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 unimaginable 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 must knuckle down there and never enterprise exterior metropolis limits. One of the very best issues to do in Lisbon is to flee the (albeit stunning) 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day journeys from Lisbon – together with some critical inspiration for day journey concepts, starting from medieval outdated city settings to stunning seashores. If you need unimaginable day journeys, you’ve chosen the proper metropolis to base your self in. Lisbon day journeys are among the nation’s finest, and a day tour or two will likely 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 among 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 in search of 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 vivid 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 interior 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 common 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 can even e-book this common 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 automobile costs right here.
How removed from Lisbon: half-hour by automobile
2. Wine Tasting
Wine tasting is the right Lisbon day journey. The Lisbon wine areas have three essential teams, Bucelas, Colares, and Carcavelos. It is famed for its whites and reds. If you’re in search of particular grape sorts, Trincadeira, Tinta Miuda, and Baga are finest for his or her reds, whereas Alvarinho and Malvasia Fina are finest amongst their whites.
Lisbon is a captivating place to e-book a wine tour, because of its countryside variation. You can have low-alcohol wines alongside its shoreline with sometimes crisp notes that completely match its seafood dishes. You can even discover heavier inland vines that you would be able to attain in about an hour from Lisbon metropolis heart.
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 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 automobile costs right here.
3. Cabo da Roca
If you go to Lisbon, you must go to Cabo da Roca. Cabo da Roca is the westernmost level of all of Europe and has unimaginable coastal views and panoramas over the ocean. The finest method to take pleasure in Cabo da Roca is with a coastal hike – so seize your mountain 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 means, which was constructed in 1772 and is certainly one of Portugal’s most conventional and oldest lighthouses. Cabo da Roca is good should you fancy a windy day trip to flee the sometimes oppressive warmth of Lisbon in summer season.
Cabo da Roca is simply half-hour by automobile and one of the crucial accessible day journeys from Lisbon. It can also be dreamy for sundown. You can perch alongside the rocky shoreline and admire pinks and gentle oranges, ideally with a glass of one of many aforementioned wines.
How removed from Lisbon: half-hour by automobile – Check rental automobile 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 seaside city is among the finest day journeys from Lisbon in case you are an avid surfer or simply fancying a seaside day. The lengthy stretch of Praia dos Supertubos or Praia Baleal-Sul is ideal for seaside bums pleased to take a seat 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 implausible place to surf or watch the thrilling show of surfer expertise.
There are loads of boards to hire in the Peniche city heart. You gained’t wrestle to seek out gear, 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 automobile – Check rental automobile costs right here.
5. Costa da Caparica
Costa da Caparica is the other of the standard outdated city and rural setting vibe. Instead, this extroverted resort city is stuffed with trendy fads and the trendiest eateries. Costa da Caparica is the place for you in order for you 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 seaside 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 heart. It is among the closest Lisbon seashores and a possible day journey if you wish to catch an Uber with out renting a automobile or public transport.
How removed from Lisbon: 25 minutes by automobile or 1 hour by bus – Check rental automobile 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 you must head to in case you are 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 among the finest day journeys from Lisbon in order for you the right mixture of historical past and aesthetics and the comfort of getting all the pieces 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 practice or one hour by automobile. We recommend driving, as this fashion, you may detour to the Reserva Natural do Estuario do Tejo and Serra de Montejunto. There’s some beautiful countryside en route, and you may get into the agricultural aesthetic earlier than arriving in the white-washed city of Obidos.
How removed from Lisbon: 2 hours by practice or about an hour north by automobile
7. Evora
Evora is the historic gem of the day journeys from Lisbon and a delegated 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 a gorgeous Roman temple and an aqueduct – beautiful examples of Roman-period structure.
It is a miracle that you would be able to additionally admire these ruins right this moment since an earthquake flattened virtually the entire surrounding space, Lisbon included, in 1755. Evora is sort of a fortunate allure. And should you fancy a day amongst Roman ruins and fairly cobbled streets, it’s the excellent 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 superb playlist or audiobook earlier than you go, and also you’ll move the time rapidly. Check rental automobile costs right here.
