Lisbon, the charming capital of Portugal is the perfect European getaway that is not normally the first stop for travelers who have never been to Europe. This two day Lisbon itinerary will help guide visitors to the main sites of Lisbon and showcase some of the best foods to try. Lisbon is a great place for families, couples, and solo travelers and should be a part of any Portugal itinerary.
Want a guided tour to start out your trip and get acclimated to the city? Then check out Guru Walks for a free guided tour. You can book online to reserve your spot and pay what you wish when you get there. Check out the tours in Lisbon here.
Disclaimer: Special thanks to the Lisbon Tourism Board for hosting me at several attractions on my trip to Lisbon! As always, all thoughts and opinions remain my own. This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no cost to you!
Table of Contents
History of Lisbon
The history of Lisbon dates back to the Neolithic Period where tribes built up a lot of religious buildings. During the Roman era, the Romans built up the area even more. Lisbon fell to Barbarian invaders after the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
Then, during the Middle Ages, Lisbon was taken over by Muslim invaders. Throughout this time, Lisbon changed hands many times as it continued to expand and grow and eventually became one of the largest cities in Europe. In 1255, it became the capital of Portugal.
Present-day, Lisbon remains the capital of Portugal and one of its largest cities. It continued to host various events and attracts millions of visitors a year.
When to Spend Two Days in Lisbon
Spending two days in Lisbon is awesome anytime of the year. Fall and spring will be the least busy season. During the summertime, it may be very hot and crowded. In wintertime, Lisbon sometimes gets snow and the highs are typically in the 50s-60s.
How to Get to Lisbon
Lisbon has one major airport: Lisbon Airport. There are flights here from all over Europe and some direct flights from the United States, South America, and the Middle East. It can be one of the more expensive airports to fly into in Europe. If you want to save some money try catching a flight to Madrid and catch a train or cheap flight from there.
Transportation in Lisbon
It is very easy to get around Lisbon by walking, taking the metro, or riding the bus. I recommend buying the day pass for €6.50. It is good for 24 hours and you can use it as many times as you would like during that period. Alternatively, if you buy the Lisboa Card, it includes transportation. You can also take the Hop on Hop off bus around.
To get from the airport to the city center, you can Uber, taxi, or take the metro. Uber is super affordable but the metro is the cheapest option. To catch the metro, head to the Aeropuerto Metro Stop. From there, it is about a 30 minute ride on the red line to the city center. Alternatively, you can take a private airport transfer.
Where to Stay in Lisbon
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Lisbon hotels here!
The best area to stay during your two days in Lisbon is the Chiado and Baixa area. On this trip to Lisbon, we stayed at the Golden Hotel Lisbon for part of the time and then moved to the Moxy Lisboa Oriente to be close to the train station for our day trip to Sintra and close to the airport.
The following hotels are also some great options, especially if you are using points.
- Hyatt Regency Lisbon
- Vignette Collection Covent Square Lisbon
- Holiday Inn Express Lisbon Av Liberdade
- The Ivens, Autograph Collection
- Moxy Lisboa Oriente
- Duo Hotel Lisbon
Lisboa Card
The Lisboa card is a must buy for your two day Lisbon itinerary. This pass includes transportation all around Lisbon and on local trains, admission to all the main sites and museums in Lisbon, as well as many other deals and discounts.
You can buy a 1, 2, or 3 day pass depending on how many days you want to spend in Lisbon. Passes start at $29. Attractions included on the pass will be denoted with a * in this post.
Teacher Tip: If you have a child under 2 with your group, you get to skip all the lines in Portugal. There is a Portuguese law that states you get to walk to the front of the line. This is at all attractions, restaurants, and stores.
What to do During Two Day Lisbon Itinerary
If you want an introduction to Lisbon, check out this Lisbon history tour or this street art tour.
Day 1
A Padaria Portuguesa
Cost: €
Hours: 7am-8:30pm
Start your first morning of your two day Lisbon itinerary with a stop at a local Portuguese bakery chain: A Padaria Portuguesa. Here you can find all sorts of delicious Portuguese treats such as pastel de nata. It is the perfect place to fuel up for the day.
Tram 28
Cost: €2.80
Hours: 6am-11pm (approx)
Next, head to the Tram 28 initial stop. Tram 28 is a trolley car that winds its way through the main parts of the city. This is the perfect way to orient you to the city to start off your two day Lisbon itinerary. This tram can get very crowded, so make sure to get there early to beat the rush. You can get this Tram 28 Audio Tour to listen to as you ride.
If you bought the 24 hour pass or a Lisboa Card, you can use it on the tram. If not, the fare is €2.80. The tram ride lasts about 50 minutes and they make everyone get off at the initial stop after you have finished the loop.
Santa Justa Lift
Cost: €6
Hours: 7am-10:45pm
Another popular stop to take during this two day Lisbon itinerary is the Santa Justa Lift. This elevator was built in the early 1900s to help people navigate up the hills of Lisbon. The wait can get very long as the day goes on, so this is another place you will want to get to early. The ride to the top lasts less than a minute, but you are rewarded with gorgeous views of Lisbon. Alternatively, you can also hike up some steps to the top of the hill.
Castelo de São Jorge
Cost: €15
Hours: 9am-9pm
Perched atop one of the many hills of Lisbon is the Castelo de São Jorge. This historic fortress offers panoramic views of Lisbon and the surrounding area. It has served various roles throughout history.
Present-day, it is a popular attraction to visit during this two day Lisbon itinerary. Inside are several archeological sites, a museum, and gorgeous gardens with resident peacocks. You will not want to miss the breathtaking views of Lisbon from the castle.
