Lisbon is the colourful Portuguese capital – a hotspot for tradition and Moorish structure. Its reddish terracotta roofs and fixed silhouette of Sao Jorge Castle reduce a shocking backdrop in opposition to the Atlantic Ocean, and its coastal location means loads of entry to unbelievable seashores. Regarding cities in Portugal, Lisbon comes out prime or in the highest three each time.
Of course, simply because a metropolis is so entertaining doesn’t imply you need to knuckle down there and never enterprise exterior metropolis limits. One of one of the best issues to do in Lisbon is to flee the (albeit lovely) slender streets and metropolis limits and head out on a day journey. Day journeys from Lisbon are among the many most rewarding actions when visiting the Portuguese capital.
22 Best Day Trips from Lisbon
This information will cowl one of the best day journeys from Lisbon – together with some critical inspiration for day journey concepts, starting from medieval outdated city settings to lovely seashores. If you need unbelievable day journeys, you’ve chosen the right metropolis to base your self in. Lisbon day journeys are a number of the nation’s greatest, and a day tour or two might be in your playing cards after ending this information. Read extra about Lisbon at How to Spend a Layover in Lisbon, Portugal
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Below are a number of the prime excursions for Day Trips from Lisbon. Don’t neglect to plan forward when visiting Portugal!
Top Day Trips and Tours from Lisbon:
1. Sintra
Pretty Sintra will get all the eye, and in case you are on the lookout for a tried-and-tested day journey from Lisbon, this charming village will get the highest trump. You can admire attractive royal residences, together with the Pena National Palace. Pena Palace is legendary for its shiny colours and daring structure and takes over 2.5 hours to tour due to all its grandeur and scale.
However, Sinta has loads of palaces and castles, so don’t restrict your self to 1. Sintra is the place you go to to cease by a romantic palace or two and fulfill your internal childhood goals of princes and princesses. Book your Pena Palace entry ticket in advance.
Sintra is simply half-hour from Lisbon, making it half as well-liked as it’s. It is a handy but epic day journey for anybody wanting a magical day tour from Lisbon. And you may benefit from the novelty of palaces and romantic structure in simply half a day. Read extra: 14 Best Things to Do in Sintra, Portugal
You may e-book this well-liked day tour to Sintra from Lisbon. Explore Sintra in your free time and go to Quinta da Regaleira with an knowledgeable information. You’ll additionally go to Pena Palace, Regaleira, and Cascais. Check rental automotive costs right here.
How removed from Lisbon: half-hour by automotive
2. Wine Tasting
Wine tasting is the proper Lisbon day journey. The Lisbon wine areas have three foremost teams, Bucelas, Colares, and Carcavelos. It is famed for its whites and reds. If you might be on the lookout for particular grape sorts, Trincadeira, Tinta Miuda, and Baga are greatest for his or her reds, whereas Alvarinho and Malvasia Fina are greatest amongst their whites.
Lisbon is a captivating place to e-book a wine tour, due to its countryside variation. You can have low-alcohol wines alongside its shoreline with usually crisp notes that completely match its seafood dishes. You may discover heavier inland vines you could attain in about an hour from Lisbon metropolis middle.
You can take public transportation to go wine tasting on a day journey from Lisbon. However, we’d recommend reserving an organized tour. The tour will deal with all of your transfers and transport – leaving you to sit back and revel in one of the best bit, tasting all of the native wines. Book this meals and wine tour to pattern Portuguese meals and wine.
How removed from Lisbon: Less than an hour – Check rental automotive costs right here.
3. Cabo da Roca
If you go to Lisbon, you need to go to Cabo da Roca. Cabo da Roca is the westernmost level of all of Europe and has unbelievable coastal views and panoramas over the ocean. The greatest solution to get pleasure from Cabo da Roca is with a coastal hike – so seize your mountaineering boots and prepare to traverse some rugged cliffs, stopping at little hidden seashores for picnics.
You’ll go the Cabo da Roca Lighthouse in your means, which was constructed in 1772 and is certainly one of Portugal’s most conventional and oldest lighthouses. Cabo da Roca is good if you happen to fancy a windy time out to flee the often oppressive warmth of Lisbon in summer time.
