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10 Best Day Trips from Lisbon (Portugal)

Last updated on July 11, 2024 by Claire Robinson - this article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I get a small commission (more)

Let’s have a look at my selection of the 10 best day trips from Lisbon!

  • Nature tours
  • Historical visit
  • Architecture discovery

All you need to plan with map, photos, self-drive information and organized tour options.

Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Portugal:

My favorite platform to rent a car in Portugal: DiscoverCars

The unmissable boat tour: Benagil sea cave from Portimao

My favorite excursion from Lisbon: Sintra Pena Palace and Cabo da Roca

My favorite places to stay:

  • Lisbon: see best rated hotels – e.g. Santiago de Alfama boutique hotel
  • Porto: see best rated hotels – e.g. Descobertas Boutique Hotel
  • Lagos: see best rated hotels – e.g. Uma Cas A Beira Sol
Portugal Day Trips from Lisbon Portugal Travel Guide - Day Tours from Lisbon
Content
Best day trips from Lisbon – intro
#1 – SINTRA Day Trips from Lisbon – Palaces
#2 – Sintra Pena Palace – Cabo da Roca – Cascais
#3 – Obidos & Monasteries
#4 – Tomar Convent of the Christ & Knight Templars
#5 – Evora day tour from lisbon + wine tasting
#6 – Not a day trip but amazing Tour – Helicopter
#7 – Mertola & Guadiana Nature Park
#8 – Berlanga Archipelago
#9 – Arrabida Reserve and Dolphin Watching Tour
#10 – Porto Covo
About a day trip from Lisbon to Porto

Best day trips from Lisbon – intro

Selection and Map 

For those who do not want to go on a road trip and change base every night, staying in Lisbon for a few days is a great option.
There is much to see in the city (see my Lisbon City break guide) and a wide variety of options of one day tours from Lisbon.

I have selected my 10 favorite destinations and activities within 2h30 drive from Lisbon:

  1. Sintra palaces
  2. Sintra Cascais Natural park
  3.  Obidos and monasteries loop
  4. Tomar 
  5. Evora
  6. Helicopter tour
  7. Mertola
  8. Berlangas archipelago
  9. Arrabida Reserve
  10. Porto Covo

Here is a map to help you locate the best day trips from Lisbon:

Best day trips from Lisbon - Map
Best day trips from Lisbon – Map

Day trip options

Whenever possible for each day trip, I am giving you travel options:

  • Self-drive planning information – If you are worried, check out my article with videos and practical info about driving in Portugal
  • Organized Tours – for those who don’t want to drive there is a large selection of organized tours in small groups or private tours. I find prices reasonable. If you are 3 or 4, check out the private tour, it might not be more expensive!

#1 – SINTRA Day Trips from Lisbon – Palaces

Type: Architecture

Highlights

  • Sintra is home to the Unesco site ‘Cultural Landscape of Sintra’ with its many palaces and castles.
  • Visiting the extravagant monuments and their beautiful park is quite an adventure!
Sintra day trip from Lisbon Portugal

Self-Drive Information

Time on Road: 45 min from Lisbon to Sintra – and drive back

  • Sintra is easily reached from Lisbon via a motorway
  • Once in Sintra, the National Palace is in the heart of the old town, and you have to drive past it to reach the Pena Palace and the Castle of the Moors – note that traffic jams may occur because there is only one road
  • Pena is probably the most visited one, but there are other options out of the way such as Quinta da Regaleira and its “inverted towers” or the Monserrate Palace
  • Compare rental prices on Discovercars.com 

Public Transports

Once in Sintra, you can catch a cab or use the Hop on Hop off buses to visit the various palaces or head to the coastline.

And you can purchase your Pena palace skip the line ticket to be all set – but if you plan on seeing more of the palaces you can buy a combined ticket with Sintra Palace and Castle of the Moors

Other tip: if you are also visiting a lot in Lisbon, the Lisbon Card is a great deal. Many Lisbon attractions are included, you get free transportation including the train to Sintra (but still get your ticket at the booth) and you get 10 to 20% reductions to the Sintra Palaces.

Want to stay overnight?

