Two days in the city and one in the hills of Sintra. Lisbon is built on seven hills, so bring shoes for steep cobbles; the trams and the viewpoints make up for the climbing.
The castle & Alfama
10:00
1São Jorge CastleOn the city's highest hill; its walls look out over the river and the red roofs.Open in Maps
12:30
2Get lost in AlfamaThe oldest quarter: steep lanes, washing lines, and small places grilling sardines for lunch.Open in Maps
17:30
3Sunset at Senhora do MonteThe highest viewpoint in the city, and quieter than the ones further down.Open in Maps
21:00
2Fado in AlfamaSmall houses sing late. Book a table; dinner usually comes with the music.Open in Maps
Belém
10:00
4Jerónimos MonasteryIts cloister is the finest of the Manueline style. Come early: the queue grows fast.Open in Maps
12:00
5Pastéis de BelémThe custard tarts that started it all, warm, with cinnamon on top.Open in Maps
13:30
6Belém TowerA 500-year-old fort at the river's edge; the outside is the best part.Open in Maps
16:00
7LX FactoryOld factories turned into shops, cafés and a bookshop, on the way back into town.Open in Maps
20:00
8Dinner and a drink in Bairro AltoQuiet by day; its narrow streets fill up after ten.Open in Maps
A day in Sintra
09:00
The train to SintraAbout 40 minutes from Rossio station, with trains every 20 minutes or so.
10:00
9Pena PalaceThe yellow and red palace on the hilltop. Book a timed ticket and take the bus up.Open in Maps
14:00
10Quinta da RegaleiraGardens with grottoes and tunnels, and the Initiation Well: a spiral staircase into the ground.Open in Maps
19:00
11Back in Lisbon: Time Out MarketMany of the city's kitchens under one roof, by Cais do Sodré.Open in Maps
1 São Jorge Castle2 Alfama3 Miradouro da Senhora do Monte4 Jerónimos Monastery5 Pastéis de Belém6 Belém Tower7 LX Factory8 Bairro Alto9 Pena Palace10 Quinta da Regaleira11 Time Out Market
This is the kind of plan I write. Tell me yours, where, when and who's coming, and I'll check the roads, the stays, the weather and the costs.