10 Stunning Instagram Day Trips from Lisbon

There is a specific rhythm to Lisbon, found in the screech of the number 28 tram and the melancholic strum of Fado. But to truly understand the Portuguese capital, sometimes you have to leave it. The city is the perfect launchpad for a constellation of towns designed specifically for the camera lens. Here are 10 stunning Instagram day trips from Lisbon that promise more than just a pretty picture—they promise a memory.

1. Sintra: The Misty Fairytale

Sintra is the heavy hitter of Portuguese day trips. Dismissing it as "touristy" is a mistake; it is one of the few places where reality looks like a fever dream. The air is cooler, heavier, and filled with the scent of damp earth and ancient cedar.

The Shot

The Pena Palace is the classic shot—bursting with canary yellow and venomous red against misty mountains. For a more intimate frame, head to the Quinta da Regaleira. The Initiation Well offers a visual paradox: a subterranean tower of stone steps spiraling down into the earth. It’s a play of light and shadow that defines Sintra photography.

2. Óbidos: The Medieval Love Letter

If Sintra is a fairytale, Óbidos is a history book. This town is encased in medieval walls, a labyrinth of whitewashed houses trimmed with bougainvillea and bright blue borders. It is compact, walkable, and aggressively charming.

The Shot

The view from the castle walls looking down over the terracotta roofs is iconic. For a unique shot, use a wide-angle lens on the Rua Direita, where the street is barely an arm’s length wide. Don't skip the Igreja de Santa Maria for its stunning blue and white azulejo tiles.

3. Azeitão & Arrábida: The Mediterranean Dream

Drive 30 minutes south across the bridge, and suddenly you are in the south of France. Or Italy. Actually, you are in Azeitão, nestled at the foot of the Serra da Arrábida. This region offers turquoise waters and rolling vineyards.

The Shot

The holy grail is Portinho da Arrábida. The water is an electric, opaque turquoise due to limestone sediment. It looks like the Caribbean. Capture the contrast of the vivid water against the stark green mountain. Afterward, visit the José Maria da Fonseca winery to photograph old oak barrels.

4. Cascais: The Coastal Rockstar

Cascais is the chic older brother of the Lisbon coast. It blends rugged Atlantic coastlines with manicured, wealthy estates. It’s breezy, salty, and effortlessly cool.

The Shot

Walk to Boca do Inferno (Hell’s Mouth) for dramatic cliff formations. Long exposure photography turns the crashing water into silky mist. Back in town, the Citadel offers pastel-colored walls perfect for lifestyle shots.

5. Monserrate: The Hidden Botanical Garden

Since you're heading to Sintra, skip the crowds at Pena for a few hours and visit Monserrate. It’s a stunning blend of Gothic, Indian, and Moorish architecture surrounded by exotic gardens.

The Shot

The Rose Garden and Mexican Garden frame the palace perfectly through lush vegetation. The "Glorieta" (circular gazebo) offers a cinematic framing of the architecture.

6. Mafra: The Baroque Palace of Power

While Sintra is about whimsy, Mafra is about power. The Palace of Mafra is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the largest 18th-century buildings in Portugal.

The Shot

You need a wide lens for the façade. Inside, the Library is world-famous—floor-to-ceiling books and intricate woodwork. The light filtering through the high windows is magical.

7. Ericeira: The Surfing Soul

Ericeira is wild, rugged, and Europe’s only surf reserve. It has a distinct hippie-chic-meets-fishing-town vibe. The air smells of ozone and frying fish.

The Shot

Head to Praia do Norte for golden cliffs and churning white water. It’s moody and dramatic. The town center is a maze of narrow streets with colorful doors and street art.

8. Comporta: The Bohemian Summer

If you want the "Scandi-Portuguese" aesthetic—beige tones, linen, straw hats—Comporta is your mecca. It’s a rice-growing region that feels like a secret.

The Shot

The rice paddies offer perfect leading lines for landscape photography. Photograph the cork trees against the rusty-red earth. The beach, Praia da Comporta, is vast and backed by dunes.

9. Setúbal: The City of Light and Whales

Setúbal sits on the Sado Estuary, famous for its resident bottlenose dolphins. Often overlooked, it has its own distinct maritime flavor.

The Shot

The Igreja de Jesus has a stunning tiled façade that is a masterpiece of blue and white storytelling. The Church of Santiago, perched on a hill, offers panoramic views of the city and Arrábida mountains.

10. Tomar: The Templar Fortress

Tomar was the headquarters of the Knights Templar. It’s a town built on mystery, geometry, and warrior monks.

The Shot

The Convent of Christ is a labyrinth. The Charola (Round Church) is geometric perfection. The windows in the chapter house are carved with Manueline motifs—ropes, corals, and sea monsters. Capturing the light passing through these stone windows is a photographer's dream.