Best Wineries and Day Trips Near Lisbon Portugal

What do you do in Lisbon after you’ve taken a selfie with Tram 28 in the background, made yourself sick eating custard tarts, and your legs start to shake just looking at another precipitous stairway? 

Of course, there’s more to the capital city of Portugal than custard tarts, after all, Portugal was once a maritime superpower. Let’s assume that you’ve seen the sights from Castelo de Såo Jorge overlooking the Tagus River. You’ve been to Belem and walked the historic city center,  you now have free time to explore further afield. Lisbon is the perfect jumping-off point for day trips if you like wine, beautiful beaches, and medieval villages. 

Transportation around Lisbon, Portugal

Public transportation in and near Lisbon is good, especially the trains, busses, and trams. Uber and other ride share services are also reliable. Guided tours are another good way to see places like Sintra and Obidos. For ultimate flexibility and visiting the wine country, you will need a rental car.

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Where to stay

I stayed for two nights at Corinthia Lisbon, a 5-star hotel in the financial district. There’s good shopping, restaurants, and the hotel has a shuttle to take you to the historic neighborhood. You can also get around by taxi and Uber easily. Bonus it’s about 10 minutes from the airport. Check rates on Hotels.com and Expedia.

Best Day trips near Lisbon

 The options for amazing day trips near Lisbon are plentiful. I went wine tasting, visited top tourist sites, and had my first view of the Atlantic Ocean from the European continent.  Keep reading for recommendations for winery visits, world heritage sites, and where to find delicious food and drink. 

Best wineries near Lisbon

On a recent visit to the Portuguese capital,  I visited the Lisbon and Tejo wine regions just an hour north (or slightly less). In the rolling hills, I found some of Portugal’s best wineries and a rich history sprinkled with palaces and lighthouses overlooking the Atlantic coast. The Lisbon-Tejo wine region makes a great day trip from Lisbon, or spend the night in a vineyard…more about that later. 

Portuguese wines have long been recognized by wine enthusiasts, especially port wine from the Douro Valley region. In recent years, the Lisbon wine region has attracted those seeking wine experiences closer to the capital city. I’ve only included the wineries that I personally visited.  All were excellent. Plus, the Quintas (wine estates) are white-washed, red-tiled oasis” set amongst the vineyards and hills of Tejo. 

Quinta do Monte d’Oiro

Quinta do Monte d’Oiro has been in production since 1997. The winery produces 100-percent organic and biodynamic estate wines inspired by the wines of the Rhone Valley. Their winemaker is Graca Goncalves and consultant Gregory Viennois, formerly Chief Winemaker of Maison M. Chapoutier and presently the Technical Director of Laroche Wine in Chablis, manages the plots to keep yields low and quality high. 

Quinta do Monte d’Oiro is known for its red wines, especially syrah. A wine-tasting experience at Quinta do Monte d’Oiro is a must for wine lovers. A guided tour includes a visit to the vineyards with an explanation of organic farming and the tasting overlooking the barrel room, which is impressive.

Along with Quinta de Chocapalha, they are part of a Lisbon wineries group that focuses on high-quality wines made with organic and biodynamic fruit. 

There are many gastronomic experiences offered, such as picnic lunches or a full meal with dessert. They have a state-of-the-art kitchen and beautiful facilities. I did not have time to eat a meal, but I did enjoy the charcuterie along with a tasting of five wines. Quinta do Monte d’Oiro also produces their own olive oil. Be sure to book in advance, as all wine experiences and tours are guided.

Quinta do Monte d’Oiro means “mountain of gold.” This hillside is where the best vineyards are planted. I highly recommend a visit to this estate.  

Quinta de Chocapalha

Quinta de Chocapalha is a family-owned winery and estate started by Alice and Paolo Tavares da Silva in 1987. When they purchased the property, their vision was to produce wines that expressed the typicity of the Lisbon region.

Though there had been vineyards here for decades, they were not producing quality fruit, so Alice and Paolo chose to replant all the vineyards.

