When it comes to European city breaks, it’s not hard to see why Lisbon is such a popular choice. With stunning pastel buildings, a buzzing nightlife scene, an incredible choice of dining options and easily accessible coastline, Lisbon really has so much to offer!
Basing yourself in the Portuguese capital city is ideal for exploring the abundant beauty and unique sites that surround Lisbon. For those who wish to see the best highlights of Portugal without doing a road trip, there are many great day trips from Lisbon to choose from.
To inspire your next visit to Portugal, this detailed guide will help you to find the perfect Lisbon day trip destination. It also covers all of the essential info such as how to get there by train or bus, the best organised tours, attractions that can’t be missed and much more.
From the prettiest villages in Portugal to fairy-tale castles and quaint seaside towns, read on to discover the very best day trips from Lisbon!
Table of Contents
The 13 Best Day Trips From Lisbon in 2025
Sintra
The UNESCO listed town of Sintra is home to a collection of the most unique and stunning palaces in Portugal. Located a convenient 40 minute train journey from Lisbon’s city centre, it’s no wonder Sintra is one of the most popular day trips from Lisbon.
This colourful town was once a summer getaway for Portuguese royals and nobility. Nestled in the hills outside of Lisbon, Sintra made the perfect spot for beautiful mansions, palaces and castles to be built. Nowadays the town attracts millions of tourists every year.
While it may be impossible to visit every palace in Sintra in a single day trip, below you’ll find the top 3 that deserve a spot on your Sintra day trip itinerary. Seeing all 3 of them in one day is possible as long as you make an early start from Lisbon in the morning.
Top Sintra Tip: Ensure you eat a full breakfast before you begin the day of sightseeing as the palaces do not sell food. You can stop for lunch in Sintra’s town centre to break up your day of palace hopping.
The gorgeous Pena Palace
Pena Palace – This eye-catching palace is the most popular of the bunch and for good reason; it’s truly like nothing you’ve ever seen before. Pena Palace is perched on a hilltop in the picturesque Sintra Mountains boasting sweeping views over the town and countryside below.
To avoid standing in the notoriously long queue at Pena Palace, I would highly recommend buying your ticket online in advance. This will allow you to skip the ticket line but you will still have to wait in the queue to enter the palace. Allow up to 2 hours for your visit.
Opening hours: 9am – 6pm daily
Tickets: €14 – Purchase your Pena Palace skip-the-line ticket here
Spectacular views from the Castle of the Moors
Castle of the Moors – This impressive medieval fortress is located fairly close to Pena Palace. Dating to the 10th century, the Moors built this castle in a strategic location along the ridge of the Sintra Hills.
The highlight of visiting the Castle of the Moors is witnessing the spectacular panoramic views that can be seen from its vantage point high above the town of Sintra.
Opening hours: 9:30am – 6:30pm daily
Tickets: €8 – Get your Castle of the Moors fast track ticket here
Explore the beautiful gardens of Quinta da Regaleira
Quinta da Regaleira – Continue your day trip to Sintra with a visit to the mystical estate of Quinta da Regaleira. This ornate mansion and its enchanting gardens will be sure to spark your imagination.
The large network of paths will lead you through overgrown vegetation, underground initiation wells and dark moss covered tunnels, getting lost is all part of the fun.
Quinta da Regaleira is located an easy 10 minute walk from Sintra’s town centre making it easy to visit after stopping for lunch in town. It will take you around 1.5 hours to see the palace and grounds.
Opening hours: 9:30am – 8pm daily
Tickets: €10 – Get your skip-the-line ticket and audio guide here
Getting to Sintra
The easiest way to travel from Lisbon to Sintra is by taking the train which departs from Rossio Station.
Once you arrive in Sintra, get on the tourist bus 434 at the train station which runs in a loop stopping at the main tourist attractions around the town.
This bus service caters specifically to tourists and costs €11.50 per ticket. This gives you unlimited access to use the Sintra bus for up to 24 hours.
Best Sintra Day Trip from Lisbon
If you don’t feel like navigating public transportation, this popular day tour is the best option. See the best of Sintra on a full day trip from Lisbon with stops at Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira and Sintra’s old town.
➤Find tour prices and availability here
Obidos
The lovely white-washed town of Obidos is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the entire country. Obidos makes a great addition to your Portugal road trip, however it’s also a great choice when it comes to day trips from Lisbon.
Obidos is a charming walled village steeped in fascinating history and full of cute traditional houses. The town is small and compact which makes it easy to see everything by foot in a single day.
