Lisbon, with its seven hills, is already a beautiful metropolis in itself, and greater than a few days is important to really expertise town and all it has to supply.
And in the event you really feel like getting away from the hustle and bustle of the capital, there are a number of day journeys you’ll be able to take from the Portuguese capital.
I have been dwelling in Portugal most of my life and once I began excited about the very best Lisbon day journeys, an limitless record of names got here to thoughts. Portugal is just not an enormous nation by any means, but it is positively simple to seek out nice day journeys near Lisbon.
I used to be capable of (painfully) cut back that record, and right here I’ve seven best-of-the-best day journeys from Lisbon that I actually consider are well worth the journey.
Greatest Lisbon Day Journey Choices
1. Sintra
Greatest for: Most iconic day journey vacation spot, romantic spots, {couples} and households.
Simply 35 minutes away from Lisbon’s hustle and bustle, the small city of Sintra is without doubt one of the finest places for a one-day journey. Sintra is a magical place that makes you’re feeling like you’ve simply stepped right into a fairy story. With its distinctive mix of pure magnificence and architectural marvels, this enchanting city has rightfully earned its spot as a UNESCO World Heritage web site.
When you’ve by no means been to Sintra, come ready: pack your most snug footwear and cost your telephone (you may want it for the 1000’s of images you may snap of this charming city).
Begins with a go to to the Pena Palace, a surprising romanticist citadel set excessive up on a hilltop. Think about a palette of daring yellows, vibrant oranges, and fiery reds towards lush inexperienced and clear blue!
Contained in the palace, every room tells a story of the nineteenth century and in the event you keep till dusk, the palace illuminates, remodeling right into a magical ocean of lights.
Not removed from Pena Palace, you will see that the Moors Citadel. Right here, you’ll be able to climb the battlements (be ready as it is a mini exercise) and get rewarded with panoramic views of the city that’ll have you ever catching your breath, for extra causes than one.
Wander all the way down to the center of Sintra’s charming Previous City, the place you may discover Palacio da Vila with its iconic chimneys, cute artisan outlets, and conventional pastry shops. Talking of which, skipping the Travesseiros and Queijadas (that are candy pastries) must be thought-about a sin in Sintra.
Quinta da Regaleira is a brief stroll away. These enchanting gardens and hidden underground tunnels are like a portal to a different world.
It is a quiet and exquisite spot, which is why Sintra is considered one of my favourite day journeys from Lisbon.
Lastly, let’s not neglect Cabo da Roca, the “fringe of the World”, which is a 25-minute drive from Sintra to the coast.
Standing on the cliffs on the westernmost level of mainland Europe, you are confronted with beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean’s endlessness.
Ebook your Sintra Tour:
2. Comporta and Tróia
Greatest for: Unspoiled seashores, rest, watersports, dolphin watching, horseback using.
Think about a spot with pristine waters, sand as comfortable as powdered sugar, and unspoiled seashores. Welcome to Comporta and Tróia, tucked away within the Alentejo area south of Lisbon.
When you love the seaside and wish a day to unwind and calm down, Comporta or Tróia is without doubt one of the finest day journeys for you. Nonetheless, when you’re there, you may discover that you would simply spend greater than at some point on this paradise, particularly throughout Summer season’s peak season.
About one hour from Lisbon (in the event you take the ferry boat from Setúbal – in any other case it is 1.5 hours if driving round on the A2), you may discover these two “hidden gems” with seashores stretching for miles.
Consider me once I say that you will surprise sooner or later if you have not stepped right into a portal and you’re someplace within the Caribbean.
Whether or not sunbathing, diving, water sports activities, or just leaving footprints alongside the shoreline, each minute right here appears like an hour at a spa. However there’s extra to this good place than simply its seashores.
The rice paddies at Comporta appear like they have been stitched out of a patchwork quilt, and they’re nice to go to if you wish to get away from the seaside in the course of the hottest hours – concentrate on the mosquitoes, although.
One other factor you are able to do is stroll by means of Comporta’s picturesque city, the place you may discover design outlets and a few unimaginable eating places, good for a conventional Portuguese lunch. Ensure you strive Dona Bia, a easy restaurant serving wonderful conventional Portuguese meals.
In case you are a fan of nature, you’ll be able to go on a boat tour to observe the bottlenose dolphins or journey a horse on the seaside with a wine tasting afterward.
The Tróia Roman ruins of Cetóbriga or the Carrasqueira Palafitic Pier are additionally nice locations to go to close to the city. When you’re feeling fortunate, you’ll be able to all the time go to Tróia’s on line casino.