There is so much to see in Sintra, that staying overnight could be a great idea. See best rated accommodations

Organized Tours Options

I have gone through all the tours on Get Your Guide and Viator and none of them offers a full day visiting several of the palaces. I know some would find that too much, but they are actually very different, and it would make for a fascinating day.
They visit 2 maximum and then go to the coast, as you will see in the next day trip option. See options

#2 – Sintra Pena Palace – Cabo da Roca – Cascais

Type: Nature + Architecture

Highlights

  • The colorful Unesco site of the Pena Palace and its amazing view of the Sintra region
  • The Southwestern-most point in Europe at Cabo da Roca and its colorful cliffs
  • if you have time, add a drive up North to the Magnificent Magoito beach with its dark cliff
  • The Coastal area around Cascais and its fascinating beaches
Sintra Roca Cascais Day trip from Lisbon

Self-Drive Information

Time on Road: 3h driving loop

  • Drive to Sintra and up to the Pena Palace – go early to avoid the crowds
  • Then head to the coast and Magoito Beach to admire the cliff (near the town of Magoito)
  • Drive South to Cabo da Roca
  • Continue driving along the coast to Cascais, stop at Praia do Guincho
  • Compare rental prices on Discovercars.com 

Organized Tours Options

With a small group and your guide discover the best of the Sintra Cascais Natural Park:

  • The Pena Palace with its panoramic views
  • Cabo da Roca and its colorful cliffs
  • The Scenic beaches of Cascais

I have not found a tour that covers Magoito, but it is already a fantastic day combining architecture and nature!

  • OPTION 1 – Small group tour in air-conditioned vehicle – Check out Program and Prices
  • OPTION 2 – Book a private tour for more flexibility

#3 – Obidos & Monasteries

Type: Architecture/History

Highlights

  • Medieval Town of Obidos with its fortifications, white houses and castle – one of the best activities is to walk on the wall around town 
  • Tasting the famous local alcohol in the chocolate cup
  • Visiting one of the Unesco – classified monasteries – You can, for example, stop just to see the façade of Alcobaca and take the time to visit Batalha with its unfinished chapels
Obidos day trip from Lisbon Portugal

Self-Drive Information

Time on Road: 3h40 loop

  • Drive North to Obidos on A8 – park outside and explore the town in the morning
  • Drive North to Alcobaça monastery – have lunch on the place with a great view of the imposing structure
  • Drive to Batalha and visit one of the most fascinating monasteries with Manueline decor and unfinished chapels
  • Drive back to Lisbon on A15 or do a detour to the coast to see the small peninsula of Peniche to break the drive back (it adds 40min to the drive)
  • Compare rental prices on Discovercars.com 

Want to stay overnight?

You can stay overnight either in Obidos or Batalha and combine with the visit of the other monasteries on this Unesco loop: Alcobaça and the Convent of the Christ in Tomar. See best rated accommodations in Obidos

Organized Tours Options – Obidos, Fatima and Bathala

This well rated tour will take you to Obidos, and Batalha where you can explore on your own. Plus, you will discover the significant religious site of Fatima at the end of the day before getting back to Lisbon

  • OPTION 1 – Small group tour (8 person van) – Check out Program and Price
  • OPTION 2 – Book a private tour for more flexibility

#4 – Tomar Convent of the Christ & Knight Templars

Type: Architecture/History

Highlights

  • The Tomar convent and its Castle has a long history related to the Knight Templars. It is part of the Unesco World Heritage list. There is much to explore and discover, so take your time and enjoy!
  • The town of Tomar is also very lovely to explore
Tomar day trip from Lisbon Portugal

Self-Drive Information

Time on Road: 3h return drive

  • Drive North East on A1 towards Tomar
  • Parking near the convent is limited so you can park in the town and either walk or take a cab to the top
  • Compare rental prices on Discovercars.com 

Organized Tours Options

With Tomar and its amazing convent, this tour will take you on a journey to discover the Knight templars with the Almourol castle.Small group tour – Check out Program and Price

I don’t drink coffee

But I also like other drinks and sweets!
Do you like the free content you find on my blog? All my tips and practical information, without intrusive advertising…

Claire, I pay you a coffee!

#5 – Evora day tour from lisbon + wine tasting

Type: History/Architecture

Highlights

Evora is a classic day trip from Lisbon. This major city offers a lot of historical sites

  • Roman temple and ruins
  • The chapel of Bones
  • The Evora Cathedral and its great views of the city
  • The Aqueduct
  • Ad if you are ok with a bit of off-road driving, you can also go see a menhir and cromeleque
Evora day trip from Lisbon Portugal

Self-Drive Information

Time on Road: 3h return

  • Drive East on A2 then A6 towards Evora
  • Add 30min return drive on a dirt road to visit the Almendres Megalithic sites (leave N114 towards Nossa Sra de Guadalupe)
  • Compare rental prices on Discovercars.com 

Want to stay overnight?

Evora is a vibrant city in the evening. There is a great choice of restaurants. So why not spend the night and the second day you could visit the stunning white village of Monsaraz before driving back to Lisbon. Find out some accommodation suggestions.