Obidos Castle is one of the most striking features of the town and dates to the 700’s when the Moors occupied the area. It has even been recognised as one of the 7 wonders of Portugal!
Spend a relaxed day wandering through the maze of cobbled lanes, finding pretty squares and flower covered buildings around each corner. Take a walk along the town’s historic walls for panoramic views of the town and surrounding landscapes.
Be sure to check out the Porta da Vila which is the town’s main gate. It dates to the 1700’s and features beautifully painted blue and white tiles which makes for a lovely photo.
Don’t leave Obidos without trying some of the locally produced cherry liqueur, ginja. This sweet drink can be found in most of the bars around town and souvenir bottles can be bought from the local shops.
Getting to Obidos
The express bus service that runs between Lisbon and Obidos is the most efficient way to get there on a day trip. Buses depart throughout the day from the Campo Grande bus station in Lisbon and the journey takes 1 hour.
Tickets cost €8 and can be purchased directly from the bus driver. See the timetable for this bus service by clicking here.
Best Obidos Day Trip from Lisbon
See the highlights of Obidos on a full day trip from Lisbon which also includes stops in the towns of Fatima, Batalha and Nazaré. This day trip is the perfect combination of historic towns, coastal scenery and traditional food.
➤Find tour prices and availability here
Cascais
-By Meredith from The Longest Weekend
For a relaxing day excursion from Lisbon, head to the quaint beach town of Cascais. Forty minutes by train from Lisbon’s Cais do Sodre station, Cascais is a refreshing contrast from the bustle of the city and the perfect way to add some R&R to your holiday.
Cascais has everything you’d imagine of the Portuguese coast – a lively beach scene, an old town lined with beautiful tiled streets and houses, plenty of culture and rugged beachside cliffs overlooking the Atlantic.
Upon arrival in Cascais, stroll down to the Praia da Conceição, the largest of the town’s beaches. Rent a pair of chairs and an umbrella for 20 euros for the day, and enjoy a glass of sangria and a light lunch from the restaurant on site.
In lieu of rushing back to Lisbon for the evening, stay for sunset and head down to the Boca do Inferno, “the devil’s mouth” in Portuguese. A leisurely 15 minute’s walk from the beach, this epic viewpoint showcases an unparalleled sunset and a truly unique landscape.
If you’re short on time in Portugal, Cascais is a great alternative to the Algarve and an easy day trip from Lisbon.
Getting to Cascais
The quickest way to reach Cascais is by catching the train from Lisbon’s Cais do Sodre Station. The train journey is straightforward and takes no longer than 40 minutes each way.
Tickets can be purchased at the train station and cost €2.25 per person for a single journey. Return tickets are not available so you must buy each ticket separately on arrival at the station.
Best Day Tour from Lisbon to Cascais
Combine your day trip to Cascais with a visit to Sintra and the amazing seaside cliffs of Cabo da Roca. This full day trip from Lisbon will aim to show you some of the best coastal views of the region with a stop at Pena Palace along the way.
➤Find tour prices and availability here
Evora
-By De Wet from Museum of Wander
Evora, the capital of Alentejo, is one of the prettiest cities in Portugal and an excellent day trip from Lisbon.
The city has a well-preserved old town surrounded by a medieval city wall. The entire old town is a UNESCO site. With its cobblestone alleys and distinct whitewashed architecture with yellow trimmings, Evora is best explored on foot.
Start exploring Evora from Praça do Giraldo, the city’s main square. Grab a short black coffee and a Queijadas de Évora (cheese tart) from Cafe Arcada and enjoy the beautiful architecture surrounding the square.
Next, head to the Bone Chapel to see the macabre church, with its interior entirely covered by human skulls and bones. It is one of the strangest and most unique sights in Portugal.
While you’re there, check out the Igreja de São Francisco church next door. It is a pretty Baroque church with beautiful religious art and an interesting nativity museum. The church’s rooftop provides a panoramic view over the city’s tiled roofs.
The beautiful town of Evora
Find your way to Largo Conde de Vila Flor Square, where you’ll find another two of Evora’s top sights. The Roman Temple in the square, with its Corinthian columns, dates back to the first century AD and is considered the best Roman structure in Iberia.
Besides the Roman Temple, check out the imposing Evora cathedral. You’ll get a bird’s eye view of the city and the vineyards in the country from the roof.
Evora has a reputation as a top food and wine destination. Go for a wine-tasting session at one of the wineries around town and enjoy a hearty Alentejo meal before heading back to the capital.