We went on a private sailing tour on the Tagus River, in Lisbon. We met our skipper, Nuno, at the Docas de Santo Amaro where he welcomed us on his lovely and cosy “Alchemist”. As we did this sailing tour during the post-lockdown period, Nuno helped us disinfect our hands and shoes before boarding and he’d wear a face mask. These are the protocols by the national Clean and Safe seal.
Unforgettable moments with friends, that’s what we want now, after-lockdown
Once we were all comfortably seated, we were ready to set sail. The wind was on point so we were lucky to almost not use the engine.
Nuno has a passion for sailing in his veins and you could really sense that. He’s very passionate about sailing, about his boat and about the city of Lisbon. So if you’re interested in these topics, be ready to learn a lot! Even us, Portuguese living in Lisbon learned some interesting historical facts with Nuno. And some of us even accepted the challenge to help a bit with the sailing.
Nuno gave us the choice of a more touristic route in the River towards downtown or to go out to the sea. As we had already sailed in the Tagus River, we were super excited with the option of sailing towards the Atlantic.
We had a great time onboard. We prepared a delicious picnic to share onboard and also brought our drinks from home. Nuno also has a refrigerator available and is happy to share some of his rosé or “green” wine.
We cruised in the direction of Carcavelos beach and were lucky enough to spot some wild dolphins! These were incredible moments. Seeing these magical mammals in their natural habitat is always special.
Enjoying the sun on the water
Regarding the weather, despite having good wind, we were not so lucky with the clouds that showed up later and made the sunset not so stunning as usual. As such, we’ll go sunset sailing in Lisbon again soon, and try to capture the amazing colors in the sky.
We strongly recommend this sailing experience in Lisbon. It’s a great way to enjoy the city from a different point of view. And, in these crazy times, to be outdoors with a small group of friends, away from the crowds.
Lisbon is one of the best city destinations in Europe!. It attracts thousands of curious travellers from all over the world with its multicultural and cosmopolitan flair. Of course, there are also some great parties and festivals in Lisbon, so party people will have loads of options to dance the nights away. This is also one of the reasons why Lisbon is a popular destination for hen and stag parties!
But did you know that you can also go on a boat party in Lisbon? Cruising along the Tagus River with Lisbon’s skyline in the background while dancing to the freshest summer tune is a lot of fun! And after getting back on land you can keep on partying in the city.
Since we are specialists for boat tours, it’s just natural that we have the best boat parties in Lisbon for you. We made a little list so that you can easily choose the best boat party in Lisbon for your group!
This private boat party in Lisbon takes place on a real vintage boat and is the perfect option if you’re looking for a tour exclusively for your group. This tour starts from the Marina de Belém, and will take you on the sightseeing route along the city. We will see some of the famous attractions like the Belem Tower and the Terreiro do Paço.
During this tour, some drinks are included (for safety reasons limited to 1 bottle of wine per 3 people and water and sodas) and you can buy more on board. The tour is usually 2 hours long, but if you want you can also book it for longer.
This private boat party in Lisbon is perfect because you can customise it depending on your groups’ wishes. For example, you can even add a BBQ on board for 25€ per person extra. The perfect option for your group of up to 12 people to enjoy some fun quality time together!
The second one of the best boat parties in Lisbon is perfect if you have a group of up to 14 people! This private boat party in Lisbon takes place on a modern motor catamaran and is booked on a private basis. You can book it for 1h30 or even more, depending on what you are looking for!
One drink per person and some snacks are included, and you can buy more drinks on board. This boat party starts from the Doca de Belém and will also go along the skyline of Lisbon, while you can listen to music on the deck and enjoy the time with your friends!
If you prefer going on a bigger boat party in Lisbon and meet some new people while watching the sun set, this sunset boat party in Lisbon is the perfect option for you! No matter how many people you will join this party with, you will be sure to meet a lot of people and leave with new friends as this boat holds up to 200 party people!
This 4-hour boat party in Lisbon runs every Thursday at 19h00 during summer. It starts from Cais da Rocha Conde D’Óbidos. On board of the spacious sailing ship, there will be a live DJ that will make everybody start dancing on deck. 2 drinks are included and more can be bought on board.
This sunset boat party in Lisbon is a big one, as there is space for up to 200 people on the sailing ship. Live DJ, delicious drinks and a whole lot of like-minded party people – what more can you ask for if you’re looking for the best boat party in Lisbon!?
This shared boat party in Lisbon is perfect if you’re looking for a fun party during the day with the option to take a dive in the water as well. On board of our modern and fancy yacht, there is space for up to 35 people.
This boat party starts from the Docas de Santo Amaro, where you will come on board of our modern yacht. This tour runs every Saturday in Summer from 14h30-18h00. 2 drinks per person and some snacks are included. More drinks can be bought on board.
This boat party in Lisbon is special because we will cruise until we reach a little beach. Here you can swim and have some fun in the sea! There is a live DJ on board that will play some nice tunes for you to dance! It’s the best boat party if you’re looking for a fun and refreshing party during the day.
This 2,5-hour sunset yacht party in Lisbon is the best boat party for all people looking for a more exclusive boat party on a stylish yacht. This party starts at Docas de Santo Amaro and runs every Saturday during Summer at 19h00. 2 drinks per person and some snacks are included. More drinks can be bought on board.
On board, we have a Resident DJ who will play the best summer tunes while we cruise along the Tagus river in front of Lisbon’s skyline. It’s the perfect way to warm up for a wild night or celebrate special occasions on board of a fancy and modern yacht.
Book your sunset boat party in Lisbon now!
As you can see, there are some awesome boat parties in Lisbon to choose from. All shared tours can of course be booked privately as well. Just send us an email with your request! We’re happy to help you find the best boat party in Lisbon for your group!
By Bo, co-founder of SeaBookings, working from Lisbon:
I love it when my colleague and friend, Lianne from the Netherlands, is around!