Cabo da Roca is simply half-hour by automotive and some of the accessible day journeys from Lisbon. It can be dreamy for sundown. You can perch alongside the rocky shoreline and admire pinks and comfortable oranges, ideally with a glass of one of many aforementioned wines.
How removed from Lisbon: half-hour by automotive – Check rental automotive costs right here.
4. Peniche
Peniche is a world-class browsing vacation spot over an hour’s drive from Lisbon. For small-town surfer vibes, you actually can’t beat it. This seashore city is without doubt one of the greatest day journeys from Lisbon in case you are an avid surfer or simply fancying a seashore day. The lengthy stretch of Praia dos Supertubos or Praia Baleal-Sul is ideal for seashore bums glad to sit down on the sand and paddle gently in the shallows. The waves are monumental, so this isn’t a swimming vacation spot, however it’s a unbelievable place to surf or watch the thrilling show of surfer abilities.
There are loads of boards to lease in the Peniche city middle. You gained’t battle to seek out tools, so don’t let that maintain you again. And in case you are a novice, you may simply make investments in a surf lesson.
How removed from Lisbon: 1 hour and 20 minutes by automotive – Check rental automotive costs right here.
5. Costa da Caparica
Costa da Caparica is the alternative of the normal outdated city and rural setting vibe. Instead, this extroverted resort city is stuffed with fashionable fads and the trendiest eateries. Costa da Caparica is the place for you if you’d like a spot to sip aesthetic cocktails and mingle amongst enjoyable crowds.
The city is about alongside the Costa da Caparica shoreline – 26km of sandy seashores, and it’s equally appropriate for these wanting a seashore day with a lot house that you simply don’t want to fret about discovering a spot in peak season. Fun and outgoing, Costa da Caparica has room for everybody and is a pleasant face when researching day journeys from Lisbon. Read extra: 18 Best Beaches in Portugal to Visit
Costa da Caparica is only a 25-minute drive or Uber from Lisbon metropolis middle. It is without doubt one of the closest Lisbon seashores and a possible day journey if you wish to catch an Uber with out renting a automotive or public transport.
How removed from Lisbon: 25 minutes by automotive or 1 hour by bus – Check rental automotive costs right here.
6. Obidos
Beautiful Obidos is an ultra-traditional and small medieval city that makes an epic day journey for historical past lovers. It is the type of place you need to head to in case you are vying for a standard Portuguese dish or a quaint little memento. But equally, it additionally has loads of oomph for sights. The Queen of Portugal beforehand owned it.
It stays one of many most interesting examples of Portuguese walled cities. Obidos is without doubt one of the greatest day journeys from Lisbon if you’d like the proper mixture of historical past and aesthetics and the comfort of getting every thing inside strolling distance. Read extra: 7 Reasons You Should Visit Obidos, Portugal
Obidos is simple to succeed in from Lisbon, taking simply 2 hours by prepare or one hour by automotive. We recommend driving, as this manner, you may detour to the Reserva Natural do Estuario do Tejo and Serra de Montejunto. There’s some beautiful countryside en route, and you will get into the agricultural aesthetic earlier than arriving in the white-washed city of Obidos.
How removed from Lisbon: 2 hours by prepare or about an hour north by automotive
7. Evora
Evora is the historic gem of the day journeys from Lisbon and a chosen UNESCO World Heritage Site. The metropolis has over 2,000 years of historical past and Roman historical past that pulls in the crowds, though it’s a little much less well-known than Sintra amongst your in-and-out vacationer crowd, so it shouldn’t get as busy. It has an exquisite Roman temple and an aqueduct – beautiful examples of Roman-period structure.
It is a miracle you could additionally admire these ruins at the moment since an earthquake flattened virtually all the surrounding space, Lisbon included, in 1755. Evora is sort of a fortunate appeal. And if you happen to fancy a day amongst Roman ruins and fairly cobbled streets, it’s the good place to go to.
By bus, it’s an hour and 40 minutes from Lisbon, which could sound daunting. However, since it is a direct service, it’s a breeze. Download playlist or audiobook earlier than you go, and also you’ll go the time rapidly. Check rental automotive costs right here.
