Hello Portugal Tours welcomes you in the city of seven hills! Since Lisbon is a perfect city to discover during a long weekend, we have created this 48-hour itinerary of Portugal’s capital city.
If you land in Lisbon relatively early in the afternoon and want to explore part of the city, we recommend you start in the Baixa district. Take the Metro or a bus to Restauradores Square (Praça dos Restauradores). Lisbon’s main avenue, Avenida da Liberdade starts from the square and stretches straight towards Marquês de Pombal Square (Praça do Marquês de Pombal), where modern Lisbon starts.
Near Praça dos Restauradores is Rossio square. This lovely square houses the National Theatre Maria II and one of the city’s most famous coffee house called Café Nicola. From here, you get the elegant pedestrian street, Rua Augusta, extending from Figueira Square, through Rua Augusta Arch until it reaches Praça do comércio(Commerce Square).
Baixa is a district full of life and activity with plenty of restaurants, cafés and bars to stop and have dinner and then a drink before turning in for the night.
Day one begins in Figueira Square. From here, take tram nº 28 to the top of São Jorge Hill, to one of Lisbon’s most impressive landmarks, São Jorge Castle. Make a Stop in Largo das Portas do Sol because it offers you one of the most beautiful views of Lisbon and the Tagus River. Mouraria and Alfama are two of the oldest and most picturesque districts located near São Jorge Hill. Alfama is an old fishing neighbourhood with narrow and cobbled streets, and you can wander around discovering this authentic parish.
If you’ve already visited the Castle and it’s getting late, you can stop and have lunch in one of Alfama’s modest and genuine restaurants.
After lunch, take a bus to Parque das Nações (Park of the Nations). This area is one of the most modern in Lisbon. It was designed for the 1998 Expo and is now an area full of restaurants, bars, shopping centres and other top attractions, like the Oceanário de Lisboa. You can also enjoy views of the impressive Vasco da Gama bridge, the largest overpass in Europe.
During the evening, head to Chiado and Bairro Alto, two of the most striking neighbourhoods in Lisbon. The best way to get to them is either to take tram nº 28, from Restauradores Square.
Chiado was rebuilt after parts of it were destroyed by a fire that took place in 1988, where the ruins of Carmo Church are fruit of the 1755 great earthquake. The other important street is called Rua da Garrett. Chiado is famous for being an elegant and bohemian neighbourhood.
In Chiado you can drink a coffee in the most famous coffee shop called A Brasileira, where the Portuguese writer and poet Fernando Pessoa would spend much of his time.
If you follow the Rua da Misericórdia you’ll get to the Bairro Alto. This parish is packed with cafés, bars and restaurants, as well as several stores and antique shops. Bairro Alto, along with Alfama is probably one of the best neighbourhoods to listen to Portugal’s famous Fado music.
After dinner, you’ll find numerous bars where you can have a drink or a cocktail.
Belém is the most fabulous parish in Lisbon, as it houses two of the city’s most impressive landmarks: The Jerónimos Monastery, especially its Church and Cloister are must-see sights, and Belém tower, a fortified tower at the mouth of Tagus river.
You´ll also find the 25 April Bridge, the Monument of the Discoveries and the Pasteis de Belém pastry.
ENJOY YOUR STAY IN LISBON! And if you´d like to make your visit more memorable, don´t hesitate to contact our expert guide, Rita in Lisbon.