Day trips from Lisbon

Full-day trips from Lisbon

Between 7 and 12 hours, including the journey there and back. Best to leave early in the morning.

For a whole day out of the city: places further away or with several stops. Leave early and check your way back before you set off, especially by public transport.

Independent itineraries to do on your own. We do not sell tours, recommend tour operators or use affiliate links. Check timetables, tickets and access with official sources before you set off.

No car? See the trips with official train, bus and ferry timetables

Sources: official operator and monument websites, listed on each trip. Reviewed on 2 November 2026. Editorial policy

Distance

Transport

Interest

Accessibility

Rain

Budget

Time of year

Booking

15 trips

Sintra: palaces and hills

Heritage · Nature · Family-friendly

Romantic palaces, estates and forest on a UNESCO-listed range of hills. Pick two or three sites and allow time for the climbs.

Total time: 7-10 hours
Travel time (approx., one way): Check before you go - CP - Comboios de Portugal, Parques de Sintra
Difficulty: Check before you go - CP - Comboios de Portugal, Parques de Sintra
Booking: Booking recommended
Best time: Spring, Autumn, Winter
In the rain: Check before you go - CP - Comboios de Portugal, Parques de Sintra
Simplest way to get there: Sintra line train from Rossio.
Last checked: 2 Nov 2026

Train · Difficult access · Medium budget

A full day in Sintra

Heritage · Nature · Family-friendly

A demanding day with Pena, the Moorish Castle, town and Regaleira: start early, book interiors and be prepared to shorten the plan if delayed.

Total time: 10-12 hours
Travel time (approx., one way): Check before you go - Parques de Sintra - preços e horários, Pena - reserva obrigatória
Difficulty: Check before you go - Parques de Sintra - preços e horários, Pena - reserva obrigatória
Booking: Booking required
Best time: Spring, Autumn
In the rain: Check before you go - Parques de Sintra - preços e horários, Pena - reserva obrigatória
Simplest way to get there: Take CP to Sintra, for example from Rossio.
Last checked: 3 Nov 2026

Train, Bus · Difficult access · Higher budget

Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais

Nature · Heritage · Beach · Family-friendly

Make an independent train-and-bus loop through Sintra’s centre, Atlantic scenery at Cabo da Roca and Cascais before returning to Lisbon.

Total time: 9-12 hours
Travel time (approx., one way): Check before you go - CP - tarifas, Carris Metropolitana - 1253
Difficulty: Check before you go - CP - tarifas, Carris Metropolitana - 1253
Booking: No booking needed
Best time: Spring, Autumn
In the rain: Check before you go - CP - tarifas, Carris Metropolitana - 1253
Simplest way to get there: Take CP to Sintra, for example from Rossio.
Last checked: 3 Nov 2026

Train, Bus · Partial accessibility · Medium budget

Mafra and Ericeira

Heritage · Beach · Nature · Family-friendly

An independent day linking Mafra’s palace and library with Cerco Garden and the Ericeira coast, without relying on the closed basilica.

Total time: 8-11 hours
Travel time (approx., one way): Check before you go - Museus e Monumentos de Portugal - Palácio Nacional de Mafra, Câmara Municipal de Mafra - contactos, acessibilidade e estacionamento
Difficulty: Check before you go - Museus e Monumentos de Portugal - Palácio Nacional de Mafra, Câmara Municipal de Mafra - contactos, acessibilidade e estacionamento
Booking: Booking recommended
Best time: Spring, Autumn
In the rain: Check before you go - Museus e Monumentos de Portugal - Palácio Nacional de Mafra, Câmara Municipal de Mafra - contactos, acessibilidade e estacionamento
Simplest way to get there: Take the 2804 from Campo Grande to Mafra; check the 2132 between Mafra and Ericeira terminal, then return on the 2740 or 2741.
Last checked: 3 Nov 2026

Bus, Car · Partial accessibility · Medium budget

Setúbal and the Arrábida hills

Nature · Beach · Family-friendly

A riverside city with a lively market and fish on the Sado, and limestone hills above the sea with some of the clearest beaches near Lisbon.

