Working in Lisbon and wondering what to do with your days off? You are in luck. In less than an hour by train you can swap the steep lanes of Alfama for fairytale palaces in Sintra, surf beaches on the Atlantic coast or the turquoise coves of Arrábida. This guide gathers the best weekend trips from Lisbon, with the transport to take, the journey time, an indicative return fare and the highlights you should not miss. Prices are 2026 ballpark figures, so double check them when you book.
Why Lisbon is the perfect base for exploring Portugal
Lisbon sits at the heart of a simple and affordable transport network. CP suburban trains run from Rossio to Sintra and from Cais do Sodré to Cascais, the Fertagus line crosses the Tagus on the 25 de Abril bridge down to Setúbal, ferries reach the south bank in minutes, and Rede Expressos coaches cover the whole country from the Sete Rios and Campo Grande bus terminals. For longer distances, Intercidades and Alfa Pendular trains head north to Porto and south to Évora and the Algarve.
The real game changer is the Navegante metropolitano pass at 40 € a month. It covers the metro and city buses, but also the Sintra and Cascais trains, Fertagus, the Tagus ferries and the Carris Metropolitana buses across the whole metropolitan area. In other words, many of the trips below cost you nothing on top of your monthly pass. Our guide to public transport in Lisbon explains how to get one.
The best day trips from Lisbon
These places are easy to visit in a single day without an early alarm. Still, leave early to beat the crowds, especially in Sintra on Saturdays.
- Sintra: CP train from Rossio, about 40 minutes. Misty forests, the colourful Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira with its famous initiation well. Expect roughly 15 to 20 € per monument ticket, and save time for Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe.
- Cascais and the Cascais line: CP train from Cais do Sodré, about 40 minutes along the ocean. Hop off at Carcavelos to surf or at Estoril for the seafront promenade, then finish in Cascais for the old town and Boca do Inferno.
- Costa da Caparica: Carris Metropolitana bus from Praça de Espanha, or the ferry to Cacilhas and a bus from there, 45 minutes to an hour. Miles of sand, beginner surf lessons and beach bars that are perfect at sunset.
- Setúbal and Arrábida: Fertagus train from Roma-Areeiro or Entrecampos, about an hour to Setúbal, then a bus to the beaches (a shuttle runs in summer). Turquoise water at Portinho da Arrábida, dolphins in the Sado estuary and choco frito, the local fried cuttlefish.
- Ericeira: Carris Metropolitana bus from Campo Grande, 1 hour to 1 hour 20. A white and blue fishing village and a World Surfing Reserve, ideal for a first lesson or for watching the pros at Ribeira d’Ilhas.
- Óbidos: express bus from Campo Grande, about 1 hour 10. A walled medieval town with flower filled lanes and ginja, a cherry liqueur served in a tiny chocolate cup.
| Destination | Transport from Lisbon | Journey time | Return fare without a pass | With Navegante |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sintra | CP train (Rossio) | about 40 min | about 5 € | included |
| Cascais | CP train (Cais do Sodré) | about 40 min | about 5 € | included |
| Costa da Caparica | Bus, or ferry plus bus | 45 min to 1 h | about 5 to 9 € | included |
| Setúbal and Arrábida | Fertagus plus bus | 1 h to 1 h 30 | about 12 to 16 € | included |
| Ericeira | Carris Metropolitana bus (Campo Grande) | 1 h to 1 h 20 | about 6 to 9 € | included |
| Óbidos | Express bus (Campo Grande) | about 1 h 10 | from about 10 € | not included |
Two-day weekend getaways worth the trip
With two days ahead of you, aim a little further. Hostels offer dorm beds from around 20 € a night outside peak season, so the budget stays light.
- Évora: Intercidades train from Oriente, Entrecampos or Sete Rios, about 1 hour 30. The UNESCO listed capital of the Alentejo, with a Roman temple, the Chapel of Bones and regional wines to taste in an adega. Doable in a day, even better with a night there.
- Comporta: about 1 hour 15 by car, and renting one as a group is the easiest option. Otherwise take Fertagus to Setúbal and the ferry to Tróia. Rice fields, the stilted fishermen’s pier at Carrasqueira and huge beaches that are almost empty outside summer.
- Nazaré: Rede Expressos coach from Sete Rios, about 1 hour 50. A fishing town with a funicular up to Sítio and, from October to March, the giant waves of Praia do Norte.
- Porto: about 3 hours on the Alfa Pendular or 3 hours 15 on the Intercidades. The Ribeira riverfront, port wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia and the tiled halls of São Bento station. Torn between the two cities? Read our comparison Lisbon or Porto.
