Where to stay
Baixa or Chiado
Central for a first visit, with shops and transport nearby. Check lift access and the walk to your accommodation; hills and stairs can change convenience.
Avenida or a quieter metro-connected area
Useful if you prefer a less crowded evening base. Compare the last part of the journey on foot before trading central access for a cheaper room.
Getting around
Use metro, trams and buses where they fit your route, with walking between nearby sights. Check ticket coverage before buying a pass. Sintra is a separate rail-based outing, not an easy extra stop after a full city day.
A flexible itinerary
Use these three days as a starting point. Add arrival, departure or excursion days to fit your stay.
Central Lisbon
Walk through Baixa and nearby streets, then choose a viewpoint with a route you can comfortably manage. Leave the afternoon for Chiado and a café. You will enjoy more by pausing than by climbing every hill on the first day.
Belém by the river
Make a chosen monument or museum the day's main visit, checking current entry arrangements in advance. Walk the riverside and stop for a pastry. Keep other major interiors optional rather than turning the district into a series of queues.
Alfama at your own pace
Spend time in the older lanes and choose one cultural visit if it interests you. Book a fado evening carefully if it matters to your trip, checking the food and performance arrangement. Add an extra day for Sintra rather than compressing it into this one.
Food and local stops
A pastel de nata is a simple pleasure; seafood and traditional dishes deserve attention too. Look at neighbourhood lunch menus rather than only terrace locations.
Before you book
Cobblestones can be slippery when wet. Check hotel access with luggage, and keep valuables close on crowded trams and in busy visitor areas.