Portugal’s capital is packed with activities and attractions (enough for a 10-day trip at least).
It even rivals nearby tourist hotspots like Barcelona. But one of the best things about Lisbon is the fact that it puts you just a few hours (often less) from beautiful beaches, unique towns and bustling cities. With good public transport connections, there are budget-friendly ways to take day trips from Lisbon. If you’re looking for the most flexibility, our car hire search tool makes it easy to find the vehicle you need.
The best beaches for a day trip from Lisbon
Lisbon is close to some stunning coastal towns with soft, warm sands and impressive waves.
Nazare
Distance from Lisbon: 2 hours by train or 1h 30 min by car.
What to bring: Beach gear and walking shoes for exploring the town.
Expert Tip: If you want to try your hand at Nazare’s big waves, check out the 2-hour lessons offered by Nazare Surf School.
Nazare is famous for its big-wave surfing, but non-surfers can simply sit and enjoy the warm, golden sands of Praia do Norte. Make time to head up to the Miradouro da Pederneira on foot or ride the Nazare Funicular. They both provide a beautiful view of the town and the ocean, and the Funicular lets you explore the upper town. Visit Sao Martinho do Porto Beach to enjoy a calmer, less-crowded day on the sands.
Peniche
Distance from Lisbon: 2h 10 min by bus or 1h 20 min by car.
What to bring: Beach gear and a jacket if you’re heading to Berlengas.
Expert Tip: Stop at the cosy Cafe do Mercado for coffee and a snack or a full meal.
Next door to Nazare, Peniche’s beaches are just as good as its historic old town. Peniche is also connected to the stunning Berlengas Islands archipelago, a natural reserve that’s home to a thriving unique ecosystem. It takes roughly an hour to reach the islands by ferry and about 30 minutes via a speedboat.
Cascais
Distance from Lisbon: 1 hour by train or 40 minutes by car.
Price: Around €4 (roughly £3.40) for the museum, beaches are free.
What to bring: Beach gear and a picnic lunch.
Expert Tip: While most beaches in Cascais are best for swimming and relaxing, the exposed Praia do Guincho is the place to go for watersports.
While Nazare’s beaches are beloved for their surfable waves, the waters of Cascais are perfect for those who want calm, clear waters. Praia da Conceicao and Praia da Duquesa are the two main beaches, with plenty of space even on busy days. These beaches are perfect for a family day trip, with seats and umbrellas available to hire. Don’t forget to pay a visit to one of the town’s 19th-century villas, like the buttercup-yellow Palácio dos Condes de Castro Guimaraes, which houses an interesting museum.
The perfect Lisbon to Sintra day trip
Distance from Lisbon: 1 hour by train or 30 minutes by car.
Price: Around €13 (roughly £11.40) for online tickets to Pena Palace.
What to bring: Comfortable walking shoes and a baby carrier if you normally use a buggy.
Expert Tip: Buy your tickets to Pena Palace before you go. You’ll still need to wait in line to get in, but you’ll skip the long ticket line.
Easily one of the most popular day trips from Lisbon, Sintra is perhaps best known for the red and yellow Pena Palace. It’s a picturesque sight on its own and the sweeping views from the top of the palace are worth the trip inside. There are a number of other grand buildings, like Quinta da Regaleira and Monserrate Palace; you should visit the latter for its facade, even if you don’t have time to head inside. Many of these buildings have fascinating histories that will engage adults and kids alike. Grab a relaxed tapas lunch at Tascantiga, and make sure you ride the Sintra Tram before you leave.
The best walks around Lisbon
The area around Lisbon is packed with natural beauty; at this park you can immerse yourself in the landscapes.
Arrabida Natural Park
Distance from Lisbon: 1h 30 min by train or 45 minutes by car.
Price: Free to enter, tours start at €60 (roughly £51).
What to bring: Comfortable hiking shoes.