Organized Tours Options

This tour will take you to the see and visit the main sites of Evora. Just sit back and relax.

And after that you will be treated to a side stop to learn more about wine in Portugal and taste it.

Small group tour – Check out program and prices

#6 – Not a day trip but amazing Tour – Helicopter

Type: Scenic

Sintra Helicopter flight from Lisbon Portugal

I know this is technically not a day trip, but I absolutely love flying in an helicopter.
And the site of Sintra with its lush green mountains and beautiful palace is just perfect to fly over.
In the picture is the Sintra National palace, but the colorful Pena Palace is even more amazing.

CHECK PROGRAM AND PRICES

#7 – Mertola & Guadiana Nature Park

Type: Nature

Highlights

  • The Mertola village with its white houses, its castle and its unique church with Islamic decor
  • Just driving around in the nature park for great scenery
Mertola Guadiana day tour from Lisbon Portugal

Self-Drive Information

Time on Road: 5h return drive

  • Drive East and then South on A2 towards Albufeira
  • At Castro Verde, turn east on N123 towards Mertola
  • Compare rental prices on Discovercars.com 

I have not found organized tours for this one.

#8 – Berlanga Archipelago

Type: Nature

Highlights

  • The Peninsula of Peniche and its fishing tradition
  • Berlanga island with its magnificent cliffs and rock formations, a Unesco Biosphere site
  • The St John Baptist fort
Berlanga island portugal

Self-Drive Information

Time on Road: Lisbon to Peniche: 1h20 drive

  • Drive to Peniche and take a boat tour to the Berlangas archipelago

Organized Tours Options

This tour is just fantastic. They will pick you up from Lisbon, take you to Peniche where you will board to go to the main island.
You will be able to do enjoy amazing views, snorkel , swim and Kayak around the island to appreciate the nature reserve.

Check out program and prices

#9 – Arrabida Reserve and Dolphin Watching Tour

Type: Nature

Highlights

  • Sesimbra and Setubal opening on the estuary
  • The nature park of Arrabidda and its amazing landscapes including the Arrabida convent and colorful coves
Lisbon day trip Arrabida Portugal

Self-Drive Information

Time on Road: 2h30 drive loop

  • Drive South, cross the Tagus and take A2 and then N378 towards Sesimbra
  • To the east of the town is the nature reserve and the magnificent beaches 
  • The town at the East is Setubal where you can board a dolphin cruise
  • Drive up to Lisbon via A12 and A2
  • Compare rental prices on Discovercars.com 

Organized Tours Options

All organized for you to admire the best views in the region, enjoy its gastronomy and admire dolphins playing around the boat

Check out program and prices

#10 – Porto Covo

Type: Nature

Highlights

This is a stop often overlooked but this charming town has a lot of charm

  • The relaxed atmosphere in the city center
  • The series of beaches with golden sand, turquoise water and dark rock formations. You can spend hours exploring these beaches which are easily accessed
Porto covo Portugal day tour from Lisbon Portugal

Self-Drive Information

Time on Road: 3h40 return drive

  • Drive South on A2 and A26 towards Sines
  • Pass the port town of Sines and stop at Porto Covo at the north end of the Natural Park of Southwest Alentejo
  • Compare rental prices on Discovercars.com 

About a day trip from Lisbon to Porto

Porto is a fascinating city to visit. If you have the time, I recommend a weekend there (check out my Porto Guide).

However, I have not selected it in my top 10 because it is quite far from Lisbon

Plan 3h to 3h30 drive in each direction. It is possible but quite tiring!

Want to see more of the best Portugal has to offer?

  • 30 Most beautiful landscapes in Portugal – read article
  • Best things to do in Portugal – read article
  • The best beaches in Portugal  – read article
  • The best villages in Portugal – read article
  • Lisbon vs Porto – where to go? – read article
  • Driving in Portugal – read article
  • The best of the Algarve region – read article
  • The highlights of Sintra and the Sintra-Cascais Nature park – read article
  • 21 Best towns and cities in Portugal – read article

Planning a trip to Portugal?

Check out my travel guide to help you plan:

Plan your dream trip in Portugal thanks to my guide
Small Mainland Portugal Algarve ebook cover
  • 13 maps to easily plan your itinerary
  • 120+ pre-selected locations
  • GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
  • Tips to make the most of your time
  • 200+ original photos to help you choose
Discover it!

And keep track of your own trip!

Portugal Travel journal

Want to see more of PORTUGAL?

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BEST VILLAGES IN PORTUGAL

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BEST DAY TRIPS FROM PORTO

Portugal Travel Guide - Portugal destinations

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