Lisbon Travel Guide: How to Plan the Perfect First Trip

Lisbon is a small capital with a big footprint. Seven hills, three distinct old quarters, a riverfront that runs for kilometres and a coastline forty minutes away — it is easy to arrive with a long list and leave feeling like you spent the trip walking uphill. This guide sets out the practical decisions first, so the rest of your time is spent enjoying the city instead of organising it.

When to visit Lisbon

Lisbon has one of the mildest climates in Europe, which means there is no truly bad month — only months with different trade-offs. Spring and early autumn are the sweet spot: warm enough for the coast, cool enough for the hills.

How many days do you need?

• 2 days — Alfama, Baixa, Chiado and Belém at a brisk pace.
• 3 days — the above plus a proper sunset, a Fado evening and time to sit still.
• 4–5 days — add Sintra and the Cascais or Cabo da Roca coastline without rushing.
• 7 days — add Arrábida, Évora or a slower second look at the neighbourhoods you liked most.

Where to stay

What it costs

Getting around

The metro is fast, clean and useless for the old quarters — the historic centre sits above the tunnels, on streets too narrow for buses. Tram 28 covers the classic route but queues can exceed an hour in summer. Walking works beautifully downhill and punishes you uphill. Most visitors end up mixing: metro for distance, feet for Baixa and Chiado, and something small and open for the hills.

A sensible first-day plan

1. Start high at Senhora do Monte before 10am, while the terrace is still quiet.
2. Walk down through Graça into Alfama, following the sound of the trams.
3. Lunch in a tasca off Largo de São Miguel, not on the main square.
4. Afternoon in Baixa and Praça do Comércio, flat and easy after the descent.
5. Sunset at Santa Catarina or on the river at Cais do Sodré.
6. Dinner late — Lisbon eats at 8.30pm and later.