Ebook your Comporta and Tróia Tour:
3. Cascais
Greatest for: Seashore lovers, nature, biking, browsing, strolling.
Cascais wasn’t all the time the polished jewel it’s right now. As soon as a humble fishing city, it caught the attention of European royalty within the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and have become the delicate seaside summer time retreat village it’s nonetheless right now.
Attending to the center of Cascais is comparatively simple from Lisbon – take the prepare from Cais do Sodré to Cascais.
Journey Tip: Ensure you sit on the left facet of the prepare to admire the spectacular views of the Tagus River and the Atlantic Ocean.
As you arrive in Cascais, you may be greeted by the cobblestone streets, pretty structure, and the scent of sea salt of the Previous City. From right here, begin strolling to Cascais’ important attraction: Boca do Inferno.
Alongside the way in which, you’ll be able to cease on the marina or marvel at Museu Condes de Castro Guimarães, a fairy-tale citadel.
Curiously, if you end up on the tiny cobblestone bridge overlooking the museum, you may be on the one bridge on the earth crossing the Atlantic! As soon as an opulent house, the museum additionally has a small personal seaside bathed by the ocean.
Proceed strolling, and you will quickly attain your vacation spot: the famed Boca do Inferno, a dramatic cliff formation whose title interprets to “Mouth of Hell.” The breathtaking fantastic thing about this pure surprise, the place the ocean’s energy is on full show as waves crash into the cavernous rock, creates an unmissable spectacle.
Legend has it that this formation owes its existence to a story of unrequited love, jealousy, and magic.
Lengthy story brief, essentially the most stunning lady within the village rejected marrying a strong sorcerer; he then imprisoned her in a tower and employed a horseman as her guardian.
Curiosity, nevertheless, obtained the higher of the horseman, and upon opening the tower’s door, the inevitable occurred – they fell in love and determined to flee the citadel. The sorcerer discovered and, consumed with rage, summoned his magic to create a chasm underneath the escaping lovers – the Boca do Inferno.
Cascais can be among the best day journeys in case you are searching for a day on the seaside.
Whether or not you need to take in the solar, dive into the waves, or take pleasure in a stroll on the Paredão, a promenade alongside the water’s edge, Cascais affords choices for each sort of seaside lover.
Amongst these is Guincho’s Seashore, a haven for surfers and nature lovers recognized for its wild magnificence and big waves.
At Guincho, you’ll be able to hire a motorbike and pedal alongside cliffside paths, the place every flip reveals breathtaking vistas of rugged shoreline and the untamed ocean.
Ebook your Cascais Tour:
4. Óbidos & Nazaré
Greatest for: Historical past lovers, surf fanatics, households, festivals & Christmas markets.
Positioned 1 hour north of Lisbon, Óbidos is near Peniche. From right here it is one other 35-minute drive to the well-known Nazaré, which is internationally well-known for the largest wave at Praia do Norte.
Nestled inside historical metropolis partitions, the city of Óbidos invitations you again in time. Begin your day journey journey by strolling alongside the medieval city partitions, the place you may have breathtaking views of cobbled streets, whitewashed homes with terracotta roofs, and the verdant countryside past.
And as you wander by means of Óbidos, it’s essential to strive Ginjinha, the city’s famed cherry liqueur.
This candy, potent drink is historically served in an edible chocolate cup, providing a novel style expertise deeply rooted in native custom (sure, you must eat the cup on the finish).
Annually, Óbidos comes alive with the medieval competition, the place knights and jesters roam the city’s slender streets. The Christmas Village transforms Óbidos right into a winter wonderland, making it an unmissable vacation spot, particularly for households.
The Worldwide Chocolate Competition, normally held in March, is a testomony to Óbidos’ artistic spirit, drawing chocolate lovers to bask in numerous candy treats and ingenious chocolate creations.
Ebook your Óbidos & Nazaré Tour:
5. Arrábida
Greatest for: Nature, wine tastings, kayaking, snorkeling, dophin watching.
Completely situated between the Atlantic and pine-covered hills, the Arrábida Pure Park is a haven of pure magnificence in its most pristine kind. Additionally it is among the best day journeys from Lisbon.
Drive by means of the park’s winding trails and discover, hidden among the many hills, the Convent of Arrábida. Visiting the convent is a journey by means of house and time, providing insights into the lives of the monks who as soon as sought refuge in nature’s embrace.
