Updated October 2026: We added train and bus details for each trip, current fares, and answers to the questions readers ask us most.
One of the best aspects of visiting Lisbon is the variety of great day trips nearby.
On a recent trip to Portugal, we took numerous day trips, some by train and some by organized tour. If we had rented a car, we would have had even more options.
Below are a few of our favorite day trips from Lisbon.
Lisbon Day Trips at a Glance
Where each trip leaves from, how long it takes and roughly what it costs
| Destination | Getting there | Time | One way | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sintra | Train from Rossio station | 40 min | About €2.50 | Fairytale palaces |
| Cascais | Train from Cais do Sodré | 35 to 40 min | About €2.50 | Beaches and a pretty old town |
| Óbidos | Rápida Verde bus from Campo Grande, or car | About 1 hr | Around €10 by bus | Medieval walls and ginjinha |
| Nazaré | Car or tour | About 1.5 hr | Varies | Big waves and seafood |
| Fátima | Car, tour or Rede Expressos bus | About 1.5 hr | Varies, book the bus ahead | Pilgrimage site |
| Batalha | Car or tour | About 1.5 hr | Varies | A quiet UNESCO monastery |
| Mafra | Car | About 45 min | Varies | Royal palace and library |
Good to know
- Sintra and Cascais fares load onto a Navegante card, which costs 50 cents. Loading Zapping credit lets you skip the ticket machine lines.
- Fares are approximate 2026 prices. Check CP or the bus company before you go.
- Fátima, Batalha, Nazaré and Óbidos fit into one long day by car or on a small group tour.
Sintra
The colorful Pena Palace is one of Portugal’s most iconic attractions.
Sintra is the top day trip from Lisbon. Sintra is filled with many iconic attractions, certainly enough to deserve an overnight stay if you want to visit more than two or so attractions.
Among the attractions in Sintra are Pena Palace, the Castle of the Moors, Quinta da Regaleira, The National Palace of Sintra and Monserrate Palace.
Sintra is about 15 miles northwest of Lisbon. The train leaves from Rossio station in the city center and takes about 40 minutes. A one-way ticket is roughly €2.50, loaded onto a Navegante card that costs 50 cents.
The ticket machines at Rossio get busy by mid-morning. Going early helps, and so does loading Zapping credit onto your card so you can tap straight through the gates.
Debbie and I did it a little differently. We took an Uber in the early morning to get to Pena Palace before the gates opened. We got there about 30 minutes before opening, and only a few people were in line ahead of us. That evening we took the train back to Lisbon.
Sintra takes some planning. For timed entry, the park-only ticket and how we beat the crowds, read our post: Visiting Sintra and Pena Palace: what to see and do
Another approach is to take an organized tour and let your guide worry about the logistics.
Here’s a well-reviewed tour: Sintra Full-Day Private Tour - A Journey through Wonderland
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Cascais
Cascais is a small, picturesque beach town that can be seen in about a half day. Its proximity to Lisbon makes this a popular day trip.
Cascais is a 40-minute drive from Lisbon but the train is a very convenient way to visit.
The train takes about 35 to 40 minutes from Cais do Sodré to Cascais. A one-way ticket is about €2.50.
Cais do Sodré train station is notorious for having long lines at the ticket machines. With the Lisboa Card, travelers can skip the line entirely and tap their card directly at the electronic gates. You can read more about the Lisboa Card on our post: Complete Guide to Lisbon Transportation: How to Use the Metro, Trams and Lisboa Card
Pro Tip for the Best Views: For the most scenic ride, sit on the left side of the train when departing from Lisbon. As the train leaves the city, you'll have uninterrupted views of the river and then the Atlantic beaches all the way to Cascais. On the way back to Lisbon, remember to switch to the right side!
Unlike a trip to Sintra where you need a game plan, you can just wander the lovely downtown, stroll out to the Santa Marta Lighthouse, and visit the Museu Condes de Castro Guimarães.
If beaches are your thing be sure to visit Praia da Rainha or Praia da Ribeira.
As an upscale beach community, there is no shortage of great restaurants for lunch before heading back to Lisbon.
Óbidos
Walking the streets of Óbidos.
The small medieval town of Óbidos is just an hour’s drive from Lisbon and makes a great day trip.
Our favorite part of visiting was walking on the city walls and taking on the views of the surrounding countryside.
While in Portugal, we tried “ginjinha”, the cherry liqueur often served in a chocolate cup, often (maybe too often). Our favorite one was served from a “hole in the wall” stand in Óbidos. Local legend says monks came up with the recipe centuries ago.
We visited Óbidos during the week between Christmas and New Year's Day and the town was in full Christmas mode. They take Christmas seriously in town.
It takes about an hour to drive from Lisbon to Óbidos. If you're driving, Nazaré is only about 30 minutes further north, so the two make an easy pair.
Without a car, the Rápida Verde express bus runs from Campo Grande in Lisbon to Óbidos in about an hour. Tickets are around €10 each way. Weekend buses run less often, so check the return times before you go.
We wrote a full post about the town: Visiting Óbidos, Portugal's Medieval Walled Town
Fátima
The main plaza in Fátima.
