Some of the best days out in Portugal sit within an hour of Lisbon.

You can stand at the westernmost edge of mainland Europe before lunch, then spend the afternoon among the painted towers of a palace built into a hillside. You can watch Atlantic surf break onto thirty kilometres of sand, or walk into a walled town that Portuguese kings once handed to their queens as a gift. The region around Lisbon holds a remarkable amount within a short reach, and most of it is an easy bus or train ride away. The hard part is not finding somewhere to go. It is choosing.

That is where this guide comes in. Some of these trips ask almost nothing of you. Cascais is half an hour down the line, and a train ticket is the only planning you will need. Others want more of your day, and they repay it. Évora, out on the Alentejo plain, and Óbidos to the north are worth the longer journey, while Sintra needs all tickets pre-booked. I will tell you which places live up to their photographs, which ones are better paired with somewhere nearby to fill the day, and which I would quietly leave off your list if you are short on time.

I have been travelling Portugal since 2001, and I lived in Lisbon for 5 years with my Portuguese wife. I have made these trips in winter rain and August heat, on crowded morning trains and empty back roads. All of that sits behind the advice here, so you can match the right day to your own tastes and not waste the ones you have.

 

 

Towns near Lisbon (within 50 km)
These are the easy ones. You can reach every place below by train, by bus, or with the convenience of an Uber, and none of them needs a car. I have put them roughly in the order I would send my freinds, the most worthwhile first.

Sintra (train 30km from Lisbon)

If you do only one day trip from Lisbon, make it this one. Palaces and grand villas climb the wooded hills of the Serra de Sintra, where the air turns cool and enticed Portuguese kings for centuries. Most people come for the Pena Palace, painted in vivid yellow and red, and for the strange wells and tunnels of the Quinta da Regaleira. They are right to.

The catch is the fame of Sintra and crowds. Sintra takes millions of visitors a year, and on a summer afternoon the queues can swallow your day whole. Book all tickets ahead of your visit, and come early. If you have the time, give it two days, because there is far more here than one will hold. A day trip to Sintra.

Cascais (train 40km from Lisbon)

Cascais is where Portuguese nobility came to escape the summer, and the old money still shows in the tiled mansions near the seafront. It is a comfortable, good-looking town with small beaches and an easy seaside mood. I like it for being both a beach day and a sightseeing one, but it is the coastal promenade I keep coming back for. Close by is Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe, a bare headland where the land simply stops and the Atlantic takes over. A day trip to Cascais.

Setúbal (train 50km from Lisbon)

This is a working port before it is anything else, and that is the appeal. The old town is pleasant, the fish market is busy and real, and the waterfront looks out over the Sado estuary. Two things make the trip. One is the ferry across to the Troia peninsula and its long, quiet beaches. The other is the pod of bottlenose dolphins that lives in the estuary. Setúbal is where I send friends who want the working, everyday Portugal rather than the postcard version. My guide to Setubal

Sesimbra (bus 40km from Lisbon)

The Portuguese keep this one for themselves, which tells you something. The town beach is excellent and the seafood restaurants are among the best on this coast. The real draw sits just outside it: the cliffs of Cabo Espichel at the end of the headland, and the Serra da Arrábida park, where white-sand coves hide below forested slopes and the sea turns an improbable green. This is where I bring my brother and his young family when they come to Portugal, and I would not take them anywhere I did not think was the best of this coast. My Guide to Sesimbra.

Azeitão (bus 30km from Lisbon)

This is wine country, the heart of the Setúbal region, and the reason to come is to drink. The old estates of Bacalhôa and José Maria da Fonseca pour their wines for visitors, and the Moscatel here is worth the trip on its own. It is a small place, and it works best as a stop on the way to Sesimbra rather than a day of its own. I would never pay for an expensive wine tour here when you can visit the estates independently for a fraction of the cost, and it is only a bus ride from Lisbon.

Cristo Rei (ferry/bus 5km from Lisbon)

Across the river stands a great statue of Christ with his arms open over Lisbon, modelled on the one in Rio. You do not come for the statue so much as for what it looks at: the city laid out across the water and the long red span of the 25 de Abril bridge. It is a half-day at most, and it sits naturally with a visit to Cacilhas and the beaches of Costa da Caparica.

Mafra (bus 40km from Lisbon)

The Palácio Nacional de Mafra is the largest palace in Portugal, an 18th-century monster of more than 1,200 rooms, built when the country was rich on Brazilian gold. The scale is the point. The library alone, long and barrel-vaulted, is worth the bus ride. I would not build a whole day around Mafra, though. Tie it to Ericeira down the coast and the afternoon takes care of itself. Guide to Mafra.

