Lisbon on foot in 48 hours: Belem, Alfama and viewpoints

Two days in Lisbon are not about trying to see everything. The city sits on hills, and the geography itself dictates the order of your walk. First you descend from Eduardo VII Park through Baixa to Alfama, and on the second day you head along the Tagus to Belém. We checked prices and opening hours on official websites as of 09/2026 and put together a route with no zigzagging across the city. The first day's route to Praça do Comércio is about 3.5 km of walking on the map, almost all of it downhill.

In summer, timed-entry tickets save you an hour to an hour and a half in line, so it is better to book half of the paid sights online in advance. Below you will find the order of sights, honest prices, and tips on exactly where tourists lose time.

Ad: this article contains affiliate links, we earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you.

Day 1: Eduardo VII Park, Baixa and Alfama

💡 In short:

• Over the course of the day you walk from the viewpoint in Eduardo VII Park through Baixa to São Jorge Castle and descend into Alfama.
• Paid sights of the day: Santa Justa Lift, Carmo Convent and São Jorge Castle.
• Tickets and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the castle's official website and the Jerónimos Monastery page.

Eduardo VII Park and the viewpoint

The viewpoint in Eduardo VII Park (Miradouro Parque Eduardo VII) sets the scale for the whole walk. From here you see the garden itself, terracotta rooftops and the Tagus River all the way to the horizon. A huge Portuguese flag flies above you. Entry is free, and the viewpoint is open around the clock. Come by nine in the morning: the light is soft, and there is still no line at the parapet of people filming themselves against the city backdrop.

© Jules Verne Times Two · CC BY-SAPhoto: Jules Verne Times Two, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The park descends toward the center along wide avenues, so for the first part of the route you walk downhill and barely notice the slope.

Marquis of Pombal Square

From the park you come out onto Marquis of Pombal Square (Rotunda do Marquês de Pombal). In the center of the roundabout stands a monument to José Pombal, the Portuguese reformer. For Lisbon he matters for another reason: the marquis oversaw the city's reconstruction after the 18th-century earthquake that turned this area into ruins.

© Bengt Nyman · CC BY-SAPhoto: Bengt Nyman, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Take in the whole square, then head to the boulevard: the underpass brings you right to its start.

Avenida da Liberdade

Avenida da Liberdade resembles the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Wide sidewalks with green areas offer a freedom that is rare for Portugal, and the buildings along the avenue evoke France. This is a popular shopping area, and you can also have brunch at a restaurant that is expensive by local standards. If your budget is tight, walk the boulevard and do not linger at the shop windows.

© F Delventhal from Outside Washington, D.C., US · CC BYPhoto: F Delventhal from Outside Washington, D.C., US, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Pedro IV Square and Rossio Station

At the end of the boulevard you arrive at Pedro IV Square (Praça Dom Pedro IV). Be sure to take a close look at the Rossio Station building (Estação de Rossio) in an elegant neo-Manueline style. It was built in the late 19th century and was once the country's main railway hub. A tunnel was cut through limestone rock beneath the city for the station. The station still operates today, with trains to Sintra departing from here.

Rua Augusta

Pedro IV Square is where Rua Augusta begins, Lisbon's central pedestrian zone. There are plenty of souvenir shops, cafes and local restaurants here, and popular brand stores operate out of 18th- and 19th-century buildings. Look down at your feet: the sidewalk is paved with Portuguese cobblestones. Walk along the street toward the arch, which serves as your landmark.

© Jorge Franganillo · CC BYPhoto: Jorge Franganillo, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Santa Justa Lift

You definitely won't miss the Santa Justa Lift (Elevador de Santa Justa). This neo-Gothic elevator has been taking residents and visitors to the upper part of Lisbon, to the Bairro Alto district, since the early 20th century. Riding in the vintage cabin costs money, and a round-trip ticket is more expensive than a Viva Viagem card charge (as of 09/2026, Carris fares). Want to save? Walk up the nearby streets instead, and pay separately to access the lift's viewing platform.

