Things to Do in Lisbon: Alfama, São Jorge Castle, Belém and a 3-Day Plan
Which neighborhoods to walk, current hours for the castle and Jerónimos Monastery, where Tram 28 actually runs right now, and Lisbon’s weather month by month from Portugal’s national weather service.
- €17 adult entry to the castle
- €4 city tax per person, per night
- 31 in of rain a year, mostly October to January
- 1983: Jerónimos added to the UNESCO list
Lisbon is a city of hills. Alfama and the castle sit on one, Bairro Alto on another, the flat Baixa fills the valley between them, and Belém lies farther west along the Tagus River. Distances are short but the climbs are steep, and the two sights most visitors want, São Jorge Castle and Jerónimos Monastery, keep hours that change by season or by day of the week.
This guide pulls together what the sites themselves, the Carris tram company, the Lisbon Metro and Portugal’s weather institute (IPMA) publish, plus the State Department’s safety notes. Planning the rest of the country? Start with our Portugal guide.
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- Neighborhoods
- São Jorge Castle
- Belém and Jerónimos
- Tram 28
- 3 days in Lisbon
- Weather
- From the airport
- Where to stay
- Entry, tax, insurance
- FAQ
- Sources
What to do in Lisbon, neighborhood by neighborhood
A first trip comes down to four neighboring districts, plus Belém:
- Alfama: the oldest quarter, all lanes and stairways below the castle, with the cathedral (Sé) and the Santa Luzia and Portas do Sol viewpoints.
- Baixa: the grid of streets rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake, running from Rossio square down to Praça do Comércio on the river. The Santa Justa elevator is here.
- Chiado and Bairro Alto: cafés and bookshops in Chiado by day, the narrow streets of Bairro Alto at night, and the Príncipe Real garden a little higher up.
- Cais do Sodré: the Ribeira market (Time Out Market) and the ferries across the river to Cacilhas.
- Farther out: LX Factory under the 25 de Abril Bridge, the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum to the north, and Parque das Nações with the Oceanário to the east.
Watch your bag: the State Department says pickpocketing and purse snatching are common at tourist sites, in restaurants and on public transportation, and names Tram 28 specifically. Thieves use the crush at the doors, so stand away from them.
São Jorge Castle: hours and tickets
Adult tickets cost €17. Kids 12 and under get in free, as do Lisboa Card holders; ages 13 to 25 pay €8.50 and visitors 65 and over pay €14, according to the castle’s official site. Bring ID for any discount.
- March 1 to October 31: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., last entry 8:30 p.m.
- November 1 to the end of February: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., last entry 5:30 p.m.
- Closed: January 1, May 1, and December 24, 25 and 31.
Before you climb: the walls and towers close earlier than the grounds, at 5:30 p.m. in winter. The camera obscura can only be seen on the guided tour included with your ticket, with times posted at the ticket office each day.
Belém: Jerónimos Monastery and the tower
Jerónimos Monastery was begun in 1496 under King Manuel I and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983. Its church holds the tombs of explorer Vasco da Gama and poet Luís de Camões, Lisbon’s tourism office notes.
- Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., last entry 5 p.m.
- Closed: Mondays, plus January 1, Easter Sunday, May 1, June 13 and December 25.
- Tickets: book a date and time slot through the Blueticket online box office; free with the Lisboa Card.
Belém Tower is a short walk away on the waterfront. Give the area half a day, including a stop for custard tarts, and don’t plan it for a Monday.
If you book a Belém walking tour through our partner GetYourGuide, check whether Jerónimos entry is included and for which time slot, since the monastery runs on timed reservations.
See all Lisbon tours and activities on GetYourGuide
Tram 28: where it runs right now
Since May 20, 2025, Carris says the 28E no longer runs between Martim Moniz and Graça from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. During those hours the tram runs from Martim Moniz to Campo de Ourique (Prazeres), and buses cover the Martim Moniz to Graça stretch. Before 7 a.m. and after 9 p.m., it follows its usual route between Graça and Prazeres.
Check before you go: Carris calls the change temporary but has not given an end date.
3 days in Lisbon: a simple plan
- Day 1, Alfama and Baixa: São Jorge Castle at opening time, down through the viewpoints and the Sé, then the Baixa to Praça do Comércio.
- Day 2, Belém: Jerónimos on a timed ticket (not a Monday), Belém Tower, then back via LX Factory and the Ribeira market.
- Day 3, Chiado and across the river: Chiado and Príncipe Real in the morning, the ferry to Cacilhas in the afternoon, Bairro Alto in the evening. Or make it a day trip to Sintra or Cascais.
Lisbon weather: the best time to go
Lisbon has hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Average highs climb from 59 °F in January to 84 °F in August. June through September sees fewer than four rainy days a month; October through January brings about ten, and November is the wettest month.
April, May and October offer highs between 69 and 74 °F. The numbers below are 1991-2020 normals from IPMA’s Instituto Geofísico station in central Lisbon.
