Lisbon 5-Day Itinerary

How this 5-day Lisbon plan works

Lisbon + Sintra + Cascais

Each day below is grouped geographically so you spend your time in Lisbon rather than in transit. Metro (4 lines) runs 06:30–01:00 and reaches the airport, Baixa and Oriente. Historic trams (Line 28) and modern lines to Belém plus ascensores climb the steep hills. A Viva Viagem card (€0.50) + zapping credit is the simplest visitor option; €6.80 buys 24h unlimited transit. Uber, Bolt and metered taxis are cheap.

Day by day

• Day 1

  Day 1–3 — Lisbon highlights above.

• Day 2

  Day 4 — Sintra: Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, Cabo da Roca westernmost point.

• Day 3

  Day 5 — Cascais beach day and Estoril; evening back in Lisbon for farewell ginjinha.

Where to base yourself

• Baixa & Chiado

  Grid-planned downtown after the 1755 earthquake — Rossio, Praça do Comércio and elegant Chiado cafés.

• Alfama

  Moorish-legacy old quarter under the Castelo — fado houses, miradouros and cobbled lanes.

• Bairro Alto & Príncipe Real

  Nightlife district by night, boutique shopping and design hotels by day.

• Belém

  UNESCO Manueline landmarks — Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, MAAT, and the original Pastéis de Belém.

Best time to run this itinerary

March–May and September–October give warm 18–25°C days without July–August's crowds and heat. June brings Santo António street festivals (grilled sardines, bunting across Alfama). November–February is mild (11–16°C), rainier and the cheapest — bring layers for the wind off the Tagus.

Before you go

• Viva Viagem card + €6.80 24h daily cap covers metro, tram, bus and elevators.

• Cobbled hills are slippery in rain — trainers beat dress shoes.

• Fado houses request silence during singing; set-menu shows start ~20:30.