Quick take
- Day 1: Baixa/Chiado + sunset near the river.
- Day 2: Alfama + viewpoints + optional fado night.
- Keep lunch flexible and dinner slow — Lisbon isn’t meant to be rushed.
- Use transport to skip the least scenic climbs.
- Choose one iconic moment (Tram 28) if it matters to you — not as a requirement.
- If you have energy, add a short Belém moment as a bonus (but don’t force it).
How we update this guide
We try to keep advice here timeless (neighborhood logic, routes, pacing) and call out details that can change quickly (opening hours, transit patterns, prices, seasonal events). If something important changes, we want to hear it.
- Site-wide review date: 2025-12-31
- If you spot an error: send the page URL + what changed + the date you observed it.
- For anything time-sensitive, verify official sources close to travel time.
The two-day Lisbon skeleton
Two days is the sweet spot for a first Lisbon taste: you can do the central elegance and the old-lane atmosphere without feeling like you ran through the city.
Build it as two distinct moods: ‘easy and elegant’ on day one, ‘old and textured’ on day two.
Day 1: central Lisbon done right
Start in Baixa, drift into Chiado, and treat cafés as part of the day plan. End at a viewpoint or river walk for golden hour.
- Baixa: orientation + plazas.
- Chiado: cafés + browsing + culture.
- Sunset: miradouro or riverfront.
Day 2: Alfama + viewpoints + evening atmosphere
Start high, drift down through Alfama, and save energy for the evening. This is the day that feels most ‘Lisbon’ in texture and sound.