16 incredible trips outside of Lisbon

Can I say that I’m bored with Lisbon? No. After spending a few years here, I’m still amazed by this city. On the other hand, the capital of Portugal can get tiring very quickly. Unfortunately, the streets are currently overcrowded and you need to find some breathing space. When I have a free weekend, I like to go somewhere further away and take a trip outside Lisbon. Would you like to go on a trip outside the city? Come with me on one of my favorite short trips. Breathe in the fresh air, feast your eyes on the views, and see beautiful places.

I spent my first year in Lisbon exploring the city, but I quickly wanted to see the surroundings of the capital. As I write this post in 2025, it has been seven years since I moved here, and I have been practically everywhere in the vicinity of the city. I always recommend that visitors spend at least one day on a trip outside Lisbon. It is an opportunity to get to know the country better and see something other than the city. As you travel further, you will be able to see not only historical monuments, but also the beautiful beaches and forests for which Portugal is famous.

Outside Lisbon, there are many beautiful places that are perfect for relaxation. There are beaches, forests, meadows, and abandoned monasteries. The air is cleaner there, and the views are breathtaking. So if you dream of peace and quiet and want to see something interesting, take a trip outside Lisbon.

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A comparison table and a map

The place	Distance from Lisbon	Transportaion	Cost	Time	Best for
Cascais and the west coast	30 km	Train	2.45 Euros	30 minutes	Beach lovers and those who like nice views
Sintra	30 km	Train	2.30-2.45 Euros	1 hour	Like history and palaces and nature
Cacilhas and Almada	16 km	Ferry	1.55 Euros	15 minutes	Those looking for hidden gems and local vibes
Guincho	32 km	Car	–	40 minutes	Those looking for beautiful beaches
Costa da Caparica	15 km	Car, bus, train	2-4 Euros	1 hour by bus	Those looking for beaches to relax on
Setubal	43 km	Car, train	3 Euros	1 hour by bus	Those looking for some seaside vibes
Adraga	45 km	Car	–	45 minutes	Those looking for amazing beaches
Peninha	40 km	Car	–	50 minutes	Those looking for quiet places in nature
Azeitão	40 km	Car	–	40 minutes	Those looking for good wine
Cabo Espichel	48 km	Car	–	40-50 minutes	Those looking for incredible views
Nazaré	120 km	Car	–	about 2 hours	Those looking for seaside towns and nice views
Óbidos	80 km	Car	–	1 hour	Those looking for history
Ericeira	53 km	Car	–	45 minutes	Those looking for small seaside towns
Peniche and Berlengas	108 km	Car	–	1 hour 20 minutes	Those looking for beautiful ocean views
Buddha Garden	83 km	Car	5 Euros	1 hour	Those looking for quirky attractions

See all those locations on the map.

Trips from Lisbon by public transport – With easy access

Cascais and other beaches

Cascais is only 30 minutes by train outside of Lisbon – the small town used to be extremely popular among the rich and famous. Nowadays it sill has that particular character and you can really feel like you’re in a cosmopolitan resort.

On the way to Cascais, you’ll find Oeiras. Stop here and visit the Marquiz de Pombal’s Palace. Inside it’s not that amazing, but the surrounding gardens are worth a visit.

Another place that I really recommend is Estoril. The beaches here are small, but the cliffs and rocks sticking out of the blue water give it an incredible character. If you like gambling, then head to the local casino, which is the biggest in Europe.

At the end, stop in Carcavelos, where the young Portuguese like to hang out. This beach is very crowded during the summer, but if you like to see how the locals spend their free time, then coming here will give you a good indication of that.

How to get there?
From Cais do Sodre catch a train to Cascais. It takes 30-40 minutes to get to the end of the line. In the summer you can buy a ticket, which allows you to hop on and off the train whenever you like. It costs around 4 Euro. I also recommend getting off at one of the stations and then walk along the coast.
Map

Sintra

Sintra – a small town near Lisbon – is very famous among visitors. Especially the yellow Penha Palace is flooded with tourists. I really like the town itself, with its cobbled, narrow streets and atmospheric cafes and restaurants. My favourite place is Quinta de Regaleira, which is like a mysterious secret garden, where you can spend a whole day.