Expert Tip: Along the Windmill Ruin Route, you can visit the Quinta do Piloto winery for a tour and some samples.
Arrabida Natural Park sits between the lovely coastal towns of Setubal and Sesimbra. It’s big enough that you could spend a day driving around it, but it’s also home to some excellent hiking trails. If you start in Palmela, you can take one of the most popular: the roughly 2-hour Windmill Ruin Route. As the name suggests, you’ll come across abandoned windmills along the way, as well as scenic landscapes and the remains of Roman ruins.
Santuário da Peninha Trail
Distance from Lisbon: 1 hour by train or 35 minutes by car
What to bring: Comfortable hiking shoes.
Expert Tip: It’s best to drive to this trail as walking to the start of the route from Sintra takes a few hours.
The Santuário da Peninha Trail in Sintra’s mountains takes you to the ruins of the St. Saturnine hermitage. It’s an atmospheric, scenic walk that’s relatively easy to complete. It takes roughly four hours and you’ll be rewarded with stunning views when you reach the peak.
Cultural day trips from Lisbon
These fascinating small towns offer art, history and a love of literature.
Obidos
Distance from Lisbon: 2 hours by train or 1h 10 min by car.
What to bring: A reusable shopping bag to store your souvenirs.
Expert Tip: Grab lunch at Tasca Torta, a cosy restaurant with a friendly atmosphere just a few minutes from Sao Tiago.
Obidos is a UNESCO city of literature and book lovers will want to pay a visit to the Livraria de Santiago bookshop housed inside a 12th-century church. Stroll down the Rua Direita and visit the shops selling handcraft goods and Ginja de Obidos liquor. This is also where you’ll find the Municipal Museum, which takes you through the town’s artistic history inside an 18th-century manor.
Barreiro
Distance from Lisbon: 1 hour by train or 36 minutes by car.
What to bring: Walking shoes
Expert Tip: You can enjoy classic Portugese fare at the Casa Velha pub
Once an industrial hub, Barreiro has become known for its street art, beaches and food. There are numerous museums where you can learn more about the town’s history like the Casa Museu Alfredo da Silva and the Reservas Museológicas Visitáveis. You can also pay a visit to the ADAO cultural centre which has a stunning facade.
Alges Adventure Park: the activity to trigger your adrenaline
Distance from Lisbon: 31 minutes by train and bus or 21 minutes by car.
Price: From €20 (around £17) per adult.
What to bring: comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty or wet.
Expert Tip: Consider stopping at the Asturias café on your way into or out of Alges. They have delicious vegan and non-vegan options available.
Just outside Lisbon, you can take a trip through the treetops at Adventure Park. You’ll have to make your way through obstacles and across narrow bridges, before speeding your way past the trees on zip lines. You can also enjoy a canoeing tour, play laser tag in the woods, or brush up on your orienteering. Young adventurers can enjoy the Little Forest Circuit.
Portuguese cities that you can visit easily from Lisbon
These nearby cities are packed with interesting sights and delicious restaurants.
Evora
Distance from Lisbon: 1h 45 min by train or 1h 30 min by car.
What to bring: Walking shoes
Expert Tip: Try wild boar at the Vinho e Noz restaurant.
History is firmly on display in Evora, at the heart of the Alentejo region. Spend the day exploring a 1st-century Roman temple before visiting the 17th-century Chapel of Bones, where skulls and bones line the walls.
Porto
Distance from Lisbon: 2h 50 min by train or 3h 10 min by car.
What to bring: Walking shoes and comfortable clothes
Expert Tip: The seafood at eLeBe Baixa is perfect for a relaxing lunch.
Porto is a city full of gorgeous churches. Don’t miss the beautiful Chapel of Souls, with its blue and white walls and neoclassical architecture. Make sure to at least pass by the exteriors of Sao Francisco and Igreja de Santo Ildefonso as well. For a great view of the city, visit the Miradouro da Vitoria or climb the Clerigos Tower.