Quinta de Chocpalha produces a wide range of wines produced from both French and native grapes. I especially loved their white wines that included the arinto grape variety, though all of the wines are excellent. Today, daughter Sandra Tavares da Silva, recognized as one of the top winemakers in the world and the 2021 best winemaker in Portugal, leads the team in producing exceptional wines that express the terroir.

If you want to stay overnight in wine country have a look at these hotels on Hotels.com

Quinta da Lapa

Quinta da Lapa is located in the Tejo wine region, probably the oldest in Portugal. It is inland and influenced by the Tagus River, which flows through to the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon.

Jaime Quendera, the consulting winemaker at Quinta da Lapa, has been the Portuguese expert in enology with the European Union since 1995. Throughout his career, he has earned over 1,000 awards both in Portugal and internationally at the most prestigious wine competitions. 

Resident winemaker Jorge Ventura has been with Quinta da Lapa since the estate opened to the public. He has worked to improve upon the already established excellence of the wines. It was Jorge who perfected the sparkling wine program, now aging in the bottle 2 years before release. 

I visited the Lisbon-Tejo wineries on a private tour with  Surf Wine Tours. Also check rates with Get Your Guide.

Day trip to Óbidos 

Óbidos is one of those small medieval towns enchanting many European travelers. A great example of a medieval village with many of the city walls still intact, you can even climb on the remains of the fortifications for excellent views over the surrounding countryside. If you have a fear of heights I don’t recommend this. The ramparts are not that high but they are narrow so if you don’t have good balance I do not recommend climbing them. 

The castle is one of the most impressive in Europe. If you want a luxurious night out, you can spend the night in the castle, said to be one of the most romantic experiences in Portugal. Perhaps it’s because King Dennis of Portugal married Queen Isabel here and gifted her the town as a wedding present.

From the town gate, follow the cobblestone street to the end to see the castle, but take your time exploring the shops and beautiful tile work along the way. 

Óbidos is a UNESCO City of Creative Literature. As you stroll through the town, you will find many unusual places with books for sale, such as a wine cellar that is now a bookstore, a church, and even the post office. If you’re a literary type, you’ll love the entire country of Portugal, where some of the world’s oldest and most famous bookstores can be found.

Pro Tip: Óbidos is usually crowded with tourists. The best time to go is during the week or early in the day. Avoid summer if possible. There are three parking lots near the main entrance to the walled city. The one near the aqueduct is free and not far from the city gates. You can also arrive directly to Óbidos from Lisbon by public transportation. The bus is the easiest way. You can see Obidos in a half day or a less so it’s perfect to combine with a winery visit. 

Cabo Da Roca

With sheer cliffs plunging into the sea and a seemingly endless horizon, Cabo da Roca is a must. It’s also one of the best places to watch the sunset, so try to time your visit for that. The most westerly point on the European continent, it is also known for the 17th-century lighthouse.

Pro tip: Cabo Da Roca is WINDY. Take a hoodie or a hat that can be secured to keep your hair from beating you to death if it’s longish, and take a warm jacket. It was cold when I was there at the end of April, but so worth it. Just go.  Cabo Da Roca is about thirty minutes from Sintra.

Day trip to Sintra 

A magical place with romantic palaces set in forested hills, Sintra was coveted and developed by the royalty of Europe beginning as early as the 12th century. Set in the Serra de Sintra Mountains, it is significantly cooler than Lisbon in the summer, which made the nearby beaches a big attraction for royal families. 

The legacy of the royals is this storybook town, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unfortunately, most people go to Sintra for a day or a half day, which I think is a huge mistake.  Even though Sintra is a small town, there are many fantastic sites, palaces, and castles to explore. In my opinion, it’s one of the best places to visit near Lisbon. 

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The historic center of Sintra is mainly restaurants and small shops accessed by charming side streets. Also in the center of town is the Palácio Nacional de Sintra, another place on my list for the next trip.

