2 Days in Lisbon: The Perfect Itinerary (2026)

Two days is enough to fall in love with Lisbon: the castle and Alfama’s lanes, the monuments of Belém, a sunset viewpoint, a fado night and plenty of pastel de nata. Here’s our 2-day Lisbon itinerary, updated for 2026 (with the closed lifts and new ticket rules).

Quick answer: Day 1: São Jorge Castle, Alfama, the cathedral, Baixa and Praça do Comércio, then sunset in Chiado or Bairro Alto and fado at night. Day 2: Belém (Jerónimos, Belém Tower, pastéis de Belém), LX Factory, and a sunset sail or rooftop drink. Avoid Mondays for Belém: the monastery and tower are closed.

Day 1: Alfama, Baixa and Chiado

• Morning: São Jorge Castle. Arrive at opening (€17) for the walls and views. Then the Santa Luzia and Portas do Sol viewpoints.
• Late morning: Alfama. Wander down through the lanes to the Sé cathedral. On a Tuesday or Saturday, detour to the Feira da Ladra flea market. See our Alfama guide.
• Lunch: a tasca in Alfama or Baixa (look for the prato do dia).
• Afternoon: Baixa. Rua Augusta, the triumphal arch (€5 to go up) and Praça do Comércio by the river.
• Late afternoon: Chiado. Café A Brasileira, the Carmo Convent ruins and a pastel de nata at Manteigaria.
• Sunset: São Pedro de Alcântara or Santa Catarina viewpoint. (The Glória funicular is closed, so walk up.)
• Evening: dinner in Bairro Alto, then fado. See fado in Lisbon.

Day 2: Belém and the riverside

• Morning: tram 15 to Belém. Visit the Jerónimos Monastery (cloister €18; the church is free) at opening.
• Pastéis de Belém: warm custard tarts from the 1837 bakery. Sit inside to skip the queue.
• Belém Tower: reopened in 2026 with timed tickets (€15) and a daily limit, so book ahead. Then the Monument to the Discoveries.
• Afternoon: the MAAT (and its free roof walk), then LX Factory for shops, the Ler Devagar bookshop and a coffee.
• Sunset: a sunset sail on the Tagus, or a drink at one of the best rooftop bars.
• Evening: dinner in Cais do Sodré, the Time Out Market or Pink Street.

Short on energy?

Do Day 1 by tuk-tuk to save the climbs, or ride tram 28 (€3.30 on board, less with a navegante card) early in the morning before the crowds.

Practical tips

• Mondays: Jerónimos, Belém Tower and the Pantheon are closed, so swap the days around.
• The historic lifts (Santa Justa, Glória, Bica, Lavra) are closed in 2026.
• Lisboa Card: from €31 for 24 hours, covering transport and many sights. Worth it for busy sightseeing days. See is the Lisboa Card worth it?
• Getting around: see Lisbon public transport.
• Where to stay: Baixa, Chiado or Alfama. See where to stay in Lisbon.

Got a third day? Go to Sintra. See our 3-day Lisbon itinerary, or Lisbon in one day if you’re even shorter on time.

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