How to get there?
You can take a train from Lisbon. Bigger stations, like Rossio, operate frequent trains to Sintra. It takes around 20 minutes from Lisbon.
If you fancy a further trip and also seeing other places around the town, then I recommend renting a car in Lisbon.
Map

Cacilhas

That’s my favourite trip outside of Lisbon because Cacilhas is not only lovely, but it’s also very easy to get there. I really recommend this place to those that like seafood and fresh fish.

How to get there?
Take a ferry from Cais do Sodre. The trip takes 10 minutes and you will pay only 1 Euro.
Map

When you come to Lisbon, you will see a huge statue of Jesus. It’s visible from every view point. Yes, it is almost exactly like the statue in Brazil. You can climb the statue to the very top and admire the views of the city.

How to get there?
From Cacilhas you can walk to Christo Rei. You can also take a bus number 101, which departs every 30 minutes. The ticket can be purchased from the driver.
Map

Trips from Lisbon easily done by car

Guincho

Guincho is a lovely little beach located 10km from Cascais. It’s perfect for surfing, but also for walks, sunbathing and relaxing. The only thing that can disturb you are strong winds, which are common during the Spring and Autumn.

How to get there?
You can go to Cascais and then walk (if you like hiking). The area is very picturesque and you will find plenty of view points on the way.
You can also rent a bicycle and cycle from Cascais to Guincho.
If you have a car, then it’s not a problem – getting there is very easy and quick.
Map

Costa da Caparica

On the other side of the river there is also a long coast of beaches, where you can relax and sunbathe all day long. Costa da Caparica is a very popular location due to a huge choice of bars and restaurants.

How to get there?
You can take a ferry to Cacilhas from Cais do Sodre. From there jump on either bus number 124 or 135. It’s quite a long journey. Going there by car is easier and shorter and the whole trip shouldn’t take you more than 40 minutes.
Map

Setubal and Troia

Setubal is a small coastal town, perfect for a Summer holiday. It has nice beaches, although they are quite small. During the sunny days, you can head to the Arrabida National Park, where the water is blue and the sand is very soft. There are many hidden coves around, where you can chill all day.

From Setubal, you can take a ferry to Troia. This is another coastal town. This one is a bit more fancy and there are many expensive restaurants around. The beach is actually really nice, so I recommend going there once. Just bear in mind that the weather there can change rapidly.

How to get there?
You can drive from Lisbon and it takes around 30 minutes to an hour. There are also buses from Sete Rios in Lisbon. Check your tickets here.

Trips requiring a car

Peninha

Peninha is one of the most beautiful places I have visited outside of Lisbon. It is an abandoned monastery standing on a hill in the Sintra Forest. It’s located so high that you can see the Cabo da Roca nearby and the Guincho beach.

How to get there?
From Guincho beach, you need to go further and then turn right and then right again. Follow the signs to Peninha. If you are on foot, it might be a very long walk. Best way to visit is in a car.
Map

Adraga

One of the best ideas for a trip outside of Lisbon. Adraga is a beautiful little beach near Sintra. Not many people come here and most of the time it’s quite empty. There are caves and hidden nooks to explore around the big rocks you will see on the shore. The restaurant here serves the best seafood in the area.

How to get there?
Apparently, there is a bus from Sintra, but a quicker and easier way is to have your own car and drive there.
Map

Azeitão

Are you a wine lover? Brilliant! Portuguese wine is not only affordable, but also really tasty. There are plenty of wine tastings in Lisbon, but you can also try it out at the source. In Azeitão you will find 2 major wineries: Bacalhoa and José Maria da Fonseca. Both can be visited and at the end of the tour you’ll get a few wines to try.