Total time: 8-11 hours
Travel time (approx., one way): Check before you go - Fertagus, Câmara Municipal de Setúbal
Difficulty: Check before you go - Fertagus, Câmara Municipal de Setúbal
Booking: No booking needed
Best time: Spring, Summer, Autumn
In the rain: Check before you go - Fertagus, Câmara Municipal de Setúbal
Simplest way to get there: Fertagus train from Roma-Areeiro, Entrecampos or Sete Rios to Setúbal.
Last checked: 2 Nov 2026

Train, Bus, Car · Partial accessibility · Low budget

Arrábida, Sesimbra and Setúbal

Nature · Beach · Heritage · Family-friendly

Start at Mercado do Livramento, cross Arrábida’s landscape on the N379-1 where permitted and finish in Sesimbra’s town centre and beach.

Total time: 9-11 hours
Travel time (approx., one way): Check before you go - Município de Setúbal - mercados municipais, Município de Setúbal - Arrábida Sem Carros 2026
Difficulty: Check before you go - Município de Setúbal - mercados municipais, Município de Setúbal - Arrábida Sem Carros 2026
Booking: No booking needed
Best time: Spring, Autumn
In the rain: Check before you go - Município de Setúbal - mercados municipais, Município de Setúbal - Arrábida Sem Carros 2026
Simplest way to get there: Reduced alternative, not the same circuit: Fertagus links Lisbon stations, including Sete Rios, with Setúbal; route 3721 links Sete Rios with Sesimbra; route 4730 links Sete Rios with Setúbal via Azeitão.
Last checked: 3 Nov 2026

Car · Partial accessibility · Medium budget

Óbidos and Nazaré

Heritage · Family-friendly

Combine Óbidos’s historic centre with Nazaré’s beachfront and Sítio on an independent day trip designed primarily for travelling by car.

Total time: 9-11 hours
Travel time (approx., one way): Check before you go - CM Óbidos, Rodoviária do Oeste - Linha Verde
Difficulty: Check before you go - CM Óbidos, Rodoviária do Oeste - Linha Verde
Booking: Booking recommended
Best time: Spring, Autumn
In the rain: Check before you go - CM Óbidos, Rodoviária do Oeste - Linha Verde
Simplest way to get there: For Óbidos, use Rápida Linha Verde from Campo Grande.
Last checked: 3 Nov 2026

Car · Partial accessibility · Medium budget

Óbidos

Heritage · Family-friendly

Spend a day in Óbidos exploring historic streets, squares and the castle exterior, without rushing to add another town to your Lisbon outing.

Total time: 7-9 hours
Travel time (approx., one way): Check before you go - CM Óbidos - Como chegar, Rodoviária do Oeste - Linha Verde
Difficulty: Check before you go - CM Óbidos - Como chegar, Rodoviária do Oeste - Linha Verde
Booking: Booking recommended
Best time: Spring, Autumn
In the rain: Check before you go - CM Óbidos - Como chegar, Rodoviária do Oeste - Linha Verde
Simplest way to get there: Rodoviária do Oeste’s Rápida Linha Verde links Lisbon Campo Grande with Óbidos.
Last checked: 3 Nov 2026

Bus, Car · Partial accessibility · Medium budget

Óbidos, a town within walls

Heritage · Family-friendly

A medieval town of whitewashed houses and flowers, surrounded by walls you can walk on, about an hour away by bus.

Total time: 7-9 hours
Travel time (approx., one way): Check before you go - Rodoviária do Oeste
Difficulty: Check before you go - Rodoviária do Oeste
Booking: No booking needed
Best time: All year
In the rain: Check before you go - Rodoviária do Oeste
Simplest way to get there: Express bus from the Campo Grande terminal.
Last checked: 2 Nov 2026

Bus, Car · Partial accessibility · Low budget

Nazaré, beach and giant waves

Beach · Nature · Family-friendly

A fishing town with a long beach in a bay and, in winter, the Praia do Norte waves seen from the Sítio headland.

