Three Days in Lisbon

Explore the neighborhood of Alfama, the oldest part of Lisbon. Wind your way up through the medieval streets to Castelo Sao Jorge to get a sense of Lisbon's past. On your way down, stop at the Miradouro Santa Luzia, a popular viewpoint offering beautiful views of the river and overlooking the neighborhood rooftops. Stop and relax with a refreshment at the nearby kiosk.

• Lunch at Prado, a light and airy restaurant serving farm-to-table fare.

• Visit the National Tile Museum to see the evolution of the azulejo, the tiles covering many buildings in Portugal.

• Join a food tour in the late afternoon to sample food and drink specialties of Lisbon like bifana and ginjinha.

Spend the morning in the neighborhood of Belém. Visit the Monastery of Jeronimos. Vasco Da Gama's tomb is in the church as well as other Portuguese dignitaries. It was built was the wealth of the explorations in the 15th century, and the architecture displays their new status in the world.

After exploring the monastery and the cloisters, grab a pastel de Nata at the home of the original egg tart treat, Casa Pastéis de Belém. Across the street on the waterfront, visit the Monument to the Discoveries, honoring navigators of Portugal's glory era. Continue down the avenue to the Belém Tower, also celebrating the early voyages of exploration.

For lunch, stop in at the Time Out Market, where you can choose from a wealth of stalls, including some of the city's best restaurants. After, wander through the Baixa area of Lisbon. This includes the largest square in Europe, the Plaça do Comercio. Walk through the Arch of Triumph and up the Rua Augusta to experience the hub of Lisbon's downtown dotted with shops and cafes.

Start with breakfast at A Brasileira, a historic cafe for both coffee and poets, who once met here. Wander the streets of Chiado and Bairro Alto. In Chiado find the iconic yellow Bica trams that move up and down the steep street while tourists and locals alike gather to watch. Hop on the or the trolleys in the nearby square for a ride. Chiado is also a bustling area of shops where you can come across some unique finds, including one of the oldest bookstores.

In Bairro Alto, a high point in the city, enjoy a viewpoint over the lower city, relax in a tree-lined square, Largo do Carmo, and visit the Convent do Carmo. The site is the remains of a convent destroyed in the 1755 earthquake, and serves as a living memory.

• Catch the sunset and a cocktail at Park Rooftop.

• Dine at Bairro de Avillez for modern Portuguese food in a lovely setting.