When my colleague Lianne was visiting us for a few days in Lisbon, of course, we wanted to go on a sailing trip in Lisbon. We contacted one of our newest tour operators in Lisbon, to grab this opportunity to meet them and their boats in person. We scheduled a morning boat trip in Lisbon, departing from Belém.
Most boat tours on the Tagus River in Lisbon depart from Belém. From the city center, you can reach Belém by several means. There are a train, a bus and a tram. Or you can go by Uber or even be more adventurous and go by bike or one of the many electric kick scooters you can find around town. I and Lianne went on an even more original way to Belém. Lianne went on my bike and I went running. Like that, I’d have my daily exercise done, with about 7K 🙂
Some adventure on an electric kick scooter is always fun!
At the gate in Belém, we were welcomed by our skippers and guides, Zé and Luís. They guided us to the boat. Lucky us! It was one of the biggest and fanciest sailing yachts in the dock! The boat was a Bavaria 36 Cruiser of 11,50m. After a small briefing of which route we’d be taking, we were ready to go out to the Tagus River. In a small group, you have a more intimate experience and can ask the captains everything you like.
Actually, this was my first morning boat trip in Lisbon as the ones before were all sunset tours. A sunset cruise is great as the colors of the sky can become really impressive. But I really appreciated seeing my beautiful city with this different morning light. We first cruised in Western direction to observe the Monument of Discoveries and the Belém Tower. Luís, one of the guides, is an enthusiastic local who proudly explained who were the main figures represented on the Monument of Discoveries as well as the history behind the Belém Tower. In fact, I never had such a detailed explanation of these two landmarks of Lisbon. I’m not going to tell all to you here, but if you’re interested, just book this sightseeing tour to discover Lisbon 😉
The emblematic Belém Tower
After the turn in direction of Lisbon’s downtown, we had the wind in our back and managed to feel the art of sailing for a while. While passing by some other boats, Luís showed me how the AIS (Automatic Identification System) worked. Quite cool how you can see a lot of information about each boat, like its ID, brand, owner and even next destination in some cases.
These tours are also cool to get to know a little bit more about the sailing itself
On the way to Praça do Comércio, we passed by “Cordoaria Nacional”. Luís explained that the Cordoaria, is a former naval rope-making factory. It now functions as an exhibition centre. Then, we sailed by the Electricity Museum, which was a charcoal power plant back in the days. Next to it, you’ll find the famous MAAT museum with its characteristic architecture. Praça do Comércio, or Terreiro do Paço, was one of the highlights of this morning boat trip in Lisbon. You get a great perspective over this majestic square. From a sailing boat, you get unique views of Lisbon.
Unique views from the Tagus River
On our way back to the dock, along the South bench of the River, it started raining a bit. The rain was quite unexpected in June, but fortunately, the skippers had already prepared the boat with a cover in the back. Like this, we could still sit outside and enjoy the views of the city despite the rain. We could see the famous Cristo Rei and the 25th of April Bridge too.
We strongly recommend this Dourada after the trip!
Once we arrived at the dock, we were rather hungry and asked the skippers to recommend a restaurant. Well, that was a great recommendation. We had a delicious Golden Bream with white wine and a view over the Tagus River at “O Pedrouços”.
On our way back home, I was a bit too full to run, so along with the bike, we rented a kick scooter and had a lot of fun! A perfect morning I would say! I actually even learned a lot about my city! This program is also a nice day trip if you’re staying in Cascais.
By Bo, co-founder of SeaBookings, working from Lisbon:
What better birthday present can you give than a day out on a boat? This year, for my mother in law’s birthday, we decided to give a special present: we went on a dolphin watching tour in Setúbal with the family. When we finally found a Saturday where we were all available and the weather forecasts were OK, we booked our dolphin trip in Setúbal for the afternoon.
The nets in the front are a lot of fun
Setúbal is known for its delicious fried squid. And as the dolphin watching tour in Setúbal would depart at 14h30, we’d have time to enjoy some of this local delicacies. We booked a table at Taska da Avenida, number one on TripAdvisor for the famous “choco frito”. In fact, it was the best fried squid we’d ever had and the French fries and salad were also delicious. So, if you plan a day trip from Lisbon to go on a dolphin watching tour In Setúbal, pass by Taska da Avenida before. The restaurant is only 10min by foot from the meeting point to catch the boat.
It’s hard to catch them on camera, but they were all around the boat!
Once our bellies were happy, we took a stroll around the streets of Setúbal and met the crew of the boat tour at their office. Here, the youngest one of our party, Luísa of 5 years old, was super excited to learn about the dolphins that we’d be searching for. In Setúbal, in the Sado River, lives a resident pod of bottlenose dolphins of 27 members. These resident pods are very rare and as they are residents, the skippers and marine biologists on board have a strong record of their behaviour. They can even identify each of the 27 dolphins by their dorsal fin! Of course, Luísa was impressed to know all this and to learn about the life of these beautiful creatures.
The boat used for this dolphin watching tour in Setúbal is a very nice and comfortable catamaran. You can sit in the shade or in the sun or even on the nets. After picking up one more family from Tróia, on the other side of the Sado River, we were ready to start our journey in the search of wild dolphins. As they are not fed or tagged, the crew never knows where they’re hanging out, so there’s always a small chance to have tough luck and not find them. However, given that this pod of dolphins is resident, the chances are very very high. In the last years, the success rate has been 90-95%.
Kids love this dolphin watching tour in Setúbal
After cruising river-inwards for about 20min we already saw the first splashes. Yes, we had found them! Everybody on board was super excited. As soon as we approached the pod of dolphins, they were all around the boat. It’s truly magical to see how people react when they see these beautiful creatures. It’s so special finding them in their natural habitat. The skipper explained that we could only be with them for 30min so we would not “disturb” them too much. One thing we really liked was to feel that this tour operator truly respects these animals and are interested in them. One of the skippers even explained a lot about them. He went from family to family and explained a bit about this curious pod of resident dolphins, both in English and in Portuguese. The other skipper was steering the boat and even allowed Luísa to help him!
