It’s my first time visiting Lisbon. You’d think that based on my previous post that eating my way around Lisbon was all I did (who could resist a fresh, warm pastel de nata?). But this city has more to offer than food. In this post I share how you can get the most out of your time in Lisbon in 3 days. My favorite hidden gems when it comes to shopping in Lisbon and all the places to visit (most of them free) that I highly recommend.
Is Lisbon walkable?
What I like about this city is that it’s easy to explore on foot. Just bring comfortable shoes, because you will get tired walking up and down those hills again and again. Which is also why you’ll see (and hear) those cute trams everywhere. The classic Tram 28 is the most famous one as it takes you through all the popular streets and neighborhoods.
Shopping in Lisbon
Shopping is normally not my favorite way to spend time in a new city. I prefer to do most of my shopping from behind my laptop at home. But what’s special about shopping in Lisbon is that the city has so many cute, original shops that I just had to go in. Especially if you’re looking for an original souvenir to remind you of your 3 days in Lisbon, you’ll definitely will be able find something here.
LX Factory
One of my favorite places to visit in Lisbon is LX Factory Even though it’s not very centrally located, it’s well worth a detour. It’s easy to spend a few hours in this industrial and creative area with cool shops, art galleries and nice restaurants. For shopping in Lisbon you can’t skip the bookstore Ler Devagar. They don’t have many books in English, but the store with its flying bicycle looks incredible.
Address: Rua Rodrigues de Faria 103
Embaixada
I’m not sure how to best describe Embaixada, but it’s really cool. The building is a 19th century palace and inside you’ll find all kinds of fashion, design and craftsmanship concept stores and galleries. It’s a nice mix of old and modern. When you go, check if there are any Fado performances that evening (which I unfortunately missed).
Address: Praça do Príncipe Real 26
Mini by Luna (Closed)
It’s so annoying when you’re traveling with a small suitcase with no room left for more things to bring home. Especially when you find shops like Mini by Luna. One side of the store is for children, but there are lots of other things for those who aren’t ‘mini’ anymore.
Address: Rua Dom Pedro V 74A
A Vida Portuguesa
Leave some space in your suitcase, because you’ll want to get everything from A Vida Portuguesa. I first learned about this store in Porto, and I was so happy to find it as well Lisbon. This is the place to be for those beautiful, authentic Portuguese souvenirs, all beautifully wrapped. Seriously, for souvenir shopping in Lisbon, this is the places to be!
Address: Rua Anchieta 11
Conserveira de Lisboa
Speaking of shopping for souvenirs. I normally don’t buy a lot of things to take home with me when I travel. Especially if it’s a short trip. And I only have 3 days in Lisbon after all. But I like to make an exception for food. In Portugal, one of my favorite food souvenirs is canned fish with the colorful vintage packaging. You can buy them everywhere, but the small store of Conserveira de Lisboa has been selling them since the 1930s and has more than 125 varieties.
Address: Rua dos Bacalhoeiros 34
Luvaria Ulisses
This Art Deco shop is easy to miss as it is only 4 m2. Luvaria Ulisses started selling and making bespoke leather gloves in the 1920s and is now the only glove shop left in Portugal. So they must be doing something right.
Address: Rua do Carmo 87-A
Places to visit in Lisbon in 3 days
Of course, if you’re only in Lisbon for a short amount of time you won’t be able to see everything this city has to offer. I certainly plan to go back soon to explore more of Lisbon. My goal was to get a good feel of Lisbon in 3 days, but also relax and have a good time. So most of the places to visit that I share below are easy to find as you walk around the city.
Parque Eduardo VII
For a good viewpoint in Lisbon, overlooking the Tagus river in the distance, go to Parque Eduardo VII. You won’t be the only one as all tourist busses make a stop here, but the view is impressive.
Rossio Square
The official name of this square with its interesting tile pattern is Pedro IV square, but everybody knows it as Rossio square. The perfect spot to sit on a bench under the trees and do some people watching.
Belem Tower
One of the most famous places to visit in Lisbon is the 16th century Belém Tower. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site as it played an important role in the history of Portugal. From here it’s a nice walk along the river to MAAT. If you go here don’t forget to buy some of the best pastel de nata in Lisbon at Pasteis de Belem.
Address: Avenida Brasília
MAAT
Apart from being a really nice walk along the river, it’s interesting to go from 16th century architecture at the Belém Tower to the super modern 21st century building of MAAT. The Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT) opened its doors just over a year ago and looks amazing. At least from the outside, as it is closed on Tuesdays (when I was here). But even when it’s closed, you can still walk up the stairs to the roof for a great view of the city and the Tagus river.
Address: Avenida Brasília
Where to stay in Lisbon for 3 days: Boutique Hotel Memmo Principe Real
Now that you know where to shop, what to do and where to eat in Lisbon, you probably also want to know where to stay. I stayed at the beautiful Memmo Príncipe Real, a five-star boutique hotel in the Príncipe Real neighborhood. Located at the top of a hill, you get a breathtaking view over Lisbon from your room and you can easily walk to most of the places mentioned in this and my eating around Lisbon post.