© David Blaikie from Hampshire, UK · CC BYPhoto: David Blaikie from Hampshire, UK, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Carmo Convent ruins

Once you're up top, stop by the Carmo Convent (Convento do Carmo). The church was built in the Middle Ages on a hilltop cliff, and the earthquake destroyed it almost to the ground. The temple was never fully restored. The carved arches stand under the open sky, which gives the place a special atmosphere. Admission is paid; check the price at the entrance or on the museum's website.

© Ingo Mehling · CC BY-SAPhoto: Ingo Mehling, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Triumphal arch and commerce square

Head back down and keep browsing the shop windows along Rua Augusta until you reach the Triumphal Arch (Arco da Rua Augusta). These gates symbolize Lisbon's rebirth after the earthquake. There's a viewing platform at the top of the arch, and the climb costs a small fee. Passing under the gates, you emerge onto Commerce Square (Praça do Comércio), also called Palace Square (Terreiro do Paço). There's no royal residence here for the same reason: the earthquake destroyed the palace. Now it's a large plaza with a monument to King Joseph I in the center.

© Diego Delso · CC BY-SAPhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

By this point you've covered about 3.5 km on the map, but almost all of it was downhill. The second half of the route is shorter and harder: you'll be climbing through the winding streets of Alfama.

Lisbon Cathedral and Alfama

Turn toward the Lisbon Cathedral (Sé de Lisboa). This is the city's oldest church, built back in the 12th century in the Romanesque style. A century later, a cloister was added to the temple in the Gothic style. The patriarchal cathedral has suffered from earthquakes more than once, so it hasn't reached us in its original form. Entry to the church itself is free; there's a small fee for the cloister and treasury. Nearby is the Church of St. Anthony (Igreja de Santo António), named after Lisbon's patron saint.

© Miguel Ángel García. from Ólvega., España · CC BYPhoto: Miguel Ángel García. from Ólvega., España, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

São Jorge Castle

Next, you climb to Lisbon's highest hill, to São Jorge Castle (Castelo de São Jorge). The first fortifications appeared here before our era, and the fortress reached its peak in the 13th to 16th centuries, when it served as the residence of Portuguese kings. Within these walls, King Manuel I received Vasco da Gama upon his return from the voyage to India. Only ruins remain of the castle district, but the castle itself looks like a true medieval fortress. The walls offer the best view of the city and the Tagus River. An adult ticket costs €17 (as of 09/2026, castle's official website). By midday the stairs are already crowded, so don't linger on your way to the castle.

© Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA · CC BYPhoto: Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Tram 28 from Martim Moniz

End your day with a ride on the yellow tram. From the castle, walk down to Martim Moniz Square (Praça Martim Moniz), about 1 km on the map. This is where the route of Lisbon's most famous tram, number 28 (Tram 28), begins. It will take you through the narrow streets of Graça and Alfama past the most photogenic facades. A ticket from the driver costs more than a Viva Viagem card charge (as of 09/2026, Carris tickets). Ride in the morning or evening: during the day the car is packed to the brim, and pickpockets work the crowds.

Day 2: Belém, Jerónimos, and the Tagus waterfront

If your legs still remember the hills of Alfama in the morning, don't worry: the second day runs along the river and is almost entirely flat. You can realistically cover Belém and evening Lisbon in one day if you don't waste time sitting in taxis in traffic.

The Belém district: where to start

Belém is located in the western part of the city, at the mouth of the Tagus. The most convenient way to get there is along the river: take tram 15E or a suburban train from Cais do Sodré station to Belém station. Get an early start. By ten in the morning, the lines at the monastery and the tower are still short, and the sun isn't scorching yet.

MAAT: the old power station and the wave

Start with the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT). The complex consists of two buildings: a converted early 20th-century power station and a modern wing built in 2016. The new building looks otherworldly, and you can conquer that wave without a surfboard. If you want to see the exhibition halls, admission to both buildings is paid, with a ticket costing around €10 (as of 09/2026, Visit Lisboa). You can skip going inside: the roof and the waterfront nearby offer a great view of the bridge.

© Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA · CC BYPhoto: Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

The 25 de Abril Bridge

The 25 de Abril Bridge (Ponte 25 de Abril) resembles the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Both cities sit in seismic zones, so engineers bet on structural flexibility. The lower deck with the railway was added after the upper deck, which took some of the car traffic off the bridge.