- Jan 4.1 in
- Feb 3.1 in
- Mar 2.7 in
- Apr 2.8 in
- May 2.3 in
- Jun 0.6 in
- Jul 0.1 in
- Aug 0.2 in
- Sep 1.5 in
- Oct 4.4 in
- Nov 5.3 in
- Dec 4.3 in
Average monthly rainfall, 1991-2020 normals (IPMA). Yellow: less than 2 in. Light blue: 2 to 4 in. Dark blue: more than 4 in.
| Month | Low / high | Rain (days) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 47 / 59 °F | 4.1 in (10) |
| February | 48 / 62 °F | 3.1 in (8) |
| March | 52 / 66 °F | 2.7 in (8) |
| April | 54 / 69 °F | 2.8 in (8) |
| May | 58 / 74 °F | 2.3 in (6) |
| June | 62 / 79 °F | 0.6 in (2) |
| July | 65 / 83 °F | 0.1 in (1) |
| August | 66 / 84 °F | 0.2 in (1) |
| September | 64 / 80 °F | 1.5 in (4) |
| October | 60 / 73 °F | 4.4 in (9) |
| November | 53 / 65 °F | 5.3 in (10) |
| December | 49 / 60 °F | 4.3 in (10) |
| Year | 56 / 71 °F | 31.2 in (76) |
Getting from the airport
Humberto Delgado Airport is on the Lisbon Metro’s Red Line, which has reached the airport since 2012. According to the metro operator, the Red Line connects with all three other lines (Green, Blue and Yellow), including at Saldanha and São Sebastião, so change there for Baixa or Chiado.
Good to know: the Red Line has occasional shutdowns, such as the one between Aeroporto and Chelas on July 28, 2026, reported by Portuguese broadcaster Renascença. Service notices are posted in stations.
Where to stay in Lisbon: Baixa, Chiado or Alfama?
On a first trip, stay in the historic center: you can walk or take the metro almost everywhere, and Belém is a tram or train ride away. The map below shows places to stay across the city.
Baixa and Chiado, to walk everywhere
Flat streets in the Baixa, with metro lines and the ferry close by. The easiest base for a short stay.
Alfama, below the castle
Lanes and viewpoints on your doorstep, but steep slopes and stairs. Not ideal with heavy luggage.
Belém, quieter by the river
Close to Jerónimos and the tower, farther from downtown and the nightlife.
Check Lisbon hotel prices and recent reviews
Entry rules, city tax, insurance and data
U.S. citizens don’t need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area, which includes Portugal. The State Department says your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure date and have two blank pages.
Lisbon charges a city tax of €4 per person per night, in effect since September 1, 2024, Portuguese daily Observador reported when the city assembly approved it. Expect to pay it at your hotel or rental, on top of the room rate.
Our partner SafetyWing Nomad Insurance shows eligibility and a quote online for medical coverage abroad; readers living in Europe can also look at Chapka Cap Assistance. For mobile data, our partner Yesim sells a Portugal eSIM you can set up before the flight on an unlocked phone.
Day trips from Lisbon
Sintra’s palaces, the Cascais coast, or the south bank beyond the 25 de Abril Bridge: pick a tour that states its departure point and return time. More options from our partner:
Lisbon FAQ
What should I do with 3 days in Lisbon?
Spend one day on Alfama and the Baixa with São Jorge Castle, one in Belém with Jerónimos Monastery, and one in Chiado and Bairro Alto with the Cacilhas ferry, or swap that last day for Sintra.
When is the best time to visit Lisbon?
April through June and September through October, with average highs of about 69 to 80 °F. July and August average 83 to 84 °F, and November is the rainiest month (IPMA 1991-2020 normals).
How much is São Jorge Castle?
€17 for adults, free for kids 12 and under and with the Lisboa Card, €8.50 for ages 13 to 25 and €14 for 65 and over.
Is Jerónimos Monastery open on Mondays?
No. It opens Tuesday through Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with timed tickets.
Is Tram 28 running?
Yes, but since May 2025 it skips the Martim Moniz to Graça section between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., when buses replace it, according to Carris.
Sources
All checked on October 27, 2026.
- IPMA (Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere), 1991-2020 climate normals, Lisboa Instituto Geofísico station (2024 edition), in Portuguese.
- U.S. Department of State, Portugal international travel information.
- São Jorge Castle, tickets and opening hours.
- Visit Lisboa, Lisbon’s tourism office, Jerónimos Monastery page, in Portuguese.
- Carris, 28E temporary interruption (May 19, 2025).
- Metropolitano de Lisboa, press release on the Red Line Alameda to São Sebastião section (August 28, 2018), in Portuguese.
- Renascença, Red Line interrupted between Aeroporto and Chelas (July 28, 2026), in Portuguese.
- Observador, city assembly approves higher tourist tax (July 24, 2024), in Portuguese.
Written by the Advised Traveler team from the sources above; we have not stayed in Lisbon for this guide. Hours and prices were checked on October 27, 2026, so confirm them before you book. Spotted an error? Tell us.