In a nutshell
- Already checked off the major sights in Lisbon? Time to explore the beautiful surroundings on a day trip from Lisbon.
- The top picks near Lisbon are Sintra with its fairy-tale castles and the charming coastal town of Cascais — both super easy to reach by train.
- Prefer to stay closer? Cross the Tagus to visit the Cristo Rei statue, or spend a lazy beach day at one of Lisbon’s nearby sandy shores.
- For something more adventurous, head to Nazaré for monster waves or take the train north to Porto — one of Portugal’s most beautiful cities. All the details are below.
Sintra: Fairy-Tale Castles and Mountain Landscapes
How much time should you plan? At least five hours.
Sintra is the most popular day trip from Lisbon — and honestly, it’s easy to see why. The small town is packed with fairy-tale castles and palaces, all set against a stunning mountain backdrop.
For 800 years, Portuguese kings made Sintra their summer residence. Today it’s a major tourist magnet, so be ready for crowds. Beautiful? Absolutely. Quiet? Not so much.
The standout highlight is the Palacio Nacional da Pena — its colorful facade, turrets, and battlements are seriously impressive. The Quinta da Regaleira and Monserrate Palace are also well worth your time.
How to get from Lisbon to Sintra on your own
Take a CP train from Rossio Station — the journey takes about 40 minutes, with trains running at least every 30 minutes. A ticket costs €2.40. If you have a Lisboa Card, the ride is already included.
Important: Don’t drive to Sintra. Traffic jams, impossible parking, and one-way streets make it more headache than it’s worth.
Guided tour from Lisbon to Sintra
We’d seriously recommend booking a guided excursion to Sintra. The town is very hilly, the local buses get hopelessly overcrowded, and navigating it all on your own eats up a lot of time. With a tour from Lisbon, transport is sorted, you’ll have a knowledgeable guide, and you’ll hit all the key highlights without the stress.
Small-group day trip from Lisbon to Sintra
All of our tips for Sintra can be found in a separate article
Cascais: A Day Trip to the Coastal Town
How much time should you plan? At least half a day, but a full day is better.
Cascais is one of the most popular day trips from Lisbon — and we’re totally on board with that. The combination of fresh sea air and a charming coastal town is simply hard to resist.
We love Cascais, and so do a lot of other visitors. This former fishing village has become one of the top places to visit near Lisbon. It’s a must — even if you’re only spending three days in Lisbon.
How to get from Lisbon to Cascais
The train is the way to go. Trains depart from Cais do Sodré station every 20 minutes, the ticket costs €2.40, and you can pay with the Navegante card. Got a Lisboa Card? Then the ride is included.
The journey takes about 30 minutes. Pro tip: sit on the left side in the direction of travel for a beautiful view of the coastline. Seriously stunning.
Guided day trip from Lisbon to Cascais
Cascais pairs perfectly with Sintra and Cabo da Roca (more on that below). You can choose between the more affordable small-group option or a private tour.
Group day trip from Lisbon to Cascais
Read all our tips for Cascais
Cabo da Roca: A Day Trip from Lisbon to the Westernmost Point in Europe
How much time should you plan for the trip? About 30 minutes.
Cabo da Roca is the westernmost point of the European mainland, and the scenery — a lighthouse perched above dramatic sea cliffs — is breathtakingly beautiful. The sunset here is pure romance.
Most visitors stop for a quick look at the panorama and move on. But if you have a little more time for this Lisbon excursion, there are also great hiking trails and beaches to discover, like Praia da Ursa.
How to get from Lisbon to Cabo da Roca
You can reach Cabo da Roca from Sintra or Cascais via bus line 1253. From either direction, the journey takes about 40 minutes. Check connections on Google Maps.
Guided day trip from Lisbon to Cabo da Roca
We’d recommend combining Cabo da Roca with Cascais and/or Sintra — and that’s exactly when booking a guided tour really pays off.
Guided day trip to Cabo da Roca incl. Sintra and Cascais
Day Trip to a Beach near Lisbon
How much time should you plan for the trip? Half a day to a full day.
A city trip to Lisbon wouldn’t be complete without a quick escape to the coast — there are many beautiful sandy beaches around Lisbon, and several are super easy to reach by public transportation.
If you don’t want to travel far, we recommend Praia de Carcavelos. From central Lisbon, you’ll be there in about half an hour by train.
At Carcavelos you can try surfing — it’s one of the most popular activities in Lisbon. Or just stretch out on the sand and watch the waves. Either way, it’s a great afternoon.
Book surf lessons at Carcavelos
Here you'll find even more tips for beautiful beaches around Lisbon
Day Trip to Almada and Cristo Rei
How much time should you plan for the trip? At least three hours.
On the other side of the Tagus lies the lovely town of Almada — and the short ferry ride alone makes this trip worthwhile, especially if you’re visiting Lisbon with kids.
The undisputed highlight is the massive Cristo Rei statue — one of the most spectacular attractions near Lisbon. The statue itself stands 28 meters tall, sits on a 75-meter pedestal, which rises 113 meters above sea level. The result? One of Portugal’s most impressive structures.
And of course, a phenomenal view. You can visit the grounds at the base of the monument for free. We’d strongly recommend spending the €8 on the elevator ride up to the pedestal — totally worth it.
How to get from Lisbon to the Cristo Rei statue
Take the green metro line to the last stop, Cais do Sodré, then follow the signs to the ferry terminal.
From there, take a ferry to Cacilhas. Ferries run roughly every 15 minutes and the crossing takes about 15 minutes. A one-way ticket costs €1.50, and you can pay with the Navegante card.
Once you’re across the Tagus, we recommend walking to the Cristo Rei statue — there’s a really lovely stroll along the river that makes the whole outing feel even more special.
Nazaré: A Day Trip to Europe's Surfing Mecca
How much time should you plan for the trip? A full day.
Nazaré is a small fishing village north of Lisbon, famous for its monster waves. In 2024, Sebastian Steudtner surfed a big wave world record here at Nazaré: 28.57 meters — absolutely mind-blowing.
Watching these enormous waves from the rocky promontory is a pure spectacle of nature, even if you’re not a surf fan. Just be prepared — it draws serious crowds, especially when the big swells roll in.
The best time to see the monster waves is during the winter season from October to March. That’s when the waves peak and the international surfing elite descends on Nazaré.
Getting to Nazaré from Lisbon
Nazaré is about 120 kilometers from Lisbon. The easiest way to get there is by rental car, which takes about 90 minutes.
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Alternatively, you can take a bus with Rede Expressos. Tickets are sometimes available from as little as €4 and the journey takes just under two hours.
Guided day trip from Lisbon to Nazaré
You can also book a guided full-day excursion from Lisbon that takes in other beautiful spots in Portugal along the way: Óbidos, Batalha, and Fátima.
Full-day trip to Nazaré from Lisbon
Porto: A Day Trip to Portugal's Second-Largest City
How much time should you plan for the trip? At least one day. Two or three is even better.
Porto is less well known than Lisbon, but has just as much to offer. We’d recommend spending a night in Porto to really make the most of it — though a day trip from Lisbon is definitely doable.
The two cities are about three hours apart by train. Head out in the morning and return in the evening, and you’ll have a solid day to explore Porto’s historic center.
If you do stay overnight, we recommend the Baumhaus Apartments. We’ve stayed there ourselves and really loved it.
Check out the Baumhaus Apartments in Porto
Getting from Lisbon to Porto
The most comfortable option is the train. You can buy tickets at the station or book in advance online. Tickets are usually available from €30 and the journey takes just over three hours.
Read our tips for Porto too