Costa da Caparica (bus 20km from Lisbon)

A long strip of a resort backed by nearly thirty kilometres of open sand, with surf that draws people down from the city all summer. It is busier and more local than the Cascais beaches, and the better for it if you only want sea and space. This is also the stretch for the fashionable beach clubs, Leblon, Princesa and Irmão among them. Guide to Costa da Caparica.

Cacilhas (ferry 10min from Lisbon)

A ten-minute ferry from central Lisbon lands you in Cacilhas, a scruffy, likeable riverside corner of Almada. People come to eat. I am one of them. The seafood restaurants along Rua Cândido dos Reis are the draw, and I keep going back to Cova Funda and A Toca. It is also the jumping-off point for Cristo Rei and Costa da Caparica, so it rarely needs to be a trip on its own.

Further afield (over 50 km)
These take longer, and most are easier with a car, though you can reach them all on public transport if you are willing to give up the time. They are worth a full day, and a couple are worth an overnight stay.

Evora (train 130km from Lisbon)

Évora is the old capital of the Alentejo, and the whole town centre is a slow walk through two thousand years. A Roman temple still stands in the middle of it. There is a fortress of a cathedral you can climb, and the Capela dos Ossos, a chapel lined floor to ceiling with the bones of the dead. Out here the pace drops. The Alentejo is hot and slow, and Évora is the best way to taste it without giving up a week. Go. Aday trip to Evora.

Tomar (train 140km from Lisbon)

Tomar is built around the Convento de Cristo, a fortress-monastery that the Knights Templar ran as their Portuguese headquarters. The round church at its core, modelled on the Holy Sepulchre, is one of the strangest and finest interiors in the country. I love Tomar, it is small town Portuguese at its finest, a pretty centre, a slow pace and how I remember Lisbon 20 years ago. My guide to Tomar.

Óbidos (bus 85km from Lisbon)

A walled town of whitewashed houses and cobbled lanes that Portuguese kings handed to their queens for centuries. You can walk the full circuit of the medieval walls, look down into the streets, and drink Ginja, the local sour-cherry liqueur, from a small cup made of dark chocolate. It is lovely. It is also small, and you will see all of it in about two hours. Do not plan your whole day around Óbidos. Pair it with Nazaré or the coast and the journey makes far more sense. Obidos guide.

Ericeira (bus 50km from Lisbon)

A white fishing village on the cliffs that has become one of Europe's serious surf towns, a designated World Surfing Reserve with a string of breaks within walking distance of the centre. It has held on to its character better than you might expect. The seafood is excellent, the lanes are still narrow and steep, and the surf crowd has added energy rather than swallowing the place. Easy to pair with Mafra inland. Ericeira guide.

Nazaré (bus 120km from Lisbon)

In summer Nazaré is a broad beach and a fishing town. In winter it is something else. The canyon offshore funnels the swell into some of the largest waves ever surfed, and the headland at Sitio, reached by an old funicular, is where you stand to watch them. Even on a calm day the view from up there, down the long sweep of sand, is worth the climb. Time it for a big swell if you can. Nazaré guide.

Coimbra (train 200km from Lisbon)

Coimbra was the capital before Lisbon, and it is still defined by its university, one of the oldest in Europe, sitting at the top of the hill above the Mondego. The old library, the Biblioteca Joanina, is the thing to see, all gilded wood and painted ceilings. The students still wear black capes and keep their traditions, and the place has the restless feel of a town full of young people. It is a long way for a day trip, but the fast train makes it possible. I would rather give it a night. Coimbra guide.

Fátima (bus 130km from Lisbon)

In 1917 three shepherd children said the Virgin Mary appeared to them here, six times, and Fátima grew into the most important place of pilgrimage in the country. Millions come each year. The sanctuary is vast, modern, and built for crowds, with two large basilicas facing a paved esplanade and the small Chapel of Apparitions at its heart. I will be honest. If you are not coming as a pilgrim or with a real interest in the faith, Fátima can feel cool and concrete. Of everything on this list, it is the one I would skip first.

