Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about the best day trips from Lisbon, Portugal. Lisbon is one of the top cities in Europe, and well worth visiting. It also makes a great base for some incredible day trips. If you are going to stay in Lisbon for a while, make time for some of these Lisbon day trips.
Sintra
Just 30-45 minutes from Lisbon by train, Sintra is the top day trip from Lisbon that I recommend. Think of Sintra as the “Versailles of Portugal.” The best things to see in Sintra include:
- Visit the Palacio da Pena, which sits on a hill overlooking Sintra. This 19th century palace is painted in many colors, and looks like something out of Disney World.
- In the National Palace, see collections of art and historic artifacts inside the best-preserved medieval palace in Portugal.
- Visit the ruins of the Moorish castle, or Castelo dos Mouros.
- Tip: if you are traveling with two or more people, it’s more economical to take a taxi up to the palaces rather than the bus, which can be expensive.
- Visit the Toy Museum, which has toys going back hundreds of years.
- Go hiking or biking at the Sintra-Cascais National Park
- Visit the gardens at Quinta da Regaleira, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- See how the monks lived at Convento Capucho
- Visit the Sintra Modern Art Museum
- Try Queijadas, a local pastry treat
There are trains from Lisbon to Sintra every 20-30 minutes during the week. Many people commute to Lisbon from Sintra, so it’s easy to travel back and forth.
Six Rules for European Train Travel
Cabo da Roca
This cape is the westernmost point of continental Europe and offers a dramatic landscape of rugged cliffs dropping off into the ocean. It’s not far from Sintra, so you can combine both into a single day trip from Lisbon.
Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Visiting Lisbon
Cascais
For a beach getaway near Lisbon, Cascais is the best choice. It’s easy to reach from Sintra or Lisbon. The laid back atmosphere and affordable prices have led to Cascais becoming a popular spot for retirees.
Estoril
Estoril is just one train stop from Cascais, and you can even walk between the two. Estoril has some big casinos and is best known for a major tennis tournament each summer.
Obidos
About 90 minutes north of Lisbon, you’ll find the medieval town of Obidos, one of my favorite towns in Iberia. Obidos is an old walled city, and the best thing to do is just to wander the streets and take in the atmosphere. You won’t see as many international tourists here, so you’ll get to experience small-town Portugal. Other things to do in Obidos include:
- Drink Ginga from a chocolate cup. It’s a sour cherry drink, served in a chocolate cup.
- Walk the city walls for spectacular views of the surrounding area
- Visit Obidos during a festival. They have a ton of festivals in Obidos, so try to time your visit to coincide with one of them. My favorite is the Medieval festival each summer.
- Tour the churches of Obidos, including the Church of Santa Maria, where a 9-year-old king was once married to a 7-year-old bride.
- The area around Obidos is great for outdoor adventures including hiking and cycling.
Tomar
About 90 minutes from Lisbon, the city of Tomar is one of my favorite cities in Portugal. There’s a really cool pedestrianized Old Town area with many restaurants overlooking the river. Tomar is best known for the UNESCO World Heritage Site at the Convento de Christo. Once the seat of the Knights Templar, the chapel is one of the most stunning in all of Europe.
- Visit the John the Baptist church in the Plaza Republica
- Attend the Festa dos Tabuleiros, which happens once every four years
- See the world’s largest collection of matches at the Museum of Matches
Santarem
On the same train line as Tomar, Santarem is about one hour from Lisbon. This is a good place to experience “inland Portugal.” There are some really nice squares in Santarem, and we’ve gotten some good souvenirs here. It’s a nice stop on your way back to Lisbon from Tomar.
Setubal
Traveling South from Lisbon, Setubal is about 90 minutes by train. They are most famous for a dish called “Choco.” It’s not chocolate, it’s cuttlefish. Choco Frito is a popular dish you have to try in Setubal. There’s also a large nature reserve here, and it’s a good place to spot dolphins.
Evora
About two hours east of Lisbon by train, the city of Evora may actually be a better weekend getaway from Lisbon. There are so many great things to see in Evora that it’s worth more than a day trip. Some of my favorite things in Evora include:
- See the Roman temple, which is really well-preserved because it was used in the Middle Ages as the foundation for a home and it wasn’t re-discovered until many years later in the 19th century.
- The cathedral here was built in 1186, the cloisters are well worth checking out
- Visit the Museum of Evora, which houses Flemish paintings, Ecclesiastical furnishings, Roman statues and more.
- See the Chapel of Bones, where the bones of more than 5,000 people were used to build a chapel. It’s truly a macabre attraction, but it’s so interesting, you have to see it.
- Hang out in Giraldo Square. This is where you’ll find the tourism office, and many cafes and restaurants. It’s an important part of Evora history, and a popular place for tourists to visit.
Fatima, Alcobaca, and Batalha
Our last Lisbon day trip is actually three destinations in one. If you opt for a tour from Lisbon, most of them will combine these three places. Batalha is an unfinished church, while Alcobaca is a monastery that you can tour. The real highlight of this day trip is Fatima, where the Virgin Mary appeared before three children in 1917. Fatima is a very important religious pilgrimage site, and the three children who saw the Virgin Mary are now buried in the Basilica here. Each May and October, millions come to celebrate the apparitions
There are hourly buses to reach Fatima from Lisbon, so it’s a great Lisbon day trip. Make sure you take the bus and not the train, as the train station in Fatima is not conveniently located to the sites.
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
While living in Lisbon for five years, these day trips from Lisbon became my favorite excursions. I recommend these Lisbon days trips to anyone visiting Lisbon. Looking for more tips on travel in Portugal? Check out these other blog posts: