Top 3 Lisbon Trips: Sintra, Cascais & Must-See Day Trips by Train

Looking for the best day trips or places to visit near Lisbon by train? Here is a list of places within an hour of Lisbon city center and very easy to get to:

Sintra & Cabo de Roca from Lisbon

Rate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Distance from Lisbon: 40 min
Recommended visit length: 7h+ (2 days)
Why visit? The land of palaces and forests
What to see? Pena Palace; Quinta da Regaleira; Monserrate Palace; Castle dos Moros; Cabo de Roca

Located in Sintra Hills, Sintra castles are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape. You can go to Sintra from Lisbon or Sintra to Lisbon by train for 2-3€ cost from Rossio or any other train station (not metro) closer to your location. Trains from Lisbon to Sintra are pretty frequent with wait times of around 20 minutes.

To explore efficiently, you can take local buses for around 3€ per journey or other shuttle or hop-on hop-off buses. If you are up for some hiking, consider walking but be prepared for the hills.

While tackling all the palaces in one day is ambitious, I recommend prioritizing Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira especially for first-timers. Price to access each palace ranges between 8-12€.

For more information see how to best explore Sintra and Cabo de Roca.

Cascais & Boca do Inferno from Lisbon

Rate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Distance from Lisbon: 45 min
Recommended visit length: 6h
Why visit? Beach town near Lisbon
What to see? Boca do Inferno; Casino Estoril; local seafood; beaches and galleires

Located by Lisbon's coastline, Cascais is famed for its marina and historic Old Town where Portuguese noblemen used to spend their summers. It offers streets lined with charming cafes, boutiques, and galleries, perfect for leisurely strolls.

The best way to get to Cascais from Lisbon or Cascais to Lisbon is by taking the train from Cais do Sodré which is frequent and costs around €2-3 for a single journey. Trains from Cascais to Lisbon or viceversa depart every 20-30 minutes.

Some things to do here:

• Boca do Inferno - a dramatic chasm nestled in the seaside cliffs near Cascais.
• Savor local seafood - seafood delights at the numerous restaurants along the bay, a culinary experience.
• Casino Estoril - the oldest casino in Europe.

Costa de Caparica from Lisbon

Rate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Distance from Lisbon: 30 min
Recommended visit length: 6h+
Why visit? Best beach day trip near Lisbon
What to see? Extensive beach; surf; Cristo Rei monument

Located across the river and south of Lisbon, Caparica is known for its expansive beaches, surf, and popular summer playground.

Ways to get to Costa de Caparica from Lisbon include:

1. Sharing a taxi/Bolt from Lisbon (around 30€ for 4 people)
2. Get the train from Lisbon to Pragal, then take a Bolt from the station to the beach (2-3€ for the train + around 10€ for the Bolt)
3. Get a direct bus for 2-3€ (although it might be crowded)
4. By car (it's 18km south of Lisbon, but parking space is a challenge)
5. By ferry from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas, then take a Bolt or bus.

You can also visit the 28m tall Cristo Rei monument (statue of Christ) near the town of Almada and Ponte 25 de ABril, which is not far from the beach.