The interactive map below shows the location of each of the day trips (Note: zoom in or out to see all of the points)

Legend: 1) Sintra 2) Cascais 3) Setubal 4) Sesimbra 5) Ericeira 6) Azeitão 7) Mafra 8) Cristo Rei 9) Costa da Caparica 10) Cacilhas 11) Evora 12) Óbidos 13) Tomar 14) Nazaré 15) Coimbra 16) Fátima

How about a small group tour?
One of the best ways to discover the Lisbon region is to join a guided tour. We have worked with Getyourguide.com for the last six years, and some of the best tours of Lisbon include:

The following section provides a summary of each destination, why you should visit it and links to further in-depth information.
Related articles: Best driving routes of Lisbon

Why? Storybook palaces and grand villas spread across the cool, wooded hills of the Serra de Sintra.
Highlight: Palácio Nacional da Pena, Quinta da Regaleira, Palácio Nacional de Sintra
How to travel there: Train, 30 minutes
Typical visit length: 7 hours, and there is enough here for two full days
Tourism level in the peak season: Among the most crowded places in Portugal

Sintra sits just inland, up in the cool, wooded hills of the Serra de Sintra, and the climate alone explains why Portuguese nobility came here to escape the Lisbon summer. They left their mark all over it. Palaces, a ruined castle along the ridge, and the lavish mansions of 19th-century money sit half-buried in the trees, close enough together that you keep rounding a corner and finding something you had not expected.

The headline is the Palácio Nacional da Pena, a riot of yellow and red towers rising straight out of the forest like something from a fairy tale. Other popular sights include the gothic Palácio Nacional de Sintra in the town centre, with it's the two enormous conical chimneys over its kitchens. My own favourite is the Quinta da Regaleira, where the gardens give way to tunnels and a spiral initiation well that drops deep into the rock

There is enough here for two days. A second day lets you reach the ruined Moorish castle along the ridge, the Monserrate Palace with its Moorish-influenced interior, the Palácio de Seteais, and the walking trail up through the Vila Sassetti gardens between them.

Personal opinion: I have watched Sintra change since 2001, from a quiet town that few foreign visitors had heard of into one of the most hyped destinations in the country, and not entirely for the better. Its sights, and the sheer variety of them, are unmatched anywhere in Portugal. That is not in question. What is in question is whether you can enjoy them, because the tourism now gets in the way of almost everything.

The spur-of-the-moment trip up to the Pena Palace is gone. In summer you have to buy your tickets days ahead. I have stopped even trying to have lunch in the town, worn down by the queues, the rushed service and the inflated prices. And I cannot remember the last decent ride I had on the 434 bus to the palace, five years, at least.

For all that, Sintra is still magical, and you would be mad to skip it. So go. Just book ahead, and get there early.
Related articles: Introduction to Sintra - A day trip to Sintra - Lisbon to Sintra – The Pena Palace

The Palácio Nacional de Sintra, with its two distinctive chimneys

The Palácio de Monserrate

Why? The Lisbon coastline's premier resort town
Highlight: Guimarães villa, Cabo da Roca, Cascais fort and beaches
How to travel there: Train, 40 minutes
Typical visit length: 5 hours
Tourism level in the peak season: Busy

Cascais has long served as the summer retreat for Portuguese nobility, and today it remains the premier beach town along the Lisbon coastline.

The town elegantly combines its fishing heritage, grand 19th-century architecture and glorious beaches to create a wonderful holiday destination. Cascais is equally well suited to a day trip, offering grand villas, carefully maintained parks and a selection of fascinating museums for you to explore.

To the north of Cascais, you will find the Boca do Inferno cliff formation and Cabo da Roca, the most westerly point of mainland Europe. During the summer months, a vibrant holiday atmosphere fills the town, while an extensive selection of bars and restaurants provides a buzzing nightlife scene.

Personal Opinion: There is nowhere nicer close to Lisbon on a sunny day. Come to relax on the pretty beaches, Praia da Rainha is my favourite, get an ice cream and wander the promenade to Estoril or if the sun is too hot head to the shade of the Parque Marechal Carmona. Outside of the summer it is a great place to hire a bike and cycle the coast towards Guincho Beach, or if feeling adventurous all the way back to Lisbon. Cascais is ideal for a day trip with sights, charm and glorious beaches, I love it and think it beats most coastal towns in the Algarve.
Related articles: Cascais guide - Day trip to Cascais - Cabo da Roca

 

Why? Real Portugal, away from the tourists
Highlight: Fortress São Filipe, Mercado do Livramento Península de Troia
How to travel there: Train (30 minutes)
Typical visit length: 4 hours + 2 hours for Troia
Lots of tourists in the summer? Few foreign tourists

Setúbal is a major port and industrial town, but it offers a surprising amount to see and do for a day trip. At the centre of Setúbal lies a charming old town, while the pretty waterfront opens out onto the Sado Estuary. This busy waterway looks across to the Tróia Peninsula and is home to a resident pod of bottlenose dolphins.

