This post details ten of the best day trips from Lisbon, Portugal. By car, bus or train here are the best places to go visit when leaving from Lisbon!
Lisbon will quickly become one of your favorite European cities. Once you land at Lisbon airport, you will feel right at home and never want to leave.
After you finish entertaining yourself with these 12 things in Lisbon, hit the road and head out of the big city to one of these amazing destinations.
This post is a collaboration of my favorite blogger’s ideas for the best day trips from Lisbon. I hope it helps you to plan your next trip to Portugal!
1. The historic landmarks in Sintra
Gina from Jet Set and Forget
The first-day trip you need to take from Lisbon has to be the city center of Sintra. When I first visited, I thought I was in a fairytale. The city center of Sintra has multiple historic castles, perfectly manicured gardens and so many wonderful sites that it is very hard just to see it all in one day.
Taking the train to the city center is best, as parking can be challenging on the narrow streets and small parking lots. Once you arrive rent a bike or an electric car if you want to make the most of your visit. If not, you will need to take the city bus to each area and the bus can take a while, trust me on this.
Take a few hours to explore the gardens and trails of Quinta da Regaleira. The colorful Pena Palace has a vast garden surrounding the area and you can bring your lunch and picnic at the base of the castle.
It’s a very romantic city that you can get lost in for hours. Check out this post to see 14 fun things to do in Sintra.
While in Sintra, get your flip-flops ready and head to the ocean to check out the next location…
2. Cabo da Roca
Marta from Learning Escapes says:
One of my favorite day trips from Lisbon is a visit to the rugged cliffs of Cabo da Roca. Located about 40 km East of the city, Cabo da Roca is said to be the most westerly point of continental Europe and is a place of great natural beauty.
The ‘cabo’ is a small promontory stretching into the Atlantic with cliffs plunging into the Ocean from a height of over 100 mt. It is overlooked by a lighthouse and your sight stretches out to the Atlantic and the coastline between Sintra and Cascais, as you step along pathways surrounded by grass and spring blooms.
You can reach Cabo da Roca easily either by car or bus. The area has a small café and souvenir shop but is otherwise free from tourist facilities, making it a true pleasure to experience.
The best way to visit is to come on a bright day and follow the well- indicted coastal path. It offers incredible views over the ocean and makes for fantastic photo ops!
3. Obidos
Whitney of Designs For Travel
Take a day trip from Lisbon and go to the hilltop 14th-century town of Obidos. It’s about a one-hour drive along a scenic highway, to the free parking lot across from the entrance. Obidos is one of the most picturesque towns in Portugal.
With terracotta tiled whitewashed houses adorned with flowers and a medieval wall that extends the entire circumference, it is not a wonder why it’s such a popular tourist destination. Climb the stairs and walk along the walls, all the way around, taking in the spectacular views. Go back into town and try the traditional Portuguese cherry liqueur, ginja, made in Obidos.
It’s even better when it is served out of an edible chocolate cup! Meander through the streets, check out the castle, then browse the bookstore and the other small shops selling local products. For more information on Portugal and a detailed itinerary, read my Portugal Itinerary.
4. Evora
James from the Portugalist – the Portugal travel blog says:
Situated just 132 km from Lisbon’s city center, the small city of Évora is perfect for a day trip from Lisbon. The journey takes just under an hour and a half by car, and there are also plenty of coach services that offer organized bus trips.
Évora is the capital of the Alentejo, a part of Portugal that’s known for its powerhouse red wines, bread production, and rural way of life. While the city does attract a reasonable number of tourists, it’s still off the beaten path for a lot of people: most people just visit Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve.
There’s plenty to see and do in Évora, though, particularly if you’re just visiting for the day. History lovers will enjoy exploring the Roman Temple of Évora and the Cathedral of Évora, while the spooky Capela dos Ossos is such a unique attraction that few people can pass it up. If you’re visiting Évora by car, it’s also worth driving out to visit the Almendres Cromlech standing stones just outside of the city.
A trip to Évora also allows you to try some dishes that are unique to the Altentejo like migas, açorda, porco preto, and cacao, as well as the wonderful range of wines on offer here. A day isn’t quite enough to see everything, and especially to taste everything.
You’ll just have to come back for a little longer next time and see and eat everything that you didn’t get to this time around as it is one of the best day trips from Lisbon.
5. Batalha
Liza from Tripsget says:
One of the best day trips from Lisbon is a trip to a beautiful town called Batalha, which is located in the Leiria District of Portugal. Batalha could be easily reached by car in less than 2 hours (I honestly feel traveling by car is the best way to explore Portugal – you can even get to Porto) and it’s worth visiting because of its Gothic monastery (Batalha Monastery).
The monastery took over 100 years to be completed and was opened in the 16th century. Nonetheless, it has been well kept since then and it looks pretty intact nowadays!
6. Fatima
Priyanko from the Constant Traveller says:
Visiting Fatima is the closest you will come to Nirvana in Portugal. Not for nothing is this Portugal’s most visited religious place. The Christian place of pilgrimage is where three little shepherd children reported seeing apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1917. For over a century now, devotees, nuns, and high-ranking officials have been visiting Fatima to pray.
The atmosphere around the entire religious complex is peaceful and somber. You will find devotees in deep prayer, some of them walking barefoot while others are haunched on their knees. Giant flames of candle smoke in a corner and the reading of the Psalms add another dimension to the complex.
