Lisbon · Portugal
Two Days in Lisbon, Downhill All the Way
Chiado mornings, Belém stone and one of Europe's most underrated dinner tables.
6 min read · Updated September 2026
Lisbon is a city of hills and viewpoints, and the sensible way to see it is to be carried up and walk down. Take the tram or the lift, then let gravity do the rest.
Two days is enough for Chiado, Belém and one long dinner — provided you resist the temptation to add Sintra.
Day 1 — Chiado and the river
14:00 · Stay
Bairro Alto HotelAsk for a room on the square side, then take the first drink on the sixth-floor terrace.
20:00 · Eat
BelcantoTwo stars, five minutes' walk from the hotel. Book a month out; the first seating is easier.
Day 2 — Belém before the buses
09:30 · Do
Jerónimos MonasteryBuy the cloister ticket online the night before and go straight in at opening.
Know before you go
- — Tram 28 is charming and pickpocketed in equal measure; keep your phone away.
- — Cobbles are polished to a shine and lethal in rain — flat, gripped soles only.
- — Most kitchens do not open for dinner before 19:30, and locals eat at 21:00.