The main sights of Setúbal include the Mercado do Livramento, widely regarded as the best fish market in Portugal, and the Fortaleza de São Filipe, which stands high above the city. For your day trip, you can catch the ferry across to the Tróia Peninsula and spend time on the region's beautiful beaches.

Setúbal is not one of the more common day trips from Lisbon, but it is a wonderful place to experience modern, authentic Portugal.

Personal Opinion: I find convincing people to go to Setubal difficult, as tourist literature and influencers skip it, and it has no real standout attraction, apart from the delicious Choco frito (fried cuttlefish). For the right person Setubal is great, it's got a gritty real Portuguese feel, so different to all of the other tourist towns of this guide. When combined with the Serra da Arrábida it makes the perfect non-touristy day trip.
Related articles: Setubal guide

The waterfront of Setubal, with the São Filipe fort at the top of the hill

Why? The quintessential Portuguese walled town
Highlight: City walls, charming side streets
How to travel there: Bus (40 minutes)
Typical visit length: 2 hours
Tourism level in the peak season: Very busy between 10am-3pm with coach tours

Obidos is one of Portugal’s most picturesque towns. The town was given to Queen Urraca in 1210 as a wedding gift and, up until the fall of the monarchy in 1910, Obidos was owned by the Queen of Portugal.

There could not have been a more delightful town to be a patron of, with its traditional painted houses lining the cobbled streets, leading up to the medieval castle. Obidos may be small, but every single street is delightful.

Obidos does get very busy with coach tours but it is easy to leave the main streets, and wander the quiet side streets or ancient city walls. While in Obidos, don’t miss having a drink of Ginja - a sweet alcoholic drink served in a chocolate cup.

Personal Opinion: Óbidos is as charming as the pictures show but you must realise that it is only a small town and can be fully seen within 2 hours, while organised tours spend even less time here, typically just an hour. Don't be the disappointed visitors travelling 60 minutes by bus or car to see Óbidos in a rush and head back, always have a second destination to combine with Óbidos. I personally like the beach side town of Foz do Arelho and the Óbidos Lagoon, or for something more unique, Buddha Eden, Europe's largest collection of Buddha statues.
Related articles: Obidos guide - Lisbon to Obidos

The town is completely encircled by the town walls, which can be walked

Why? Historic capital of the Alentejo region, many historic buildings
Highlight: Roman Temple, Bone Chapel and Gothic Cathedral
How to travel there: Train (1 hour)
Typical visit length: 5 hours
Lots of tourists in the summer? Moderately busy

Évora lies at the heart of the Alentejo, a region of rolling plains and olive groves that swelters under the intense summer sun. The city has an extensive history, having served as an important Roman trading town, a defensive stronghold for the Moors and a major religious centre during the 13th and 14th centuries.

This varied past has left behind an assortment of fascinating attractions, including a Roman temple, an impressive aqueduct and a rather unsettling bone chapel. There is a great deal to see in Évora, and the city holds the second-highest number of national monuments in Portugal, surpassed only by Lisbon.

The train or bus journey to and from Évora is quite lengthy, so you may wish to spend a night here rather than making a rushed day trip.

Personal Opinion: I love Evora, and personally think it is better than Sintra, apart from the distance from Lisbon and the summertime heat. There is simply so much to see, the pace is less hectic, restaurants are better quality and even the souvenir shops sell craft items instead of mass produced tat. Do not skip Sintra for Evora, but if you have a longer stay seriously consider Evora.
Related articles: Evora guide – Lisbon to Evora

The historic centre of Evora is incredibly pretty, here houses and shops have been constructed below the arches of the aqueduct

The Roman temple and cathedral of Evora

Why? Where the Portuguese go on holiday
Highlight: Cabo Espichel, Castelo de Sesimbra, Parque Natural da Arrábida (car needed)
How to travel there: bus 40min
Typical visit length: 3 hours (with car 6 hours)
Lots of tourists in the summer? yes

Sesimbra is a favourite holiday destination with the Portuguese. The town may not have a vast number of tourist attractions, but the authentic Portuguese atmosphere, beautiful beach and outstanding fish restaurants make it an enjoyable day trip from Lisbon.

To get the most from the Sesimbra region a rental car is needed, and this could add the Serra da Arrabida and the Cabo Espichel to the day trip. The Cabo Espichel is the wind-blasted south-westerly headland formed of massive cliffs and raging seas. Found at the headland is a historic church, a powerful lighthouse and dinosaur footprints that have been exposed in the cliffs.

