Quick answer
Our Lisbon city breaks are 3, 5 or 7 nights in Portugal's capital, with return economy flights from the UK, breakfast every day and private airport transfers. Prices are on request for your dates, per person based on two sharing, and ATOL 10713 protected.
This is a one-hotel city break: a single base for the whole stay, no coach tours and no fixed timetable. The day plan below runs to the full 7 nights, from landing to the last morning, and every day in it is self-guided on Lisbon’s trams, metro and suburban trains. Breakfast is the only meal booked, so lunch and dinner are yours to find, from a tasca in Alfama to the stalls at the Ribeira market. Treat the order as a suggestion. If rain is forecast, move the Chiado day forward and save Sintra and the coast for a dry one.
Why You'll Love It
Highlights
Not included
Day by Day
Fly from the UK to Lisbon, where your driver meets you after baggage reclaim and takes you to the hotel. If you land in time, walk to Chiado for the early evening and a first pastel de nata. Keep dinner simple and close by.
Start early at the castle, before the tour groups arrive, for views over the Tagus. Then wander down through Alfama’s lanes to the cathedral and on to the Baixa. In the evening, book a table at a fado house in Alfama or Mouraria.
Head west along the river by tram 15 or taxi. See the Jerónimos cloister and Belém Tower, then walk the waterfront past the Monument to the Discoveries. Pastéis de Belém, beside the monastery, has baked its custard tarts since 1837.
Take the train out to Sintra and start at Pena Palace. Afterwards, walk or take the local bus to the Moorish Castle or Quinta da Regaleira. Wear proper walking shoes, as the paths between the palaces are steep.
A slower day. Browse Chiado’s bookshops and cafés, then walk down to the Time Out Market in the Ribeira market hall for lunch. Spend the afternoon by the river at Cais do Sodré, or ride the Graça funicular up to the viewpoints.
Ride the coast train west, past Carcavelos and Estoril, to Cascais. Explore the old town and its fishing harbour, then follow the seafront path. Back in Lisbon, have dinner in Cais do Sodré, where the train comes in.
A full day in the Alentejo. Walk Évora’s walled old town to the Roman temple, the cathedral and the Chapel of Bones, lined with human skulls and bones. Tickets are bought locally, and the return train gets you back for a late dinner.
Use the morning for anything you missed, perhaps the LX Factory or a last view from the Senhora do Monte viewpoint above Graça. Your driver collects you from the hotel for the airport and your flight back to the UK.
Where You'll Stay
4-star hotel
NH Collection Lisboa Liberdade is a 4-star hotel on Avenida da Liberdade, the level boulevard that runs up from Restauradores. It has 83 rooms, and its standout is the rooftop pool and bar, welcome on a hot afternoon after the hills. Breakfast is included every day. Chiado and the Baixa are within walking distance, with the metro close by. Your room type is confirmed with your quote.
| ✈ Flights | Return flights from UK included |
| 🧳 Baggage | 23kg checked baggage |
| 🏛 Hotel | 7 nights accommodation |
| 🚌 Transfers | Private airport transfers |
| ✈ Airport Taxes | All airport taxes included |
| 💳 Deposit | 30% per person to secure booking |
Lisbon is an Atlantic city, not a Mediterranean one, spread over steep hills above the Tagus. It is the natural first stop among our Portugal holidays.
Three nights gives you two full days, which covers the old centre on one and Belém on the other if you are happy walking. Book the Belém monuments for a set slot before you fly.
Five nights adds the two best day trips. Sintra is about 40 minutes by train from Rossio, and Pena Palace tickets are sold for a set date and entry time, so choose that slot before anything else. Cascais is also about 40 minutes by train, from Cais do Sodré.
A week suits people who hate rushing, or who want a mild winter break with room for a wet day or two. Évora, in the Alentejo, is about 1 hour 30 to 1 hour 45 minutes by Intercidades train. If a beach is the real point, the Algarve from Faro will suit you better.
Baixa and Chiado are the flattest, most central bases. Alfama has the fado houses and the views, but pulling a case up its lanes is hard work. Avenida da Liberdade is a broad, level boulevard on the blue metro line. Bairro Alto is the bar district, noisy until late, so light sleepers should stay elsewhere.
The cobbles are polished limestone and slippery in rain, so pack shoes with grip. Lisbon is hard going for anyone with limited mobility.
Tram 28 climbs from Martim Moniz through Graça, Alfama, Chiado and Estrela to Campo de Ourique. It is a lovely ride in a packed carriage. The Foreign Office warns of thieves on public transport and at crowded tram stops, so board early at Martim Moniz.
The Glória, Bica and Lavra funiculars and the Santa Justa lift have been shut since September 2025. The Graça funicular reopened on 30 April 2026.
| Months | Average high | Average low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec–Feb | 14–16°C | 8–9°C | 71–100 mm |
| Mar–May | 18–23°C | 10–14°C | 51–67 mm |
| Jun–Sep | 26–29°C | 17–19°C | 3–36 mm |
| Oct–Nov | 18–23°C | 11–15°C | 103–115 mm |
Spring and late September are the sweet spot. August averages about 11 days above 30°C, tough on the hills by midday. Winter is mild rather than warm, with around ten wet days a month from November to January, so pack a waterproof. For the rest of 2026, late October is warm but showery. For proper warmth in winter, Madeira wins. Portugal keeps UK time all year.
Direct flights take about 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours from Heathrow and up to 3 hours 10 from Manchester.
On arrival, your UK passport needs to be under 10 years old, with at least 3 months left beyond your planned exit from Schengen. Stays of up to 90 days in 180 are visa-free. The EU Entry/Exit System takes your fingerprints and photo on a first visit, and queues at Lisbon airport have been long at times since it began, so allow for a wait. ETIAS is not running yet.
The tourist tax is €4 per person per night from age 13, for up to 7 nights, paid at the hotel. The adult Lisboa Card is €31 for 24 hours, €51 for 48 or €62 for 72, covering transport plus the castle, Jerónimos and Belém Tower. It pays off on a busy short break, rarely on a slow week.
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