We could not get enough of observing the dolphins!
Before heading back to the dock in Setúbal, we still did a scenic tour along the green hills of the Arrábida Natural Park and the white sanded beaches of Tróia. It was beautiful!
This dolphin watching tour in Setúbal is very suitable for families. On our trip, there were many kids and even babies on board and in our case, grandma also enjoyed a lot! We recommend to check-in at least 15 min before the departure of the tour so you can take a look at the office and learn about the dolphins. Regarding food and drinks onboard, we brought some water and fruit and cookies and there’s also a bar service for additional drinks. To find out more and to book, feel free to have a look here.
Lisbon is probably one of the most booming cities in the south of Europe. No wonder – with the colorful mix of culture, cuisine, sea and sun it’s the perfect destination for a city trip. The fact that you can get cheap flights from pretty much every other European country facilitates it even more! And there’s more! Wanna know what? Here are our top 3 reasons for a short trip to Lisbon in winter!
Lisbon’s colors by night
There are fewer crowds at the tourist attractions in Lisbon in Winter
The first and probably most obvious one of the top 3 reasons for a short trip to Lisbon in winter is the fact, that there are a lot fewer tourists in the city! This way, you can visit all the main tourist attractions without having to wait for too long in the queues and take pictures of the monuments without many people around!
The tower of Belém, Jeronimos monastery, São Jorge castle and the famous Cristo Rei are just some of the main attractions in Lisbon you can enjoy and admire during your short trip to Lisbon in Winter without them being overcrowded! If you want, you can also join one of our sightseeing boat tours in Lisbon. In our opinion, it’s the best way to explore the main attractions from the River Tagus!
Get aboard of “Évora” for a sightseeing cruise
Sitting on the deck of a comfortable boat in the sun, sipping on a coffee and at the same time admiring all the historic attractions of Lisbon while cruising past them – there’s no better way to relax! Who said boat tours are only fun in summer? In winter you get to enjoy them just as much, we promise!
The mild weather
Did you also know, that Lisbon has 3x more hours of sunshine during the winter months than the average of northern Europe? And that in the coldest month, which is January, the average temperature is between 11°C and 19°C. Doesn’t sound too bad for winter, hey? Surely if you come from Nothern Europe, these mild temperatures will be a total plus for you and one of the top 3 reasons for a short trip to Lisbon in winter!
On some days, you can even enjoy a coffee in the sun wearing only a t-shirt!
Walking around the cute little streets of Lisbon without a big coat and a lot of layers to keep you warm sounds pretty inviting, don’t you think!? If you visit Lisbon in winter, you can enjoy your “bica”, a small coffee, and the delicious pastry Pastel de Nata sitting on the terrace of a cute café in the sunshine. If you sit there long enough, you’ll even be able to get a little tan in the sweet sun of Lisbon! Surely this is a great alternative to those dark and cold winter days!
Stall along Lisbon’s narrow streets or catch the tram
Another reason for the mild weather being one of the top 3 reasons for a short trip to Lisbon in winter is that you can actually walk around the city without getting too hot! The temperatures in summer can get pretty high in Lisbon! All those hilly streets don’t look too inviting if you’re pouring down sweat! In winter you can explore the city walking, and don’t start sweating like a pig!
More affordable accommodation and meals
Obviously, most of the prices for hotels, etc. are lower during the off-season than they are in high season! So if you look around, you might find some pretty amazing deals for your short break in Lisbon in winter! From flights, hotel, to boat tours and any other kind of activity, like dolphin watching for example – mostly you will find cheaper prices and pretty good deals during the winter months!
Enjoy a walk along the monuments in Belém without too many tourists
In fact, January is actually the time of the year where you can get the cheapest hotel rooms! Flights are generally the cheapest in November, but really they are still super cheap in January! If you’re lucky, you can, for example, fly from Germany to Lisbon and back for only 20€! That’s definitely a reason for a short trip to Lisbon, right!? As we saw, you can actually enjoy the city better than during summer and spend a lot less money!
Even some restaurants and cafés have the low season and high season prices. And compared to northern european countries, the cost of eating out in Lisbon and Portugal in general is a lot cheaper! So if you visit Lisbon in winter and save money for hotel and flights, you actually can spend more money on yummy food and other fun stuff! Why not try surfing in Lisbon with the extra money?
Surfing in Lisbon is done all year round
As you can see, Lisbon is a perfect destination for a little winter getaway! These were our top 3 reasons for a short trip to Lisbon in winter, but we can assure you that there are maaaaany more!
We invited our friend, Flávia Mota from the blog “Almost Locals”, to experience our sunset sailing trip in Lisbon. Flávia, from Brazil, shares her experience about the Sunset sailing trip in Lisbon in this article. It’s a great way to get to know the city and enjoy the Tagus River by sunset:
The sight over the North Bank of the River
There is something magical about sunsets in Lisbon. The (usually amazing) sky gets even prettier in dawn time, changing from blue into shades of orange, pink and purple, before the night arrives. But watching the sun go down in the Portuguese capital is even more special when you do it by the river, on a sunset sailing trip in Lisbon.
The sunset sailing trip in Lisbon departs from Docas de Bom Sucesso, a small harbor nearby the famous Belém Tower. This amazing monument is the first one you can see once the sail begins and you will get a very privileged sight of it from the water of the Tagus.
The famous 25th of April Bridge
For the first hour of the sunset sailing trip in Lisbon, the boat goes up river, as close as possible to the North bank of the Tagus. From the boat, you’ll get a glimpse of the Cais do Sodré area, Ribeira das Naus, the very beautiful yellow buildings surrounding Praça do Comércio, and the uphill white maze that is Alfama.
If you are not familiar with Lisbon sights, don’t worry. During the sunset sailing trip in Lisbon the skipper will keep you informed about what you see and share some interesting facts about the city and about the sailing experience itself.
