The Best Boat Trips in Portugal

With a long Atlantic coast, two great rivers and two island archipelagos, Portugal is made for boat trips. Here are the best boat trips in Portugal, from sea caves and dolphins to river cruises and whale watching.

Quick answer: the top boat trips are the Benagil cave and sea caves in the Algarve, whale watching in the Azores, a Douro river cruise from Porto, a sunset sail on the Tagus in Lisbon, the ferry to the Berlengas islands, and dolphin watching on the Sado near Setúbal.

How to choose

Portugal’s boat trips fall into three types. Sea trips along the cliffs and caves are short, exciting and can be bumpy. Wildlife trips go further out to find dolphins and whales, and usually last two to three hours. River cruises are calm and slow, with food, wine and scenery. Pick by what you want to see, and by how well you handle choppy water.

On a budget? Ordinary public ferries are boat trips too. They cost a fraction of a tour and often have the same views.

The Algarve

• Benagil and the sea caves: by boat or kayak. Most boat trips leave from Benagil, Portimão, Carvoeiro or Armacão de Pêra and last one to two hours. Since 2024, you can’t land on the beach inside the cave or swim there, and kayaks must go with a licensed guide. See Benagil tours. See Benagil cave.
• Ponta da Piedade: small boats through the grottos near Lagos. Trips are short, often under an hour, and the little boats can slip into arches the bigger ones can’t. See trips.
• Dolphin watching from Lagos. Common dolphins are the usual sighting. See trips.
• Ria Formosa: lagoon islands and birdlife, in calm, sheltered water that suits children and nervous sailors. See tours.
• The Arade river from Portimão to Silves. See cruises.

See the best Algarve boat trips.

Lisbon and around

• Sunset sailing on the Tagus. Sail past Belém, the 25 de Abril bridge and the Cristo Rei statue as the light fades. See Lisbon sunset cruises.
• The ferry to Cacilhas: the cheapest boat trip in Lisbon. The crossing from Cais do Sodré takes about 10 minutes, with wide views back to the city, and you can pay with a Navegante card.
• Dolphins on the Sado from Setúbal. The estuary has a resident group of bottlenose dolphins, which makes sightings likely. In recent summers, the nature authority (ICNF) has banned dolphin watching at the mouth of the estuary in August to protect the group, so routes may change then. See trips.
• The ferry to Tróia from Setúbal. The passenger catamaran takes about 15 minutes and the car ferry about 25, crossing the Sado to long sandy beaches. Keep an eye out for dolphins on the way. See the Tróia peninsula.
• Kayaking along the Arrábida coast at Sesimbra, with clear water and sea caves. See tours.
• The Berlengas by ferry from Peniche. The crossing takes about 30 to 45 minutes, and boats run mainly from late spring to early autumn. Visitor numbers on the island are capped at 550 at any one time, and you must register online with BerlengasPass and pay a small daily fee before you go, so book ahead in summer. See trips. See Berlengas.

Porto and the Douro

• The Six Bridges Cruise. A short trip of about 50 minutes under Porto’s bridges, leaving from the Ribeira and Gaia riverfronts. See the Six Bridges Cruise.
• Douro river cruises from Porto into the wine valley. Full-day trips usually sail one way and return by train or coach. See Douro river cruises.
• Boat trips in the Douro Valley from Pinhão, often on traditional rabelo boats, about an hour among the terraced vineyards. See the Douro itinerary.
• Aveiro’s moliceiro boats on the canals. These painted boats once collected seaweed and now carry visitors. Book a ride.

The islands

• Whale watching in the Azores: world-class. Sperm whales live here year-round, and blue and fin whales pass through in spring. See São Miguel trips and Pico trips. See whale watching in the Azores.
• Dolphins and whales in Madeira. Trips leave from Funchal and Calheta. See trips.
• The ferry to Porto Santo from Funchal. The Lobo Marinho takes about two and a half hours to reach the island’s long golden beach. The ship stops for maintenance from time to time, and regular sailings are suspended from 14 to 22 October 2026 for repairs, so check before you plan. See Porto Santo.

When to go

Most sea trips run from about April to October, with the most departures in summer. In winter, many Algarve operators run a reduced schedule. Wildlife trips in the Azores and Madeira run for much of the year, weather permitting. River cruises in Porto run all year, though the Douro Valley is at its best in spring and at harvest time in September.

Tips

• Book early in summer, especially small boats and kayaks.
• Sea conditions: ocean trips may be cancelled in rough weather. Plan them early in your stay so you have time to rebook.
• Seasickness: take tablets before Atlantic crossings like the Berlengas.
• Morning trips are often calmer, with less wind and better light in the caves.
• Bring: sun cream, a hat, a light jacket and a waterproof bag for your phone.
• Wildlife: choose operators that keep their distance from animals and limit boats around them.
• Kayaks: see kayaking in Portugal for guided paddles along the coast.

FAQ

Can you swim into the Benagil cave?

No. Since 2024, swimming to the cave and landing on its beach are banned. You can see it from a boat, or by kayak with a licensed guide.

Where is the best place to see dolphins in Portugal?

The Sado estuary near Setúbal has a resident group of bottlenose dolphins. Lagos in the Algarve, Madeira and the Azores also have regular sightings on dedicated trips.

Do you need to book the Berlengas?

Yes, in summer. Book the boat ahead, and register online with BerlengasPass before you go, because numbers on the island are capped.

When is the best time for whale watching in the Azores?

Spring, roughly April and May, is best for blue and fin whales. Sperm whales can be seen all year, weather permitting.

More: wildlife in Portugal and the Portugal bucket list.

See also: dolphin watching in Portugal.

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