Make sure you visit the main church – Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary – that contains the tomb of two of the shepherd children Jacinta and Francisco. Apart from this, there is a modern new church on the opposite side where regular prayer meetings are held throughout the day. Make sure to sit through one to let the atmosphere of the place soak you in.
Getting here is easy from Lisbon’s main bus station Sete Rios with buses departing every hour to Fatima. You will be dropped half a mile from the sanctuary with shops and souvenirs directing you to the entrance. Alternatively, take a guided tour to Fatima for half a day from any reputable tour company in Lisbon.
7. Berlenga Island
Maria & Rui from Two Find a Way says:
Portugal is known for its historical cities, charming towns, and white sandy beaches – all of which you can find around the capital, Lisbon. What many don’t is that amongst all the Portuguese treasures you can also find the Berlengas archipelago, a protected area since the 15th century.
In the archipelago you can easily visit the biggest island, Berlenga – the perfect place to spend a day. There are plenty of easy hikes that will help you explore the island and lead you to its most famous landmark, the Fort of São João Baptista. There is, of course, a lot of nature to see, both on land and in the sea, where many choose to snorkel. You can also take a boat excursion around the island to explore its most famous caves.
To get there, you first need to find your way to Peniche’s harbor where you can catch a boat to the Berlenga Island. Most companies only do the trip between May and September. Although there are some public transportation options, if you’re planning to visit as a day trip from Lisbon, your best bet is to rent a car.
It will take you around an hour to get to Peniche, and then approximately 30 minutes on the boat. If you have time, explore the area around Peniche, known as Portugal’s Silver Coastas it is also one of the best day trips from lisbon.
8. Santiago do Cacem
Julianna from The Discoveries Of Says:
Santiago de Cacém is not a particularly well-known spot outside of Portugal but it’s brimming with history and makes for a great day trip from Lisbon. A quaint, cobbled town in the Alentejo region, its only a couple of hours away from Lisbon by bus, but feels like another world from another time.
Santiago de Cacém is an important stop on the Camino de Santiago’s Portuguese Way. It’s also the beginning of the Historical Way on the beautiful Rota Vicentina – a series of trails that showcase the landscapes and culture of the Algarve and Alentejo.
More than this, it’s well worth a day trip in and of itself. Traditional restaurants, gorgeous houses decorated with beautiful azulejos tiles, and cobbled streets – half of Santiago de Cacém’s appeal is just wandering around. The historic center is one of the best-preserved in Portugal – a maze of narrow streets winding around the Conde de Bracial Square.
There are a few sights you shouldn’t miss while you are there. The Castle – a Moorish fort that sits atop the hill, towering over the town, is certainly worth visiting.
Don’t forget to check out the views while you’re up there – the landscape of the town and the surrounding Alenetjan countryside isn’t one you’ll forget in a hurry. You should also pop into the nearby Chapel of St Peter – a beautiful church that dates from the 16th century.
You can get a bus directly from Lisbon – it takes just over two hours, or you can drive if you have a car, which takes 1.5 hours. Either way, it’s easy to do as a day trip from the city.
9. Setubal
Denise from Luxury Travel Magazine
Setúbal is only a 40-minute drive away from Lisbon. It’s a picturesque place with beautiful cliffs, nice beaches, and a charming harbor. A big part of it lies in the Arrábida Natural Park. Go to Cabo Espichel, where you will have an amazing view over the Atlantic, or go on a hunt for dinosaur fossils. Besides that, Setúbal is also one of the few places in Europe where you can spot wild dolphins. And that’s something that only a few people know.
Go to the harbor and take the boat with Vertigem Azul. They will show you the beautiful beaches, the harbor of Tróia, and the wonderful fortress of Santiago do Outão. After an hour you will begin to see the first dolphins. It’s a group of 29 bottlenose dolphins, with some young ones, that keeps coming back since 1998. They like the surroundings so you have a 99% chance to spot them. The captain can recognize every one of them by their fin.
The boat leaves 2 times a day from Setúbal, so make sure to book your seat. It will take 3 hours to do the whole tour and you can do it all year round. The tour is eco-friendly, as they only observe the dolphins for research, and they don’t get too close. Otherwise, the dolphins can get stressed out.
10. Porto (for the adventurous driver)
Maire from Temples and Treehouses says:
Porto is a beautiful historic city in northern Portugal, with a medieval old town filled with cobbled streets and period buildings. Although it’s the second biggest city in Portugal after Lisbon, it has a quaint villagey atmosphere.
Set on a river, Porto is also a lovely city for going on a river cruise as you get to take in a lot of the city’s cutest buildings by boat. There’s also a fun cable car ride that’s a great way to enjoy the skyline and get your bearings.
One thing you have to do in Porto, if you drink alcohol, is go to port tasting. Porto’s famous for its port and a lot of port producers offer tastings for only a few Euro. As well as the sweet ruby port you’re most likely to be familiar with, there are white, blush, and tawny varieties that are extremely fun to sample in the sunshine.
Porto is around three hours from Lisbon by rail or road, so if you choose to visit on a day trip from Lisbon it’s a very full day, but well worth the trip in my opinion. Even better though would be to stay for a day or two. That is why it is one of the best day trips from Lisbon!
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