praça do Comércio, and enjoy the magnificent sunset while admiring Tagus river, the bridge 25th April and the arch Arco da Rua Augusta.

Information: if you want to have a 360º view over Praça do Comércio and the surrounding area, you can go to the roof of the arch Arco da Rua Augusta. Tickets are cheap but, if you want to go there, you’ll need to enter before 19h45.

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Where to sleep in Lisbon?

If you want to know where to sleep during your stay in Lisbon, you can read my top of the best hotels in Lisbon or the article about the 10 best apartments to rent in Lisbon.

Information: go on a 3-hour gastronomic tour  that will take you to places away from the crowds and that will bring you closer to the authenticity of the inhabitants of Lisbon. Try various typical snacks and wines from the region at different stops and discover more about the culture and history of this beautiful city in the company of an experienced guide who will make this adventure unforgettable!

In another 4-hour gastronomic tour, you will have the possibility to visit other points of interest such as Chiado. Naturally, during this gastronomic experience , you will have stops where you will enjoy the famous pastel de nata (also known as pastel de Belém), regional wine and much more.

Weekend in Lisbon – Day 2

On this second day of your weekend in Lisbon, I invite you to begin your stroll in Belém quarter, where you’ll find some of the places to see in Lisbon, some are UNESCO World Heritage built during the Age of Discoveries

To get to this quarter you can go to the train station Cais do Sodré and take the train to Cascais (get off the train at Belém train station) or you can take the tram 15E to Algés in front of the station Cais do Sodré and get off at Belém stop (that is my suggestion).

Information: for your second day of this itinerary in Lisbon, I suggest you charge your pass “Viva Viagem” with the unlimited trips option that will let you take all public transportation as many times as you want.

Facing the stop in Belém, you’ll find the first attraction, one that you can’t miss – the bakery Pastéis de Belém.

It was here that the well-known pastéis de Belém were born, also known as pastéis de nata, a Portuguese egg tart delicacy.

You can order your pastéis de Belém and eat them elsewhere, however my suggestion is that you sit and calmly enjoy this delicacy while you watch the bakers working

Information: as it happens in most of the places to see in Lisbon, prices here are higher than usual.

Now that you know one of the best Portuguese delicacies, discover the Hieronymites Monastery (Mosteiro dos Jerónimos), listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

mosteiro-dos-jeronimos-lisboa-portugal

To visit the church Santa Maria de Belém is free of charge, however you must pay if you want to admire the beautiful cloister.

The third stop in Belém quarter is the tower of the same name, Tower of Belém (Torre de Belém), built between 1514 and 1519.

torre-de-belem-lisboa-portugal

Right next to Tagus river you’ll also find Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument to the Discoveries), built in 1960 to celebrate the 500th anniversary since the death of Henry, the Navigator.

padrao-dos-descobrimentos-lisboa-portugal

If you haven’t visited the Tower of Belém, don’t hesitate to climb to the top of the Monument to the Discoveries and admire the view over Belém quarter, the bridge 25th April and the statue of Christ the King.

End your visit to this quarter by going to the beautiful and new MAAT Museum (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology).

museu-de-arte-arquitetura-e-tecnologia-lisboa-portugal

If you want to learn more, read my article about Lisbon Museums that you should visit!

LX Factory (in the street Rua Rodrigues de Faria 103, Lisboa) is another of the places to see in Lisbon. This popular place is located in an old textile factory next to the bridge 25th April and here you’ll find many restaurants with original decorations, cafés, bookstores and even a concert hall.

To get there, you’ll have to take the tram nº 15E at Belém tram stop or at Hospital Egas Moniz, if you don’ want to turn around after visiting MAAT and go to Calvário stop.

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Before you leave to the historic centre of Lisbon, visit Carris Museum, Lisbon’s public transportation museum. Here, you can admire some old trams and buses and learn more about Carris’ history.

This museum is located 300 metres away from LX Factory (Rua 1º de Maio, 101 – 103).

Next, take the tram n° 15E to the tram stop Cais do Sodré to discover some other places to see in Lisbon – the quarters of Baixa and Bairro Alto.

Take the metro at Cais do Sodré and get off at Rossio metro station. This metro station is located to the left of the National Theatre Dona Maria II, and surely you’ll want to take some minutes to admire the beautiful façade of this station.

Go to the square Praça dos Restauradores, and then go left through Calçada da Glória.

It is possible that, by this time, you are tired (after a stroll in Belém quarter). If that’s the case, then don’t hesitate to take the funicular Ascensor da Glória, also known as Elevador da Glória, that connects the quarters of Baixa and Bairro Alto.

bairros-historicos-de-lisboa-portugal

You can relax some minutes in the garden Jardim de São Pedro de Alcântara where you can admire the beautiful views over the Portuguese capital.

Continue your visit to some of Lisbon’s points of interest by going to São Roque church; after that, you can take some minutes off to relax at the iconic Café A Brasileira, a place that the Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa loved to go to.

To end your day, you can choose one of these two options!

Option 1

While in Bairro Alto, take the opportunity to have dinner in one of the amazing restaurants and then go to the square Largo do Carmo where you can admire the beautiful Carmo Convent (Convento do Carmo), destroyed in part by the devastating earthquake of 1755.

convento-do-carmo-lisboa-portugal

At this time of the day you won’t be able to visit it but you can go to the roof of the lift Elevador de Santa Justa – from there, you can freely admire this monument.

To finish your day, take the lift Elevador de Santa Justa and go down; if you’re tired, take the metro at Rossio station, otherwise go through the street Rua Augusta until you get to the square Praça do Comércio where you can admire one of the most beautiful points of interest in Lisbon one last time.

Option 2

After taking a break in the iconic Café A Brasileira, make your way through the square Largo do Chiado, and then through the square Praça Luís de Camões; from there go to the street Rua do Loreto and continue for 200 metres to admire the funicular elevador da Bica.

elevador-da-bica-lisboa-portugal

You can take this funicular (it has a 300-metre route) at the street Rua São Paulo (next to Cais do Sodré), but before you do that, go through the street Rua Marechal Saldanha to admire other places to see in Lisbon at the viewpoint Miradouro de Santa Catarina.

Next, go towards Cais do Sodré to have dinner at Time Out Market Lisboa, located at a market where part of it is for restaurants and the other part is for selling fresh food like fish, fruit and vegetables.

Information: want to know these points of interest and others in an original way? If that’s the case, don’t waste time and book a tuk-tuk tour and discover Lisbon’s beautiful historic quarters. In this pleasant 6-hour guided tour , you will have the opportunity to visit the historic centre, where Lisbon was born, once occupied by Romans and Moors.

Discover the genuine quarters of Alfama, Chiado and Bairro Alto and, along the way, admire the narrow streets and the must-see points of interest like Sé Catedral, the National Pantheon and the São Vicente de Fora Monastery. Also know that you will make stops at the viewpoints that offer the best views over the city.

In Belém, you will have the opportunity to discover Lisbon’s landmarks, Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and Torre de Belém, both listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. There are other points of interest that you cannot miss during this experience , but know that this tour will be even more tasty after tasting the famous pastel de Belém.

In addition to the sites mentioned above, make a stop to enjoy a tasty lunch – the guide knows the best restaurants so don’t miss out on this opportunity.

Plan Option 1:

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Plan Option 2:

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Are you going to visit Lisbon? Then don’t hesitate to book your hotel room, your car or the best activities by clicking the links below. This way you are helping me in the development of my blog and I’ll be able to offer you free tips and travel guides so that you can better prepare your visit to Portugal. Thank you!

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