The richness of Lisbon invites one to visit and to stay within the limits of the metropolis. Yet on the other hand, it makes any traveler wonder: what is there nearby that can be visited in a day and offers equal richness? The truth is that, besides all the historical, natural, and cultural heritage that makes it up, the capital region still has several outstanding options for trips near Lisbon that invite you to take a day trip to get to know new landscapes, new monuments, and even new cultural traits and traditions.
There is no shortage of things to see near Lisbon and if you want to know which destinations are ideal for a day trip, don’t miss this list with the Best day trips and excursions from Lisbon.
The picturesque village of Sintra
Considered the most romantic village in Europe, Sintra may well be one of the most beautiful places in Portugal… and it’s only half an hour from the capital. Here, you will find magnificent monuments, lush green mountain scenery, and wonderful secret beaches.
Besides enjoying a walk or tuk-tuk tour of the old town, Sintra’s many castles and palaces cannot be missed during your visit, so plan an intense day excursion: Quinta da Regaleira, an enigmatic mansion with Templar and Masonic details; the extravagant Palacio da Pena, a colorful neo-Gothic castle with Moorish influences straight out of a fairy tale; the Sintra Castle of the Moors, perhaps the least impressive and dispensable if pressed for time, as it is barely preserved and can now only be enjoyed in ruins in the middle of the forest; and finally, the Queluz Palace, a grand French-inspired palace decorated in rococo style, with bright pastel-colored rooms and magnificent halls.
While it is true that Sintra could take a week (or more) to visit, it is equally true that the town is the ideal place for a getaway from Lisbon, inviting couples and families to experience a magical atmosphere.
Costa da Caparica
For beach lovers, the bathing pleasures of the Costa da Caparica beaches will be the ideal day trip from Lisbon. Besides the beaches, you will find magnificent landscapes, a relevant artistic and cultural environment, and unquestionable gastronomic pleasures.
Sol da Caparica is also a festival that animates the region during one of the summer weeks, inviting us to celebrate life. Even without the festival, you can always find parties and bars where the atmosphere is enthusiastic and allows for two dance steps.
Urban art from the South Bank
South of the Tagus, urban art is worthy of note, with several locations where you can see the best of what is done by urban artists in the region. We highlight the modernized municipality of Barreiro, which besides offering magnificent examples of this type of street art, also has an extensive waterfront, with magnificent views that invite you to enjoy a long walk.
Setubal
Also south of the Tagus River, you will find Setúbal. Here, the invitation is for you to spend a day among white sandy beaches and beside a sea of crystalline waters, getting to know the wonders of the Arrábida Mountains.
This getaway is also an invitation for you to enjoy the best of the gastronomy, highlighting the Setubal’s delicacy of the best fried cuttlefish and, of course, the fresh fish on the grill. Even outside the bathing season, it is always possible to visit this destination, just 30 minutes from Lisbon, to enjoy the best of nature and gastronomy.
Sesimbra
Sesimbra’s secret beaches are its greatest attraction, but like Setubal, this seaside location is a year-round destination. On the coastline, several restaurants offer delicious dishes with a seafaring flavor, and if you are adventurous, you can even try your hand at surfing or other sea sports.
Monuments, traditions, landscapes, and urban art come together in Sesimbra to present the ideal Lisbon getaway. And the best thing is that you can get there in less than an hour!
Ericeira
Talking about Surf takes us to Ericeira: a place known for its beaches… and especially for the sea, which invites to extreme sports. Here, you can take a day to learn to surf, to Bodyboard or Stand-up Paddle. Alternatively, you can just enjoy one of the many beaches, such as the famous Praia dos Pescadores or Foz do Lizandro.
Besides the beach, the region’s culture and architecture are worth mentioning, creating a traditional and picturesque environment. The “ouriços” are a regional sweet that you can’t miss when you make this little getaway from Lisbon.
Mafra
A little history, a little nature, and a lot of wonder: this is the promise of the village of Mafra, a town just 45 minutes from the capital. As one of the best day trips from Lisbon, this town will invite you to visit the National Palace and the Convent of Mafra and to walk through the Tapada, to be intoxicated by wildlife and nature. The Cerco Garden, next to the Convento, also offers a space for natural contemplation, with trails where trees and fountains create a peaceful environment that invites rest, reflection, and tranquility.
Close to Mafra, a visit to the peculiar Aldeia da Mata Pequena and Aldeia Típica José Franco is also a must, where the pottery invites you to get to know the incredible miniatures of traditional spaces in the region. The Aldeia Típica José Franco is open between 9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. and admission is free.
Óbidos
It is located 85 kilometers from the capital and is a romantic destination with a medieval slant, which will probably be a very appealing getaway from Lisbon. Óbidos is a medieval town where you can visit the castle and, once a year, even enjoy one of the most famous medieval fairs in the country.
Among the flavors not to be missed is the Ginjinha de Óbidos, served here in a chocolate glass, which you can try before visiting the Óbidos Lagoon, where you will have a breathtaking view.
Cascais
There are those who call this maritime village the “Portuguese Riviera” and several international platforms have presented the destination as one of the best in Europe. So if you are visiting Lisbon, this may be the ideal place for a day trip.
With a rich heritage, including the Fort of São Jorge de Oitavos, this town also invites you to appreciate the architecture and visit the interactive Village Museum or the Counts of Castro Guimarães Museum. The latter will also allow you to get to know the park where it is integrated (Marechal Carmona Park) for a moment of contact with Nature and well-being. Often yoga practices can be found here, inviting you to relax. In the summer, the beaches of Cascais become equally unmissable. Some unmissable examples, for their landscapes and for the potential of summer practices or sea sports are: Praia do Tamariz, Praia do Guincho, Praia da Poça or Praia das Moitas.
Lourinhã
If you like dinosaurs, you should know that the Dinosaur Capital and the Portuguese Capital are not far from each other, making it the ideal place to visit with the little ones. Lourinhã is only an hour away from Lisbon and is home to Dino Parque, a theme park dedicated to the Paleozoic, Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous, which will take families on a journey to the past, which you can visit between 10am and 5pm. This park is free for children up to 3 years old, and the ticket costs $10 for children up to 12 years old and $12 for adults, with special prices for families. Here, many activities allow the little ones to be geologists for a day and dive deep into the dinosaur universe.
In addition, the region is known for its seafood dishes, and there are very affordable seafood buffets that will leave children and adults alike with their mouths watering!