Cristo Rei on the South Bank
Once the boat turns back, the second part of this sunset sailing trip in Lisbon starts: closer to the South Bank of the Tagus you will see the statue of Cristo Rei and the remainings of the fishing industry that once was set in Almada.
As the boat goes down the Tagus, you pass by cargo ships, ferries and other kinds of boats coming and going, passing by. But the most amazing sight is, of course, the sun going down. The beauty of the colors when the end of the day comes is the cherry top of this sunset sailing trip in Lisbon.
Tips for your sunset sailing trip in Lisbon:
Sailing through the Tagus is great even if you are travelling alone, but if you are in a group, arrangements can be made so that you can have it all for you and your family / friends;
Wear comfortable shoes, so you can move easily inside the boat;
Always bring a coat, because it might get too windy even during summer;
Make sure you have enough battery and memory space on your camera / phone. You will take amazing pictures during this sunset sailing;
If you want to eat something before the sunset sailing, choose something light;
You’ll get complimentary beverages and drinks on the boat;
Arrive on time on the departure point;
There are sunset sailings all year long, no matter when you are coming, jump aboard. But book on time, so you can make sure your spot is secured!
Flávia enjoying her time while sailing in Lisbon
Many thanks to Flávia for translating this unforgettable experience of the sunset sailing tour in Lisbon into words. Now, grab a group of friends, set a date and enjoy Lisbon from a different perspective with a stunning sunset! Happy sailing!
Summer has come to an end. You’ve probably already been on holidays this year, but why not go again?
In between summer and Christmas, is a great time to go on holidays, even if it is only for a few days. In this article we will share why we think Portugal is a great holiday destination during autumn.
High season in Portugal is, with no doubt during the summer months of June, July and August. September can be quite busy still to. When October arrives, the flow of tourists decreases a lot. In the Algarve, during the months of October and November it is usually very quiet and then in December, some people come over to enjoy a warm Christmas and New Year. In Lisbon and other regions of the country, which are less depended on coastal tourism, you’ll continue to see some city-break travelers around.
There are several advantages about travelling to Portugal during the fall:
• First of all, money. Everything is cheaper. Let’s start with the flights, low cost airlines like Ryanair,EasyJet and Transavia fly from most European airports to Lisbon, Porto and Faro. As soon as high season finishes, so after September, rates drop drastically before rising again during the Christmas holidays. You can already book a return flight from major European airports to Portugal from 100€ and sometimes even less! Things to do in Lisbon.
• Also accommodation and car rentals are much cheaper during low season. In some cases, prices can even fall to half. In the most touristic regions, like in the Algarve for example, even restaurants may become cheaper during the low season.
• Local people tend to be friendlier. It’s a fact, we notice this quite clearly. For local people, like people from the restaurants, taxi drivers or touristic guides tend to be nicer and friendlier during low season. The reason why is quite simple. There’s less stress and less hectic situations (in restaurants, traffic or tourist attractions) and as such people have more time to dedicate to you.
• No queues. As mentioned before, during fall there are not many tourists anymore, which is great for travelers who do not like massive tourism and hectic situations. If you travel to Portugal during fall, you can expect no queues for touristic attractions and no overbooked tours. Regarding tours and activities, we still recommend you to book in advance, not to avoid overbookings, but to make sure the tour or activity wanted will actually take place.
• Empty beaches. For nature lovers, this time of the year is great. The stunning beaches of the Portuguese West coast become even more stunning when they’re not packed with people.
• For the ones who like trekking, hiking or trail running, fall is great because the trails and sights are more beautiful and the weather is more pleasant for exercising.
• The weather. Ok, if you’re looking for a beach holiday, autumn in Portugal might not be the ideal plan, but to wander around a city or to discover new places it is. Summer in Portugal can be very hot, sometimes too hot for certain activities.
During fall, weather is milder and can be ideal for outdoor activities as long as is does not rain. The autumn climate in Portugal really depends on the region. The Algarve is usually milder than Coimbra, for example and the North can be chilly and wet.
• For surfers, fall and winter is the best time to enjoy Portuguese waves. In fact, for surfing, waves usually are better during this time of the year, both on the South coast of the Algarve and the whole West coast.
Even on the islands of Azores and Madeira, waves are better during the fall/winter season. Another reason why surfing in Portugal is better this time of the year is the crowd. In summer, many tourists try surfing for the first time and the waves of Portugal become rather crowded.
During the fall, we recommend you to go to Lisbon and from there you can also explore Sintra, Cascais and Setúbal. These three cities are very close to each other, only 45 minutes by train or car.
Things to do in Lisbon Portugal
Lisbon is the ideal destination for a city break during the fall. There are many things to do in Lisbon, even when it is rainy. In our opinion, if you’ve only got a few days to spend in Lisbon, don’t spend your time in Museums, except if you’re into to some particular topic, but spend your time on the streets. Lisbon’s street are a museum itself.
Lisbon has got a strong history. By the fifteenth century, Lisbon was the capital of the Portuguese expansion. This era is also known by the Discoveries. The Portuguese had exceptional navigational expertise at the time and had set up trading routes round half the world.
In 1498, the Portuguese Vasco da Gama sailed from Belém, Lisbon, to discover the sea route to India. Sixty years later, Lisbon controlled ports from Brazil to Macau, becoming one of the wealthiest cities in Europe. With such an abundance of richness, Lisbon was able to fund extravagant buildings such as the Torre de Belém (Belém Tower) and the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos in Belém. Also the emblematic palace at Terreiro do Paço dates back from then, even though, reconstructed after the Great Earthquake of 1755.
Wealth seemed endless in Lisbon with newly discovered gold in Brazil, yet this second “golden age” ended abruptly with the Great Earthquake of 1755. Marquês de Pombal rapidly rebuilt the city. Since then, the “Baixa” (downtown), is grid-patterned.