How removed from Lisbon: 1.5 hours by automotive or 1 hour 40 minutes by bus
8. Ericeira
Fancy an genuine Lisbon day journey? This small fishing city is located on the well-known strip of browsing shoreline simply north of Lisbon. Of all these day journey concepts, Ericeira is greatest for these wanting a lowkey and genuine expertise. The city middle is stuffed with seafood eating places promoting regionally caught catch, whereas its seashores are sleepy other than the frantically zigzagging surfers chopping up waves. It is the one World Surfing Reserve in Europe, however not as many individuals get the memo as they do for close by Peniche. Erceira is a bit more off the overwhelmed observe and barely nearer – an enormous win-win.
We’d advocate driving to succeed in this spot, as taking public transport greater than doubles your journey time. If you detour by way of Sintra, Ericeira takes 40 minutes to get to by automotive or an hour.
How removed from Lisbon: 40 minutes by automotive – Check rental automotive costs right here.
9. Cascais
Cascais is a small city however a particularly enjoyable day journey. Moreover, this is without doubt one of the solely day journeys from Lisbon you may take by prepare versus bus, as Cascais has its personal prepare station related by the ‘Linha de Cascais.’ It is a scenic trip, taking you previous sandy seashores and coastal surroundings, and it solely takes 40 minutes from Cais do Sodre station in southwest Lisbon. The seaside resort is bubbly, with a enjoyable vibe and a mix of procuring streets and beachfront eating places. Its outdated city is the place you’ll discover the extra ‘serious sightseeing’ alternatives, with the Nossa Senhora da Luz Fort and Citadel Palace.
Cascais is a enjoyable allrounder with an impressive stability of issues to do if you’d like a fast escape from Lisbon’s metropolis middle.
How removed from Lisbon: 40 minutes by prepare
10. Nazare
Nazare is certainly one of our favourite off-the-beaten-track locations to go to in Portugal. It is legendary for its enormous waves – really holding a World Record for the scale of its waves on its superb seashores. Some skilled surfers try these waves, however it isn’t for the faint-hearted. People have misplaced their lives browsing Nazare, so it is a phenomenon greatest skilled from the dry floor for most individuals. Sit on one of many sandy seashores and revel in nature’s present with out taking part.
The motive behind these large waves? An enormous canyon – the biggest underwater canyon in Europe, to be precise – permits for big swells to type. It is a unbelievable day journey vacation spot to understand nature’s energy whereas having fun with a stunning seashore day.
How removed from Lisbon: 1.5 hours by automotive – Check rental automotive costs right here.
11. Fatima
Fatima is a Catholic pilgrimage website and some of the uncommon day journeys from Lisbon. Fatima is the proper day journey to take in your Lisbon journey in case you are religious- and even simply in spiritual historical past. Just an hour and a half north of Lisbon, it’s inside a sensible driving distance to journey there and again on the identical day, even chopping by way of Caldas da Rainha, one other day journey function in this information. Fatima is one other time period for the Virgin Mary. The Virgin Mary was coined Our Lady of Fatima after she appeared earlier than three youngsters in the village and made some fairly drastic predictions that transpired to be true.
You can go to the Sanctuary of Fatima, the positioning of the Virgin Mary’s look on the Capela das Aparicoes, and discover Catholic-related museums. Fatima is simply 1.5 hours from Lisbon by bus or automotive, so that you’ll have loads of time to spend in the city.
How removed from Lisbon: 1.5 hours by bus or automotive – Check rental automotive costs right here.
12. Castelo dos Mouros
Castelo dos Mouros is beautiful; severely beautiful. The Moorish citadel dates again to the tenth century and sits on a clifftop overlooking the encircling cities and villages on the outskirts of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. If you need a day journey from Lisbon with a ‘wow factor,’ Castelo dos Mouros is without doubt one of the most spectacular day journeys you may take. You can stroll by way of the traditional citadel partitions and revel in some dramatic views over the panorama. Be ready for a lot of steps and a few quite dizzying views, however if you happen to’ve acquired comparatively good health, you’ll be completely nice tackling this thrilling Portuguese attraction.
