Why Lisbon is one of Europe's best bases for day trips
Few capitals have so much within easy reach. In under an hour you can be wandering the palaces of Sintra or strolling the seafront at Cascais, and within an hour and a half you can stand in a Roman temple in Évora or at the great pilgrimage sanctuary of Fátima. Trains are frequent and inexpensive, and Lisbon has a wide choice of small-group and private tours that do the driving for you.
This guide compares the best day trips from Lisbon, Portugal, with an honest look at how much walking each involves, so you can choose the ones that match your pace. If you have four or five days in Lisbon, one or two day trips is plenty; Sintra is the one most travelers pick first.
The best day trips from Lisbon, compared
Times are one way from central Lisbon. Walking levels assume you use the easiest options described below.
| Day trip | Time from Lisbon | Getting there | Walking | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sintra | About 40 min | Train from Rossio, or a tour | Moderate to hard: hilltop palaces, but shuttles help | Palaces, gardens, fairy-tale scenery |
| Cascais and Estoril | About 40 min | Train from Cais do Sodré | Easy: a flat seaside promenade | Seaside strolls, seafood, a relaxed town |
| Cabo da Roca | About 1 hr | Tour or car, often with Sintra and Cascais | Easy at the viewpoint; very windy | The westernmost point of mainland Europe |
| Óbidos and Nazaré | About 1 hr to Óbidos | Express bus or a tour | Moderate: cobbled lanes and steps | A walled medieval town and a fishing village |
| Fátima, Batalha, Alcobaça | About 1.5 hr | Bus or a tour | Easy at Fátima; moderate at the monasteries | A pilgrimage site and two UNESCO monasteries |
| Évora | About 1.5 hr | Train or bus, or a tour | Easy to moderate: gentle slopes | A Roman temple, the Chapel of Bones, Alentejo wine |
| Setúbal and Arrábida | About 1 hr | Train to Setúbal, or a tour | Easy on the dolphin boats | Dolphin watching, beaches, seafood |
| Mafra | About 45 min | Bus, car, or a tour | Easy to moderate: a vast palace | A palace-monastery and a famous library |
| Porto | About 3 hr each way | Fast train | Hard: a very steep city | Better as an overnight stay |
- Time from Lisbon
- About 40 min
- Getting there
- Train from Rossio, or a tour
- Walking
- Moderate to hard: hilltop palaces, but shuttles help
- Best for
- Palaces, gardens, fairy-tale scenery
- Time from Lisbon
- About 40 min
- Getting there
- Train from Cais do Sodré
- Walking
- Easy: a flat seaside promenade
- Best for
- Seaside strolls, seafood, a relaxed town
- Time from Lisbon
- About 1 hr
- Getting there
- Tour or car, often with Sintra and Cascais
- Walking
- Easy at the viewpoint; very windy
- Best for
- The westernmost point of mainland Europe
- Time from Lisbon
- About 1 hr to Óbidos
- Getting there
- Express bus or a tour
- Walking
- Moderate: cobbled lanes and steps
- Best for
- A walled medieval town and a fishing village
- Time from Lisbon
- About 1.5 hr
- Getting there
- Bus or a tour
- Walking
- Easy at Fátima; moderate at the monasteries
- Best for
- A pilgrimage site and two UNESCO monasteries
- Time from Lisbon
- About 1.5 hr
- Getting there
- Train or bus, or a tour
- Walking
- Easy to moderate: gentle slopes
- Best for
- A Roman temple, the Chapel of Bones, Alentejo wine
- Time from Lisbon
- About 1 hr
- Getting there
- Train to Setúbal, or a tour
- Walking
- Easy on the dolphin boats
- Best for
- Dolphin watching, beaches, seafood
- Time from Lisbon
- About 45 min
- Getting there
- Bus, car, or a tour
- Walking
- Easy to moderate: a vast palace
- Best for
- A palace-monastery and a famous library
- Time from Lisbon
- About 3 hr each way
- Getting there
- Fast train
- Walking
- Hard: a very steep city
- Best for
- Better as an overnight stay
Sintra day trip from Lisbon: palaces without the climbs
Sintra is the day trip from Lisbon almost everyone takes, and for good reason. This UNESCO-listed town sits among forested hills dotted with palaces, castles, and romantic gardens, often wrapped in a cool mist that makes it feel like a storybook. The catch for older travelers is that most of the famous sights are on steep hills above the town, so a little planning makes all the difference.
Getting from Lisbon to Sintra
Trains run frequently from Rossio station in the heart of Lisbon and take about 40 minutes. From Sintra station, the old town is a short walk or taxi ride. Buses, park shuttles, taxis, and tuk-tuks go up to the hilltop palaces. A small-group tour that drives between the sights is the easiest option of all, and many combine Sintra with Cascais and Cabo da Roca.
Which Sintra sights are easy and which are steep
- Pena Palace: The colorful hilltop palace is Sintra's icon and its most strenuous visit. From the park entrance it is a steep uphill walk, so take the shuttle inside the park. Book a timed ticket in advance and arrive early.
- Sintra National Palace: In the middle of the old town, with its famous twin chimneys and tiled rooms. The easiest palace to visit and the best choice if walking is limited.
- Monserrate Palace and Gardens: A graceful palace set in gardens with plants from around the world. The paths slope but are gentler and much quieter than Pena.
- Quinta da Regaleira: Mysterious gardens, grottoes, and the famous Initiation Well, a deep spiral stairway. Paths are uneven and there are many steps, so enjoy the house and upper gardens and skip the well if stairs are hard.
- Moorish Castle: Dramatic walls along a ridgetop with steep, uneven stone steps and few handrails. Best admired from below or from Pena if balance is a concern.
Senior tips for Sintra
- Go on a weekday, and early: Sintra is busiest on weekends and from late morning. Arriving by 9 makes for a calmer visit.
