Arrabida and Sesimbra Day Trips from Lisbon

There are plenty of things to see and do in Lisbon all year round, as it is one of the most touristic cities in Europe. The city's metropolitan area is the most populous in the country and the surrounding area is home to some of the most important tourist attractions in southern Portugal. These include the Arrábida Natural Park and the picturesque coastal town of Sesimbra.

Both towns are very important for the Portuguese wine industry and stand out in their own right thanks to the beauty of their landscapes and the friendliness of their people. Therefore, I invite you to continue reading this post I have prepared for you, as I will tell you everything you need to know about the best excursions to these two destinations that are only 40 km away from the centre of Lisbon.

The first thing you need to know about a trip to these places from Lisbon is that it is a relatively short trip, as both are located less than 1 hour away by road via high-speed motorways. However, as for the number of participants in this type of plan, you should know that it is a small group, but it is not a private tour either, as there are usually about 20 people on average.

The main attraction of this itinerary is to visit the wine farms around the Arrábida natural park, which are one of the most important areas for the Portuguese wine industry. That means that during this tour you will enjoy approximately six wine tastings in at least two different wineries. One of them at the Casa Museu Jose Maria da Fonseca, which is one of the oldest wine cellars in Portugal.

Keep in mind that this is a guided tour so you will always be accompanied by a specialist who will tell you all the historical details about each of the sites you will visit along the way. Also keep in mind that the vehicles are usually quite exclusive and are always air-conditioned.

Interesting details

• Price: The price for a tour like this is usually around 80€ per adult and around 40€ for children between 12 and 4 years of age. The prices are quite convenient considering that this is one of the best tours and excursions from Lisbon.
• Duration: On average, this type of excursion lasts about eight hours. The wine tasting section usually lasts about three hours.
• Means of transport: Usually it is a minibus or it is also possible to choose a bus that would not be full of people, as they are only designed for groups of maximum 20 individuals.
• Advantages of this option: six wine tastings plus a sightseeing tour for 80 euros per person is an extremely convincing rate. In addition, the fact that there is a guide is important so that you don't miss any details of the places you visit.
• Disadvantages of this option: the fact that the tour takes about eight hours on average can be a bit complicated for those who are travelling to Lisbon on a tight schedule.

There are always those who prefer privacy and exclusivity when touring the tourist destinations that interest them most on a trip. For this reason there are private tours that also take you to these two destinations without the need to share the vehicle with a relatively large group of people.

Keep in mind that these types of activities usually start with a pick-up directly from your accommodation in Lisbon and from there the driving starts to the first stop on the itinerary. This is usually the Arrábida natural park where you will have the opportunity to enjoy the panoramic views of this forest region. The beaches of Portinho da Arrábida, Praia da Figueirinha and Albarquel beach are other places that could be part of the route if you wish.

As this is a private tour, you have the final say on which places to visit. Keep in mind that Sesimbra will always be one of the stops on this tour and you will have the opportunity to enjoy the immensity of the medieval castle located at the northern end of this town. As well as strolling the streets for lunch on your own in some Portuguese restaurants.

I highlight the fact that a private tour in a private air-conditioned vehicle could be one of the best things to do in Lisbon in the summer if you want to explore the surrounding area and again I highlight the fact that this tour is reserved exclusively for your group of companions.

Interesting details

• Price: as this is a private tour the price is always a bit higher than a shared tour. The price is usually around 300 euros in the case of a private car, if there are more participants then the price reaches 400 or 500 euros and is divided between each of the passengers.
• Duration: this type of private excursion also lasts approximately eight hours from the departure from Lisbon to the return. Bear in mind that if you wish, you can also visit the wineries in the wine-growing areas around the Arrábida Natural Park.
• Means of transport: it is almost always a three or four-seater car, or a minivan may also be arranged for a group of more than six people.
• Advantages of this option: with this type of excursion you have the option of telling the driver to take you to the places that really interest you. This is as long as they stick to the route that takes you to Sesimbra.
• Disadvantages of this option: If there are only two people in the car, it may be an expensive alternative. However, it also means less physical wear and tear, which will help you return to the city to enjoy Lisbon's best gastronomic tours in the evening.

You have different alternatives when booking a tour to Arrábida and Sesimbra from Lisbon and the best of all will always be through the online method. This is because it allows you to see the exact price variation according to the available dates and it also usually comes with an immediate confirmation of your purchase.

With an online booking of an excursion with these characteristics you also usually have the possibility to cancel your purchase for free if you give sufficient notice. In addition, you have the possibility to see reviews from other users who have had the same experience, so you can be sure that you are investing your money wisely. The same applies if you are looking for options on how to get from Lisbon to Porto or how to get from Lisbon to Fatima.

