3 Best Day Trips from Lisbon

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Lisbon may be basking in its moment as one of Europe’s most alluring—and evolving—capitals, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore the rest of Portugal. You don’t have to travel far for hilltop hamlets, charming beach towns, or medieval villages. Within two hours, you can be sipping wines on a vineyard in Evora, eating shellfish in Cascais, or exploring ancient castles in Obidos. Make it a day or a weekend—they all offer the perfect city escape.

EVORA

Looking for farm-fresh food, full-bodied red wines, and a charming walkable town? You’ll find all of that in the UNESCO World Heritage Centre of Évora, in the center of Portugal’s bucolic Alentejo region, just a 1.5-hour drive from Lisbon.

CASCAIS

This swanky coastal town a short train ride outside of Lisbon easily earns its real estate on any itinerary for its coved sandy beaches and cliff-hugging eateries. Home to celebrities (Madonna recently bought a home here), politicians, and designers, everyone has left their mark. Spend some time straying from the main promenade and you’ll be rewarded by plenty of little finds.

OBIDOS

Just one hour north of Lisbon, Obidos is a world—and many centuries—away. This medieval town is wonderfully stuck in time, and strolling its cobbled streets, climbing the fortified wall, and drinking ginjinha de Óbidos (a local cherry liqueur), is the perfect way to escape Lisbon for a day.