TLDR: A perfect 3-day Lisbon long weekend looks like this. Arrival evening: walk down through Baixa to Praça do Comércio at sunset, dinner at a neighbourhood tasca near Casa Almada. Day 1: Old Town — Castelo de São Jorge, Sé Cathedral, Alfama walk, Tram 28, evening Fado. Day 2: Belém in the morning (Jerónimos, Belém Tower, original pastéis), Time Out Market for lunch, LX Factory afternoon, Bairro Alto evening. Day 3: Sintra day trip by train.
Insider tip from Casa Almada
Eat dinner before 8pm or after 10pm. Lisbon restaurants peak from 8pm to 10pm with the local crowd, and tables at the smaller tascas (Ti Natércia, Cantinho do Aziz) fill up. A 7pm or 10.15pm slot gets you a quieter room and the same kitchen.
Three days is the right amount of time for a Lisbon long weekend. Two days leaves you wanting more, four days starts to need a Sintra day trip and a half-day for Belém to fill comfortably. Three is the sweet spot — Old Town, river, monuments, and a fairy-tale day trip out west.
Casa Almada sits in the heart of the Old Town, which means most of this itinerary is walked from the front door. This is the practical 3-day plan I share with our guests, with what to do, where to eat, and the realistic walking times.
Arrival evening — settle in and walk down to the river
Most flights into Lisbon land at Humberto Delgado Airport between 1pm and 5pm. From the airport, take the metro red line to Alameda, change to the green line, and ride one stop to Baixa-Chiado (35 min, €1.85). From Baixa-Chiado it is a 7 minute walk uphill to Casa Almada. Total airport-to-doorstep around 60 minutes.
Drop your bags, take a shower, then walk down through Rua do Almada to Praça da Figueira and Rossio. Continue down through Rua Augusta — the pedestrianised shopping street with the triumphal arch — to Praça do Comércio at the river. Watch the sunset from the riverside steps with a glass of wine from one of the kiosks.
For the first dinner, walk back uphill 10 minutes to Cantinho do Aziz on Rua de São Lourenço (Mozambican-Portuguese, €15-€25 per head, 5 minutes from Casa Almada) or Ti Natércia on Rua de São Tomé (grilled fish, €18-€25, 4 minutes from the villa). Both family-run, both walk-in for lunch and book-by-phone for dinner. Asleep by 11pm, ready for Day 1.
Planning a Lisbon stay?
Why not stay with me at Casa Almada?
220 m² luxury apartment in the heart of the old town, sleeping up to 9 guests plus 2 infants. Tram 28 at the bottom of the street, Sé Cathedral around the corner. From €219 per night.
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FTC disclosure: this is our own apartment booking page.
Day 1 — the Old Town and an evening of Fado
Start at Castelo de São Jorge at the 9am opening (€15, 10 min uphill walk from Casa Almada). 90 minutes for the battlements, the museum and the peacocks. Walk down to the Sé Cathedral (free, €5 for the cloister) and the Miradouro de Santa Luzia (free, painted azulejo terrace).
Lunch at Cantinho do Avillez in Chiado (15 min walk down from Sé) for the menu do dia at €18 — book a table for 12.30pm. Then ride Tram 28 (board at the Sé stop, €1.80 with Lisboa Viva) end-to-end to Estrela for the Basilica and the gardens. Tram back at 4pm.
Late afternoon: walk up to Largo das Portas do Sol for sunset (5-10 min from Casa Almada). Dinner: book a Fado evening at Clube de Fado on Rua de São João da Praça (€60-€80 with dinner, 8.30pm show, 5 min from Casa Almada) or A Baiuca on Rua de São Miguel for the more raw amateur version (€25-€40, 5 min walk).
Day 2 — Belém, Time Out Market and Bairro Alto
Morning: Bolt to Belém at 9am (15 min, €8-€12). Jerónimos Monastery opening 9.30am (€18). 90 minutes inside. Then 5 min walk to Belém Tower (€15) and the Padrão dos Descobrimentos (€10). Pastel de nata at the original Pastéis de Belém on Rua de Belém 84-92 — €1.40 each, take-away counter on the right is faster than the dining room queue.
Lunch: ride Tram 15 back to Cais do Sodré (25 min) and head to Time Out Market (€10-€18 per plate). Henrique Sá Pessoa for octopus, Manteigaria for nata. Allow 90 min for lunch including a stroll through the market.
Afternoon: Bolt to LX Factory in Alcântara (10 min, €5-€8). Walk through Ler Devagar bookshop, the design stores and the murals. Coffee on the rooftop at Rio Maravilha as the bridge lights up.
