For travelers eager to experience the culture, sights, and food in a part of Europe that feels fresh and new, Lisbon couldn’t be a more perfect getaway. The capital of Portugal has never been a hotter destination to visit, and it only takes a few days in Lisbon to see why. But you shouldn’t stop with the sights around this fun city, as you can take Lisbon day trips that are just as entertaining. Any of these day trips will show you some of the best things to see in Portugal outside of Lisbon – and these are just the start.
How to Get Around
Although you can make many of these day trips with public transport, consider renting a car for the day to give yourself more flexibility and independence. With your own four wheels, you control your time and schedule. Depending on how many people are in your group, renting a car might even work out to be cheaper than other forms of transportation. You can compare car rental deals and find the lowest prices at Rentalcars.com, an aggregation site that searches and displays prices and availability from hundreds of car rental companies, helping you find the best possible car for your budget.
Don’t want to drive or deal with the hassle of public transport? No worries! We’ve listed the best tour for each day trip (where available).
Sintra
When anyone starts talking about the best day trips from Lisbon, the town of Sintra is sure to pop up in the conversation. This former resort town not far from Lisbon is loaded with beautiful landmarks, each with its own cultural and historical significance.
In the middle of town, you’ll find the National Palace of Sintra, which really sets the tone for your visit with its preserved interior. You don’t need to go far to experience other glamorous palaces, such as the Quinta da Regaleira with its spiraling inverted towers and the boldly colorful National Palace of Pena that rests above it all. Elsewhere among the forest and hills, you’ll see the Castle of the Moors overlooking the town. You can also set out for a hike along one of the forest’s many walking trails.
Further reading: The Ultimate Guide to Visit Sintra in Portugal
Getting there: Regional trains to Sintra leave from Lisbon every 10 minutes, getting there within 40 minutes. For a more relaxed visit, though, allow someone else to handle the logistics on a guided tour with a small group.
Cascais
If you’re looking for some nice beach time, Cascais is a great place to start. This resort town is just west of Lisbon along the Atlantic coast and provides a fantastic selection of beaches. Popular choices include the harbor beach of Praia da Ribeira, the city beach of Praia da Conceição, and many more near neighboring Estoril.
Thanks to its beaches and traditional tiled streets, Cascais has a relaxed seaside vibe, offering a nice break from Lisbon’s bustling ways. The town also has a few interesting sights, such as the seaside cave of Boca do Inferno, the Santa Marta Lighthouse and its museum, and the old Fortress of Our Lady of Light overlooking the harbor.
Getting there: Cascais is one of the easy train trips from Lisbon, with regional trains leaving every 15 minutes. Another option is to visit both Cascais and Sintra on a day tour.
Óbidos
Some towns, despite being small or remote, are essential tourist destinations for the experience they provide. An excellent example is the historic walled town of Óbidos, one of the most popular day tours from Lisbon. It’s not the easiest place to reach, but once you’re walking among the wonderfully preserved and colorful traditional houses, the trip there will be worth it.
After admiring the white, yellow, and blue houses, do a lap along the precarious path around the town walls. You can see the whole town from here, from the central Castle of Óbidos to Igreja deSão Tiago, a historic church that now functions as a bookshop. You can also find cool sights beyond the town walls, such as the rustic abandoned windmill and ancient aqueduct. During your sightseeing, don’t miss a chance to try the local cherry liqueur, ginja.
Getting there: As Óbidos is a stop on many tours of central Portugal, a guided tour is the most common way to see the town along with other destinations in this region. If you only want to see Óbidos, take the one-hour Rapida Verde bus, which runs every hour on weekdays (but less frequently on weekends).
Sesimbra
There’s plenty of nature to explore in Portugal, and Sesimbra is a great place to experience its diversity. Set at the Setúbal Bay south of Lisbon, this town is best known for its fishing industry and beaches. Right in the center of town, you’ll come across Praia do Ouro and Praia da Califórnia, two lovely sand beaches.
Watching over Sesimbra is the diverse Arrábida Natural Park, which is full of rolling hills, beaches, vineyards, and epic coastline. Thanks to this variety of landscapes, the park is quite popular for outdoor activities like hiking, diving, and mountain climbing. Also not far from Sesimbra is the dramatic, barren coastline of Cabo Espichel. Standing atop the eroded cliffs, you get a chance to appreciate this stunning stretch of Portugal’s Atlantic coast.
Getting there: You can get to Sesimbra on a 50-minute bus ride from Lisbon. With how large Sesimbra and Arrábida are, though, a guided tour is the best way to cover a lot of ground.
Setúbal
Often ignored in favor of more extravagant destinations, Setúbal is a working-class port city with raw character. As you wander down the narrow streets and alleys of its historic center, you’ll see city life unconcerned with the regular tourist traps. One of the few landmarks in the city center is the Monastery of Jesus of Setúbal, which is home to a museum of 15th- and 16th-century art. From the historic center, head for the relaxed Albarquel Urban Park by the waterfront and the city beaches.
