WHAT TO DO IN LISBON IN 3 DAYS
• 4 min read

WHAT TO DO IN LISBON IN 3 DAYS

It’s one of the most popular destinations in Europe and definitely the perfect place to discover in a few days. It’s a colorful city, rich in history, with bohemian vibes. It’s ideal for culture lovers, known for its cobbled streets, the churches, the tiles and of course, the fresh and delicious fish…

Let’s meet Lisbon, Portugal’s capital and largest city, that lies on the western Iberian Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and Tagus River.

The best part? You can now fly directly to Lisbon from Qatar, as it’s one of Qatar Airways’ upcoming destinations for 2019!

Let’s quickly see the new destinations:

  1. Malta, starting on June 4th
  2. Izmir, Turkey, starting on May 23rd
  3. Rabat, Morocco, starting on May 29th
  4. Davao, Philippines, starting from June 18th
  5. Lisbon, Portugal, starting from June 24th
  6. Mogadishu, Somalia, starting from July 1st
  7. Langkawi, Malaysia, starting on October 15th

I have visited Lisbon twice in the past and its vibes got me excited. It’s a city that can make you smile. It’s rich in culture and history, as aforementioned, it has lovely and cute places to eat, cobbled streets and it’s so picturesque!

Ready for a new city break from Qatar?

What to do in Lisbon

1. Visit Sao Jorge Castle, one of its impressive sights, which sits in the Largo das Portas area.

2. Afterwards, wonder around Alfama district, the oldest part of the city, where you can see the remains of the old city walls. Alfama is full of hidden streets and squares, with plenty of traditional restaurants and coffee houses.

3. Listen to the popular Portuguese ‘fados’, the mournful and soulful songs, which are part of the country’s identity. ‘Fado’ means destiny or fate.

4. For unbeatable views, head to Vasco da Gama Bridge.

5. To enjoy the city’s nightlife and see where its heart beats visit the Bairro Alto, one of the most bohemian districts.

6. Visit two of the most important landmarks: the Jeronimos Monastery (Mosteiro de Jeronimos) and Belem Tower (Torre de Belem), which are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

7. You can also pay a visit to the Monument of the Discoveries in Belem. Did you know that many of the exploratory trips and wanderings began from Lisbon?

8. Try the popular local pastries, the ‘pasteis’; there is a nice place close to the Mosteiro de Jeronimos called Pasteis de Belem, but I am sure you will find plenty of these around the city.

9. You will definitely not miss the tiles, which can be found on many buildings; they’re actually a part of the city’s architecture. They are called ‘azulejos’, which means light blue. The tile-lovers will also enjoy visiting the Museu do Azulejo with the many displays of the creative and wonderful azulejos.

10. One of Lisbon’s charms is its colorful buildings and details. I’m sure your camera will be constantly on.

11. Take the tram (a must-do in Lisbon) and visit the Graca district. From Miradouro de Graca you will experience amazing views.

12. Wander around Baixa district, a vibrant area with beautiful and imposing plazas, avenues and a rich variety of restaurants. Baixa was devastated in 1755 when a strong earthquake followed by a tsunami hit the city.

13. Enjoy fresh fish, which is in abundance in Lisbon.

14. For a nice breakfast at a lovely antique style place, go to Fabrica de Lisboa.

15. Wander around Restauradores plaza, where you will see Obelisk, its central monument, which commemorates the country’s Independence from Spain.

Interesting facts about Lisbon

  • Portugal has its own language, Portuguese (and not Spanish as many may assume)
  • The city was built on seven hills, so wear your comfy shoes and get ready for some muscles! The views, though, from all over Lisbon are really rewarding.
  • Make sure to take the yellow tram number 28, in order to live authentically!

When to visit

The ideal months would be April-June and September-October. Summer periods are really busy in Portugal’s capital. Nevertheless, the climate overall is warm, so you will not experience any heavy winter.

How long to stay

I believe that 3 days are enough to explore the city and cover all the above. If you wish to stay more in Portugal, there are a few day trips you can realize from Lisbon, one of them being Sintra. But let’s talk about Sintra in a next post; it’s one of the most beautiful little cities and deserves its own space on the blog!

What do you say? Inspired to visit Lisbon and one of Qatar Airways new destinations?

Enjoy and bring some local pasteis back with you!