Castelo dos Mouros is 45 minutes from Lisbon by automotive or 1.5 hours utilizing public transport. If you select to go by automotive, you’ll be passing by way of some quaint suburbs with loads of sights – even indoor skydiving services and historic palaces. It can be well-combined with a go to to close by Sintra.
How removed from Lisbon: 45 minutes by automotive or 1.5 hours by public transport – Check rental automotive costs right here.
13. Estoril
Estoril is a well-liked day journey from Lisbon, and its main declare to fame is that it was one of many On Majesty’s Secret Service filming areas – a basic old-school James Bond film. Estoril is prosperous as an space and has that glitzy coastal vibe. The glamorous attraction is good for anybody wanting a mixture of high-end delicacies and luxurious services, plus all of the enjoyment of your normal seashore day expertise. Estoril can be tremendous near Lisbon’s metropolis middle, making it some of the handy locations you may go to on a day journey.
Estoril is only a 25-minute drive from Lisbon. You can lease a automotive or e-book a taxi or Uber, making it a possible detour for any traveler. You may attain Estoril on the Cascais prepare line, with companies operating straight from Cais do Sodre station.
How removed from Lisbon: 25 minutes by automotive or 40 minutes by prepare – Check rental automotive costs right here.
14. Setubal
Setubal is greatest recognized for its Arrabida Natural Park and ferry service to Praia Troia Mar. It is extra of a launchpad vacation spot for a lot of, however not for you; you now know higher. This city is properly value visiting in its personal proper, and it has a powerful draw – scrumptious eating places and yummy dishes. It is legendary for a lot of dishes (if you happen to ask the best crowd). You might strive candy Moscatel wine, conventional sardines, and grilled seafood. If you want someplace for dinner, Setubal is the perfect spot. As an enormous bonus, it’s slightly below an hour from Lisbon by automotive or 1.5 hours by public transportation, so that you gained’t battle to get again on a full abdomen.
Setubal is well-liked as a launchpad, however you’ll be well-impressed if you happen to uncover its super meals scene.
How removed from Lisbon: 45 minutes by automotive or 1.5 hours by public transport – Check rental automotive costs right here.
15. Azenhas do Mar
Azenhas do Mar is a tiny seaside city that sits in fairly a Cinque Terre trend on rugged sea cliffs, with homes slowly spilling down the cliff face and in the direction of the beachfront. The homes are historically shiny white with orange roofing, and an enormous sea pool is on the base close to the seashore.
Of all of the day journeys from Lisbon, Azenhas do Mar is the least more likely to come up on a vacationer radar. However, those that clock this unbelievable addition to our Lisbon day journeys are rewarded with photogenic streets, an Insta-appealing seawater pool, and scrumptious seafood. This is an genuine little seaside neighborhood with a timeless sense of favor. If you might be nonetheless getting excited, try to be.
Azenhas do Mar is simply north of Lisbon. Please don’t confuse it with the tiny Azenha do Mar additional south, nearer to Lagos. This Azenhas is only a 45-minute drive or 2 hours by public transport. It is dreamily straightforward to succeed in, particularly if you happen to rent a rental automotive. And for a quiet afternoon out of busy Lisbon, you may’t beat its stylish, peaceable vibe.
How removed from Lisbon: 45 minutes by automotive or 2 hours by public transport
16. Lagos
Lagos is an bold day journey from Lisbon, however we love together with additional day journey concepts for these desirous to push the boat out a little bit. Lagos is the gateway to the northern finish of the Algarve, a well-known part of shiny orange cliffs, sea caves, and infinite seashores. Book this Lagos Kayaking Tour to discover the caves and delightful shoreline.
It has some lovely seashores in the town’s limits, with Praia do Camilo being a agency favourite due to its steep picket steps offering clifftop entry to the seashore under. However, the walled city additionally has loads of cultural sights. You have the cutesy vibe of the outdated city, the Castle of Lagos, and the Museum of Lagos, Dr. Jose Formosinho. You can simply spend every week in Lagos, not to mention a day. But if you wish to expertise one other area of Portugal, Lagos is fabulous to squeeze in as a day journey. Read extra: 19 Best Things to Do In Lagos, Portugal
If you intend on driving from Lisbon to Lagos, you need to insure a number of drivers in the identical automotive. This is important to make the journey protected, as a 6-hour drive and a day of sightseeing is sufficient to make anybody woozy on the street. Rotating drivers, you may undoubtedly handle the journey, although, and Lagos is so enjoyable that it’s worthwhile. Lagos
How removed from Lisbon: 3 hours by automotive and three.5 hours by bus – Check Rental Car Prices Here.