To see some of Portugal’s trademark azulejo tiles, head up to Rua do Forte (Fort Street), which features a fantastic terrace with city views. For the best views of Setúbal, though, you need to visit the Fort of São Filipe. This historic fortress is now a hotel, but you can still explore the ramparts and look out over the city.
Getting there: Setúbal is easy to reach from Lisbon, with regular bus and train connections taking around 50 minutes to get there.
Coimbra
Can’t get enough of charming and historic Portuguese cities? Then you’ll want to check out Coimbra, one of the best places to visit in Portugal. Though it was once the capital of Portugal, the city is best known for its historic university, which actually occupies the former Coimbra Royal Palace. Inside this hilltop palace at the center of the Old Town, you’ll see elegant halls and antiquated classrooms, but the most impressive sight is the magnificent Joanina Library.
Back down in the Old Town are plenty of classic European sights, including the Old Cathedral of Coimbra, the scenic square of Praça 8 de Maio, and the beautiful Mondego riverfront. Across the river lies another important landmark, the St. Francis Convent.
Getting there: The train ride to Coimbra from Lisbon takes roughly two hours, with fairly regular connections. Alternatively, consider combining Coimbra with other destinations on a guided tour of this part of Portugal.
Fátima
As the country’s major Catholic pilgrimage destination, Fátima is an important cultural site and one of the best side trips from Lisbon. This town in central Portugal is an ideal day trip for not only Catholics, but also anyone interested in significant religious and historic destinations.
A visit to the town centers on the Sanctuary of Fátima, the religious complex that sprung up after the Virgin Mary was said to have appeared multiple times in 1917. This shrine features the original Chapel of the Apparitions and a basilica on either side of the square – the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary and the Basilica of the Holy Trinity. You can learn more about the apparitions of the Virgin Mary at the Wax Museum of Fátima, which takes a novel approach to the town’s history.
Getting there: Tours to Fátima often stop at other interesting destinations, such as Alcobaça and Nazaré, so they’re an excellent way to take this day trip. However, you can also reach Fátima on the bus, which leaves frequently and takes an hour and 30 minutes to get there.
Évora
There’s no better day trip for a glimpse into Portugal’s past than Évora, a town east of Lisbon in the Alentejo region. Évora is so rich in preserved history that it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’re bound to be charmed instantly by its whitewashed houses and quaint medieval streets, which reflect the mix of cultures that have left their mark on Évora.
At the heart of the historic city center stands the Cathedral of Évora, featuring sensational architecture and towers that you can climb for special rooftop views. Less glamorous but just as intriguing is the Chapel of Bones, with human skulls and bones decorating its interior. One of the town’s most significant historic landmarks is the Roman Temple of Évora, which dates back to the first century A.D. Not far from Évora lies the Cromlech of the Almendres, a complex of ancient megalithic monuments.
Getting there: You have several options for reaching Évora from Lisbon, including a train that runs several times a day and takes an hour and 30 minutes for the journey. The bus takes 15 minutes longer but makes up for it by running every hour. If you want to learn a lot about the town’s history and see the Cromlech of the Almendres, though, a guided tour is the way to go.
Ericeira and Mafra
Thanks to Portugal’s endless coastline and beaches, its surf industry is booming. In fact, one of the best places to visit from Lisbon is the seaside town of Ericeira. This traditional fishing village has plenty of character and scenery, giving you a chance to see coastal Portugal at its best. If you want to and have time, you can even take surfing lessons here at the Ericeira World Surfing Reserve, which is the first reserve of its kind in Europe.
Just inland from Ericeira is the lesser-known city of Mafra, featuring the centerpiece Palace of Mafra. This vast building contains not only the former royal residence, but also a convent and library that you can tour.
Getting there: Hourly buses run from Lisbon to Ericeira and Mafra, and buses between the two are even more frequent. For an easier time seeing both cities, though, it may be best to take an organized tour.
Almada
Almada could easily be mistaken as still being a part of Lisbon, but this city is very much its own place. The two cities share the monumental 25 de Abril Bridge but are surprisingly different in atmosphere otherwise. Though the Tagus River separates them, Almada is only a short trip from Lisbon.
A visit to Almada should start with the seaside neighborhood of Cacilhas, where you can look back to Lisbon over the water and admire the lighthouse. Heading up past the elevated Old Town, you might want to stop at the Panoramic Elevator of Boca do Vento for some beautiful views. You’ll eventually come to the most obvious attraction of Almada, the Sanctuary of Christ the King. Standing 110 meters tall, this replica of Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer statue is hard to miss and offers more superb viewpoints of Lisbon, from both the foot and the top of the monument.
Getting there: Certainly the easiest place to reach from Lisbon, Almada is just a 10-minute ferry ride from the Cais do Sodré terminal.
While we think these are the destinations you should consider first, they certainly aren’t the only day trips you can take from Lisbon. There’s plenty to see in Portugal beyond its capital city, so just think of these spots as some good places to start.
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