Lisbon is the colourful Portuguese capital – a hotspot for tradition and Moorish structure. Its reddish terracotta roofs and fixed silhouette of Sao Jorge Castle lower a surprising 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 within the prime three each time.
Of course, simply because a metropolis is so entertaining doesn’t imply it’s best to knuckle down there and never enterprise outdoors metropolis limits. One of the very 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 the very best day journeys from Lisbon – together with some critical inspiration for day journey concepts, starting from medieval previous city settings to lovely seashores. If you need unbelievable day journeys, you’ve chosen the proper metropolis to base your self in. Lisbon day journeys are a few of the nation’s greatest, and a day tour or two can 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 few 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 if you’re on the lookout for a tried-and-tested day journey from Lisbon, this charming village will get the highest trump. You can admire beautiful royal residences, together with the Pena National Palace. Pena Palace is known 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 inside childhood goals of princes and princesses. Book your Pena Palace entry ticket prematurely.
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 possibly can 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 ebook this well-liked day tour to Sintra from Lisbon. Explore Sintra in your free time and go to Quinta da Regaleira with an skilled 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 right Lisbon day journey. The Lisbon wine areas have three primary teams, Bucelas, Colares, and Carcavelos. It is famed for its whites and reds. If you’re 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 an interesting place to ebook a wine tour, due to its countryside variation. You can have low-alcohol wines alongside its shoreline with sometimes crisp notes that completely match its seafood dishes. You may discover heavier inland vines you can 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 counsel reserving an organized tour. The tour will deal with all of your transfers and transport – leaving you to chill and luxuriate in the very 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, it’s best 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 technique to get pleasure from Cabo da Roca is with a coastal hike – so seize your climbing boots and prepare to traverse some rugged cliffs, stopping at little hidden seashores for picnics.
You’ll move the Cabo da Roca Lighthouse in your method, which was inbuilt 1772 and is one in all Portugal’s most conventional and oldest lighthouses. Cabo da Roca is right when you fancy a windy time out to flee the sometimes oppressive warmth of Lisbon in summer season.
Cabo da Roca is simply half-hour by automotive and one of the vital accessible day journeys from Lisbon. It can also 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 if you’re 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 joyful to take a seat on the sand and paddle gently within the shallows. The waves are huge, so this isn’t a swimming vacation spot, however it’s a incredible place to surf or watch the thrilling show of surfer expertise.
There are loads of boards to hire within the Peniche city middle. You received’t battle to seek out tools, so don’t let that maintain you again. And if you’re a novice, you possibly can simply spend money on 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 standard previous city and rural setting vibe. Instead, this extroverted resort city is filled 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 ready alongside the Costa da Caparica shoreline – 26km of sandy seashores, and it’s equally appropriate for these wanting a seashore day with a lot area that you just 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 kind of place it’s best to head to if you’re vying for a conventional 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 right mixture of historical past and aesthetics and the comfort of getting the whole lot inside strolling distance. Read extra: 7 Reasons You Should Visit Obidos, Portugal
Obidos is straightforward to succeed in from Lisbon, taking simply 2 hours by prepare or one hour by automotive. We counsel driving, as this manner, you possibly can 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 within 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 attracts within 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 attractive Roman temple and an aqueduct – beautiful examples of Roman-period structure.
It is a miracle you can additionally admire these ruins at present since an earthquake flattened virtually all the surrounding space, Lisbon included, in 1755. Evora is sort of a fortunate allure. And when you 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 this can be a direct service, it’s a breeze. Download a good playlist or audiobook earlier than you go, and also you’ll move the time shortly. 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 filled with seafood eating places promoting domestically caught catch, whereas its seashores are sleepy aside from 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 crushed 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 via 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 an especially enjoyable day journey. Moreover, this is without doubt one of the solely day journeys from Lisbon you possibly can 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 purchasing streets and beachfront eating places. Its previous 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 steadiness 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 one in all our favourite off-the-beaten-track locations to go to in Portugal. It is known for its big waves – truly holding a World Record for the dimensions 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 this can be a phenomenon greatest skilled from the dry floor for most individuals. Sit on one of many sandy seashores and luxuriate in nature’s present with out collaborating.
The motive behind these huge waves? An enormous canyon – the most important underwater canyon in Europe, to be precise – permits for big swells to kind. It is a incredible day journey vacation spot to understand nature’s energy whereas having fun with a beautiful seashore day.
How removed from Lisbon: 1.5 hours by automotive – Check rental automotive costs right here.
11. Fatima
Fatima is a Catholic pilgrimage web site and one of the vital uncommon day journeys from Lisbon. Fatima is the right day journey to take in your Lisbon journey if you’re religious- and even simply curious about non secular historical past. Just an hour and a half north of Lisbon, it’s inside a practical driving distance to journey there and again on the identical day, even chopping via Caldas da Rainha, one other day journey function on 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 within the village and made some fairly drastic predictions that transpired to be true.
You can go to the Sanctuary of Fatima, the location 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 within 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; critically 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 desire a day journey from Lisbon with a ‘wow factor,’ Castelo dos Mouros is without doubt one of the most spectacular day journeys you possibly can take. You can stroll via the traditional citadel partitions and luxuriate in some dramatic views over the panorama. Be ready for a lot of steps and a few fairly dizzying views, however when you’ve bought comparatively good health, you’ll be completely fantastic 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 via some quaint suburbs with loads of sights – even indoor skydiving amenities and historic palaces. It can also 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 traditional old-school James Bond film. Estoril is prosperous as an space and has that glitzy coastal vibe. The glamorous attraction is right for anybody wanting a mixture of high-end delicacies and luxurious amenities, plus all of the enjoyment of your commonplace seashore day expertise. Estoril can also be tremendous near Lisbon’s metropolis middle, making it one of the vital handy locations you possibly can go to on a day journey.