After the Earthquake, Lisbon never recovered its economic clout. Nowadays Lisbon flourishes as a great holiday destination and also among European exchange students (Erasmus), Lisbon is very popular thanks to it low costs of living, great climate, awesome parties, location near to the beach and worldwide recognized universities.
Alfama
Alfama is one of the most original and authentic “Bairros” (neighbourhoods) of Lisbon, being its oldest. It lays the slope between the São Jorge Castle and the Tagus River. If you like walking, we recommend you to put on your walking shoes and get lost in the narrow streets of the idyllic part of the city.
By foot is surely the best way to explore Alfama, but be prepared for many hills and stairs. It might be a tiring walk, but it’s surely worth it, as you’ll find many hidden squares and breath-taking viewpoints.
Eat a local pastry and a “bica” (expresso) in one of the local cafes to recover and stay until later and have dinner in one of the many Fado Restaurants. Fado is the local music, rather melancholic, and Alfama is the place to listen to it in Lisbon while enjoying a typical Portuguese meal and wine. We recommend “Mesa de Frades” and “Bela Vinhos e Petiscos”.
Fado restaurants are usually a little bit more expensive than normal ones but so worth it. In most of the cases Fado singers start singing late, at about 21h30 or 22h, so don’t be too early in the restaurant and book a table to assure your seat.
The São Jorge Castle is located on top of one of Lisbon’s Seven Hills. It is a Moorish castle occupying a commanding hilltop with a beautiful view over the historic centre of the city of Lisbon and Tagus River. The Castle is characterized by its fortified citadel and dates from medieval period of Portuguese history. The Castle is surely one of the main tourist sites of Lisbon.
If the Castle could speak, it would have a lot to tell – it was home to the Visigoths in the 5th century, in the 9th century it passed to the Moors, to the Christians in the 12th century and royals from the 14th to 16th centuries.
The Ulysses Tower is one of the main attractions of the Castle. Its “camera obscura” offers a unique 360-degree angle on Lisbon. Beyond the views, there are also a few galleries displaying relics from past centuries.
To go up to the castle and to explore the Alfama neighborhood, we suggest you to take the tram 28. Even if you don’t actually know where to go or what to do and are tired of walking, hop into this tram and let it take you around Lisbon. Its route is circular, so at some point, you’ll get back to where you started. It’s real fun (if the tram is not too full). Be careful with pickpockets.
Bairro Alto
Bairro Alto is one of the hippest districts of Lisbon, it lies on the opposite hill of the one of the Castle, being separated by Rossio square. In Bairro alto, during the day, you’ll find many small boutiques that sell unique pieces of super trendy clothes, second hand vintage shops or tattoo shops.
You can also find cosy coffee shops for the rainy days. By night, Bairro alto is popular to go out for dinner, grab a nice pizza or spend the night in a Fado restaurant, everything is possible here. Almost every day of the week, after 23h00, Bairro Alto starts to become a busy place for drinks.
Many small bars open their doors and people tend to grab a Caipirinha or a beer and drink on the streets. Bairro Alto is friendly to all kind of tastes, there is an “Erasmus Corner”, a “Gay Street”, karaoke bars or Latin bars. Here you can eat some tapas and taste the best cocktails in town while enjoying live music in a very cosy environment.
Rossio
Rossio is the main square of the Portuguese capital. It’s surrounded by Portuguese restaurants and by one of the main theatres of Lisbon, Dona Maria II. The beautifully paved square, with typical Portuguese “calçada” had two beautiful fountains. Rossio is the location of one of our favorite “tascas” (small local restaurants), “A Tendinha”. Here, you can quickly grab a delicious soup for lunch with some nice pastries and a glass of red wine. Things to do in Lisbon.
Chiado
Chiado is one of the poshest neighbourhoods of the city. In between Rossio and Bairro Alto, Rua Garret is very popular for shopping. Here you’ll find international fashion stores like H&M and Zara but also local boutiques that occupy the stunning buildings.
To rest between all the shopping, you must have a coffee at “A Brasileira”, where Fernando Pessoa, a Portuguese poet used to get inspires.
If feel like something sweet, grab one of the best croissants at “Benard” or an ice-cream at “Santini”. Chiado is nice to take a walk after dinner and enjoy the animation by some street artists.
Praça do Comércio
The Praça do Comércio (Commerce Square in English) is located in between the city center, Rua Augusta and the Tagus River. The square is still commonly known as Terreiro do Paço because, until it was destroyed by the great 1755 earthquake, it was the location of the Paços da Ribeira (Royal Palace). After the earthquake, the square was completely remodelled as part of the rebuilding of the Pombaline Downtown by Marquês de Pombal, the Minister of the Kingdom of Portugal from 1750 to 1777.
Several restaurants are nowadays located around the square. We recommend to grab a beer and a “Picapau” (small pieces of meat) with bread at the Beer Museum. Also, enjoy the view by the river where you can usually find some street artists playing music.
Avenida da Liberdade
Avenida da Liberdade (Avenue of Freedom) is the beautiful avenue that connects Restauradores (next to Rossio square) to the Marquês de Pombal roundabout.
This avenue is where all the fashion design shops are located. You can find Gucci, Dolce and Gabanna and some Portuguese designers. It’s worth it to walk up on one side and down on the other for some window shopping.
On your way you can grab a drink on one of the many kiosks or at the São Jorge Cinema, one of our favourite spots for coffee after dinner.
Museu Gulbenkian
The project for the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and Museum was launched in 1969. The foundation of the museum was founded according to Calouste Gulbenkian’s last will, to accommodate and display Gulbenkian’s art collection belonging nowadays to the Foundation of Calouste Gulbenkian. The Calouste Gulbenkian Museum is a museum in Lisbon that contains a beautiful collection of, mostly ancient bus also some modern, art.
The museum itself is worth a visit but also the gardens around it are spectacular and a popular place for Portuguese families to go for a walk and feed the ducks.