Fátima is a major Christian pilgrimage site in Portugal, drawing pilgrims from around the world. The faithful believe that in 1917 three children saw apparitions of the Virgin Mary.
The Chapel of Apparitions stands on the site of the visions. The children are buried inside the Basilica of our Lady of Fatima. On the opposite side of the massive plaza is the modern Basilica of the Holy Trinity.
It only takes an hour or so to walk around the complex but you can also attend a Mass if you'd like.
It takes about 90 minutes by bus or car to reach Fátima.
We visited on an organized tour and really enjoyed our brief visit. Many popular tours combine Fátima with other nearby attractions.
If you’d like more information about visiting Fatima we have a full blog post here: Visiting Fatima, what you need to know
Here’s a link to the tour we took: From Lisbon: Fatima, Batalha, Nazare, Obidos - Small Group
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Nazaré
View of the main beach in Nazaré.
Nazaré is known for big waves. Sebastian Steudtner set the Guinness World Record here in 2020, riding a wave measured at 86 feet.
The big wave season is winter, typically November to February, so when we visited in December I was excited about the huge waves. Unfortunately, the weather conditions were not right for the waves but I was surprised at how wonderful Nazaré was even without the big waves.
The view from the Sítio district, high above Nazaré, is a lasting memory of our trip to Portugal. Nazaré’s main beach is long, wide, and sandy. The cliffs to the north reminded me of the beaches in Los Angeles, just prettier.
We had one of our best meals in all of Portugal at Taberna d'Adelia, the Michelin-reviewed seafood restaurant.
Nazaré is about a 90-minute drive from Lisbon. A car or organized tour is the best way to visit
We wrote a whole blog post about visiting Nazaré: Visiting Nazaré: what to see on a day trip
A seagull on a cliff high above Nazaré.
If you are looking for great things to do in Lisbon, check out our post: Our favorite things to do in Lisbon
Batalha Monastery
Light from the stained glass windows at Batalha Monastery.
The Batalha Monastery is a quick visit located between Fátima and Nazaré. The monastery was built to thank the Virgin Mary for Portugal’s victory in the Battle of Aljubarrota in 1385.
The monastery took over 100 years to construct and used new and innovative construction techniques at the time.
The exterior is amazingly ornate and the interior is narrow with a vaulting ceiling. It is one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The best part of visiting the Batalha Monastery is it tends to receive far fewer visitors than it deserves. If the building was in Lisbon or Porto there would be a long line to enter.
Combining the smaller crowd and the large adjacent parking lot makes Batalha Monastery a great quick stop if you are in the area.
Mafra National Palace
Portugal has no shortage of impressive buildings, and Mafra National Palace ranks high on the list.
Construction on the palace, which also served as a Franciscan friary, concluded in 1755.
The palace served as a summer residence of the royal family. Its large art collection includes works by Portuguese, Italian, and French artists
On a visit, you’ll see the royal apartments and the basilica. You’ll also visit the beautiful library with over 30,000 books.
The Mafra National Palace is about a 45-minute drive from Lisbon.
Since the Palace only takes an hour or two to visit, you could stop in Cascais on the way back to Lisbon. If you look on the map you’ll see that you’ll pass temptingly close to Sintra on your way between Mafra and Cascais but Sintra deserves a full day (or two).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which day trips from Lisbon can you do by public transport?
Sintra and Cascais are the easy ones by train, and both rides take about 40 minutes. Óbidos has a direct bus from Campo Grande. Fátima has a Rede Expressos bus, but it's best to book ahead.
Which day trips are better with a car?
Nazaré, Batalha and Mafra are all much easier with a car. You can also pair Óbidos and Nazaré, which are only about 30 minutes apart.
Which day trips from Lisbon work as a half day?
Cascais is the easiest. The train ride is short and you can see the town in a few hours. Mafra National Palace takes an hour or two once you're there.
Are day trips from Lisbon worth doing in winter?
Yes. We went in late December. Óbidos was all decked out for Christmas, and Nazaré was lovely even on a day without the big waves.
What is the best beach day trip from Lisbon?
We'd pick Cascais. Praia da Ribeira and Praia da Rainha are both a short walk from the train station.
Can you do Porto as a day trip from Lisbon?
You can, but the train takes about three hours each way. We'd give Porto at least a night.
About the Authors
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John and Debbie O'Boyle are the team behind The Empty Nest Explorers. John is a professional photographer whose work has been published by The New York Times, NBC News, and Getty Images. He is a member of the American Society of Media Photographers, has been part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team, and has received two New York Emmy nominations. Debbie is a writer and photographer with 30+ years of experience, formerly with The Star-Ledger and NJ.com. Together, they create in-depth travel guides for couples and empty-nest travelers who want to make the most of every destination. |
Some well-reviewed Lisbon area activities:
Other Portugal travel blog posts:
We had a great time visiting Portugal during Christmas week and for the New Year.
Visiting the big cities of Lisbon and Porto in December and January, with the mild weather and festive atmosphere, creates a special kind of liveliness during the holiday season.
A range of Christmas fairs & markets, festive lights, decorations and holiday celebrations make for a memorable visit.