The option of buying the tour directly from a tourist agency located in any of Lisbon's neighbourhoods is something that also applies. The problem with this alternative is that you don't know if there will be availability exactly for the date of your trip, as you are leaving this purchase to the last minute. Nor would you know if it is a convenient plan, as you have no way of comparing it with other options.

On average a trip from Lisbon to these two tourist destinations will take approximately six to seven hours. This may extend to eight hours or even nine hours depending on traffic and the amount of activities you do.

Exactly for this reason a tour with this feature is recommended if you are looking for plans in Lisbon for a five-day trip or if you are thinking of activities to do in Lisbon during a four-day visit. This is due to the fact that you would still have time to walk around the city and still have a couple of hours left over to explore the surrounding area.

On an excursion like this you can enjoy the natural scenery that characterises the south of Lisbon and the entire populated area that has developed for centuries south of the banks and mouth of the Tagus River. Specifically in the natural park of Arrábida you will see cliffs, mountains, a forest area, some forts and also a couple of areas with a spectacular coastal landscape.

In the stops that are related to wine tasting you can also admire the beauty of typical Portuguese villages and you could even visit medieval constructions, just as in the case of the Castle of Palmela.

Keep in mind that even though there are plenty of activities in this type of excursions you will still have enough time to get to your accommodation to rest for a couple of minutes and then go out to explore the best things to see and do in Lisbon at night. The following places are basic stops on this type of tour:

Palmela Castle

This castle located just beyond the eastern end of the Arrabiada natural park is a medieval fortress that is usually part of the itinerary of this type of tour. It is usually the next stop after the last wine tasting of the tour, which is undoubtedly one of the best wine tastings in and around Lisbon.

Sesimbra

Sesimbra is a modest coastal community located at the western end of the Arrábida Natural Park. It has several picturesque areas, including the Forte de Santiago de Sesimbra and the castle of the same name. The castle dates back to medieval times and is located on a cliff that offers excellent views of the rest of the town. Bear in mind that this part of the itinerary is usually the part chosen to enjoy a good authentic Portuguese lunch.

On the way back to Lisbon, the route that passes over the 25th April Bridge is usually chosen. This bridge itself is a real tourist attraction in the city due to its similarity to the famous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

Before crossing the Tagus River via this famous structure there is usually a stop at the National Sanctuary of Christ the King. This is a beautiful Catholic statue that is created in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and is directly inspired by the Christ the Redeemer located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The first piece of advice I can give you is to choose the tour based on your needs. It's not worth paying for a private tour for yourself if you won't have anyone to accompany you on the experience. On the other hand, with a shared tour to Arrábida and Sesimbra you will have the privilege of travelling with an expert in the history of the places you are visiting and at the same time you will be able to make friends with some of the people who are also participating in this tour.

Another thing I can advise you to do is to bring enough snacks and hydration. This is because there are sections of the tour where there are no stops and if you get hungry or thirsty it will be very uncomfortable to have to wait until the next part of the itinerary.

Another thing I can recommend about this type of tour is that you don't run out of plans for when you get back to the city. Most of them start early in the morning and that means that you should be back in Lisbon by 6pm. For this reason it would be a good idea to book an activity such as a visit to the best places to listen to Fado in Lisbon or a fancy dinner in a restaurant that catches your attention.

An excursion of this nature usually costs more than 60€ per person. However, the type of activities that are included in the itinerary should be taken into account, as an interesting and entertaining activity with a wine tasting can make the price go up to 80 or even 100€ per person.

Something that is also important to note about this type of excursion is that prices can vary in less touristy seasons. This is why excursions to the outskirts of the Portuguese capital tend to be one of the best things to see and do in October in Lisbon along with the other autumn months. This is because the number of visitors drops drastically compared to the summer.

A tour to Arrábida and Sesimbra from Lisbon is a recommended experience for all types of tourists because it is an activity that allows you to explore the beauty of Portugal beyond the typical tourist destinations that everyone knows.

At the same time, such a tour really is a very complete experience knowing that it takes you to four, five or even six places of importance, all for a relatively low price. This means that it is an optimisation of your time, as it allows you to see a large number of attractions in the area south of the mouth of the Tagus River in a single itinerary.

A guided tour is full of advantages if you take into account that you are accompanied by a professional in dealing with tourists and that you don't have to worry about anything to do with the logistics of the tour you are having.

Plus, there's the fact that it's ultimately a cost-saving experience when you consider the expense of hiring a private car, filling up the fuel tank and paying the entrance fee for many of the sites that are already included in a guided tour.

However, you also have the alternative of paying for a private transfer from your accommodation in Lisbon to Sesimbra. This would save you from having to pass through some of the places that may not be of interest to you in a relatively short period of time and get you to this beautiful and peaceful seaside town.