Palacio Peña 

One of the main attractions in Sintra is Palácio Nacional da Pena or Peña Palace. A contrast of architectural and artistic styles, it’s a collage of luxurious and exotic textures, colors, and sculpture. The palace is surrounded by lush gardens which are also worth your time to explore. There are many unique towers, Moorish-inspired arches, and pathways for Instagram-worthy photo ops. Set on a hillside overlooking the surrounding countryside, Pena Palace is a highlight of Sintra.

Built by King Ferdinand II, the palace was occupied by royalty until 1910, when the revolution overthrew the monarchy.

Be sure to book your Peña Palace tour in advance. You should allow a minimum of two hours to explore Peña Palace, unless you do the interior tour. In that case, you need a half day. This tour of Sintra with a private Peña Palace tour with Take Walks, looks amazing. 

I didn’t have time to visit the Quinta da Regaleira, but if I go back to Sintra, it is first up on my list, for the Manueline and Rennaisance architecture and associated tales of the Knights Templar, the gothic cathedral, and underground tunnels. 

As much as I enjoyed the wineries, I wish I had had a little more time in Sintra. And here’s my big tip for you, spend the night in Sintra. Why? Because, when all the daytrippers leave the town is delightful to wander. Plus, you can get up early and explore before the tourists arrive. I can’t recommend the place I stayed in Sintra so have a look at Booking.com, Expedia, and Hotels.com for overnight accommodations. 

Getting to Sintra

Sintra is one of Portugal’s most popular day trips from Lisbon; it’s only thirty minutes away, depending on how you choose to get there. Proximity to Lisbon means that Sintra is always crowded, so do not try to drive there. Also, you can not drive in the town center at all. I took an Uber, but you can also take the train. From the train station in Sintra, it is a bit of a walk to the center of town, but there are also buses to take you there. Wear comfortable shoes. 

Day trip to the beach

There are many coastal towns to explore along the Lisbon coast…you’d need a lot of time to see them all. I stopped in two popular spots near Lisbon, Ericeira and Cascais. 

Cascais

Cascais is another popular vacation spot near Lisbon and makes a nice day trip.  It has a pretty harbor and the narrow streets of the old town are lined with cute cafes and shops.  Cascais is a good place to stop for lunch, as well. Try one of these locally recommended places:

• For wood-fired pizza: Capricciosa
• For local dishes in a great atmosphere: the Michelin guide-listed Casa da Dîzima

Ericeira World Surf Reserve

We also made a stop in the coastal town of Ericeira, one of the best beaches in Portugal and designated World Surf Reserve. Ericeira is wildly popular now but the town remains friendly. The vibe is young and energetic but also relaxed. 

Ericeira encompasses eight miles of coastline with varying degrees of surf difficulty. A world record for the largest wave was made here recently. This is a great place to learn to surf; I saw many surf schools on the beach.  There are also sandy beaches for just hanging out with friends and enjoying the sand and sun. 

We ate lunch at a delicious seafood restaurant on the coast,  called Furnas. Check out this beautiful fish!

Stay in a vineyard hotel

For a unique experience stay overnight at Quinta da Lapa, surrounded by vineyards. 

A boutique wine hotel only 45 minutes north of Lisbon, Quinta da Lapa provides visitors an opportunity to experience a rural lifestyle and connect with nature. It’s the perfect place to disconnect from the distractions of modern life. 

The vineyards and manor house were established about 1733 by a Portuguese nobleman with a desire to produce great wines for the region of Lisbon. In 1989, another Portuguese businessman took over the property with a vision to reclaim it as a quality wine estate.  The manor house opened to the public in 2011 as a boutique hotel.

The manor house is beautiful…but, it’s all about the view of vineyards from every window. 

You can book a stay on Hotels.com  Booking.com or see if you can get a better rate on Tripadvisor.

As you can see, there are plentiful options for a perfect day trip within a short drive of Lisbon, whether you want to visit medieval villages or world heritage sites. Try to avoid peak season, pack your patience, and have an epic day trip in this beautiful country.