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"  Day 1 One thing strikes every first-time visitor to Lisbon: It&amp;#039;s way too calm for a capital. People are in no rush, streets smell like vanilla pastries because of all the bakeries (no calorie-counting there!), and women&amp;#039;s tans last at least half a year. (Sunbathing in March? Of course.) Start off your day with breakfast at Tartine, a chic little bakery in the Chiado neighborhood, and order sweet bread (always freshly made), with butter and jam. Make sure you ask for &amp;quot;caf\u00E9 Americano,&amp;quot; since a cup of coffee in Portugal translates into a single (very strong) shot of espresso. Legend has it that Lisbon was originally built on seven hills so it is only appropriate that you head to the highest one, S\u00E3o Jorge, where a centuries-old castle with the same name still sits overlooking the entire historic downtown and the Tagus River. Hop on one of the legendary old yellow trolleys lurching their way up the narrow streets of the hill. On your way back, walk through the Alfama neighborhood, the oldest one in Lisbon, located between the S\u00E3o Jorge castle and the Tagus. The area, a tranquil labyrinth of cobblestone streets lined with intricately tiled buildings, will make you feel like you have stepped back in time. On Tuesdays and Saturdays, browse through the Feira da Ladra, a big flea market that fills the streets with vendors selling antiques and artisanal objects. In the evening, head for Clube de Fado to enjoy some live fado (some call it the soul music of Portugal) and local delicacies such as octopus salad and bacalhau com natas (oven-baked dried and salted codfish with onions, cream, and potatoes). A glass (or two) of red wine from the northern Douro region in Portugal will make for the perfect finish to your day.  Day 2 Lisbon&amp;#039;s most monument-packed area is Bel\u00E9m. The cultural district west of the city center offers some of the most historically important and breathtaking sights. A ten-minute ride on Tram 15 or a train from the Cais do Sodr\u00E9 station will take you to the area that was a starting point for many great Portuguese explorers embarking on their voyages of discovery. Vasco da Gama spent his last night in the Jer\u00F3nimos Monastery, a magnificent sixteenth-century Gothic building with elaborate sculptural details and maritime motifs, before leaving for India. Other highlights of the district include the Museum of Carriages, the Bel\u00E9m Tower, and the Museu Cole\u00E7\u00E3o Berardo, which displays works by Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dal\u00ED, Jackson Pollock, and Jeff Koons. One place in Bel\u00E9m has become almost as popular as the historical landmarks that surround it. People line up every day at Past\u00E9is de Bel\u00E9m, a bakery that has been selling Portugal&amp;#039;s famous custard tarts since the nineteenth century. Don&amp;#039;t bother asking the bakers for the recipe; it&amp;#039;s one of the country&amp;#039;s most well-kept secrets. Hop on the train again and spend an afternoon on the beach in Cascais, a coastal town 15 miles west of Lisbon that served as the royal family&amp;#039;s residence for five centuries and is now a go-to vacation destination for celebrities. In addition to the gorgeous sand beaches and well-preserved old buildings, the town has an array of seafood restaurants that offer top-notch dishes. Try the squid with vegetables and potatoes at Luzmar or have some grilled sardines, a Portuguese classic, at one of the many waterfront dining places overlooking the bay.  Day 3 Sintra, an idyllic town only a few miles west of Lisbon, is your perfect fairy-tale mountain escape. Built at the foot of the highest peak of the Serra de Sintra range, every corner of this UNESCO-protected town is a testament to Portugal&amp;#039;s rich cultural heritage. Stop by the artisan stores selling handmade ceramic pieces, and then take in the town&amp;#039;s architecture, with elaborate estates incorporating Renaissance, Gothic, and Moorish influences. For lunch, grab a francesinha, a sandwich with melted cheese and lingui\u00E7a sausage, before heading to Sintra&amp;#039;s most visually eccentric attraction, the Pena National Palace. Perched on the top of a hill, overlooking the entire town, this yellow and pink castle brings together Moorish, Gothic, and Manueline elements. On your way back from Sintra, get off at the Rossio station in downtown Lisbon and hit the stores. Check out the boutiques of well-known Portuguese designers F\u00E1tima Lopes and Anna Salazar in Chiado, as well as the many concept stores constantly popping up along the steep streets of Bairro Alto, a hip neighborhood that is the center of Lisbon&amp;#039;s flourishing art and design scene. For dinner, try 100 Maneiras, a restaurant located on a quiet narrow street in Chiado. The intimate salon feels very homey, and the menu changes depending on what fresh produce is available at Lisbon&amp;#039;s Ribeira market, where the restaurant&amp;#039;s chef shops every day. Bairro Alto transforms itself from a typical quiet Lisbon neighborhood during the day to a lively meeting place that is at the heart of the city&amp;#039;s nightlife after sunset. Small bars suddenly open up everywhere and cocktail-sipping patrons hang out on the streets until the wee hours. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.elle.com/culture/travel-food/a12562/lisbon-travel-itinerary/>