- Choose two sights, not five: Pena plus the National Palace, or Monserrate plus the old town, makes a satisfying, unhurried day.
- Bring a layer: Sintra is often cooler and mistier than Lisbon, even in summer.
- Wear shoes with grip: Paths can be damp and slippery under the trees.
More of the best day trips from Lisbon, Portugal
Cascais and Estoril: the easiest day out
About 40 minutes by train from Cais do Sodré, along a scenic line that follows the river and the ocean, Cascais is an elegant seaside town with a lovely old center, a marina, and excellent seafood restaurants. A long, flat promenade runs along the shore to Estoril, ideal for an easy stroll with sea views. Sit on the left side of the train heading out for the best water views. It is the most relaxing day trip from Lisbon and an easy add-on to a Sintra tour.
Cabo da Roca: the edge of Europe
The westernmost point of mainland Europe is a windswept headland with a lighthouse, a monument, and sweeping Atlantic views. Little walking is needed beyond the viewpoint, but it is very windy, so hold on to hats and steady yourself near the cliffs. It is best visited on a tour that links Sintra and Cascais.
Óbidos and Nazaré: medieval walls and a fishing village
Óbidos, about an hour north of Lisbon by express bus, is a tiny walled town of whitewashed houses and flower-filled lanes, famous for ginjinha, a cherry liqueur served in a chocolate cup. Its lanes are cobbled and the walkway along the walls has no railings, so enjoy the walls from below if balance is a concern. Tours often pair Óbidos with Nazaré, a fishing town with a broad beach and a funicular up to its clifftop viewpoint, known for the giant winter waves at Praia do Norte.
Fátima, Batalha, and Alcobaça
The Sanctuary of Fátima is one of the world's great Catholic pilgrimage sites, set around a vast, level esplanade that is easy to walk. Nearby are two UNESCO World Heritage monasteries: Batalha, a masterpiece of Gothic stonework, and Alcobaça, home to the royal tombs of Pedro and Inês. Classic tours combine Fátima with one or both monasteries, sometimes with Nazaré or Óbidos. The sanctuary is extremely busy around the main pilgrimages on May 12 to 13 and October 12 to 13.
Évora: Roman ruins and Alentejo wine
About an hour and a half from Lisbon by intercity train or bus, Évora is the UNESCO-listed heart of the Alentejo region, with a Roman temple, a fine cathedral, and the striking Chapel of Bones. The compact center is mostly gently sloping and easier to walk than Lisbon. Tours often add a winery visit. Summers here are very hot, so spring and autumn are the best seasons.
Setúbal and Arrábida: dolphins and beaches
Across the 25 de Abril Bridge, about an hour by train, Setúbal is a working port town known for seafood and for the resident bottlenose dolphins of the Sado estuary, which you can see on boat trips with seating. The nearby Arrábida Natural Park has some of the most beautiful beaches near Lisbon, best reached on a tour or by car.
Mafra: a palace on a grand scale
About 45 minutes northwest of Lisbon, the enormous palace-convent of Mafra is a UNESCO World Heritage site with a basilica and one of Europe's most beautiful historic libraries. The building is vast but largely on level floors, making it a good choice for a quieter, less crowded day.
Porto: better as an overnight
Porto is reachable as a day trip by fast train, about three hours each way, but that leaves little time in a city that is even steeper than Lisbon. It is far more enjoyable with two or three nights. See our Porto guide for an easy-pace plan.
The top-rated full-day trips from Lisbon right now
These full-day trips of 6 to 12 hours handle all the transport, and are ranked for traveler ratings, comfort, and value. Tours in the destination picker below are left out.
Top-rated day trip tours from Lisbon, by destination
Choose a destination to load its nine top-rated tours, with live prices and traveler ratings from Viator. Most offer free cancellation, and many include hotel pickup in Lisbon.
Day trips from Lisbon by train
Portugal's trains make several of the best day trips easy and inexpensive to do on your own.
- Sintra, from Rossio: About 40 minutes on the suburban line from the heart of the city.
- Cascais, from Cais do Sodré: About 40 minutes along the coast, with Estoril on the way.
- Setúbal, across the 25 de Abril Bridge: About an hour on the Fertagus line from stations such as Entrecampos and Sete Rios.
- Évora, by intercity train: About an hour and a half from Lisbon's Oriente and Entrecampos stations; reserve a seat.
- Tomar and Coimbra, for a longer day: Tomar's Templar Convent of Christ and Coimbra's historic university are both UNESCO sites, about two hours or less away, though Coimbra is very hilly.
Tips for train day trips
- Tickets: Buy suburban tickets for Sintra and Cascais from machines or counters at the station, using a rechargeable transit card. Intercity trains to Évora have assigned seats, so book ahead.
- Timing: Travel mid-morning, after the commuter rush, for an easier time finding a seat.
- At the other end: Plan a taxi for any hilltop sights, especially in Sintra.
The easiest way to take day trips from Lisbon
- Small-group tours: Transport between sights, a guide, and often hotel pickup, at a moderate price. Best for Sintra, Fátima, and multi-stop days like Sintra with Cascais.
- Private tours and drivers: Door-to-door at your own pace, with stops where you choose. The most comfortable option for limited mobility, and good value shared between two or four travelers.
- On your own by train: The least expensive and most flexible way to visit Cascais, Évora, Setúbal, and Sintra's old town, as long as you are comfortable with the walking at the other end.
Planning tips
- Pace yourself: With four or five days in Lisbon, one or two day trips is plenty; leave a free day between them.
- Check opening days: Some monuments close one day a week, often Monday, so check before you set out.
- Mind the heat inland: Évora and the Alentejo are very hot in July and August; choose coastal trips in high summer.