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.

Why go by train

Driving out of Lisbon means tolls, traffic and a hunt for parking, and Sintra in particular has strict traffic rules. Trains drop you close to the sights, cost little, and let you enjoy a glass of wine at lunch. There are two kinds: cheap suburban trains (urbanos) that you pay for with a navegante card, and longer CP Intercidades, Alfa Pendular and regional trains that you book on cp.pt.

Easy suburban trains (pay with navegante)

Sintra

From Rossio, about 40 minutes, every 20–30 minutes, about €2.50 each way. Then the 434 bus up to the palaces. Pena tickets are for a set date and time, so book before you travel. Go on the earliest train you can manage, as Sintra gets very busy by late morning. Allow a full day for two or three sights. See Lisbon to Sintra.

Queluz

On the same Sintra line, about 20 minutes to Queluz-Belas station, then a 15-minute walk to the pink rococo palace and its gardens. A good half day, or a stop on the way back from Sintra. See Queluz Palace.

Cascais and Estoril

From Cais do Sodré along the coast, about 40 minutes to Cascais. Sit on the left for sea views. Cascais station is in the town centre, a few minutes from the beaches, the marina and the old town. Estoril is two stops earlier, with its casino and a seafront promenade linking the two towns. During 2026 works, some evening trains between Caxias and Cascais are replaced by buses. See things to do in Cascais.

Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais in one loop

For a big day out, take the train to Sintra, then bus 1253 (a circular route from Sintra station) to Cabo da Roca, mainland Europe’s most westerly point. Bus 1624 then runs down the coast to Cascais for the train back. The clifftop is free; the lighthouse, open to visitors since July 2026, costs about €5, or €10 with the climb. See Sintra and Cascais in one day and Cabo da Roca.

Carcavelos and the Cascais line beaches

About 25 minutes to Carcavelos, a big surf beach with surf schools and beach bars. Other stops along the line, such as Parede and São Pedro do Estoril, have smaller beaches a short walk from the station. See the best beaches near Lisbon.

Belém

Just 7 minutes from Cais do Sodré on the same line. Check that your train stops there, as some fast trains skip it. The Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower are closed on Mondays. See Belém.

Longer trains (book on cp.pt)

Évora

Intercidades trains take about 1h30 to the Alentejo’s UNESCO-listed capital, with its Roman temple, cathedral and the Chapel of Bones. The station is outside the walls, about a 15 to 20 minute walk from the centre. Trains are not very frequent, so plan your return before you go. See Évora.

Tomar

Regional trains take about 2 hours from Santa Apolónia or Oriente to the Templar town and the Convent of Christ, a UNESCO site. The station is a short walk from the old town. Allow 2 hours for the convent. See Tomar.

Santarém

The fastest trains take about 35 to 40 minutes to this quiet town above the Tagus, known for its Gothic churches and the Portas do Sol viewpoint. The station is at the bottom of the hill, so take a taxi or local bus up. See Santarém.

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). Board at Roma-Areeiro, Entrecampos or Sete Rios. Fertagus tickets are separate from CP. The coast road to the beaches has been closed since a 2023 rockfall, so take the bus. See Setúbal and Arrábida.

Coimbra

About 1h45 to 2 hours by Alfa Pendular or Intercidades to Coimbra-B: possible as a long day trip, but better as an overnight stop on the way to Porto. Coimbra-A closed in 2025, so take the Metrobus from Coimbra-B to the centre. See Coimbra.

Better by bus

• Óbidos: express bus (Rodotejo Rápida Verde) from Campo Grande, about an hour. The Oeste railway has had no trains since storm damage in January 2026. 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.

Which trip to choose

• Palaces and history: Sintra, Queluz or Tomar.
• Beaches: Cascais, Carcavelos or Setúbal for Arrábida.
• Food and wine: Évora, for Alentejo cooking such as migas, black pork and local red wine.
• Rainy day: Queluz or Belém, where most of the sights are indoors.
• With kids: Cascais, which is flat, short and has beaches by the station.

When to go

Spring and autumn are best for walking around towns. In July and August, go to Sintra on a weekday and set off early, and expect full beach trains at weekends. In winter, the suburban trains run as normal, but long-distance timetables can be thinner, so check the last train back.

Tips

• Suburban trains: load “zapping” credit on a navegante card, one card per traveller. See Lisbon public transport.
• Tourist train ticket: CP’s Comboio_Lisboa ticket gives 24 or 72 hours of unlimited travel on the suburban lines.
• Lisboa Card: it covers the trains to Sintra and Cascais too. See is the Lisboa Card worth it?
• Intercity trains: book ahead for seats and promo fares. See the Portugal train guide.
• Which station: Sintra trains leave from Rossio, Cascais trains from Cais do Sodré, and most long-distance trains from Santa Apolónia or Oriente. Check your ticket.
• Strikes: check CP the day before.

FAQ

How much is the train from Lisbon to Sintra?

A single from Rossio is about €2.50, and you can pay with zapping credit on a navegante card. The trip takes about 40 minutes.

Do I need to book suburban trains in advance?

No. Suburban trains are walk-on: tap your card and go. Only Intercidades and Alfa Pendular trains, such as those to Évora or Coimbra, are worth booking ahead.

Can I get to Óbidos by train?

Not at the moment. The Oeste line has been closed since January 2026 and isn’t fully due back before about early 2027. The express bus from Campo Grande takes about an hour.

More: the best day trips from Lisbon and a Porto day trip from Lisbon.

See also: the Festa dos Tabuleiros.

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