Total time: 8-11 hours
Travel time (approx., one way): Check before you go - Rede Expressos
Difficulty: Check before you go - Rede Expressos
Booking: No booking needed
Best time: All year
In the rain: Check before you go - Rede Expressos
Simplest way to get there: Express coaches from Lisbon, leaving from Sete Rios or Oriente depending on the service.
Last checked: 2 Nov 2026

Bus, Car · Partial accessibility · Low budget

Fátima, Batalha and Nazaré

Heritage · Family-friendly

A self-drive day linking Fátima’s sanctuary, Batalha’s Gothic monastery and the coast at Nazaré, with selective visits rather than a race through monuments.

Total time: 10-12 hours
Travel time (approx., one way): Check before you go - Santuário de Fátima - Recitais, Mosteiro da Batalha
Difficulty: Check before you go - Santuário de Fátima - Recitais, Mosteiro da Batalha
Booking: Booking recommended
Best time: Spring, Autumn
In the rain: Check before you go - Santuário de Fátima - Recitais, Mosteiro da Batalha
Simplest way to get there: Search Lisbon - Fátima with Rede Expressos and check the stated terminal rather than assuming Sete Rios.
Last checked: 3 Nov 2026

Car · Partial accessibility · Medium budget

Évora, the Alentejo's museum city

Heritage

A UNESCO-listed old town with a Roman temple, cathedral and whitewashed streets inside the walls, about an hour and a half away by train.

Total time: 9-12 hours
Travel time (approx., one way): Check before you go - CP - Comboios de Portugal, Rede Expressos
Difficulty: Check before you go - CP - Comboios de Portugal, Rede Expressos
Booking: No booking needed
Best time: Spring, Autumn, Winter
In the rain: Check before you go - CP - Comboios de Portugal, Rede Expressos
Simplest way to get there: Intercidades train from Lisboa Oriente, Entrecampos or Sete Rios.
Last checked: 2 Nov 2026

Train, Bus, Car · Partial accessibility · Medium budget

Évora

Heritage · Family-friendly

An independent day linking the Roman Temple, cathedral, Chapel of Bones and university, travelling from Lisbon and back by Intercidades train.

Total time: 10-12 hours
Travel time (approx., one way): Check before you go - CP - horários, CP - Lisboa / Évora
Difficulty: Check before you go - CP - horários, CP - Lisboa / Évora
Booking: Booking recommended
Best time: Spring, Autumn
In the rain: Check before you go - CP - horários, CP - Lisboa / Évora
Simplest way to get there: Take the Lisboa Oriente - Évora Intercidades, also stopping at Entrecampos and Sete Rios; check operating days and the return in the linked CP timetable.
Last checked: 3 Nov 2026

Train, Car · Partial accessibility · Medium budget

Tomar and Almourol Castle

Heritage · Family-friendly

From the Convent of Christ to Almourol island, an independent day requiring coordinated land transfers and confirmation of the crossing before departure.

Total time: 10-12 hours
Travel time (approx., one way): Check before you go - CP - horários, CP - Lisboa / Tomar
Difficulty: Check before you go - CP - horários, CP - Lisboa / Tomar
Booking: Booking recommended
Best time: Spring, Autumn
In the rain: Check before you go - CP - horários, CP - Lisboa / Tomar
Simplest way to get there: CP publishes the Lisboa Santa Apolónia - Oriente - Entroncamento - Tomar route; check its official timetable and the return.
Last checked: 3 Nov 2026

Train, Car, Ferry · Difficult access · Medium budget

Tomar and the Convento de Cristo

Heritage

The former Templar headquarters in Portugal, with a UNESCO-listed convent above a quiet town on the River Nabão.

Total time: 9-12 hours
Travel time (approx., one way): Check before you go - CP - Comboios de Portugal
Difficulty: Check before you go - CP - Comboios de Portugal
Booking: No booking needed
Best time: All year
In the rain: Check before you go - CP - Comboios de Portugal
Simplest way to get there: Regional train from Santa Apolónia or Oriente.
Last checked: 2 Nov 2026

Train, Car · Partial accessibility · Medium budget