Best Day Trips from Lisbon
Are you looking for the best day trips from Lisbon, Portugal?
Lisbon is an amazing destination where you could easily spend a week without getting bored, but sometimes it’s nice to escape the big city and discover other destinations on a day trip when you travel.
Luckily, there are plenty of great day trip options close to Lisbon.
Whether you’re interested in hitting the beach, taking surf lessons, exploring historic palaces, visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites, or wine tasting, you can do all of that (and more!) on a day trip from Lisbon.
For each of the day trips below, I’ve included tips on how to visit the destination independently via public transportation or driving, and my recommendations for organized tours. These tours are a great way to experience a destination (or several destinations) without having to worry about all the logistics yourself.
When it comes to public transportation, trains and buses are an option. Renting a car isn’t too expensive in Portugal, and Ubers are also quite cheap for Western Europe. If you have several people, it might be worth splitting the cost of a rental car or an Uber rather than taking public transportation.
Here’s a look at the best day trips from Lisbon:
⭐ Short on time? These are the top tours and activities I recommend. If you book directly through a link on this page, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Stay to Wander!
Best Day Trips from Lisbon:
- Sintra, Pena Palace, and Quinta de Regaleira tour
- Évora and Monsaraz day trip with wine tasting
- Day trip to Óbidos, Batalha, Fátima, and Nazaré
Sintra
If you only have time for one day trip from Lisbon, it should be Sintra. This hilltop town has been a popular getaway from Lisbon for centuries, thanks to its cooler air and beautiful scenery. There are several places to visit in Sintra, including Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra National Palace, and the Moorish Castle.
I’d prioritize the unique, fairytale-like Pena Palace and Quinta de Regaleira first. You can easily spend a few hours at each place. To get to Sintra, it’s a 40-minute drive from Lisbon or a one-hour train ride.
If you’d prefer a tour, this one includes round-trip transportation from Lisbon, a guided visit to Pena Palace and Quinta de Regaleira, as well as an hour and a half of free time in the town of Sintra itself.
Cascais
Cascais is another one of the best day trips from Lisbon. This charming beach town is just a 35-minute drive or one hour by train from Lisbon. It’s long been a popular seaside getaway for city dwellers.
This is a great place to visit in combination with Sintra since they’re only 20 minutes apart. I recommend spending the morning and afternoon in Sintra, then heading to Cascais in the late afternoon.
This tour is a good one to book if you want to visit Sintra and Cascais. It includes round-trip transportation from Lisbon, a guided tour of Pena Palace, free time in Sintra, and free time in Cascais.
Évora
Although a bit further from Lisbon, the beautiful city of Évora is a great day trip for history lovers. Évora is the capital of Portugal’s Alentejo region, and it’s 1.5 hours from Lisbon by car or by train.
Highlights of this city that you can’t miss include the ancient Roman Temple of Évora, the Gothic Cathedral of Évora, and the spooky skeleton-lined Chapel of Bones. It’s no surprise the whole city has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with history around every corner of the cobblestone streets.
If you’d prefer a tour, this full-day trip from Lisbon is a great option. Not only does it include a guided tour of Évora, you’ll also stop for a wine tasting in the medieval village of Monsaraz on the way.
Óbidos
The charming town of Óbidos is one hour north of Lisbon by car or by bus. It feels like you’re taking a step back in time in this medieval town, with its white-painted stone buildings and tiled roofs.
You honestly don’t need more than a couple of hours in Óbidos since it’s quite small. It’s a good place to roam around for a while and have lunch, though. You can make it a half-day trip from Lisbon or better yet, visit another nearby destination like Batalha or Fátima. You can even fit in both of these destinations!
This tour is a good option that covers Óbidos, Batalha, Fátima, and even the coastal town of Nazaré all in one day. It’s a busy day but you’ll get to maximize your time and visit four amazing destinations.
Batalha
This small town is home to Batalha Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s one hour and 40 minutes by car or by bus. As I mentioned above, this is a great place to visit after a morning in Óbidos.
Like Óbidos, you don’t really need a full day in Batalha since it’s a small town and the main highlight is the monastery. However, these two destinations combine wonderfully into a day trip.
And again, if you’re looking for an organized tour, this full-day trip includes round-trip transportation from Lisbon as well as time in Óbidos and Batalha, plus additional stops in Fátima and Nazaré.
Fátima
Fátima is another town north of Lisbon that is known for its religious significance. In this case, it’s the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima, an impressive Catholic pilgrimage site visited by millions every year.
If you’re noticing a theme here, you don’t need to spend a full day in Fátima, which is why it combines well with other nearby destinations. You can easily visit the shrine in just an hour or so. Fátima is one hour by train from Lisbon, or about one hour and 20 minutes from Lisbon by car or by bus.
The tour I mentioned above is a good option, or if you want a trip with one fewer stops and more time in each location, this tour to Fátima, Nazaré, and Óbidos is another one to check out.
Nazaré
Nazaré is a coastal town north of Lisbon that is 1.5 hours away by car or by bus. This town is famous for its enormous waves and big-wave surfers. Watching them is truly a sight to behold.
Aside from seeing the massive waves, you can also stroll along the beachfront promenade or explore Nazaré’s historic fort. And once again, this combines well with some other nearby destinations.
You can book one of the tours I mentioned above, or if you’re looking for something slower-paced, this full-day tour with three hours in Nazaré and three hours in Óbidos is the perfect option.
Ericeira
Ericeira is another coastal town that’s great to visit on a day trip from Lisbon. The good news is that it’s only 45 by car from the city. You can also get there by bus, but it takes about double the time.
Compared to Nazaré, the waves in Ericeira are a lot more suited for beginner surfers. This is a super popular destination to take surf lessons. Even if you don’t want to surf, it’s a great place to just relax on the beach. The town of Ericeira has a quaint, laidback charm and plenty of cafes and restaurants.
If you do want to surf, it’s a good idea to book your surf lesson in advance.
Best Day Trips from Lisbon
This guide showed you the best day trips from Lisbon, Portugal.
Hopefully you found the perfect day trip from this list. My top pick would be Sintra and its fairytale-like palaces. If you’re looking for a beach break, Cascais is a great option that is very close to the city.
If you want to go further afield, the city of Évora in the Alentejo region would be my top pick.
Enjoy your trip to Portugal!
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