© Mike · CC BYPhoto: Mike, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

The Monument to the Discoveries

Turn your head the other way: in front of you is the Monument to the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos). It's a multi-figure composition shaped like a ship's prow, depicting figures from the Age of Discovery. On the pavement nearby, a world map is laid out showing the former Portuguese colonies. There's an observation deck at the top of the monument, and access to it is paid. It's worth going inside for the view of Belém from above.

© Lee Cannon from Bayville aka West Fenwick, DE, USA · CC BY-SAPhoto: Lee Cannon from Bayville aka West Fenwick, DE, USA, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Belém Tower

Continue along the waterfront to Belém Tower (Torre de Belém). This early 16th-century structure served both as a gateway to the city and as a heavily armed bastion defending Lisbon from the river side. Inside, a narrow spiral staircase leads to the viewing levels, with views of the bridge and Jerónimos. A ticket costs around €8 (as of 09/2026, the monument's official page). A combined ticket with the monastery works out cheaper than two separate ones.

© Rehman Abubakr · CC BY-SAPhoto: Rehman Abubakr, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Jerónimos Monastery

Next stop, Jerónimos Monastery (Mosteiro dos Jerónimos). It was built throughout the 16th century by order of King Manuel I, which is why the building is in the Manueline style, like Belém Tower. The stone carving on the facade looks like lace. Inside are the tombs of Vasco da Gama and King Manuel I with his family. Admission to the cloister costs €18, while the church itself is free (as of 09/2026, the monastery's official page). The monastery is closed on Mondays, and in high season it's better to book tickets on GetYourGuide in advance: otherwise you'll stand in line for over an hour.

© Holger Uwe Schmitt · CC BY-SAPhoto: Holger Uwe Schmitt, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Pastéis de Belém

Next to the monastery there is a pastry shop that makes those very same pastéis, Pastéis de Belém. The dessert is made according to the original recipe, so there is always a crowd outside the cafe. Don't be put off: the line moves quickly, and there are usually seats at the tables inside. Get two or three pastries and a coffee, then continue your route. Warm pastéis are best eaten right away, while the pastry is still crisp.

© Ray Swi-hymn from Sijhih-Taipei, Taiwan · CC BY-SAPhoto: Ray Swi-hymn from Sijhih-Taipei, Taiwan, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

LxFactory and the Red Bridge

Next, let's jump from the Age of Discovery to modern Lisbon. LxFactory sits right under the Red Bridge, on the grounds of a former textile factory. Today it is home to unusual shops, creative cafes and bars. The decor of this space makes you want to photograph it nonstop, and in the evenings there are exhibitions and concerts. It's easy to get stuck at LxFactory until late in the evening, so save some energy for it.

© Philip Mallis from Melbourne · CC BY-SAPhoto: Philip Mallis from Melbourne, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Evening: Bairro Alto and Príncipe Real

It makes sense to end day two in Lisbon's nightlife. LxFactory to Bairro Alto is about 5 km on the map, and a taxi takes about fifteen minutes. Walking that detour is not worth it.

Príncipe Real Garden

When you arrive, stop by Príncipe Real Garden (Jardim do Príncipe Real). It sits next to the gay quarter, so the square has a memorial to victims of homophobia. The other sculptures are dedicated to 19th-century writers and poets. The park's founders wanted to capture the romantic spirit of England, and the palaces around the green area support that theme. The square's main pride is a huge cedar whose crown covers half the garden.

© Nicola · CC BY-SAPhoto: Nicola, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

Rua da Rosa

From the garden, turn onto Rua da Rosa, a street at the heart of nightlife. Bars, cafes, restaurants and clubs operate out of 18th- and 19th-century buildings here, with boutiques and small shops tucked between them. In the evening the street hums. Come after ten: before that many bars are still closed. Keep your bag in front of you, it's easy to lose your phone in the crowd.