Belém
Belém is a neighborhood in Lisbon’s West. It’s a very popular place for tourists two visit, many due to four main attractions that it hosts, in between beautiful gardens and typical buildings:
– Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
The Jerónimos Monastery is a monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome. It is one of the most noticeable examples of the Portuguese Gothic Manueline architectural trends in Lisbon. In 1983, the Monastery was classified a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the nearby Tower of Belém.
– Belém Tower
The Belém Tower is a fortified tower which is a UNESCO World Heritage because of its important role in the Portuguese Discoveries. The tower was commissioned by King João II to be part of a defense system and a ceremonial entrance to Lisbon at the mouth of the Tagus River. As such, the tower was built in the early 16th century and is another prominent example of the Portuguese Manueline style along with other architectural styles.
– Padrão dos Descobrimentos
Also known as the Monument to the Discoveries, this monument celebrates the Portuguese Discoveries (or Age of Exploration) during the 15th and 16th centuries. Along with the main statue of Henry the Navigator, on both sides of the ramps of the monument are a total of 33 figures from the history of the Discoveries, like Vasco da Gama (discoverer of the sea route to India and Pedro Álvares Cabral (discoverer of Brazil).
No words can describe how delicious these typical pastries are. Please just go to Belém an try them.
Parque das Nações
The modern Lisbon parish of Parque das Nações was established in 2012. It’s a leisure, commercial, and residential area since the 1998 World Exposition (EXPO ’98).
Parque das Nações is located in north-eastern Lisbon next to the Tagus estuary, one of the biggest and diverse estuaries of the European Continent and formerly used for mainly industrial purposes. Nowadays, Parque das Nações hosts one of Portugal’s most modern Marinas.
There are several things to do in Parque das Nações, you can go for a walk or a run along the stunning promenade to enjoy the views over the Vasco da Gama Bridge, Vasco da Gama Tower, the São Gabriel and São Rafael twin towers and the Marina. You can enjoy a concert in the huge Atlantic Pavilion concert hall or go to an event of congress in FIL.
If you appreciate nature and the ocean but the weather does not allow for a boat ride or other ocean-related activity, the Oceanarium is the place to go. The Lisbon Oceanarium is a large-scale aquarium presenting an ocean habitat with marine animals, especially large ocean dwellers such as sharks.
Parque das Nações is home to Lisbon’s Casino – “Casino Lisboa”. The Casino is a very modern building with an Arena Lounge and three Gambling Bars. Even if you don’t like gambling the “Cascino Lisboa” is definitely worth a visit to have dinner or to enjoy a show or concert. “Casino Lisboa” is open every day from 15h to 03h. On Fridays, Saturdays and holiday eves, the casino is open from 16h to 04h, so you can enjoy until a little later.
For the shopping fanatics, Parque das Nações hosts one of the major shopping malls of Lisbon, Vasco da Gama Shopping Mall. The modern building has got an enormous supermarket, many international brands and smaller boutiques and a food court.
Things to do in Sintra
Sintra is a magical village located about half an hour drive from Lisbon (there’s also a train that departs from Rossio Train Station).
Sintra is known for its uncountable 19th-century Romantic architectural monuments, like palaces and stunning villas. In fact, Sintra is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Although Sintra’s heritage in architecture and nature is the most evident face of the historic individuality of Sintra, a whole literary heritage has made the region a mythical reference in Portuguese culture. It has become a major tourist attraction, visited by many day-trippers who travel from Lisbon.
In addition to the Sintra Mountains and Sintra-Cascais Nature Park, the parishes of the town of Sintra are rich in royal retreats, estates, castles and other buildings, including the mediaeval Castle of the Moors (“Castelo dos Mouros”), the Pena National Palace and the Sintra National Palace.
For the ones who like hiking, we recommend the Sintra Mountains with a broad variety in flora thanks to the local micro climate. The mountains are a granite massif of ten kilometres long – considered the Monte da Lua (Mountain of the Moon), due to the strong local tradition of astral cults.
The mountains have got several walking routes or you can go for a run with a local guide to discover the hidden trails.
For us, the essence of Sintra can best be felt in Quinta da Regaleira. Quinta da Regaliera is classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO within the “Cultural Landscape of Sintra”. Along with the other palaces in the area, this is one of the principal tourist attractions of Sintra.
The property consists of a romantic palace and chapel, and a luxurious gardens that feature lakes, grottoes, wells, benches, fountains, and a vast array of exquisite constructions. Feel the mystery of Sintra!
After exploring Sintra, don’t forget to eat a local pastry, a “Travesseiro” before you head back to Lisbon!
Things to do in Cascais
Cascais is a coastal town just 30km west of Lisbon. You can drive there by car, with very nice route along the Tagus River and several beaches, or you can go by train, which takes the same route (about 45 min form Cais do Sodré, Lisbon). Cascais, is a former fishing village with an idyllic scenery and is now a much-loved summer destinations for Lisboetas (people from Lisbon) and also tourists.
Today, Cascais’ residents are mainly high society, yet all society comes here enjoy the stunning beaches for sailing, surfing and scuba diving.
If you’re staying in Lisbon and looking for the ultimate sporty day out, there are several surf tour available. We recommend the surfer guys from Lisbon Surf Connection who can pick you up at your accommodation to take you to the best surf spot.
The instructors know the surrounding beaches of Lisbon like no other, especially the ones around Cascais. According to the weather and ocean conditions, you will be taken to the best beach: Costa da Caparica, Carcavelos, Linha do Estoril , Guincho, Praia Pequena , Praia Grande , Praia das Maçãs or one of the many other beaches surrounding Lisbon and Cascais.
So, we recommend Cascais for surf enthusiasts but also to wander around the narrow streets of the old part of the town, grab a fresh grilled fish for lunch.
Walking around Cascais is very nice as there are many things to see. The train stops near the historical town centre and from here you can walk towards the fancy Marina of Cascais. You can also go jogging along the stunning promenades along the beaches in direction of the Santa Marta Lighthouse, Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Luz.
