Best Day Trips from Almada and How to Get There

Almada sits in one of the most strategically useful spots in greater Lisbon. On the south bank of the Tagus, connected to the capital by the 25 de Abril Bridge and a quick ferry ride, with the Atlantic coast starting just down the road at Caparica. What most visitors don't realize is that Almada makes a brilliant base for day trips. Six genuinely excellent destinations, all within ninety minutes, and you come back to cheaper restaurants and river views at the end of the day.

Here's the honest rundown: what's actually worth the trip, how to get there without wasting half your day, and what to do when you get back.

Lisbon: the shortest crossing, the longest day

Let's start with the obvious. Lisbon is right there, across the water. The ferry from Cacilhas to Cais do Sodré takes about ten minutes and costs just over a euro with a Navegante card. It's the best way to get there: you skip the bridge traffic, get a panoramic view of the entire city during the crossing, and step off right in the center.

But don't do the standard tourist loop. If you've already seen the castle and Belém, dive into the neighborhoods with real personality. Mouraria is still Lisbon's most authentic quarter, with Indian grocery shops on Rua do Benformoso and fado drifting out of restaurants at lunchtime. Alfama on a Sunday morning, with the Feira da Ladra flea market, is something else entirely. Our guide to Lisbon's local culture maps out the neighborhoods that tour buses skip.

Practical note: the first ferry from Cacilhas departs around 5:30am, the last one back arrives close to midnight. You don't need a car. If you want to have dinner in Lisbon and return late, check that day's schedule.

Costa da Caparica: the zero-effort beach day

Technically, Costa da Caparica isn't even a day trip. It's Almada's backyard. But it deserves a mention because some people never venture beyond the first beach.

The coastline stretches for kilometers. The beaches near Caparica town are the most accessible and the most crowded in summer. The trick is to catch the transpraia, a small train that runs along the coast heading south. The further you go, the more space you get. Praia da Mata and Praia do Meco are a different experience altogether: fewer families, more surfers, beach bars serving properly grilled fish.

For a different kind of day, try a spa day at Costa da Caparica. After weeks of running around sightseeing, a day dedicated to rest with the sound of the Atlantic in the background recalibrates everything. It's not lazy tourism. It's tactical.

Getting there: bus 135 or 124 from Almada, or the TST bus from Cacilhas. By car, parking in summer is a nightmare. Take public transport.

Sintra: yes, it's worth it, but play it smart

Sintra is probably the most popular day trip from anywhere in greater Lisbon, and for good reason. Pena Palace is absurdly beautiful, Quinta da Regaleira looks like a film set, and the town itself has a distinct energy, especially outside peak season.

But here's the truth: between June and September, Sintra turns into a theme park. Ninety-minute queues for Pena Palace, tuk-tuks honking through narrow streets, and restaurants charging airport prices for mediocre food. If you can, go between October and May. And go early, like 8:30am at the gates.

From Almada, the most practical route is the ferry to Cais do Sodré, then the train from Rossio station on the Sintra line. About 40 minutes. Return ticket around 5 euros. Our Sintra neighborhood guide helps you get off the obvious route and into the corners the tour buses can't reach.

What you can't miss: the travesseiros (almond pastries) from Piriquita bakery. It's not a cliché, they're genuinely excellent. Queijadas too, but the travesseiros are superior.

Sesimbra: grilled fish with your feet almost in the sand

Sesimbra is the south bank's worst-kept secret, and it still delivers. A fishing town tucked into a sheltered bay, with a castle on the hilltop and a harbor full of fishing boats that supply the waterfront restaurants.

The fish in Sesimbra is in another league. Grilled sea bass, sole, bream. The restaurants along Avenida dos Náufragos serve fish that came out of the sea that morning. I won't name the best one because it changes with the day and the catch, but avoid anywhere with laminated photo menus outside. Walk into wherever you see Portuguese people eating lunch.

From Almada, it's about 40 minutes by car via the N378. By public transport, the TST bus to Sesimbra with a change at Cacilhas or Almada terminal. It takes longer but it works.

Bonus: Cabo Espichel is 15 minutes from Sesimbra and one of the most dramatic spots on the Portuguese coast. An abandoned sanctuary on the edge of a cliff, with fossilized dinosaur footprints in the rock. Go in the late afternoon, when the light is golden and there's almost nobody around.

Setúbal and Arrábida: the mountain that falls into the sea

If you have a car, this is the best day trip you can do from Almada. Full stop. The Serra da Arrábida is one of the last intact Mediterranean forests in Europe, and the beaches at its base, like Praia de Galapinhos and Praia de Creiro, have water so clear it doesn't look like Portugal.

Start with Setúbal: the Livramento market in the morning (widely considered one of the best fish markets on the Iberian Peninsula), then choco frito (fried cuttlefish) at a restaurant in the center. Choco frito is Setúbal's signature dish. Don't leave without trying it. Casa Santiago is the classic reference, though there's always local debate about which place truly does it best.

Then head for Serra da Arrábida. The road winding through the hills has views that justify every curve. In summer, access to some beaches is restricted and controlled by shuttle bus. Check conditions locally before you go.

Almada to Setúbal is about 40 minutes via the A2. By train, Fertagus takes you to Fogueteiro, then you change for the Setúbal line. It's slower but it works.

Mafra: the palace that wanted to be the Escorial

Mafra is underrated. The National Palace of Mafra, which doubles as a convent and basilica, is the largest 18th-century building in Portugal. The library alone, with its 36,000 volumes and resident bats that protect the books from insects, is reason enough for the visit. If you've read Saramago's Baltasar and Blimunda, the whole thing takes on another dimension.

The visit takes at least two hours. Tickets are around 6 euros (confirm the current price). The building is enormous and far less visited than Sintra, which is an advantage.

If you're visiting around Easter, don't miss our guide to Easter sweets in Mafra, which maps out the region's pastry traditions. Outside the Easter season, Pastelaria O Corcunda near the palace has regional cakes worth a stop.

Getting there from Almada: ferry to Lisbon, train or metro to Campo Grande, then a Mafrense bus. About ninety minutes total. By car, roughly one hour via the A36 and IC Mafra.

When you get back: nighttime in Almada

One of the pleasures of using Almada as a base is that when you return from a full day of exploring, you've got decent spots to close out the evening without catching another bus or train.

If you want an easy drink, The Corkman Irish Pub is the go-to for a no-fuss beer, especially when the day has been long and you just want to sit. For something more considered, Carmen Wine Bar has a Portuguese wine selection that rewards taking your time. And if the day was good enough to warrant a celebration cocktail, Ophelia Cocktail Bar is probably the best spot in Almada for that.

The practical summary

• Lisbon: Ferry Cacilhas to Cais do Sodré (10 min, ~€1.50). Good any day.
• Costa da Caparica: Bus 135/124 from Almada (20-30 min). Best May through October.
• Sintra: Ferry + train from Rossio (~1h15 total). Avoid summer if possible.
• Sesimbra: Car 40 min or TST bus (~1h). Go for the fish lunch.
• Setúbal/Arrábida: Car 40 min or Fertagus + train. The best day trip if you have a car.
• Mafra: Ferry + Mafrense bus (~1h30). For history lovers and pastry enthusiasts.

The Navegante Metropolitano card, at around 40 euros per month, covers virtually all of these journeys within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. If you're staying more than a week, it pays for itself immediately.

Almada isn't just a Lisbon dormitory. It's a launchpad. And a pretty good place to land, too.