How to get there?
A car is the best way.
Map

Cabo Espichel

If you’re looking for fresh air and great views, then you will find them here. Cabo de Espichel has high cliffs and rocks that are really picturesque against the blue skies.

How to get there?
Only by car. The trip takes 30 minutes.
Map

Long day trips from Lisbon

Nazaré

I went there for only one day, but I would have loved to spend more time in Nazaré. The town is famous for high waves that reach 30 metres and the surfing competition that takes place here every winter. On the streets of Nazaré you will find old ladies dressed in 7 skirts, who are also a local attraction of the place.

How to get there?
The best way of getting there is a car, but you can also catch a bus from Sete Rios for only 12 Euros.
Map

Ericeira

A lovely little town, perfect for a trip outside of Lisbon. Small, curvy, cobbled streets attract visitors and are perfect for taking beautiful photos. Ericeira is a paradise for surfers as well and you can admire some of the daredevils in the water at every time of the year.

How to get there?
A car is your best option.
Map

Obidos

I only spent a day in Obidos, but I am already planning a longer break there. I love this town and think it was made for a nice trip outside of Lisbon. In the summer you can go there for a medieval festival during which the locals dress up and you can try some great food.

How to get there?
There are buses going from Lisbon, but if you want to go there for a day, it’s best to drive. Getting there should take you about an hour.
Map

Buddha Garden

It’s not a very Portuguese thing to see, but it’s an interesting exhibition of different statues of Buddha. If you’re in the area and it’s a good weather, you can visit it and spend the day wondering around the park.

How to get there?
Only by car.
Map

Peniche and Berlengas Islands

Peniche is a small fishing town situated about 2 hours from Lisbon. I went there for a weekend and loved it. If you’re only going for a day trip outside of Lisbon, then don’t spend too much town in the centre. Instead, go by a boat to Berlengas – a set of picturesque islands, where you can visit caves and spend some time on a beach.

How to get there?
A car is your best option.
Map

Your practical guide to trips from Lisbon

As you might have noticed organising a trip outside of Lisbon might not be that easy if you don’t have your own car. Luckily, you can rent it out. It’s not very expensive and if you book a vehicle in advance, you might be able to pay very little. I once managed to find a deal for 4 Euros per day!

I recommend using Discover Cars, which offers a wide variety of rental companies to choose from. I also use Interrent. They have good prices and deals throughout the year.

If you don’t have a driving license, or you just don’t want to drive in Portugal, then book a trip with GetYourGuide, a tourist company which connects travelers and independent guides.

The last option is public transport. Here you might encounter some problems. Trains and buses operate between the biggest cities in Portugal, but not outside of them. Sometimes there are local buses, but if you want to see something interesting and see local places, then you really do need to rent a car.

If you are planning a trip outside Lisbon, keep in mind that not every season is ideal for this. The best times are May to early November. Later, it can be windy, cold, and visibility significantly decreases. Many places still have their own unique atmosphere. The coastal towns are empty, deserted, and foggy. This certainly has its charm.

Always, even in summer, take something warmer with you. In winter, it is worth having warm clothes, such as a warmer jacket, and in summer, a sweatshirt. For trekking, you will need shoes for walking on trails.

Different recommendations for different types of travellers

Having a hard time choosing the perfect trip outside Lisbon? Here are my recommendations:

• For families with children – Cascais, Costa da Caparica, Óbidos, Buddha Garden
• For couples: Sintra, Cascais, Adraga, Azeitão
• For photographers: Nazare, Christo Rei, Adraga
• For those traveling on a budget: all places you can reach by public transport.

Lisbon is a delightful and interesting city with plenty to do. However, it is worth going further afield. The above trips outside Lisbon are just a few of the many options available. I hope I have helped you organize your time in the Portuguese capital.

Do you have any questions? Would you like to share your experiences or your point of view? Don’t be shy! Leave a comment!