Evening: Bolt back to Bairro Alto for dinner at Cantinho do Avillez (€40-€60) or Tapisco in Príncipe Real (€25-€40 small plates). After dinner, walk through the Bairro Alto bar district — every doorway after 9pm is a small bar. Drinks at Park Bar on the rooftop of a multi-storey car park (Calçada do Combro 58, free entry, 10pm).
“Espais Roca have a handful of holiday properties dotted across Europe and I can honestly say they all deliver such an amazing experience. The attention to detail is incredible.”
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Day 3 — Sintra day trip
Take the 8.41am Sintra train from Rossio (14 min walk from Casa Almada, €4.60 return with Lisboa Viva). Arrive Sintra 9.21am. Buy a 434 hop-on-hop-off bus day pass at the station (€13.50). Visit Moorish Castle at 10am, Pena Palace at 12pm with a pre-booked timed slot.
Lunch in Sintra town at Tascantiga on Escadinhas da Fonte da Pipa (petiscos €4-€8). Then Quinta da Regaleira at 3pm (€11) for the initiation well and the gardens. Sintra National Palace at 5pm (€10) if you have time.
Train back from Sintra at 6pm or 7pm. Back to Casa Almada by 8pm. Final dinner at Solar dos Presuntos on Rua das Portas de Santo Antão (€35-€50 per head) — the cured-ham specialist where the Portuguese politicians eat lunch. Or keep it simple with a return to Ti Natércia for a quiet final meal in the neighbourhood.
- Total budget for 2 adults: €450-€700 in attractions, food, transport (excluding accommodation).
- Pre-book: Pena Palace, Castelo de São Jorge, Fado dinner, Belcanto if doing a special meal.
- Lisboa Viva 24-hour pass: €6.80, covers metro, tram, bus and the Sintra train.
- Walk distances from Casa Almada: Sé 90 sec, Castelo 10 min, Praça do Comércio 12 min, Time Out Market 18 min.
- Bolt fares within central Lisbon: €5-€8 for short hops, €8-€12 to Belém or LX Factory.
- Best Day 1 lunch: Cantinho do Avillez menu do dia €18.
- Best Day 1 dinner: Clube de Fado dinner+show €60-€80.
- Best Day 2 dinner: Tapisco small plates €25-€40 in Príncipe Real.
- Best Day 3 final dinner: Solar dos Presuntos €35-€50 or Ti Natércia €18-€25.
Photos of Casa Almada
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FTC disclosure: links to our own apartment booking page.
Stay with us in Lisbon
Casa Almada — luxury family apartment in the heart of Lisbon
220 m² of beautifully restored space across 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, sleeping up to 9 guests plus 2 infants. Three super king beds that split into singles, blackout blinds throughout, original art by Lisbon artists, Egyptian cotton linens, Rituals products, and a stunning rooftop terrace with panoramic city views. Tram 28 at the bottom of the street, Sé Cathedral around the corner, Castelo de São Jorge ten minutes on foot. A far cry from the soulless chain hotels of yesterday.
From €219/night. FTC disclosure: this is our own apartment booking page.
Frequently asked questions
Is 3 days enough for Lisbon?
Yes for a long weekend covering the headline sights — Castelo de São Jorge, Sé Cathedral, Tram 28, Praça do Comércio, Belém, Time Out Market, LX Factory, and a Sintra day trip. 4-5 days lets you add Cascais and a slower restaurant evening.
What is the best time of year for a long weekend in Lisbon?
April-June and September-October. Daytime 18-25°C, low rainfall, the cruise-ship volume is manageable. July-August is hot (often 30°C+) and busier; November-March is mild but greyer. The Easter and São João (June) periods need early booking.
How much does a 3-day Lisbon trip cost?
For two adults staying at Casa Almada, plan €1,100-€1,400 total: €219/night × 3 = €657 for the apartment, €450-€700 for food, attractions and transport, plus flights. Children stay free in cots. Casa Almada sleeps up to 9 plus 2 infants so it scales well for families and groups.
Should I do Sintra on the same trip as Lisbon?
Yes. Sintra is 40 minutes by train from Rossio and combines naturally with a Lisbon long weekend. Day 3 is the right slot — you have already covered the city, the Sintra palaces are amazing, and you ride back to Lisbon by sunset for a final dinner.
Do I need a car in Lisbon?
No. Lisbon is built for walking and the metro, tram, bus and Bolt cover everything else. Sintra and Cascais are best done by train. Hire car only makes sense if you plan extensive Algarve or Alentejo road trips after the Lisbon stay.
If you are planning your stay around this, take a look at the rest of our Lisbon travel blog for itineraries, restaurants and seasonal tips.