The Serra da Arrabida are a series of forest hills and a wonderful coastline that offers some of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal. A highlight of the Serra da Arrabida is the N379 road, which meanders through the hills and crosses a ridge, providing spectacular views both north and south.
Related articles: Sesimbra guide – The Cabo Espichel - The Serra da Arrabida

The pretty beach front of Sesimbra, surrounded by the hills of the Serra da Arrabida

Why? Traditional beach town, famed for its winter waves
Highlight: Praia do Norte surfing area, Sitio district, beach
How to travel there: bus 60min
Typical visit length: 4 hours
Lots of tourists in the summer? Yes, but not over crowed

Nazaré is a delightful beach town which exudes Portuguese charm. The town is set along one of the finest beaches of central Portugal, and the beachfront is lined with traditional beach cafes, shops and hotels.

High above the town is the historic Sitio district, which leads down to the fort and the famed Praia do Norte surfing beach. During the winter, massive waves (up to 30m) are formed off the Sitio headland and daredevil surfers attempt to surf these colossal waves.
Our opinion: Nazaré is a pleasant location for a day trip which combines both an outstanding beach and an enjoyable town.
Related articles: Nazaré introduction

The view from the Sitio headland over Nazaré's beach

Why? Religious centre for the Knights Templar
Highlight: Convento de Cristo
How to travel there: train
Typical visit length: 4 hours
Lots of tourists in the summer? no

Today, Tomar may be a peaceful town, but during the 13th century, it was one of the most influential locations of the Iberian Peninsula, being the stronghold of the Knights Templar (later referred to as the Order of Christ). This powerful and secretive order ruled from the Convento de Cristo, an impressive fortified religious complex, with the beautiful Charola church at its centre.
The Convento de Cristo is often regarded as one of the finest national monuments of Portugal.

The town of Tomar is relaxed and pretty, with cobbled streets, ancient churches and an unhurried atmosphere in the cafes and restaurants that line the Nabão River. If you are seeking a non-touristy day trip, then Tomar is the place for you.
Related articles: Tomar guide

The Charola at the centre of the Convento de Cristo

Why? The setting for the largest palace in Portugal
Highlight: Mafra palace, the surfing vibe of Ericeira
How to travel there: bus
Typical visit length: 2 hours (often a day trip is combined with Ericeira)
Lots of tourists in the summer? not too crowded

The Palácio Nacional de Mafra is the largest palace in Portugal. The scale of the building completely dominates the town, and its 18th-century construction almost bankrupted the Portuguese by employing a staggering 45,000 workers. This vast complex contains over 1,200 rooms and even today with the limited number open, visitors will still find themselves walking long distances.

A day trip to Mafra is often combined with Ericeira, as apart from the palace there is not much else to see in the Mafra.

Ericeira is a traditional fishing town, which is at the centre of a coastline of fantastic surfing beaches. This has transformed peaceful Ericeira into a cool surfing hub, where historic buildings sit next to trendy surfing bars. Ericeira is extremely pretty, with its cobbled streets and whitewashed houses perched at the top of sheer cliffs.
Related articles: Mafra guide - Ericeira guide

A Basilica lies at the centre of the palace, and the front façade is 220m long

Ericeira maybe a trendy surfing destination but it is still a fishing town at heart

Why? The Cristo Rei viewpoint and the beautiful beaches of the Costa da Caparica
Highlight: The Cristo Rei viewpoint
How to travel there: Cristo Rei ferry (15min) Costa da Caparica (20min)
Typical visit length: 1 hour Cristo Rei and 2 hours Costa da Caparica
Lots of tourists in the summer? yes

An excursion to the Christ Rei statue and the town of Cacilhas is an enjoyable half-day activity (including travel time), which can be extended into a full day by visiting the resort town of Costa da Caparica.

The Christ Rei statue stands on the southern bank of the Tejo Estuary, and from the viewing platform are wonderful views of the region. Costa da Caparica is a modern beach resort that is situated on a beautiful sandy shoreline, which extends for 30km along the entire western side of the Setubal Peninsula. During the summer a mini-train travels along the coastline and provides access to deserted beaches.

Tourist advice: The best way to travel to the Christ Rei statue is to catch the ferry from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas, and then take the 3001 bus service from Cacilhas to the statue.
Related articles: Travel to Cristo Rei - Costa da Caparica guide

The Cristo Rei statue stands on the southern banks of the Tejo estuary

There are beautiful and deserted beaches to the south of the Costa da Caparica coastline

Areas near Lisbon where a rental car is needed to explore
1) Serra da Arrabida Natural Park, 2) Serra de Sintra and Coastline 3) Palmela and vineyards of Azeitão 4) Evora and Alentejo
Warning: Never drive to Sintra, as there is limited carparking and narrow roads