Steep hills in Lisbon

How to Spend 3 Days in Lisbon

ByJewels Rhode Updated on

After spending a wonderful activity-packed week exploring Morocco, I looked forward to slowing things down on the next leg of my trip, Lisbon. While most of our week in Portugal was spent taking day trips from Lisbon, we spent three days venturing off into the city’s colorful neighborhoods.

Here’s a guide to spending 3 days in Lisbon:

Colorful buildings in Lisbon

Getting Around Lisbon

Tram in Lisbon

Lisbon has an extensive public transportation system. The primary public transportation options are trams (the most iconic and great way to see the city), buses, lifts (helpful for climbing the many steep slopes in Lisbon), and the metro. Viva Viagem, is the rechargeable magnetic public transport ticket you can purchase at any metro station or newspaper stand. It can be used for buses, metro and trams. The card itself costs €0.50. It’s €1.40 for a single ride and €6 for a day pass.

There are also tuk-tuks available for transportation, but I wouldn’t recommend them for daily transport because they tend to be pricey.

Pro-tip:

Tram 28 will get you to most tourist spots. Take advantage of this cheap way to explore Lisbon. Ride the entire route or, for a less drive-by approach, get off at different points of interest and explore them more.

Where to Stay in Lisbon

Living Lounge Hostel

The majority of our stay in Lisbon was at Living Lounge Hostel. I absolutely loved our time there! It was in a convenient location, only a few steps away from the Baixia Chiado metro stop. The Baixia and Chiado neighborhood is the historic center of Lisbon.

A more mature crowd was staying at Living Lounge, so it wasn’t obnoxiously loud. There were also plenty of opportunities to meet new people. It was very clean. A variety of tours were offered daily. They provided complimentary breakfast, which included crepes, cereal, bread, cheese, jam, coffee, tea, and fruit juice. They also offered a 3-course meal for €10. We ate dinner there once, and it was delectable! We stayed in both a private room and an 8-person dorm. The dorms were spacious and had a lot of storage space on the bottom of the bunk.

What to Do in Lisbon

Go on a Walking Tour

When traveling in Europe, I often start my trips with a walking tour to get a better picture of the city and to learn about the best spots to explore further. Our hostel arranged daily free (tip-based) walking tours with Wild Walkers Lisbon. Our tour guide, Marco, was a Portuguese native, hilarious, and knowledgeable. He gave us an excellent overview of the Baixia Chiado neighborhood and fantastic recommendations of things to do, places to eat, and the best photo spots in Lisbon.

Pro Tip:

Lisbon isn’t nicknamed the “City of Seven Hills” for no reason. It is incredibly hilly and sometimes slippery, so wear comfortable shoes with a good grip.

Walking up steep hill in lisbon
Viewpoint in Lisbon

Attend a Fado Show

Fado is traditional Portuguese music with guitars and soulful singing about life and struggle. Although I don’t understand Portuguese, I certainly felt the passion through the music. Per Marco’s suggestion, we caught a Fado show at a traditional bar, Tasco do Chico. We arrived at 7 p.m. and lucked out on getting a spot without a reservation. Before the show started, we ate delicious tapa-style dishes at the bar.

Pro Tip:

The many celebrity pictures on their wall show that Tasco do Chico is very popular among locals and tourists. Make a reservation in advance. Although we lucked out by getting a spot, it wasn’t the best location.

Guitars hung up at Fado Show in Lisbon

Grab a Drink at a Rooftop Bar

We went to the rooftop of the Bairro Alto Hotel for delicious cocktails and a stunning view of Lisbon.

Kizomba Lesson

We went to Barrio Latino to dance! Every Tuesday, they have a free Kizomba lesson.

Rock out at a Pub Crawl

We didn’t party much throughout this trip, so we ended our trip with a bang by channeling our inner college girl selves and attending a pub crawl! We went with the Wild Walkers group. For €15, we went to 4 bars and one club and had drink specials all night. The pub crawl happened in the Bairro Alto neighborhood, the best place for nightlife in Lisbon.

Catch a Sunset by the Waterfront

There are many places to relax by the water and watch sunset. We caught a beautiful one by the Cais do Sodre metro station.

Sunset by the waterfront in lisbon

What to Eat

I have to preface this by letting you know I did not have a bad meal in Lisbon! Here are my two favorite places:

Pastelaria Restaurante Alfacinha: Our guide recommended Pastelaria Restaurante Alfacinha. The moment I stepped inside, I knew it would be good because it was filled with older locals, and I knew I could trust their taste buds. I had a delicious Octopus rice dish.

Time Out Market: If you are a foodie, Time Out Market is your place! There were just the right amount of options, so you aren’t overwhelmed by the choices. We walked around once to see what was available and bought items from multiple places.

Also, don’t leave without Lisbon without trying a Pastéis de Nata. The best ones are in Belem, but you can find tasty ones throughout Lisbon.

Timeout Market in Lisbon

Beautifully tiled buildings, vintage trolleys, unbelievable views, and delicious food. Lisbon, you were a treat!
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