Time Out Market Lisboa
Cost: €€
Hours: 10am-12am
After wandering the castle, head to the Time Out Market Lisbon for some lunch. This food hall has numerous stalls here with many delicious food options. This is a great place to come with a larger group as everyone can find something they like here and you can even grab a bottle of wine (or two) to share.
O Triângulo da Ribeira
Cost: €2+
Hours: Varies
Alternatively, near the Time Out Market Lisbon is a small hole-in-the-wall restaurant to get the best bifana in Lisbon. A bifana sandwich is a Portuguese sandwich with thin slices of pork that are marinated in white wine, vinegar, and some spices. You will want to make sure to grab a bifana at some point during your two day Lisbon itinerary.
Pink Street
Cost: Free
Hours: 24 hours
After fueling up, head to Pink Street to take some Instagramable pictures. This street has everything painted pink, just like the name says. Pink Street is known for having great restaurants and a ton of bars. This is also a great place to hang out in the evening during your two day Lisbon itinerary.
Wines of Portugal
Cost: €2 and up
Hours: 12pm-8pm
This afternoon, head to Wines of Portugal for some pre-dinner wine tasting. This tasting room has a ton of wines from all over Portugal that you can sample. The cool part about this tasting room is you can pay for as much as you would like to try. You load up a refillable card with money, grab a glass, and then decide which wine you would like to try. Samples start at €2 and they have both red and white wines. We tried about 5 wines a person and spent about €20. You could also do a port wine tasting.
Dinner at Troppo Squisito
Cost: €€
Hours: 12pm-10:30pm
Tonight, grab dinner at a delicious Italian restaurant Troppo Squisito. The restaurant sits right along the main square, Praca do Comercio. It is a great place to enjoy dinner al fresco during your two day Lisbon itinerary.
Day 2
Ginjinha Sem Rival
Cost: €
Hours: 9am-12am
Start your second of this two day Lisbon itinerary with a visit to a shop to grab a ginjinha shot. Ginjinha is a berry liqueur that is sometimes taken in the morning to kick start your day. Alternatively, it is served in a chocolate cup as a dessert.
Belem Tower
Cost: €8
Hours: 9:30am-5:30pm
The first attraction to visit during a two day Lisbon itinerary is the Belem Tower. This monument is known for its contribution to maritime history. Built in the 1500s, the tower was originally designed as a fortress to guard the entrance to the river and served as a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon.
Present-day this UNESCO site draws many visitors to take in the architecture and enjoy the stunning views of the area. The line gets pretty long, so make sure to get there when it first opens.
Walk along the Waterfront
Next, take a stroll along the waterfront. There are plenty of street musicians and food stalls that you can relax at as well. From Belem Tower, you can walk along the waterfront all the way to the Monument to the Discoveries. The Monument to the Discoveries was built to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Henry the Navigator.
Jeronimos Monastery
Cost: €12
Hours: 9:30am-6pm
The Jerónimos Monastery is another must visit place during a two day Lisbon itinerary. It is one of the symbols of the Age of Discoveries. It was commissioned in the 1500s and built to commemorate Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India. It also served as a place for the monks of the Order of Saint Jerome.
Present-day the monastery houses the tomb of Vasco da Gama and is a UNESCO site. Visitors come to admire the architecture and learn about the history. Plan to spend about an hour or two exploring the monastery.
Pasteis de Belem
Cost: €
Hours: 8am-9pm
Next on this two day Lisbon itinerary, opt to stop at Pasteis de Belem, the place that created the pastel de nata. It was originally created by monks at the Jeronimos Monastery. They use a secret recipe that has remained unchanged to this day. It is the perfect place to rest your feet after wandering the monastery and grab a bite to eat.
Dinner at Tasca da tia Macheta
Cost: €€
Hours: 4pm-2am
When planning a two day Lisbon itinerary, you will not want to miss a Fado show, especially if you are a music lover. Fado is a traditional genre of Portugues music that is known for its emotional expression and melancholic melodies. There are many Fado places across Lisbon.
At Tasca da tia Macheta visitors will get to take in several rounds of Fado music as you enjoy your meal with some Portuguese wine. Best of all, there is no extra cost for the show! This palace had both indoor seating that is more intimate and outdoor seating for those wanting a more casual atmosphere.
Drinks at Mahjong
Cost: €
Hours: 6pm-2am
After dinner, grab a drink at Mahjong, a popular cocktail bar in the area. They offer some unique cocktails as well as many classic options. The place is small, so it is a good place to grab a drink and take in the atmosphere.
Port Tasting at The Old Pharmacy
Cost: €
Hours: 5:30pm-12am
Finish out your last night on this two day Lisbon itinerary with some port tasting. At the Old Pharmacy, they have a ton of different port flights or options to grab a glass of port. You cannot go wrong with whatever you decide to go with.
Need More Than A Two Day Lisbon Itinerary?
Day trip to Sintra
If you have more than a two day Lisbon itinerary, make sure to take a day trip to the charming fairy tale town of Sintra. You can easily spend a couple days in Sintra seeing all of the sites, but it also makes for one of the best day trips from Lisbon. In Sintra, there are many palaces and gardens to visit and you will not want to miss the coastal views.
Other things to do in Lisbon include the Rue Agusta Arch, the Banksy Museum, the Pilar 7 Bridge Experience, the National Pantheon, and the Lisbon Museum, all of which are included on the Lisboa Card.
Final Tips for Two Day Lisbon Itinerary
Lisbon has so many amazing places to visit. A two day Lisbon itinerary is the perfect amount of time to see the city, but if you have more time, spend more days! You can also use it as a base and take many day trips from Lisbon to explore Southern Portugal. Portugal also pairs well with a trip to Spain or Morocco.