- The Algarve, Lagos and Faro: Intercidades to Faro in 3 to 3.5 hours, or a Rede Expressos coach to Lagos in about 4 hours. Golden cliffs at Ponta da Piedade, kayaking into sea caves, Faro old town and the Ria Formosa lagoon.
| Destination | Transport | Journey time | Indicative return fare | Must see |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Évora | Intercidades train | about 1 h 30 | about 25 € (2nd class return ticket) | Roman temple, Chapel of Bones |
| Comporta | Shared car, or Fertagus and ferry | about 1 h 15 by car | about 25 to 35 € per person in a group of 4 | Wild beaches, Carrasqueira |
| Nazaré | Rede Expressos coach | about 1 h 50 | about 20 to 25 € | Funicular, Praia do Norte |
| Porto | Intercidades or Alfa Pendular train | 3 h to 3 h 15 | from about 50 €, less with promotions | Ribeira, Gaia cellars |
| Algarve (Faro, Lagos) | Intercidades train or Rede Expressos coach | 3 h to 4 h 15 | about 40 to 50 € | Ponta da Piedade, Ria Formosa |
Once you live in Portugal, look into the Passe Ferroviário Verde, the green rail pass. For 20 € per 30 days it covers regional trains and 2nd class Intercidades (free seat reservation required), but not the Alfa Pendular. One return trip to Porto or Faro and it has already paid for itself. Timetables and conditions are on the official CP, Comboios de Portugal website.
Madeira and the Azores: islands a short flight away
Lisbon airport is on the metro line, and the Portuguese islands are less than three hours away. Madeira is about 1 hour 45 by plane, with return flights from roughly 60 to 120 € outside school holidays. Think levada hikes, the Funchal market and the natural lava pools of Porto Moniz. The Azores are about 2 hours 15 away on São Miguel, with return fares from roughly 80 to 150 €. Expect the crater lakes of Sete Cidades, the hot springs of Furnas and, depending on the season, whale watching off Ponta Delgada.
For the islands, plan a long weekend of three or four days rather than two, book six to eight weeks ahead and travel with cabin luggage only to keep the fare low.
Making the most of 22 days of leave and 13 public holidays
In Portugal, full time employees get 22 working days of paid leave a year, plus 13 national public holidays. Placed well, they turn into long weekends. Our article on paid leave in Portugal explains the rules. Here are the useful dates for the rest of the year.
| Public holiday | Day | Long weekend idea | Suggested trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 October 2026 | Monday | 3 days off without using leave | Porto |
| 1 December 2026 | Tuesday | take Monday 30 November off, 4 days in a row | Madeira |
| 8 December 2026 | Tuesday | take Monday 7 December off, 4 days in a row | Azores or the Algarve |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | 3 days in a row | Évora and the Alentejo |
| 1 January 2027 | Friday | 3 days in a row | Sintra and Cascais in the winter sun |
December is the jackpot: with 5 days of leave (30 November, 2, 3, 4 and 7 December) you get 11 days in a row, from Saturday 28 November to Tuesday 8 December. In customer service roles, days off usually follow a team rota and do not always fall on Saturday and Sunday. See it as a perk: a Tuesday in Sintra or Nazaré means fewer crowds and sometimes cheaper tickets.
Budget travel tips
- Make your Navegante pay off: Sintra, Cascais, Caparica, Setúbal and Ericeira are all included, so use it every month.
- Book CP tickets early on the website or app. CP regularly runs promotions, such as Lisbon to Porto on the Alfa Pendular for 7.50 € in May 2026. A return Intercidades ticket is also slightly cheaper than two singles.
- Compare coaches: Rede Expressos and FlixBus are cheaper when booked early, especially to Porto and the Algarve.
- Eat like a local: a coffee costs about 0.80 to 1 € and the prato do dia, the dish of the day, 8 to 12 € with a drink.
- Travel as a group when you rent a car for Comporta or the hidden beaches of Arrábida, so costs are shared.
- Check the events calendar for festivals on Visit Portugal, the official tourism website.
Working in Portugal and exploring every month
If you are not there yet, Expat-U places candidates in customer service and content moderation roles in Lisbon and Porto, working in their native language. We recruit French, German and Dutch speakers who are EU citizens, hold at least a high school diploma and speak good English for internal communication. Shared accommodation is provided for the whole contract (rent, bills and internet paid), the flight is reimbursed for French speakers and paid directly by the company for German and Dutch speakers, and you sign a renewable 12 month fixed term contract with paid initial training. The salary is around 1,060 € gross a month, paid 14 times a year. With housing fully covered, you keep roughly 900 to 1,000 € a month to live on, which leaves room for plenty of getaways. See the open positions on our jobs in Portugal page, and use the European EURES portal for practical information on working in another EU country.
FAQ
What is the cheapest day trip from Lisbon?
Sintra and Cascais: about 5 € return with single tickets, and nothing extra if you have the 40 € Navegante metropolitano pass. Costa da Caparica, Setúbal and Ericeira are covered by the pass too.
Do I need a car for weekend trips from Lisbon?
No. Most destinations are reachable by train, coach or ferry. A car only really helps for Comporta and some Arrábida beaches, and it is best to rent one as a group.
How far ahead should I book the train to Porto or the Algarve?
Ideally one to three weeks in advance to catch promotional fares, especially for Friday evening departures. With the green rail pass, simply remember to reserve your free seat for every Intercidades journey.