Additionally in Arrábida, you may discover Praia dos Galapinhos. Voted probably the most stunning European seashores, this idyllic spot is a slice of paradise the place crystal-clear waters kiss secluded sands, a wonderful place for a day tour the place you’ll be able to immerse your self within the breathtaking fantastic thing about Portugal’s shoreline.
To completely finish this enjoyable day journey, take pleasure in a wine-tasting expertise. The native vineyards, cradled by the solar and nourished by the ocean air, produce distinctive wines as wealthy and sophisticated because the panorama.
Ebook your Arrábida Tour:
6. Fátima
Greatest for: Religious tourism, historic significance, pilgrimage vacation spot.
Fátima is one other nice day journey from Lisbon. On the coronary heart of Fátima’s city, you may discover the Sanctuary, a sprawling complicated that serves as a testomony to the profound occasions of Might 13, 1917 (exactly 71 years earlier than I used to be born), when three shepherd kids reported visions of the Virgin Mary.
This web site has since blossomed into one of many world’s most commemorated Catholic shrines, inviting thousands and thousands to replicate, pray, and discover solace inside its serene embrace.
Strolling by means of the Sanctuary, with the solar casting comfortable shadows throughout the white stones, one can’t assist however really feel a deep connection to one thing larger than oneself. Fátima’s significance extends past its non secular heritage, embodying a message of peace transcending borders and beliefs. So, even in case you are not non secular and end up on this stunning and peaceable place, take the time to mild up a candle on your family members.
For these in search of a extra profound non secular expertise, attending a Mass on the Sanctuary or collaborating within the Candlelight Procession is a journey into the center of Fátima’s mystical heritage.
Ebook your Fátima Tour:
7. Évora
Greatest for: Historical past lovers, historical Roman temples, cultural occasions, Alentejo delicacies.
Évora, one other pleasant city within the coronary heart of Portugal, is a dwelling museum. On the coronary heart of Évora is the Roman Temple – a relic of historical occasions and one of many best-preserved Roman buildings in Portugal.
It’s a must-see in case you are visiting Évora for the primary time.
Only a stone’s throw from right here, the Chapel of Bones awaits, a extra somber however equally charming testomony to town’s historical past. This eerie chapel, adorned with the bones of over 5,000 people (you learn appropriately), serves as a memento mori, reminding guests of the transient nature of life.
It is a spot that fascinates and humbles and can seemingly hang-out your goals for a few nights. Nonetheless, it’s an indispensable a part of at the present time journey.
With their picturesque appeal, the streets of town’s historic heart lead you thru a maze of wealthy historical past. Whereas right here, you may also go to the Cathedral of Évora, a masterpiece of Gothic structure, or spend a while exploring the Évora College, a UNESCO World Heritage web site and a cornerstone of town’s wealthy educational and cultural life.
Ebook your Évora Tour:
Greatest Day Journeys from Lisbon – Often Requested Questions
✨ What’s the hottest day journey from Lisbon?
Sintra is unquestionably the preferred and finest day journey from Lisbon’s metropolis heart, because of its proximity to town (you will get there by prepare or with a guided tour) and its wealth of cultural, pure, and historic treasures. It is tremendous romantic too!
🌞 Are you able to go on a day journey to the Algarve from Lisbon?
Whereas an Algarve day journey from the capital is technically potential, it is a stretch that may go away you extra exhausted than exhilarated. The Algarve, recognized for its beautiful shoreline, golden seashores, and charming cities, is a few 2.5 to 3-hour drive from Lisbon. This implies a one-day journey might take as much as 6 hours of journey, leaving little time to discover the area.
❓ Is Porto value a day journey from Lisbon?
In case you are coming to Portugal, it’s essential to go to Porto. Nonetheless, contemplating it a one-day journey from Lisbon may not do it justice. The journey from Lisbon to Porto takes about 3 hours by automobile, making for an extended day of journey. Whereas catching a glimpse of Porto’s appeal on a one-day journey is feasible, I like to recommend you save a bit extra time and keep on this stunning city for two or 3 nights.
Greatest Day Journeys from Lisbon – Last Phrases
I hope I made your selection simpler (and less tough) with all these concepts for the proper day journey from Lisbon. They’re, actually, all incredible locations, and every has its distinctive wonders.
I suppose, on the finish of the day, your selection will rely on what you’re searching for from staying in Lisbon. Simply know there is no such thing as a mistaken selection and you’ll all the time return to finish the record of finest day journeys from Lisbon.
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