We will have only two full days in Lisbon in September. There are so many things to see and do. How do we narrow it down? What are the must see places? Thanks.

Lisbon central is in a valley if I recall correctly and on each side of the valley are the gems - take the famous elevator up to the Baixa, a neat section:

https://www.google.com/search?q=baix...HWC-B9YQsAQIGw


and to the west antique hill-climbing trams to the Alfama - to me the dreamiest oldest-looking section of Lisbon:

http://lisbon-portugal-guide.com/lis...n-tram-28.html

https://www.google.com/search?q=alfa...HUgHDIYQsAQIGw


Belem though in Lisbon is a few miles away along the riverfront and has some really monumental buildings and a renewed seaside esplanade. Check out the cool old-world food and veg market by the seaside train station:

https://www.google.com/search?q=bele...HTWmCPQQsAQIHg

The National Palace of Queluz and it's extensive gardens are well worth a visit.

I would spend one day in the center of Lisbon as described above (do not miss the Castel de Sao Jorge above Alfama) and for the other head out of town to see the Belen Tower and the Jeronimous Monastery.

Thanks, folks. Any further suggestions are welcome. We are considering staying in Alfama in a hotel with a riverfront view.

Lisbon is spread around and very hilly in places , takes time to get around.
A visit to Belem can be done in less than half a day....the Monostery is splendid.

Are you seeing Sintra on another day? If not, I would cover Sintra one day and do a tour the second day. Tours usually cover Jeronimos monastery, belem tour, monument of discoveries, several viewing points around the city and give a flavor of the various districts including Alfama.

bookmarking

Yes, danon, we plan to visit Sintra.

A slight correction to some information above: the Baixa is the flat neighborhood surrounded on two sides by hills and on one side by the river. You can take the Elevador de Santa Justa up the hill to the Chiado and Bairro Alto.

I took the on/off bus for one day and got to see pretty much what I wanted! Sintra is wonderful! Easy to see-take the train.