17. Porto Covo
Out of all our day journeys from Lisbon, Porto Covo is without doubt one of the quietest. The little former fishing village is sleepy, however all one of the best locations benefit from a siesta right here and there, proper? Porto Covo is an excellent – and delightful – spot to sit back and embrace the sleepy coastal tradition. The village was demolished by an earthquake in 1755, however it was rebuilt excellently, and you’ll nonetheless discover custom in each nook. A pleasant contact is the painted homes. Once, blue-painted homes signaled that the home belonged to fishermen open to buying and selling provides. You may go to Pesseguerio island to see the Fifteenth-century fort and Roman ruins simply off the Porto Covo shorelines.
Porto Covo is the place to move to zen on a seashore, eat scrumptious meals, and be taught extra about Portuguese traditions and tradition. It is a low-maintenance day journey with minimal sightseeing except you wish to enterprise out to Pesseguerio Island.
How removed from Lisbon: 2 hours by automotive
18. Jeronimos Monastary
Jeronimos Monastery is gorgeous – whether or not you care about spiritual historical past or structure. The Gothic Manueline structure outcomes in substantial vaulted ceilings and beautiful decorative designs. You might simply spend hours simply strolling the monastery halls and corridors, so solid away any church-style visions and as an alternative get trying on the attractive photos of this spot. Once you’ve completed admiring the Jeronimos Monastery structure, you even have two museums inside its grounds. You can head to each the archaeology and maritime museums.
You might imagine this appears like a number of sightseeing on a day journey from Lisbon. That’s the place the Jeronimos Monastery’s handy location comes in. The monastery is only a 20-minute drive (or Uber) from central Lisbon or 30 to 40 minutes by bus. You have barely any journey time, so take your time with the sightseeing.
How removed from Lisbon: 20 minutes by automotive or 30-40 minutes by bus
19. Aveiro
Aveiro is Portugal’s Venice, and if that didn’t get your consideration, the images of it positive will. The entire metropolis is about on canals; historically, barcos moliceiros had been the prime transportation technique for harvesting seaweed. These colourful boats nonetheless drift across the streets, and you’ll e-book sure barcos moliceiros for boat rides, exactly just like the gondolas in Venice. A metropolis set on water is a simple promote, and Averio has a particular sense of serenity and water-caused novelty. So, the place does all this water come from? Well, Averio is about inside the Ria de Averio lagoon. It is an exquisite area to go to, and you need to dedicate a day journey to it.
Aside from barcos policers, there’s additionally the Salinas de Aveiro museum – a working museum displaying the method of salt harvesting. Just 2 hours away by quick prepare or 2.5 hours by normal prepare or automotive, Averio is properly value visiting from Lisbon.
How removed from Lisbon: 2.5 hours by automotive or 2 hours by quick prepare
20. Tomar
Tomar is a dream; laidback and stuffed with slender walkways and mosaic tiles. It has the type of aesthetic that you simply see in films, with cutesy bright-white buildings and turreted orange roofs. There’s even a checkerboard floored public sq.. The entire city is ideal for wandering or sitting exterior with a espresso. It additionally has some medieval-style sights, together with the Convent of Christ and Almourol Castle. Almourol Castle is probably the most distinctive caste smash in the Lisbon ‘day trip region,’ constructed on an island and solely accessible by water.
Tomar is ideal to wander round and drop into a number of totally different picturesque sights. Plus, it’s accessible by way of public transportation in just a bit longer than it takes by automotive. This means you may sit back, learn a e-book, and never fear about renting automobiles and driving licenses.