Santarém
Distance from Lisbon: 1 hour by train or car.
What to bring: Walking shoes, a hat and a charged camera for a lot of photos
Expert Tip: Have lunch at the Taberna do Quinzena
This beautiful, historic city is well worth the quick trip from Lisbon. You can dive into its history at the Museu Municipal de Santarém which hosts a range of fascinating archaeological finds. Walk along the walls of the Portas do Sol for gorgeous views and visit the city’s beautiful churches (including an 18th-century Franciscan monastery).
The most delicious day trips around Lisbon
Enjoy delicious wine and traditional custard tarts made by the experts.
Palácio da Bacalhôa Vineyard
Distance from Lisbon: 1h 30 min by train or 40 minutes by car.
What to bring: Comfortable clothes and walking shoes
Price: Around €14 (about £12) for the combined Palace and museum tour
Expert Tip: Guided tours take place at 10 am and 3 pm each day. It’s best to make a booking ahead of time.
The Palácio da Bacalhôa is a vineyard, a palace, and a museum. The estate once belonged to the Royal Family and now it creates a range of delicious wines. You can take a tour through the grounds and the estate, including the garden with a winding maze. The tour takes around an hour and a half and will finish with a wine tasting.
The original Portuguese tarts in Belem
Distance from Lisbon: 45 minutes by train or 20 minutes by car.
Price: Roughly €1.30 (around £1.10) for a tart, €8 (about £6.90) for a box of six.
What to bring: A sweet tooth.
Expert Tip: Belem can also be a stop on the way to or from Adventure Park.
Bite-sized and delicious, Portuguese tarts today are eaten around the world. With a trip to Belem, you can enjoy these tasty treats (known in Portugal as Pasteis de Nata) at Pasteis de Belem, which has been making theirs since 1837. Situated just on the outskirts of Lisbon, you can make a day of enjoying different food in the area. Have lunch at the nearby Pateo Alfacinha and try flaky croissants and palmiers at Pastelaria Careca.
The most kid-friendly day trip: Dino Parque Lourinha
While kids are sure to love the beaches and palaces at Lisbon’s best day trip destinations, this trip is tailor-made with young travellers in mind.
Distance from Lisbon: 1h 30 min by train or 2 hours by car.
Price: Around €10 (around £8.60) for kids, €14 (£12) for adults.
What to bring: Bring a notebook for your kid to jot things down as they explore.
Expert Tip: Buy tickets online for a discount.
Kids can live their own dinosaur adventure at Dino Park Lourinha, the biggest open-air museum in Portugal. Come face to face with 200 full-scale dinosaur models and walk through different prehistoric periods. Kids (and adults!) can learn about dinosaurs, palaeontology and fossils while exploring.
The perfect day trip from Lisbon, by Katherine
Take the train from Central Lisbon at 8:30 am.
- 1h train trip.
■ Arrive at Sintra and head to Pena Palace.
- Spend 1h 30min exploring the palace.
■ Enjoy a delicious lunch at Tascantiga.
- Take the 1253 bus – 10 minutes.
■ Visit Monserrate Palace.
■ Have dinner at Romaria de Baco in town.
- Take the hour-long train back to Lisbon.
■ Arrive at 10 pm in Lisbon.
Conclusion
If you’re considering an extended stay in Lisbon, these day trips are a great way to add some variety to your trip. If you’re looking for more inspiration on how to spend your time in the city, our 10-day guide to Lisbon can give you a full plan and our list of the top 20 things to do in Lisbon will fill in any gaps in your itinerary.
Frequently asked questions about the day trips from Lisbon
Before your day trips from Lisbon, make sure you read the most frequently asked questions, answered by KAYAK.
Is Porto worth a day trip from Lisbon?
Is Lagos a day trip from Lisbon?
Is Evora a day trip from Lisbon?
Can you do a day trip to Algarve from Lisbon?
