In a nutshell
- Do you already know the best places to visit in Lisbon? Then it’s time for day trips around Lisbon!
- The most popular day trips from Lisbon are the town of Sintra with its many fairytale castles and the coastal town of Cascais.
- If you don’t want to travel that far, you can head to the other side of the Tagus River and visit the Cristo Rei or enjoy a day at the beach in the Lisbon area.
- That was a little taste of what you can expect in this article. Now let’s get started with all our tips for places to visit around Lisbon.
Sintra: Fairytale Castles and Lush Mountain Scenery
How much time should you plan for a day trip from Lisbon to Sintra? At least 5 hours.
Sintra is a small town about 25 kilometers west of Lisbon and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s packed with impressive palaces and castles that sit in the middle of a lush, green landscape straight out of a fairytale.
For more than 800 years, Sintra served as the summer retreat of Portuguese kings. Today, it’s one of the most popular places to visit around Lisbon, so expect plenty of other travelers, especially during peak season.
The undisputed highlight is the Palácio Nacional da Pena with its colorful facade, towers, and battlements. But you should also make time for other sights like Quinta da Regaleira and Monserrate Palace.
How to get from Lisbon to Sintra
The easiest way to get to Sintra is by CP train from Rossio Station. The journey takes around 40 minutes, with trains running every 30 minutes. A one-way ticket costs 2.55 euros. If you have a Lisboa Card, the train ride is included.
Important: We don’t recommend going to Sintra by car. Traffic jams, limited parking, and narrow one-way streets can quickly take the fun out of your trip.
Guided tour from Lisbon to Sintra
Booking a guided tour to Sintra can be a great idea. The town is very hilly, local buses are often crowded, and the distances between sights are bigger than they look. With a tour from Lisbon, transport is organized for you, you have a guide by your side, and you’ll see the most important highlights without the hassle.
Small group tour from Lisbon to Sintra
Private tour of Sintra from Lisbon
Cascais: A Day Trip from Lisbon to the Sea
How much time should you plan for a day trip from Lisbon to Cascais? At least half a day, ideally a full day.
Cascais is one of the best places to visit near Lisbon. The mix of fresh sea air and a charming coastal town makes it incredibly easy to fall in love with.
We’re big fans of Cascais, and we’re definitely not alone. What was once a small fishing village has become one of the most popular destinations in the Lisbon area.
How to get from Lisbon to Cascais
You can easily travel from Lisbon to Cascais by train. Trains leave from Cais do Sodré Station every 20 minutes. A ticket costs 2.55 euros and can be paid with your Navegante card. If you have a Lisboa Card, the journey is included.
The ride takes about 30 minutes. Try to sit on the left side in the direction of travel for beautiful views of the coastline.
Guided tour from Lisbon to Cascais
Cascais is often combined with Sintra and Cabo da Roca on a single day trip (we’ll introduce those next). You can choose between a more affordable small group tour or a private tour.
Cascais group tour from Lisbon
Private tour to Cascais
Cabo da Roca: The Westernmost Point of Europe
How much time should you plan for the day trip? Around 30 minutes.
Cabo da Roca marks the westernmost point of mainland Europe. Dramatic cliffs, strong sea breezes, and a lighthouse perched above the Atlantic make this spot especially memorable, particularly at sunset.
Most visitors stop by briefly to enjoy the view. But if you have more time, you’ll also find fantastic hiking trails and wild beaches nearby, including Praia da Ursa.
How to get from Lisbon to Cabo da Roca
Cabo da Roca can be reached from Sintra or Cascais via bus line 1253. The ride takes around 40 minutes from either direction. All connections are shown in Google Maps.
Guided tour from Lisbon to Cabo da Roca
Cabo da Roca is best visited together with Sintra and Cascais, which makes booking a guided tour especially worthwhile.
Guided tour to Cabo da Roca incl. Sintra and Cascais
A Trip to the Beaches around Lisbon
How much time should you plan for the trip? Half a day to a full day.
A city trip to Lisbon isn’t complete without a day at the sea. Luckily, there are plenty of beautiful sandy beaches close to the city, many of them easy to reach by public transport.
If you don’t want to travel far, Praia de Carcavelos is a great choice. You can get there from Lisbon by train in around 30 minutes.
Carcavelos is also one of the best spots to learn how to surf, which is a popular activity in Lisbon. Or you can simply relax on the sand and watch the surfers from afar.
Book surf lessons in Carcavelos
Trip to Almada and Cristo Rei
How much time should you plan for this trip? At least 3 hours.
The city of Almada is just a short ferry ride from Lisbon. The boat ride across the Tagus alone is worth it, thanks to the fantastic views of the city. It’s also a great option if you’re visiting Lisbon with kids.
The main attraction here is the impressive 28-meter-tall statue of Christ the King (Santuário de Cristo Rei in Portuguese). The statue stands on a 75-meter base at 113 meters above sea level, making it one of the tallest monuments in Portugal and one of the best viewpoints in the region.
You can explore the area at the base of the statue for free, but we highly recommend taking the elevator to the top. For 8 euros, you’ll be rewarded with a breathtaking view of Lisbon.
How to get from Lisbon to the Cristo Rei
Take the green metro line to its final stop at Cais do Sodré. From the station, follow the signs to the ferry terminal.
From there, ferries run to Cacilhas every 15 minutes or so, with a crossing time of around 15 minutes. A one-way ticket costs 1.50 euros and can be paid with your Navegante card.
Once on the south bank of the Tagus, we recommend walking up to the Cristo Rei along the river.
Nazaré: The Surf Mecca of Europe
How much time should you plan for your trip from Lisbon to Nazaré? One full day.
Nazaré is a small fishing village north of Lisbon and is famous for its monster waves. In 2024, German surfer Sebastian Steudtner set the world record for big wave surfing here with an incredible 28.57-meter wave.
Watching these gigantic waves crash against the cliffs is a real natural spectacle, even if you’re not into surfing. As you can imagine, Nazaré attracts plenty of visitors who come just to see and photograph this unique phenomenon.
The best time to experience the monster waves is during the winter months from October to March. That’s when the waves are at their most powerful and the international surfing elite heads to the coast of Nazaré.
How to get from Lisbon to Nazaré
Nazaré is about 120 kilometers north of Lisbon. The easiest way to get there is by rental car, which takes around 90 minutes.
Another option is to take a bus with Rede Expressos. Tickets start at around 4 euros, and the journey takes roughly two hours.
Guided tour from Lisbon to Nazaré
If you prefer not to plan everything yourself, you can book a guided day trip from Lisbon and combine Nazaré with other beautiful places in Portugal, such as Óbidos, Batalha, and Fátima.
Day trip from Lisbon to Nazaré
Porto: Visit Portugal’s Second-Largest City
How much time should you plan for your trip? At least one full day. Two or three days are even better.
Porto may be less famous than Lisbon, but it has just as much to offer. To really do the city justice, we recommend staying overnight in Porto, although it’s also possible to visit on a long day trip from Lisbon.
Lisbon and Porto are around three hours apart by train. If you travel early in the morning and return in the evening, you’ll still have plenty of time to explore Porto’s historic city center.
If you decide to stay overnight, we can highly recommend the Baumhaus Apartments. We’ve stayed there ourselves and loved it.
How to get from Lisbon to Porto
The easiest and most comfortable way to travel is by train. You can buy tickets at the station or book them online in advance. Prices often start at around 30 euros, and the journey takes just over three hours.