Lisbon… The beating heart of Portugal, filled with colors and noises, renowned sights and hidden gems, inspiring medieval monuments and the brightest examples of modern architecture. The amazing city is a glorious mix of the past and the future, as well as a perfect place to enjoy the present. Another thing making it such a beautiful holiday destination is its fantastic location, allowing to enhance any Lisbon vacation with several unforgettable day trips to different Portuguese cities. Can you think of a more exciting way to get a better hold of what this unique country is all about than a day trip? We can't either. Let's have a look at the best places located just a short train ride away from colorful Lisbon.

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~Lisbon to Porto Day Trip~

A worthy opponent to the bright capital of Portugal for the title of the most popular city of the country, sunny Porto is, without a doubt, the most popular choice when it comes to day trips from Lisbon. Although it is located a bit further from the main Portuguese city than the rest destinations on the list, it's definitely a place you don't want to miss during your vacation. After all, hard to overestimate the significance of the city, considering that Porto has given the name to this remarkable country. 

Full of drive and energy, the city will make you fall for it the moment you get off the train. It's rather hard to pinpoint the most significant sights you should visit if you have just 12 hours to explore the city but let's stop on some of the most interesting options. After you visit such legends of Porto as the 14th-century São Francisco church, the Lello Bookshop (an inspiration behind the Hogwarts' library!), and the Dom Luis I Bridge, one of the symbols of Porto, consider spending some time in the medieval Ribeira district, famous for its cobbled streets and medieval charm.

Although visiting Duoro Valley is not an option during a day trip from Lisbon (although a fantastic reason to come back to Porto another time), don't miss a chance to enjoy the delicious local cuisine, accompanied by a glass of the most famous product of the region, the Port Wine, before heading back to Lisbon for the night. 

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~Lisbon to Sintra Day Trip~

​The city of Sintra is located a half-an-hour train ride away from the capital of the country, making it a great option to diversify your holiday program. It boasts a unique atmosphere of a fairytale. Although, to be honest, some of its sights belong more to one of Tim Burton's mystical universes than a children's book, but let's not jump ahead. 

The calling card of Sintra, the colorful Pena Castle, is a perfect starting point for any city tour. Even if you have never heard of Sintra, you've definitely seen the images of the striking sight.

It is nestled high in the Sintra Mountains, so the beautiful castle is impossible to miss, as it can be seen from practically anywhere in the city! What is more, they say that the unique attraction can be even spotted from Lisbon (the weather conditions permitting, of course), but an extensive guided tour is clearly not a match to a quick glance at something near the horizon. The Moorish Castle and the Palacio de Monserrate are also great places to add to your travel agenda, as both of them boast fascinating histories and peculiar architecture.

The Quinta da Regaleira is definitely a remarkable place to visit while in Sintra, but only if you are brave at heart. Bizarre and inspiring, alarming and exciting, this palace is one of the most intriguing secrets of Sintra. Its charm is like nothing else, an edge between reality and madness, and exploring the sight's head-spinning architecture and the history full of mysteries can easily become the highlight of your day trip to Sintra.

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~Lisbon to Evora Day Trip~

Beautiful Evora is located a bit further from Lisbon, and it takes about an hour and a half to get there from the capital of Portuguese by train. The city prides itself on interesting heritage, as it started as a Roman trading town, continued as one of the Moors strategic points, and finally became a beautiful place we know today. Such a colorful history left its mark on the town, and this amazing place is bursting with fascinating historical sights, such as the Diana Roman Temple and the simplistic Igreja de Santo Antao.

And dono't forget about the Evora Aqueduct, known as one of the most ambitious and challenging projects of the 16th century! What is more, the famous Bone Chapel of Evora is another sight that will light a fire in the hearts of adventurous souls. The name is sort of a spoiler for what lies within and makes it so remarkable, but trust us, it doesn't alleviate the feeling of the alarming awe you feel when you see the walls lined with thousands of human bones and skulls.

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~Lisbon to Fatima Day Trip~

Charming Fatima stands out from the rest of the list, as a train ride is not the smartest way to reach it. The reason is quite simple, the rail station of Fatima is located about 20 km (12 mi) from the city and there is no convenient connection with the city apart from taking a costly taxi.

​So let's consider this one an interesting exception that, famously, only proves the rule. Fatima is just that good (and important!), that not mentioning it here would be a sort of a crime. 

If you are a dedicated catholic, the city of Fatima doesn't require an introduction, as this is one of the most significant catholic shrines on the planet! Its gem, the Sanctuary of Fatima, welcomes up to 5 million visitors every year, while the 14th-century Batalha Monastery boasts a proud place on UNESCO's World Heritage list. And what about the impressive Ourem Castle, nestled on top of the high cliff and dominating the breathtaking sceneries?

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There are a lot of ways to spice up your Lisbon vacation, and hard to argue with the fact that enjoying a memorable day trip is among the most exciting options, promising a lot of great memories to bring back home. Especially if you use the Rail Ninja booking platform to organize your trip. It boasts an innovative user-friendly interface and allows to book tickets for any train in Portugal in a matter of only several minutes. Just choose the date and the destinations of your round trip, fill up several forms with personal data, and voila!