How removed from Lisbon: 1.5 hours by automobile 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 finest for these wanting a lowkey and genuine expertise. The city heart is stuffed with seafood eating places promoting domestically caught catch, whereas its seashores are sleepy other than the frantically zigzagging surfers slicing 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 monitor and barely nearer – an enormous win-win.
We’d suggest driving to succeed in this spot, as taking public transport greater than doubles your journey time. If you detour by Sintra, Ericeira takes 40 minutes to get to by automobile or an hour.
How removed from Lisbon: 40 minutes by automobile – Check rental automobile costs right here.
9. Cascais
Cascais is a small city however a particularly enjoyable day journey. Moreover, this is among the solely day journeys from Lisbon you may take by practice versus bus, as Cascais has its personal practice 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 combination of buying 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 excellent stability of issues to do in order for you a fast escape from Lisbon’s metropolis heart.
How removed from Lisbon: 40 minutes by practice
10. Nazare
Nazare is certainly one of our favourite off-the-beaten-track locations to go to in Portugal. It is legendary for its large 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 this can be a phenomenon finest skilled from the dry floor for most individuals. Sit on one of many sandy seashores and luxuriate in nature’s present with out taking part.
The cause behind these massive waves? An enormous canyon – the biggest underwater canyon in Europe, to be precise – permits for big swells to kind. It is a implausible day journey vacation spot to understand nature’s energy whereas having fun with a stunning seaside day.
How removed from Lisbon: 1.5 hours by automobile – Check rental automobile costs right here.
11. Fatima
Fatima is a Catholic pilgrimage website and one of the crucial uncommon day journeys from Lisbon. Fatima is the right day journey to take in your Lisbon journey in case you are religious- and even simply in non secular 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 slicing by Caldas da Rainha, one other day journey characteristic 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 automobile, so that you’ll have loads of time to spend in the city.
How removed from Lisbon: 1.5 hours by bus or automobile – Check rental automobile costs right here.
12. Castelo dos Mouros
Castelo dos Mouros is beautiful; severely beautiful. The Moorish fortress 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 among the most spectacular day journeys you may take. You can stroll by the traditional fortress partitions and luxuriate in some dramatic views over the panorama. Be ready for a lot of steps and a few somewhat dizzying views, however should you’ve bought comparatively good health, you’ll be completely wonderful tackling this thrilling Portuguese attraction.
Castelo dos Mouros is 45 minutes from Lisbon by automobile or 1.5 hours utilizing public transport. If you select to go by automobile, you’ll be passing by 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 automobile or 1.5 hours by public transport – Check rental automobile 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 enchantment is good for anybody wanting a mixture of high-end delicacies and luxurious amenities, plus all of the enjoyment of your normal seaside day expertise. Estoril can also be tremendous near Lisbon’s metropolis heart, making it one of the crucial handy locations you may go to on a day journey.
Estoril is only a 25-minute drive from Lisbon. You can hire a automobile or e-book a taxi or Uber, making it a possible detour for any traveler. You can even attain Estoril on the Cascais practice line, with companies working instantly from Cais do Sodre station.
How removed from Lisbon: 25 minutes by automobile or 40 minutes by practice – Check rental automobile costs right here.
14. Setubal
Setubal is finest identified 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 (should you ask the suitable crowd). You may 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 automobile or 1.5 hours by public transportation, so that you gained’t wrestle to get again on a full abdomen.
Setubal is common as a launchpad, however you’ll be well-impressed should you uncover its super meals scene.
How removed from Lisbon: 45 minutes by automobile or 1.5 hours by public transport – Check rental automobile 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 vivid white with orange roofing, and an enormous sea pool is on the base close to the seaside.
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 implausible 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 group with a timeless sense of favor. 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 should you rent a rental automobile. And for a quiet afternoon out of busy Lisbon, you may’t beat its stylish, peaceable vibe.
How removed from Lisbon: 45 minutes by automobile 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 just a little. Lagos is the gateway to the northern finish of the Algarve, a well-known part of vivid orange cliffs, sea caves, and limitless seashores. Book this Lagos Kayaking Tour to discover the caves and delightful shoreline.
