Day trips
7 Best Day Trips from Lisbon by Train
Lisbon's suburban lines are absurdly good value: fairy-tale palaces, surf beaches and a walled hill town all sit inside a €5 ticket or a short intercity hop.
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Sintra
Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira and mist in the hills. Go early — by 11am the 434 bus queue is a rite of passage.
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Cascais
The whole ride hugs the Tagus estuary and then the Atlantic. Beaches, a small marina, and Boca do Inferno.
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Óbidos
A whitewashed village inside intact castle walls, famous for cherry liqueur served in a chocolate cup.
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Évora
Roman temple, medieval cathedral and a chapel lined with human bones, in the heart of the Alentejo.
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Coimbra
Portugal's ancient university city, its baroque library among the most beautiful rooms in Europe.
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Setúbal
Dolphin-watching in the Sado estuary and the sand spit of Tróia across the water.
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Porto
A long but rewarding day: Ribeira, port lodges in Gaia, and back on an evening train.
Common questions
What is the best day trip from Lisbon by train?
Sintra — Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira and mist in the hills. Go early — by 11am the 434 bus queue is a rite of passage.
Do I need to book these trains in advance?
For high-speed and intercity services, yes: fares rise and popular departures sell out. Suburban and regional lines have fixed fares, so you can simply turn up.
Are these trips possible without a car?
Every destination on this page was chosen because public transport does the whole job — train, and occasionally a short bus or funicular at the far end.