Estoril is only a 25-minute drive from Lisbon. You can hire a automotive or ebook a taxi or Uber, making it a possible detour for any traveler. You may attain Estoril on the Cascais prepare line, with providers operating immediately 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 price visiting in its personal proper, and it has a formidable draw – scrumptious eating places and yummy dishes. It is known for a lot of dishes (when you ask the best crowd). You might attempt 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 received’t battle to get again on a full abdomen.
Setubal is well-liked as a launchpad, however you’ll be well-impressed when you 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 vogue on rugged sea cliffs, with homes slowly spilling down the cliff face and in 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 prone to come up on a vacationer radar. However, those that clock this incredible 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 fashion. If you’re nonetheless getting excited, you ought 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 when you rent a rental automotive. And for a quiet afternoon out of busy Lisbon, you possibly can’t beat its elegant, peaceable vibe.
How removed from Lisbon: 45 minutes by automotive or 2 hours by public transport
16. Lagos
Lagos is an formidable day journey from Lisbon, however we love together with additional day journey concepts for these desirous to push the boat out somewhat. 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 within the metropolis’s limits, with Praia do Camilo being a agency favourite due to its steep wood steps offering clifftop entry to the seashore beneath. However, the walled city additionally has loads of cultural sights. You have the cutesy vibe of the previous 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 propose on driving from Lisbon to Lagos, it’s best 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 highway. Rotating drivers, you possibly can 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 the very best locations profit from a siesta right here and there, proper? Porto Covo is an excellent – and delightful – spot to chill 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 go to zen on a seashore, eat scrumptious meals, and study extra about Portuguese traditions and tradition. It is a low-maintenance day journey with minimal sightseeing until 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 non secular historical past or structure. The Gothic Manueline structure leads to 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 a substitute get wanting on the beautiful 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 feels like plenty of sightseeing on a day journey from Lisbon. That’s the place the Jeronimos Monastery’s handy location is available 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 certain will. The complete metropolis is ready 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 ebook 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 ready inside the Ria de Averio lagoon. It is an attractive area to go to, and it’s best to dedicate a day journey to it.
Aside from barcos policers, there’s additionally the Salinas de Aveiro museum – a working museum exhibiting the method of salt harvesting. Just 2 hours away by quick prepare or 2.5 hours by commonplace prepare or automotive, Averio is properly price 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 filled with slender walkways and mosaic tiles. It has the kind of aesthetic that you just see in films, with cutesy bright-white buildings and turreted orange roofs. There’s even a checkerboard floored public sq.. The complete city is ideal for wandering or sitting outdoors with a espresso. It additionally has some medieval-style sights, together with the Convent of Christ and Almourol Castle. Almourol Castle is essentially the most distinctive caste destroy within 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 possibly can chill, learn a ebook, 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 primary 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 wonderful choose and mixture of sights with a robust sense of oomph and id. Batalha is ideal when you fancy a time out studying about caves and stalactites within the morning and non secular historical past and structure within the afternoon.
It takes an hour and 40 minutes to succeed in Batalha by automotive from Lisbon. However, don’t be postpone by this. Depending in your route, you’ll move 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 attractive seashore, Arrábida Natural Park has many candidates. The pure park covers an enormous space of round 69 sq. miles and, in true Portuguese Catholic model, is residence to a convent relationship again to the 1500s. Spirituality is rarely removed from areas of pure magnificence, particularly in Portugal. You may discover various native wildlife, together with caves filled with uncommon species of bats.
Hiking trails greatest discover Arrábida Natural Park. However, don’t get postpone by the prospect of giant, daunting walks. There are loads of shorter routes when you simply fancy a brief stroll after which a seashore day – get shopping via 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 possibly can embrace a lot extra Portuguese tradition and enhance your vacationer expertise. Before you go, take a look at these generally requested questions so you’re as ready as potential.
What is the most well-liked day journey from Lisbon?
Sintra is the most well-liked of the Lisbon day journeys. This recognition is due to its colossal palace – Pena National Palace – and in addition its cobbled road 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 possibly can 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’re feeling formidable, certain. 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 may very well be a enjoyable day journey to prepare if you wish to mix two international locations in a single journey.
Should I do a day journey to Porto from Lisbon?
We didn’t embody Porto amongst our major suggestions for day journeys from Lisbon as a result of it takes 3.5 hours to get there by prepare. Furthermore, it’s best to permit a number of days to discover Porto. However, if you’re okay with spending 6-7 touring in a day, it’s potential to take a day journey to Porto from Lisbon. Within a day, you would 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 would plan a day journey – so get artistic with squeezing day journeys into your itinerary.
As you possibly can see, there are a great deal of choices. And as a result of Lisbon is positioned in central Portugal, it’s handy to take day journeys utilizing public transport as a result of the whole lot is so well-connected. You might head over into Spain even when you needed – the Spanish border cities and cities are simply 2-3 hours away by automotive. A metropolis break is rarely only a metropolis break, and when visiting Lisbon, it’s best to maximize your stick with exceptional day journeys. The surrounding areas have the whole lot from pure parks to seashore cities, mountain-top forts, and monasteries.
Have a beautiful time visiting Lisbon, and luxuriate in sampling all these totally different day journeys. Depending on what number of you select, it’s best to look into automotive leases to make life simpler for your self. Portugal is a incredible place to embrace highway journeys and day journey detours. The choices are infinite.