The Best Day Trips from Lisbon by Train

You don’t need a car to explore around Lisbon: some of the best day trips are an easy, cheap train ride away. Here are the best day trips from Lisbon by train, with journey times and tips.

Quick answer: Sintra (40 minutes from Rossio), Cascais and Estoril (about 40 minutes along the coast from Cais do Sodré), Carcavelos beach (about 25 minutes), Évora (about 1h30 by Intercidades), Tomar (about 2 hours) and Setúbal (about an hour by Fertagus). For Óbidos and Fátima, the bus is better.

Easy suburban trains (pay with navegante)

Sintra

From Rossio, about 40 minutes, every 20–30 minutes, around €2. Then the 434 bus up to the palaces. See Lisbon to Sintra.

Cascais and Estoril

From Cais do Sodré along the coast, about 40 minutes to Cascais. Sit on the left for sea views. See things to do in Cascais.

Carcavelos and the Cascais line beaches

About 25 minutes to Carcavelos, a big surf beach. See the best beaches near Lisbon.

Belém

Just 7 minutes from Cais do Sodré on the same line. See Belém.

Longer trains (book on cp.pt)

Évora

Intercidades trains take about 1h30 to the Alentejo’s UNESCO-listed capital. See Évora.

Tomar

Regional trains take about 2 hours to the Templar town and the Convent of Christ. See Tomar.

Setúbal

Fertagus trains cross the 25 de Abril bridge to Setúbal in about an hour, for dolphin trips and the Arrábida beaches (with the summer shuttle). See Setúbal and Arrábida.

Coimbra

About 2 hours by Alfa Pendular or Intercidades: possible as a long day trip, but better as an overnight stop on the way to Porto. See Coimbra.

Better by bus

• Óbidos: express bus from Campo Grande, about an hour. See Óbidos.
• Fátima: Rede Expressos from Sete Rios, about 1h30. See Fátima.
• Ericeira: Carris Metropolitana from Campo Grande. See Ericeira.
• Sesimbra: bus 3721 from Sete Rios. See Sesimbra.

Tips

• Suburban trains: load “zapping” credit on a navegante card. See Lisbon public transport.
• Intercity trains: book ahead for seats and promo fares. See the Portugal train guide.
• Strikes: check CP the day before.

More: the best day trips from Lisbon.

Prices and details change, so please double-check before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the groups.