11 Best Day Trips From Lisbon Portugal (2025)
Are you planning a day trip from Lisbon? If so, you’ve come to the right article.
Lisbon is the large capital city of Portugal, and has no shortage of enriching experiences. With it being the most populated city, however, it’s worth going on a day trip to escape from the crowds.
I spent three full days exploring Lisbon, and the rest of my time traveling to different regions by train. This article will cover all of the best day trips from Lisbon, from historic villages to coastal beach towns.
Here are 11 incredible day trips from Lisbon Portugal.
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Best Day Trips From Lisbon
1. Sintra
Sintra is a fairytale-like town, that’s home to medieval castles, royal palaces, historic estates, gardens, and more. You can visit Sintra by joining a group tour, or via a short 40 minute train ride from Lisbon.
The town has a small historic center with cafes, shops, and restaurants, and all of the main attractions are in the mountains.
From the historic center, you can take the 434 tourist bus to get to the Pena Palace and other attractions, since they’re located high up in the mountains.
I took the train from Rossio station to Sintra, and visited the Pena Palace and Moorish Castle in a day. It was surrounded by lush greenery, and interesting architecture that made it one of the highlights of my trip.
To avoid long lines and crowds, however, I highly recommend arriving early in the morning, and purchasing tickets to the Pena Palace beforehand.
Here are some of the top attractions to visit in Sintra (Note: All of these are accessible by the tourist 434 bus, with the expectation of Cabo de Roca).
- Pena Palace: Colorful Romanticist castle in the mountains built between 1840 and 1854
- Moorish Castle: Medieval castle built in the 8th century with stone walls, and a panoramic city viewpoint
- Quinta da Regaleira: Fairytale like castle with a spiral staircase tower
- Sintra Palace: Medieval royal palace from the early 15th century that operates as a museum
- Cabo de Roca: Lighthouse and breathtaking coastal overlook at the westernmost point of Europe!
2. Cascais
Cascais is a beautiful seaside town, 30 minutes west of Lisbon that’s easily accessible by train. If you want to relax on the beach, savor seafood, and stroll around a slower-paced town, this is the place to go.
To get to Cascais, you can take the train from Cais do Sodre, which goes back and forth from Lisbon all day (5:30am-1:30am). There are also a variety of group tours that visit both Cascais and Sintra in a day, if you don’t want to worry about transportation.
I visited Cascais by train, and spent a few hours strolling around the marina, shops, and colorful houses. It has an oceanfront marina lined with restaurants, bars, and shops, within walking distance to beautiful golden sand beaches.
Just a few minutes outside of town, you can visit Boca do Inferno, a large sea arch with striking views of the cliffs. It’s a popular tourist attraction, and has an onsite restaurant (Mar do Inferno) where you can enjoy seafood with an ocean view.
3. Belem
Belem is a short 15 minute train ride from Lisbon, and one of the most popular day trips. In Belem, you can visit the Belem tower, try the best pastel de nata at Pasteis de Belem, or tour Jeronimos Monastery.
The Belem tower is an iconic Portuguese monument that was built to defend Lisbon from enemy ships over 500 years ago. You can visit the outside for free, or tour the inside to see preserved historic rooms.
Jeronimos Monastery is a large monastery with fascinating architecture, and another popular 16th century landmark.
You only need a few hours to visit both, and they’re within walking distance to Pasteis de Belem, and restaurants. Just keep in mind that the tower and monastery are both closed on Mondays.
4. Porto
Porto is the second largest city in Portugal, and worth visiting if you love wine, or are looking for a change of scenery. It’s possible to do a day trip to Porto, but it’s best to spend at least one to two full days to fully explore the city.
I took the train from Lisbon to Porto (cost around $50 roundtrip), and spent two nights in the city. It had a slightly more laid back atmosphere, and was less crowded than Lisbon.
In Porto, I visited the cathedral, climbed up the Clerigos tower, and admired views of the Douro river while walking throughout town.
Here are some of the best things to do in Porto.
- Go on a full day wine tour of the Douro Valley
- Visit the Porto Cathedral
- Attend a fado show
- Tour port lodges in town
- Admire city views from Luis I Bridge and the top of Clerigos Tower
- Go on a cruise of the Douro river
Other day trips from Lisbon
5. Mafra
Mafra is a small town around 40 minutes north of Lisbon that’s home to the largest royal palace in Portugal.
The Mafra Palace spans over 40,000 square meters and has a monastery, courtyards, gardens, libraries, and over 1,200 rooms. It’s worth visiting to see the palace alone, and is right next to the sleeping fishing village of Ericeira if you want to spend time on the beach.
There’s no direct train to Mafra, so the best way to get there is to take the 2803 bus from Lisbon, which stops right by the palace.
6. Obidos
Obidos is a historic village, an hour north of Lisbon, with medieval palaces, churches, and beaches. It has a small village vibe, and it’s one of the most photogenic areas of Portugal.
To get to Obidos from Lisbon, you can take a bus (1 hour), train (2 hours), or join a group tour. It’s a more touristy town, so there’s a variety of group tours offered from Lisbon.
7. Evora
Evora is an interesting medieval town located around 1.5 hours from Lisbon. It’s home to an ancient Roman temple, gothic cathedral, the Chapel of Bones, and a historic center with restaurants and shops.
This is the ideal day trip if you want to admire architecture and see unique historic sites. To get there from Lisbon, there’s a direct train and express bus, both of which take around 1.5 hours.
8. Algarve
If you have a rental car, it’s worth going on a road trip to the Algarve. The Algarve is the sunny, southernmost region of Portugal with charming seaside villages and picturesque beaches.
In the Algarve, you can relax on one of the many idyllic beaches, kayak to the Benagil caves, stroll around old town Lagos, and more. It’s around a 3 hour drive from Lisbon, and the region consists of multiple towns (e.g. Albufeira, Lagos, Tavira).
9. Setubal
Setubal is a little port city, around 45 minutes south of Lisbon. In Setubal, you can go on a dolphin watching tour, relax on the tropical beaches of Arribada national park, tour a winery, and much more. It’s an easy day trip from Lisbon, and is accessible by bus and train.
10. Coimbra
Coimbra is a riverside city in Central Portugal, around 2 hours north of Lisbon. It’s home to Portugal’s oldest university, a charming old town, and one of the largest excavated ancient Roman ruin sites (Conimbriga Ruins)! To get there, you can take a direct train or bus from Lisbon.
11. Peniche
Peniche is an alluring seaside fishing village around an hour north of Lisbon. In Peniche, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the coast from the fortress and lighthouse, relax on the beaches, or go on a boat trip to the Berlengas Islands.
This is an ideal day trip if you’re visiting Portugal during the summer, or if you’re renting a car. There’s no direct train, but there’s a bus that runs regularly between Lisbon and Peniche.
Summary
Portugal has dozens of interesting cities to visit, whether you love history, architecture, beaches, or wine. Some of the most easily accessible day trips from Lisbon are Belem, Cascais, and Sintra.
If you only have time for one, I highly recommend visiting Sintra. It’s easily accessible by public transportation, and the most beautiful area I visited while in Portugal.
And if you’re visiting during the summer, it’s worth checking out Cascais, and the beautiful beach towns of the Algarve region.
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