6 best day trips from Lisbon

Day trips compared

The day trips

25 km · About 40 minutes by train

1.Sintra

Sintra's wooded hills hide the brightly painted Pena Palace, the Moorish Castle, the mystical gardens and initiation well of Quinta da Regaleira and the Monserrate palace. Steep roads link the sights, so use the local bus loop or tuk-tuks rather than walking everything.

Getting there

Suburban train from Rossio station to Sintra

Best for

First-timers, Couples, Families, Culture

30 km · About 40 minutes by train

2.Cascais and Estoril

The coastal line runs past beaches to the old fishing town of Cascais, with sandy coves, a marina, the Boca do Inferno sea cliffs and the Casa das Histórias Paula Rego museum. A seafront promenade links it with Estoril and its casino.

Getting there

Suburban train from Cais do Sodré along the coast

Best for

Beach, Families, Couples

135 km · About 1.5 hours by train or bus

3.Évora

The walled capital of the Alentejo has a 1st-century Roman temple, a fortress-like cathedral with a rooftop walk and the Chapel of Bones, lined with human skulls and bones. It is also the base for Alentejo wine estates.

Getting there

Train or express bus to Évora

Best for

Culture, Food lovers, Quiet stays

85 km · About 1 hour by bus

4.Óbidos

A whitewashed medieval town enclosed by walls you can walk along, with bougainvillea-draped lanes, a castle and bars serving ginja cherry liqueur in small chocolate cups.

Getting there

Express bus from Campo Grande

Best for

Couples, Culture, Quiet stays

45 km · About 1 hour by train, plus a bus or taxi to the beaches

5.Setúbal and the Arrábida coast

Setúbal is known for fried cuttlefish (choco frito) and boat trips to see the resident bottlenose dolphins of the Sado estuary. The Arrábida Natural Park next door has limestone hills dropping to sheltered turquoise beaches such as Portinho da Arrábida.

Getting there

Train across the 25 de Abril Bridge to Setúbal; a car helps for Arrábida

Best for

Beach, Food lovers, Families

40 km · About 1 hour by bus

6.Mafra National Palace

A colossal 18th-century palace, basilica and monastery built with Brazilian gold under King João V. Its rococo library holds tens of thousands of leather-bound books and is home to a colony of bats that eat insects at night.

Getting there

Bus from Campo Grande to Mafra

Best for

Culture, Quiet stays

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• Suburban trains run from Rossio station to Sintra and from Cais do Sodré along the coast to Belém, Carcavelos, Estoril and Cascais.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask