Portugal captivates visitors with its dramatic Atlantic coastline, historic cities adorned with colorful azulejo tiles, and a rich maritime heritage. From the vibrant streets of Lisbon to the port wine cellars of Porto, ancient castles of Sintra to the golden beaches of the Algarve, this sun-drenched country offers an irresistible blend of culture, cuisine, and coastal beauty.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Sintra
Highlights: Pena Palace fairy-tale architecture · Quinta da Regaleira with initiation wells · Moorish Castle ruins with panoramic views · Monserrate Palace gardens
Obidos
Highlights: Mediaeval walled village entirely intact · Castle converted to pousada hotel · Ginja (sour cherry liqueur) served in chocolate cups · Obidos Literary Festival in July
Setubal & Arrabida Natural Park
Highlights: Crystal-clear turquoise waters of Portinho da Arrabida · Serra da Arrabida limestone cliffs · Azeitao wine region en route · Freshest seafood restaurants in Setubal port
Evora
Highlights: Roman Temple of Evora (1st century AD) · Chapel of Bones (Igreja de Sao Francisco) · UNESCO World Heritage historic centre · Alentejo wine cellars and olive oil estates
Cascais & Estoril
Highlights: Cascais old town and harbour · Boca do Inferno sea cliffs · Estoril Casino (largest in Europe) · Guincho beach for Atlantic surf and wind
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Organized day tours from Lisbon to Sintra/Cascais from €35; Évora from €40; Douro Valley wine tour from Porto from €75 including lunch
- Private
- Private car hire from €80/day; private guided day trips from Lisbon €150-250; taxi day hire for Alentejo from €120
- Public
- Trains (CP) serve Sintra, Cascais, Setúbal, Évora, Coimbra, Porto; buses (Rede Expressos) reach Obidos, Nazaré, Lagos, and smaller cities; timetables at cp.pt and rede-expressos.pt
- Rental
- Car rental from €20-40/day — highly recommended for Alentejo, Douro Valley, and Algarve day trips where public transport is infrequent
Multi-day tours from Portugal
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from PortugalWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Sintra is extremely crowded July-August — book Pena Palace online 2-3 weeks ahead and arrive at 9:30AM opening
Évora is best visited on weekdays to avoid Sunday crowds; the Chapel of Bones is small and queues build quickly
Douro Valley by car via N222 (rated one of world's best scenic drives) takes a full day — leave Lisbon or Porto by 8AM
The Arrabida Natural Park limits car access July-August (1000 cars/day) — arrive before 9AM or book a boat tour from Setúbal