Day 1 — Baixa, Alfama and Castelo
Start in Rossio, cross Baixa and arrive at Praça do Comércio. Then go up to the Cathedral, Santa Luzia and Portas do Sol. Only book São Jorge Castle if you want to dedicate at least 90 minutes to the visit. End the day in Alfama.
Day 2 — Belém and the Tagus
Go to Belém early. Prioritize the Jerónimos Monastery and the riverside area; Jerónimos and Torre de Belém are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Confirm in advance whether monuments are open and book tickets when possible. Walk through the garden, Padrão dos Descobrimentos and the banks of the Tagus.
Day 3 — Chiado, Estrela and Campo de Ourique
Spend the morning in Chiado and Bairro Alto. After lunch, continue to the Basilica and Jardim da Estrela and finish at the Mercado de Campo de Ourique. This day has fewer monuments and allows you to discover lively neighborhoods.
Day 4 — Parque das Nações
Use the Red Line untilEast. Stroll along the river and choose one main attraction, like the Oceanarium, rather than trying to visit everything. Return to the center in the late afternoon.
Day 5 — Sintra without rushing
Depart by train from Rossio station. Choose two monuments, not four. For the Pena Palace, buy a ticket with a date and time: the time is when you enter the palace, the journey through the park can take around 30 minutes and there is no tolerance for delays. Combine Pena with the historic center or Quinta da Regaleira.
How to get around
The Metro normally operates from 06:30 to 01:00. For Sintra, use urban trains and confirm the timetable the day before. In Lisbon, combine the Metro with walking and avoid depending on the 28E tram to meet strict timetables, as it may be full or subject to change.