Lisbon itinerary critique, please
 

Hello! My 17-year-old son and I will be visiting Lisbon for the first time at the end of May, then traveling on to Rome. Below is the itinerary I've framed out for Lisbon. What should we add and/or adjust? After considering a day in Sintra, we decided we would rather spend that time in Lisbon and visit Sintra on a future Portugal trip.

Thanks for your feedback!

Saturday

Arrive LIS early evening

Check in at accommodations in Baixa


Sunday

10 am - Half-day walking tour for an overview of the city (booked with a private guide)

Evening - SL Benfica vs. Santa Clara soccer match. Any tips for getting tickets to this? It looks like they won't go onsale until a week or two before.


Monday

Castelo de Sao Jorge

Shopping in Bairro Alto & Chiado

LX Factory


Tuesday

Jeronimos Monastery (including Maritime Museum)

Belem Tower

Monument to the Discoveries

Pasteis de Belem


Wednesday

11 am - Food tour (should last about 3.5 to 4 hours)

Late afternoon - Mosteiro de Sao Vicente de Fora (including rooftop)


Thursday

Depart LIS midday

I would definitely spend some time wandering around the Alfama district. You could do this after visiting Castelo de Sao Jorge. The Alfama was not destroyed during the earthquake in the 1700’s so it is the oldest district in Lisbon with a maze of cobblestone streets that meander uphill and downhill. The day we spent at the Castelo and then wandering the Alfama was the best day of our trip.

We enjoyed having a meal at the Time Out Market.

Do you and your son like museums? We love the Gulbenkian Museum, and the Coach Museum in Belem is interesting. We didn’t have time to visit the Tile Museum but I’ve seen photos and it looks stunning.

Thanks KarenWoo! We definitely want to spend some time in Alfama - I was planning on asking our guide if that could be part of our walking tour. We can always go back after the Castelo too.

We do like museums - the Gulbenkian would probably be more our speed than the coach museum. The tile museum is a possibility if there's time. I might do that on my own while my son relaxes at the apartment or explores elsewhere. Can't see him getting excited about tile. :-)

Tiles are so important to Lisbon and the Tile Museum is excelllent and very worthwhile. Don’t miss it.

This looks lovely. I am sorry we did not get to more museums; we were just enjoying being outdoors in Lisbon in the lovely weather and enjoying the city ore than we imagined we would. In terms of postponing Sintra, I totally agree, especially in that May will be a busy time with lots of lines, etc. Better to totally immerse in Lisbon. Have a fun trip!

The Gulbenkian is special. Select items, covering a wide area. Don't miss the Lalique jewelry.

Your son may develop an interest in tile after seeing them all over Lisbon.