Lisbon in two days


 

This article has been written for people who only have two days to spend in Lisbon! The Portuguese capital is a stunning city, it has so much to experience!

The architecture, the history, the culture, the lifestyle, the food are one of a kind. To see Lisbon in two days seems to be quite impossible, but it actually is possible! At least, I believe that in two days you will see enough of Lisbon to have plenty of reasons to come back to the city!

I will be giving you an itinerary I think covers all the best of Lisbon, with a few tips to make sure you enjoy it in the best conditions! Read on and find out what to do in Lisbon in two days.

My first advice

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Firstly, my first advice to make sure you enjoy most of Lisbon in two days is to buy a travel ticket that will allow you to easily get around the city. For fifty cents, you can get a Viva Viagem travel ticket at any newspaper kiosks or metro ticket offices.

The tickets are for personal use, which means that if you are a group of four, you will have to buy four tickets. Then, you should also know that the tickets are valid for a year. So, when you leave Lisbon, keep your tickets anyway because if you happen to come back to Lisbon, you can use the same ticket!

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To use your ticket, you will have to charge it. You can do it at the same place you’ve bought it! For 6.50 euros, you can travel the city one whole day. This travel option is the best, because it is less expensive, so it is perfect for people who will only be in the city for a few days!

Plus, the Viva Viagem ticket enables you to travel Lisbon through the different means of public transport, such as the metro, buses, trams, and even elevators. This travel ticket is a good value, because whenever one is in Lisbon, they always want to hop in an elevator, which is one of the attractions of Lisbon. When you buy your ticket to an elevator on board, it will cost you 3.45 euros, but if you use your Viva Viagem ticket when getting in, you will only be spending 1.45 euros.

On your first day: Morning – Belém

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To visit Belém on the morning of your first day is the best idea, because it is a great introduction to the Portuguese history and culture. Belém is kind of a small district, so you can definitely see and visit all the attractions and highlights of the area in a single morning! History has shown us that Portuguese are closely connected to the sea, to the sailing life, and to new discoveries. And while in Belém, you will too.

Belém is kind of a touristic area, but it’s totally worth it! You need to see and visit the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, the Torre de Belém, the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, and have a look at the incredible Ponte 25 de Abril. Then, do not miss the famous Pastéis de Belém, at Rua de Belém, 84-92. Eat them on site, when they are still warm and much more delicious!

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If you want to, you can join this tour! The local guide will tell you everything about the neighborhood. You will learn a lot about Lisbon and will also discover the best tips! Join us in our Belem tour at 11am to discover one of the most interesting areas of Lisbon. Meet at the high statue in the middle of Jardim Afonso de Albuquerque parc

To go from Belém to Chiado, you can catch the both buses nº728 and nº714 that will take you to the Baixa-Chiado bus station in around twelve minutes.

On your first day: Afternoon – Chiado and Bairro Alto

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Some people like to think of Chiado as a smaller version of Montmartre. Over the years, Chiado has gone through some changes, but still keeps its charm. The locals go about their lives. You can watch the city come to life.

Walk Rua do Carmo with the locals, visit the unusual Convento do Carmo, and hop in the famous Elevador de Santa Justa. Chiado was home to many famous Portuguese artists in the beginning of the twentieth century, so there is a lot you can explore! It is a very lively neighborhood of Lisbon. You can join our Chiado Sunset Tour to find out what makes Lisbon so fun

Read this article to find out a few places that are worth visiting! And, of course, don’t forget to have a coffee at A Brasileira, which is one of the oldest and most famous cafés in Lisbon. Many important Portuguese figures have entered its doors and have seated at its tables to enjoy their coffees.

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After walking the Chiado neighborhood, head to Bairro Alto to have dinner! In this area, you will find plenty of cafés, restaurants, and bars! Moreover, after Alfama, Bairro Alto is the second best area to attend fado perfomances! Just follow the locals! After dinner, you can have a drink in one of the many bars that exist there. Lisbon nightlife is most definitely worth experiencing. So, at the end of the day, if you still have some energy left, have a beer with the locals!

On your second day: Morning – A Baixa

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After suffering from the 1755 earthquake, the Baixa neighborhood was completely rebuilt during the eighteenth century. The whole construction was anti-seismic, so the streets were designed in a very specific way. The streets were named after craftsmen who worked there during that time, such as shoemaker, saddler and many more.

Over the years, the Baixa neighborhood has become more comercial and touristic. Many of the streets are pedestrian and link huge historic squares, such as Praça do Rossio and Praça do Comércio. Read this article to check some of Baixa highlights.

Don’t hesitate to go up the stunning Rua Augusta’s Arch, which was built to celebrate the reconstruction of the city after the 1755 earthquake. Then walk Rua Augusta, it is one of the main streets downtown. And it is closed to traffic, which makes it even greater. There you can find very good typical restaurants and a lot of shops.

On your second day: Afternoon – Alfama

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Alfama is located upon an hill, so you will prefer to start at the top and walk down the neighborhood. If you go up, you will get tired very quickly! What I suggest is for you to start at Castelo São Jorge. You can take one of the trams to get uphill.

In Alfama, there are a lot of narrow alleys, a lot of staircases and dead ends. The structure of the area is very peculiar, unique and one-of-a-kind! But you should know that you don’t need to worry, because despite the fact that there are a lot of narrow lanes going up and down, there’s no way you can really get lost as long as  you walk down Alfama.

If you keep walking down the neighborhood from the Castelo São Jorge, you will get out at the bottom. In fact, I highly recommend you to roam aimlessly in Alfama. Freely explore and “try to get lost“, because it’s actually the best way to discover the area and meet its people!

Or maybe, you can join us in our Alfama tour to discover this amazing neighborhood. The tour starts right in front of the Castle’s entrance.

 

I hope you’ve enjoyed my recommendations for you to fully enjoy Lisbon in two days and that they will be useful! Two days is surely enough for you to see the most important landmarks in Lisbon.

You just need to be plan your trip and to have a clear idea of what are the main things you want to visit! But if you want to fully experience Lisbon without worrying about whether you will get to see everything or not, you can count on us and let us show you the way!

If you want a few more pieces of advice, do not forget to pack comfortable shoes because you will be walking a lot! See you soon in Lisbon!

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