If you want to run or bike a bit more, you can head up to Praia do Guincho, 9km northwest of Cascais, along the shoreline path. This beach is known for surfing and kite surfin, definitely worth the 9km ride or run.
If you go to Cascais, don’t leave before enjoying one of the best icecreams of Portugal: Santini’s.
Another nice thing to do on a rainy day during your stay in Lisbon is to cross the Tagus River and explore Setúbal. Setúbal is only a 45 minute drive south of Lisbon (you can also reach it by train). Things to do in Lisbon.
Setúbal is one of the biggest cities in Portugal and is a rising tourism destination, mainly because of the large scope of things to do in the Setúbal Peninsula. Things to do in Lisbon.
Setúbal has several churches, fortresses and monasteries that are worth a visit. Our favorite is the “Santa Maria” Fort, located in the idyllic Portinho Arrábida, overlooking the Atlantic. This Fort was built in 1670, by order of King Pedro II, to protect the coastal zone, is surely worth a visit. This Fort has recently been turned into the local Oceanographic Museum and a center for marine biology, part of the Arrábida Natural Park. Things to do in Lisbon.
If the weather is actually OK, there are several things to de in Setúbal departing from the harbour of Setúbal. In fact, there are many boat tours from Setúbal. Most of the boat trips are related to dolphin observation since there is a pod of friendly bottlenose dolphins that are resident in the Sado River (Natural Park).
Setúbal is a great eating destination! The Setúbal Peninsula is a true sanctuary of flavours, where the local gastronomic secrets are shared on every street corner in authentic local restaurants where the sea is present everywhere.
In Setúbal, we tasted the best fish dishes and shellfish from Portugal. Some typical local dishes include “Choco frito à Setubalense” (Fried cuttlefish) and romantic Natural Oysters. If you’re not fond of fish and wine, you won’t be disappointed by the meat meals and local beers. To find out more about Setúbal, please check a more detailed article about things to do in Setúbal here.
So, if you were still doubting about whether you should or not go for a holiday break during this fall, we hope we convinced you.
Book your flight and stay in Lisbon now and if you’re looking for a kind of activity that is not listed here or need some further tips, please feel free to give us a call and we’ll do everything to help you! Things to do in Lisbon.
When SeaBookings talks about the best ideas for your Bachelorette Party in Lisbon it has got to do something with the sea! Or with a river!
For your Bachelorette or Bachelor Party in Lisbon you can choose from a lot of different water-related activities, from Boat Tours over SUP all the way to Surfing.
Lately, we have been getting a lot of requests for Stag Parties in Lisbon on the sea. That is why we decided to make a list of the best ideas for your Bachelor celebration.
We have something for every taste. We have activities for the more active bridal get-together, that would like to do something sporty like surfing.
But, we also provide activities for those who rather picture themselves relaxing on a boat while watching the sunset and having some drinks.
You will find something here. Bachelors can go fishing and Bachelorettes can go for a SUP Tour. With offers ranging between 25€ and 75€, we also have something for all budgets.
The best ideas for your Bachelorette Party in Lisbon
This is a private Sailing Tour to Alfama takes you to see all the main attractions of the city from a different perspective. This is especially suited for a Bachelor Party in Lisbon with a Bride that loves Lisbon and the River Tejo.
This private Sailing Tour includes a skipper, one drink per person (water, beer or sodas) and snacks (almonds or crackers). We can organize a catering for you or you can bring your own food and drinks on board.
Prices: 250€ for up to 12 people. For a group of 12 for 2 hours, this is 20,83€ per person.
Get aboard of this adventure in Sesimbra for your hen party in Lisbon
Brides as well as grooms who like animals are going to love this special surprise for their Bachelor celebration.
On board of rigid inflatable boats, come looking for dolphins along the coast of Arrábida. Dolphin watching in Sesimbra is a real adventure, and we will even spot some of the most famous spots along the coast.
However, the fact that they are wild dolphins mean that we cannot guarantee 100 % that we will spot some. But even if we don’t the boat tour itself is fun enough and you get to admire the beautiful landscapes of the coastline!
This Boat Trip is a perfect option for a Bachelorette gathering, no matter if it’s for the bride or the groom!
During this boat trip to the secret beaches of Sesimbra, we will stop at a beautiful beach for 2 hours. Regarding food and drinks, you can either bring your own or we can check out the options for catering.
This is a boat trip on a rigid inflatable boat along the coastline of Sesimbra until the Cape of Cabo Espichel, which is situated in the marine reserve Professor Luiz Saldanha.
Prices: 32€ per person for 4 hours.
For a super fun bachelorette party in Lisbon!
Fun Boat em Sesimbra
A super fun idea for your Bachelorette celebration. We recommend this fun boat where you are pulled by the speedboat while holding on to a floaty.
This fun boat happens in Sesimbra on a rigid inflatable boat SUPER FUN! Along with the breathtaking view over the impressive Natural Park of Serra da Arrábida you also get to go for a refreshing swim in the ocean!
This boat trip includes a floaty for those who are in for some fun and want to be pulled by our fast boat.
The best idea for a Bachelor get-together in Lisbon for all real adventurers! Coasteering is a great activity for all those, who love an adrenaline rush and also the sea. Coasteering is a relatively new sport and it keeps growing rapidly on the rocky coast of Sesimbra.
This activity takes you on various adventures, from swimming, climbing, rappeling, cliff jumping and walking. This Tour starts from Porto de Abrigo in Sesimbra and takes you to the Natural Park of Serra da Arrábida, the perfect spot for Coasteering!
Prices: 35€ per person for 5 hours.
Why not go for some fishing Sesimbra for your stag party in Lisbon?
A Fishing trip in Sesimbra is a great idea for a Bachelor celebration with “real men”. Who’s gonna catch the biggest fish? This is a bottom fishing trip, which means that you go fishing on the high sea, about 3 or 5 miles off the coast of Sesimbra.