How removed from Lisbon: 1 hour and 40 minutes by automotive or 2 hours by prepare
21. Batalha
Batalha is most famed for Batalha Monastery – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and is simply an hour and 40 minutes north of Lisbon by automotive. As a day journey from Lisbon, it has some spectacular buildings and Gothic grandeur, and its foremost sights every justify a day tour in their very own proper. Coin Caves are one other well-liked motive to go to Batalha, and the limestone cave has beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Batalha is a historic city with a superb choose and mixture of sights with a robust sense of oomph and identification. Batalha is ideal if you happen to fancy a time out studying about caves and stalactites in the morning and spiritual historical past and structure in the afternoon.
It takes an hour and 40 minutes to succeed in Batalha by automotive from Lisbon. However, don’t be delay by this. Depending in your route, you’ll go some unbelievable spots, together with Fatima, Obidos, and Nazare.
How removed from Lisbon: 1 hour and 40 minutes
22. Arrábida Natural Park
Arrábida Natural Park is gorgeous. The pure park is nicknamed the Silver Coast and has white sand seashore after white sand seashore tucked alongside its shores. If you need an exquisite seashore, Arrábida Natural Park has many candidates. The pure park covers an enormous space of round 69 sq. miles and, in true Portuguese Catholic type, is house to a convent courting again to the 1500s. Spirituality isn’t removed from areas of pure magnificence, particularly in Portugal. You may discover numerous native wildlife, together with caves stuffed with uncommon species of bats.
Hiking trails greatest discover Arrábida Natural Park. However, don’t get delay by the prospect of big, daunting walks. There are loads of shorter routes if you happen to simply fancy a brief stroll after which a seashore day – get searching by way of the route choices.
How removed from Lisbon: 1 hour and quarter-hour by automotive
Day Trips from Lisbon: FAQs Me
Lisbon day journeys are one thing particular, as you now know. And with these top-day journeys from Lisbon, you may embrace a lot extra Portuguese tradition and enhance your vacationer expertise. Before you go, try these generally requested questions so you might be as ready as doable.
What is the preferred day journey from Lisbon?
Sintra is the preferred of the Lisbon day journeys. This recognition is due to its colossal palace – Pena National Palace – and likewise its cobbled avenue aesthetic. It is seen as a spot of historical past and lingering heritage, and as an enormous bonus, it’s lower than an hour north of Lisbon.
What cities can I go to from Lisbon?
On a day tour, you may go to the traditional metropolis of Evora and the medium-sized metropolis of Caldas da Rainha from Lisbon.
Can you do a day journey from Lisbon to Spain?
If you feel bold, positive. Badajoz is the simplest Spanish day journey vacation spot from Lisbon, and it takes 2.5 hours to succeed in a technique by automotive. It might be a enjoyable day journey to prepare if you wish to mix two nations in one journey.
Should I do a day journey to Porto from Lisbon?
We didn’t embrace Porto amongst our main suggestions for day journeys from Lisbon as a result of it takes 3.5 hours to get there by prepare. Furthermore, you need to permit a number of days to discover Porto. However, in case you are okay with spending 6-7 touring in a day, it’s doable to take a day journey to Porto from Lisbon. Within a day, you can see a number of museums, the enduring Ponte da Arrabida, and pattern some ports.
To Conclude
Whether you head to the National Palace or Evora’s Roman temple, taking day journeys from Lisbon will open you as much as much more pure magnificence, tradition, and Portuguese historical past. It is without doubt one of the greatest methods to maximise a go to to Lisbon. Even with only a layover in Lisbon, you can plan a day journey – so get inventive with squeezing day journeys into your itinerary.
As you may see, there are a great deal of choices. And as a result of Lisbon is situated in central Portugal, it’s handy to take day journeys utilizing public transport as a result of every thing is so well-connected. You might head over into Spain even if you happen to needed – the Spanish border cities and cities are simply 2-3 hours away by automotive. A metropolis break isn’t only a metropolis break, and when visiting Lisbon, you need to maximize your stick with exceptional day journeys. The surrounding areas have every thing from pure parks to seashore cities, mountain-top forts, and monasteries.
Have an exquisite time visiting Lisbon, and revel in sampling all these totally different day journeys. Depending on what number of you select, you need to look into automotive leases to make life simpler for your self. Portugal is a unbelievable place to embrace street journeys and day journey detours. The choices are infinite.