6 Portuguese towns to visit near Lisbon

From north to south, Portugal abounds in beautiful landscapes and magnificent towns and villages. Today, I’ve decided to focus on 6 Portuguese towns to visit around Lisbon. Throughout this article, we’ll be traveling to the Portuguese cities of :

• Cascais, a coastal town with beautiful beaches,
• Sintra, a historic town with castles, palaces and enchanting gardens,
• Nazaré, home to surfers from all over the world,
• Setúbal, a fishing town with heavenly coves,
• Óbidos, a fortified town with medieval ramparts and charming cobbled streets,
• Évora, a medieval city with a rich cultural heritage.

1 – Cascais, the pretty seaside resort

Cascais is a coastal town about 30 km north of Lisbon, and is one of Portugal’s must-visit cities if you’re staying or living in Lisbon. It’s a popular spot for Portuguese and tourists alike, with small beaches, golf courses, bars and restaurants. There’s also a marina for boaters. Back in the day, Cascais and neighboring Estoril were popular vacation destinations for Portuguese royalty and European aristocracy. If you go to Cascais, take the opportunity to visit :

• Cabo da Roca (Cape of Rock): the westernmost point of the European continent. A place that Luís Vaz de Camões, the famous Portuguese poet, defined as a place “where the land ends and the sea begins”. It’s a small place, so getting there doesn’t take very long, but it’s worth the detour for its symbolism. Until the discovery of America, it was thought that there was nothing beyond “Cabo da Roca” in Portugal.
• Boca do Inferno (Hell’s Mouth): located a little outside the town of Cascais, on the way to Sintra, right next to Cabo da Roca. Here you’ll see the waves slamming into the rock, forming an arch or rather a stone “mouth” in which the waves bubble up in a hellish fashion, hence the name “Boca do Inferno”.

How do I get to Cascais from Lisbon?

• By train: 30 minutes from Lisbon’s Cais do Sodré station
• By car: approx. 35 minutes (the avenue along the seafront is much nicer than the A5 freeway)

Cascais. Photo credit: @voyageprive @theportablewife

2 – Sintra, an enchanting town

Sintra is a historic town about 30 km north of Lisbon, renowned for its palaces and listed as aUNESCO World Heritage Site in the cultural landscape category in 1995.

The most famous monument is the Palacio daPena, an incredible castle built in the 19th century on a hill overlooking the region. The Palacio da Pena is one of Sintra’s main attractions. This romantic castle was built in the 19th century and is an example of the picturesque architecture that was very popular at the time. Thanks to its bright colors, predominantly yellow and red, and its distinctive structure, the building has become a symbol of the town and an icon of Portuguese architecture.

Other important monuments include the Palacio National de Sintra, the Castelo dos Mouros (the ruins of a medieval castle) and the Quinta da Regaleira (a garden complex with grottoes, waterfalls and statues)

How do I get to Sintra from Lisbon?

• By train : 40 minutes from Lisbon’s Rossio station
• By car: approx. 40 minutes

Palacio da Pena in Sintra

3 – Nazaré, the town of giant waves

Nazaré is a small Portuguese seaside town, situated around 130 km north of Lisbon between green hills and the Atlantic Ocean. Nazaré is divided into three parts: Praia, Sitio, and Pederneira. Nazaré is renowned for its beaches, its cultural life and its traditional architecture, but above all for its waves, among the biggest in the world, which attract numerous professional and amateur surfers every winter from October to February.

Where is the best place to watch the giant waves in Nazaré? These giant waves take place on Nazaré’s Praia do Norte. The best place to watch them is on the Sítio da Nazaré, next to the lighthouse on Nazaré’s north side. To reach the Sítio, located on the hill above, take the Nazaré funicular. It departs from Largo do Elevador in the Praia.

How do I get to Nazaré from Lisbon?

• By bus: from Lisbon’s Sete Rios station with Rede Expressos
• By car: approx. 1h30

Nazaré. Photo credit: @ArturCarvalho

4 – Setúbal, a small fishing town with turquoise coves

Setúbal is a port town located some 50 km south of Lisbon. Setúbal is famous for its variety of fish restaurants, which bring fish fresh out of the ocean onto your plate. There’s also the protected Serra da Arrabida nature park between Setúbal and Sesimbra, home to some of Portugal’s most beautiful coves, as well as numerous dolphins. If you’re ever in Setúbal, don’t miss :

• Visit the Mercado do Livramento : a must-see covered market,
• Explore the Serra da Arrábida natural park, with its turquoise coves and magnificent cliffs overlooking the ocean..
• Visit the Castelo de São Filipe overlooking the town,
• Enjoy the beautiful beaches close to the city, such as Praia de Galapinhos (one of the 40 most beautiful in Europe, according to The Guardian),
• Taste the famous choco frito (fried cuttlefish), cheese from Setúbal’s neighboring town of Azeitão and caldeirada, a delicious fish stew.

How do I get to Setúbal from Lisbon?

• By train: approx. 40 min, from Lisbon’s Roma-Areeiro station – private company Fertagus
• By car: approx. 40 minutes

Setúbal. Photo credit: @vagamundos

5 – Obidos and its fortress

Óbidos is a fortified town about 80 km north of Lisbon. The town of Óbidos is surrounded by a medieval rampart that offers a breathtaking view of the town and its surroundings. Here you’ll find its medieval castle, now used as a hotel, and its main square, surrounded by colorful houses with red-tiled roofs. There are also many historic monuments to visit, such as the Church of Santa Maria, the Santiago Gate and the Menagem Tower.

The town is also famous for its Christmas market, which I describe in the article Christmas Market in Portugal, and for its local chocolates. Indeed, if you visit Óbidos, be sure to try the “ginja de Óbidos”, which is cherry alcohol (also known as “ginjinha”) served in a chocolate shell.

How do I get to Obidos from Lisbon?

• By car: approx. 1h10

Obidos. Photo credit: @annieanywhere

6 – Evora and its bone-filled chapel

Evora is a medieval town about 130 km south of Lisbon. It is famous for its rich cultural heritage and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its architectural and historical ensemble. Places not to be missed include :

• Évora Cathedral, dating from the 12th century,
• The Temple of Diana, a Roman temple built in the 1st century
• The Capela dos Ossos, a chapel decorated with human bones and surely Evora’s most famous monument. The macabre charm of this chapel, decorated with over 5,000 human bones, creates a special atmosphere that attracts many curious visitors.

How do I get to Evora from Lisbon?

• By car : approx. 1h30

Evora. Photo credit: @almadacomporta

In conclusion

As you can see, there are many Portuguese cities to visit not far from Lisbon. If you’re staying or living in Lisbon, escapes to discover the surrounding area are a must, as there are many pretty Portuguese towns within easy reach of the capital. Be curious, and don’t miss out, because believe me, you’re missing out!

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