Bottom fishing is done in depths of 30m to 80m, giving us the opportunity to catch fish like Breams, Snappers, and Groupers among others. This bottom fishing tour in Sesimbra is guided by local and experienced fishermen.
This is one of the favourite Sailing Cruises. And of course for Bachelor Parties too.
After leaving the harbour Porto de Abrigo in Sesimbra, you have two options: A cruise for 2 hours or one for 4 hours. During the 2 hour trip, you sail along these spots: Sesimbra/ Praia do Ribeiro do Cavalo/ Praia da Baleeira/ Cabo Espichel.
We can anchor either in Boca do Tamboril or at Praia do Ribeiro do Cavalo. During both sailing cruises, you have enough time to swim, snorkel and to party! Of course, we would recommend the cruise for 4 hours, because it gives you more time for swimming and for partying.
Both tours include a Welcome Drink, and you can bring along your own food and drinks.
Prices: 300€ for 2 hours or 450€ for 4 hours. So that makes 25€ or 37,50€ per person, depending if it is the 2 or 4 hours cruise.
Stand-Up Paddle (SUP) lessons in Cascais are becoming more and more popular, especially amongst women, who also like to mix this sport with yoga. SUP in Cascais is a great idea for any get-together.
During this 1 hour SUP lesson, you will learn the art of stand-up paddling while enjoying the sun and the stunning view of Cascais. One of the reasons why SUP is so popular is because it is super easy to learn and a lot of fun.
Prices: 25€ per person for 1 hour. There is also the option for SUP-Yoga or SUP-Tours.
Surfing is a good way to spend your bachelor party in Lisbon!
This surf lesson in Carcavelos is a fun and sporty way of celebrating your best friend almost married.
The surf lesson takes place at Carcavelos beach and your instructors are local and experienced surfers as well as instructors. A well spent afternoon playing in the waves is a great way to get ready for a wild night!
Price: 25€ per person for 2 hours. You can also book a surf day with two surf sessions, where we pick you up with our surf van in Lisbon and spend the day at the beach!
All prices above already include taxes and insurance for all participants. Activities which require equipment like wetsuits, boards, or others also include all the necessary equipment. Prices can vary depending on the size of the group.
If one of those activities sound interesting for your Boat Party in Lisbon, feel free to contact us. Please let us know the number of people in your group as well as the desired dates.
The bigger the group, the more discounts are possible. For catering and games, we have a lot of options. For bookings, questions and recommendations, please contact Bo, our person responsible for Boat Parties in Lisbon: [email protected]
Ready for an unforgettable stag or hen boat party in Lisbon?
By Lianne, responsible for the Spanish market and content/translations at SeaBookings.
Not only I didn’t know that it was possible to see dolphins in Lisbon, but I also didn’t know how many dolphins you can find around Lisbon, I was really surprised! And we were extra lucky that day because we encountered a minke whale as well. Can you believe it? Well, take a look at the photos and videos we’ve made for you!
We saw this cute but giant Minke whale 4-5 times! (picture by Francisco, the guide)
It was a sunny day in Lisbon and Bo and I decided to do a 7km run from Príncipe Real to the marina where the boat would leave at 9am in the morning. This was a good motivation to keep on running because we didn’t want to miss the boat!
Just on time, we arrived, and everyone was ready to climb on board of the trimaran for an excursion named the “Bartholomew Dias Expedition”. This nice trimaran boat looked like a bird and is very spacious! It was a very nice boat because we could sit in the middle or relax and lie down on big nets on each side of the boat.
Because we only could find the dolphins further away in the open sea we had to sail for a while. But that didn’t matter because everyone was enjoying the sailing. I have to say that I was so relaxed that I even fell asleep on one of the nets! I felt very comfortable and I enjoyed the sun very much. All of the sudden we heard someone saying that there was a dolphin right next to the boat. Francisco, the guide, owner of the boat and marine biologist, advised us to go and sit in the front, because from his experience there will be more soon!
We found many many Common Dolphins (picture by Francisco)
We all went to the front and there we already saw several dolphins swimming and jumping around the boat. I think everyone was really surprised by the number of dolphins in Lisbon, incredible! Because the boat is 8m wide, everyone could enjoy these beautiful animals to the fullest. And it was like the dolphins saw us too, because they were really showing off for us. And if this wasn’t enough we also saw a whale (several times!!) appearing slowly on the surface a bit further away.
The nets were great to relax after our run to the boat
After these mind-blowing surprises we sailed back to Lisbon and during our way back we got a short workshop about the dolphins and whales we saw that day by the experienced biologist Francisco. It’s very nice to get to know a little bit more about the species, specially when told by such an enthusiast like Francisco!
You never know if you find dolphins, as they’re wild animals. We all helped in spotting them.
I think this was one of the best dolphin watching tours I did in Portugal! I can definitely recommend this tour to the dolphins in Lisbon to anyone who would like to have a nice day on the sea! Next time I’m in Lisbon, I am going again!
“Príncipe Perfeito” is our big classy sailing yacht in Lisbon, ideal for events up to 200 pax
Max 200 pax
2 hours – from 2200 €
from 500 € per extra hour
Departure: Doca do Espanhol, Alcântara, Lisbon
Included: no drinks included
Optional: drinks on board cost around 2 € each or we have nice catering packages from 22 € per person for a complete meal with drinks
On board of our enchanting sailing ship “Principe Perfeito”, Portuguese for the perfect prince, you will feel like a real sailor exploring the city of Lisbon! Did you know this yacht is one of the biggest sailing ships in Europe? We have many different catering options for this boat. It’s ideal for weddings or other ceremonies.
Please note:
All tours are private and include a skipper, fuel, insurance and taxes.
Schedules are flexible. Let us know if you prefer a morning, afternoon or sunset trip.
Catering options vary according to each boat, so feel free to contact us about that according to the boat you prefer.
Most boats have a sound system and you can bring your own music on your phone.
We presented 2 to 4-hour tours but of course, we can also do 5 – 8 hours. If you wish that, let us know.