© Ray Swi-hymn from Sijhih-Taipei, Taiwan · CC BY-SAPhoto: Ray Swi-hymn from Sijhih-Taipei, Taiwan, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

São Roque Church

Briefly step away from Rua da Rosa to take a look at São Roque Church (Igreja de São Roque). In the early 16th century, plague was raging in Lisbon, and the site of the church was a cemetery for those who died during the epidemic. Saint Roch is considered the protector of plague victims, so a chapel was first built here, and the church itself was erected in the second half of the 16th century. Behind the modest facade lies an extremely rich interior. Admission is free, and it's a pleasant contrast to the paid sights of the day.

© Mister No · CC BYPhoto: Mister No, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

Pink Street

Head back to the party area and walk to another lively street, also called Pink, this time because of the color of its pavement. On the city map it is marked as Rua Nova do Carvalho. This used to be a red-light district where sailors and adventurers came looking for entertainment. Today it is one of the most photographed spots in the city. Come before dark if you want to shoot the pink pavement without the crowds.

© Pedro Ribeiro Simões from Lisboa, Portugal · CC BYPhoto: Pedro Ribeiro Simões from Lisboa, Portugal, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Tickets and opening hours (as of 09/2026)

We checked the prices below on the official websites of the attractions. Opening hours change by season, so check them on the monument's page before you head out. Timed-entry tickets are easier to book in advance on Tiqets, so you don't depend on the line at the entrance.

How to get from the airport

Lisbon Airport is within the city limits, so the trip to the center takes about 20 minutes by metro (as of 09/2026, Metro Lisboa). The red line heads toward the center, but you need to transfer to another line to reach Baixa. The Aerobus follows the same route, and taxis, Uber, and Bolt operate around the clock. During rush hour you will lose time in traffic entering the center, so the metro is more reliable.

How to save: Lisboa Card and accommodation

If you add up admission tickets along the route, two days come to several dozen euros per person. It is cheaper to build your trip around the Lisboa Card: a 24-hour card starts at €31 (as of 09/2026, official card website) and includes free rides on the metro, trams, and buses. Accommodation in the center is overheated. If you book in advance, your chances of staying within a reasonable budget are higher: closer to the date prices jump and available options almost disappear. It is easier to compare Lisbon hotels on Trip.com ahead of time, before the central area sells out. Instead of the center, you can stay in suburban towns along the commuter rail lines. In Estoril, for example, a room or apartment costs noticeably less, and the train to the center takes about 30 minutes with the card.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much money do you need for two days in Lisbon?

Tickets to Jerónimos, Belém Tower, and St. George's Castle add up to about €40 per person (as of 09/2026, official monument pages). Add food, transport, and accommodation. A 24-hour Lisboa Card starts at €31 and covers entry to dozens of museums, so it pays for itself quickly on a packed itinerary (as of 09/2026, official card website).

What is closed on Mondays in Lisbon?

Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower are closed on Mondays (as of 09/2026, official monastery page). St. George's Castle is open all week, as are the viewpoints. If Monday is your only day, build your route around Alfama and Baixa, and move Belém to another day.

How do you get to Belém?

The most convenient option is the suburban train from Cais do Sodré station to Belém station; it runs along the river and takes about 15 minutes with a travel card. Tram 15E also goes there. Get a Viva Viagem card: single tickets from the driver cost more, and transfers between the metro and trams are counted on one card.

Is tram 28 worth taking?

Yes, but with caveats. The route from Martim Moniz passes through Graça and Alfama, and it is a quick way to see the narrow streets without the climbs. Board at opening time or late in the evening: during the day the car is packed, and pickpockets work precisely in that crush.

When is the best time to visit Lisbon?

Mild weather lasts from April through June and from September through October. In July and August it is hot, and the lines at viewpoints are longer. In winter the city is cheaper, but some riverside terraces are closed; on the other hand, museums operate without crowds.

In short: what to book in advance

If you only have two days, book just three things in advance: Jerónimos tickets, the climb to St. George's Castle, and a hotel in the center. Lisbon forgives everything else.

• For a first visit: a hotel in Baixa or Bairro Alto, because you will walk the entire route.
• For a trip with kids: accommodation near a metro station, because the climbs through Alfama are tough.
• For a budget: the Lisboa Card and suburban trains instead of taxis.

Compare hotels in central Lisbon on Trip.com before you lock in your dates. Timed-entry tickets and accommodation near the route sell out first.