It has some stunning seashores in town’s limits, with Praia do Camilo being a agency favourite because of its steep picket steps offering clifftop entry to the seaside 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 propose on driving from Lisbon to Lagos, you must insure a number of drivers in the identical automobile. 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 automobile 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 among 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 can even 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 seaside, eat scrumptious meals, and be taught extra about Portuguese traditions and tradition. It is a low-maintenance day journey with minimal sightseeing except you need to enterprise out to Pesseguerio Island.
How removed from Lisbon: 2 hours by automobile
18. Jeronimos Monastary
Jeronimos Monastery is gorgeous – whether or not you care about non secular historical past or structure. The Gothic Manueline structure outcomes in substantial vaulted ceilings and beautiful decorative designs. You may simply spend hours simply strolling the monastery halls and corridors, so solid away any church-style visions and as an alternative get wanting 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 plenty 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 automobile or 30-40 minutes by bus
19. Aveiro
Aveiro is Portugal’s Venice, and if that didn’t get your consideration, the photographs of it positive will. The entire metropolis is about on canals; historically, barcos moliceiros had been the prime transportation methodology 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 straightforward 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 throughout the Ria de Averio lagoon. It is a gorgeous area to go to, and you must 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 practice or 2.5 hours by normal practice or automobile, Averio is properly value visiting from Lisbon.
How removed from Lisbon: 2.5 hours by automobile or 2 hours by quick practice
20. Tomar
Tomar is a dream; laidback and stuffed with slender walkways and mosaic tiles. It has the kind 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 essentially the most distinctive caste break 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 completely different picturesque sights. Plus, it’s accessible through public transportation in just a bit longer than it takes by automobile. This means you may chill, learn a e-book, and never fear about renting automobiles and driving licenses.
How removed from Lisbon: 1 hour and 40 minutes by automobile or 2 hours by practice
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 automobile. As a day journey from Lisbon, it has some spectacular buildings and Gothic grandeur, and its essential sights every justify a day tour in their very own proper. Coin Caves are one other common cause 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 identification. Batalha is ideal should you fancy a day trip studying about caves and stalactites in the morning and non secular historical past and structure in the afternoon.
It takes an hour and 40 minutes to succeed in Batalha by automobile from Lisbon. However, don’t be delay by this. Depending in your route, you’ll move some unimaginable 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 seaside after white sand seaside tucked alongside its shores. If you need a gorgeous seaside, 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 courting again to the 1500s. Spirituality is rarely removed from areas of pure magnificence, particularly in Portugal. You can even discover various native wildlife, together with caves stuffed with uncommon species of bats.
Hiking trails finest discover Arrábida Natural Park. However, don’t get delay by the prospect of giant, daunting walks. There are loads of shorter routes should you simply fancy a brief stroll after which a seaside day – get searching by the route choices.
How removed from Lisbon: 1 hour and quarter-hour by automobile
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’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 because of 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 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 formidable, positive. Badajoz is the simplest Spanish day journey vacation spot from Lisbon, and it takes 2.5 hours to succeed in a method by automobile. It may very well 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 embody Porto amongst our major suggestions for day journeys from Lisbon as a result of it takes 3.5 hours to get there by practice. Furthermore, you must enable a number of days to discover Porto. However, in case you are 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 possibly can see a number of museums, the long-lasting 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 among the finest methods to maximise a go to to Lisbon. Even with only a layover in Lisbon, you possibly 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 all the pieces is so well-connected. You may head over into Spain even should you needed – the Spanish border cities and cities are simply 2-3 hours away by automobile. A metropolis break is rarely only a metropolis break, and when visiting Lisbon, you must maximize your stick with exceptional day journeys. The surrounding areas have all the pieces from pure parks to seaside cities, mountain-top forts, and monasteries.
Have a beautiful time visiting Lisbon, and luxuriate in sampling all these completely different day journeys. Depending on what number of you select, you must look into automobile leases to make life simpler for your self. Portugal is a implausible place to embrace street journeys and day journey detours. The choices are limitless.