Lisbon cruise
This is one of the most romantic and beautiful experiences in Lisbon: I help you choose the best option and give you some tips to enjoy the perfect sunset.
Sailing in Lisbon | ©Jason Briscoe
Enjoying a ride on the Tagus River after a day of sightseeing in Lisbon is a very relaxing experience that will put the finishing touch to your trip to this splendid city.
There are plenty of options available for a river cruise in Lisbon, so I have selected the best experiences plus a few useful tips to make it all very easy for you. Here's a guide on how to do a river cruise on the Tagus River in Lisbon.
Options for a river cruise on the Tagus River in Lisbon
- Traditional boat trip in Lisbon - from $14
- Yacht ride in Lisbon - from $28.
- Sunset sailboat ride in Lisbon - from $36
- Sunset sailboat ride in Lisbon with wine - from $50
- Private sailboat tour in Lisbon - from $294.
- Private catamaran ride around Lisbon - from $574
Sunset cruise on the Tagus River in Lisbon
This experience combines three things that, for me, make it perfect: the sunset views over Lisbon from the river, a welcome glass of wine to toast, and a limit of 12 people on board to escape the crowds.
Taking a sunset cruise on the Tagus River in Lisbon will take you to see from the river the Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Tower, the monument to Christ the King and the monument to the Discoveries, among other points of interest, in a tour of 2 hours in duration. The price of this experience is 36.
Throughout the trip, the crew will introduce the places you visit or can see in the distance, telling the story or talking about the importance of them. The narration is entirely in Spanish, although it can also be done in Portuguese or English.
However, keep in mind that this boat ride is not comparable to a guided tour in itself, so if you want to go deeper into the monuments and sights of the city I recommend you to read this article: Best Tours and Day Trips from Lisbon.
Sunset boat trip with a glass of wine on the Tagus river in Lisbon
This is another option to take a boat ride on the Tagus River in Lisbon with a different company. This is a more relaxed and less sight seeing oriented ride and more about enjoying a glass of Portuguese wine of your choice while cruising down the Tagus.
As in the other case, this experience lasts 2 hours and you will be accompanied by a small group of other travelers (maximum 12). If I had to choose one, this would be the first one, because despite being very similar, this one has a slightly lower price50).
How to book a cruise on the Tagus River in Lisbon
- To book either of the two experiences, you must indicate the date and the number of participants and day to do the cruise. Once the payment is validated, you will receive in your email (the one you have indicated, so be sure to give one that you normally use) a confirmation.
- Make sure everything is correct and save the email to have it handy on the day of the cruise. Another option is to print the confirmation for extra security, in case you have any problems with your cell phone during the trip.
- Both experiences have free cancellation, and you will receive the amount you paid if you cancel at least 24 hours in advance, in case you can't or don't want to take the boat ride at the end.
Tips to take a cruise on the Tagus River
Bring clothes to cover yourself and appropriate footwear
Even in summer, it can get a little chilly on the boat deck after sunset. I recommend you bring something warm to enjoy the whole experience. In any case, most cruises have blankets and you can ask for one if you are cold.
Take shoes that grip the ground well, as the deck can be a bit wet and slipping and taking an unexpected dip in the water is usually not the most pleasant thing to do.
Choose a sunny day
If you have the possibility, it is best to book this experience a few days in advance to find out what day the weather will be nice. The boat goes out even if it is cloudy or even raining, even if it makes the views and the experience worse. Therefore, it is best to choose a sunny day.
During the trip
If you do not drink alcohol or do not like wine, you can change your glass for a bottle of water or a soft drink, simply when you are offered the drink. On the other hand, the comments about the places you pass by are not the most interesting in the world, so I would recommend you just enjoy the views and the breeze and relax for a while.
Arrive in good time to get the best spot
To turn the walk along the Tagus into a romantic moment (yes, this experience is full of couples) you can move to the bow of the boat where there are cushions to sit on and enjoy the sunset. Try to get to the dock a little early to get to the dock first and get a good spot.
If you are interested in doing a cruise on the Tagus, you will also be interested in
As I mentioned before, river cruises are a wonderful experience to relax and enjoy a glass of wine, but they will not show you Lisbon and all its corners and history as it should. For this, it's best to take a walking tour of the city with a local guide. If this sounds good to you, read on here: Best Tours and Day Trips from Lisbon.
Another must-do on a trip to Lisbon is to enjoy a live Fado show. There are many fado houses in the city, and it's not easy to distinguish between the most genuine ones and the ones that offer a tourist experience. Luckily, we have a very complete guide where you will find out how to enjoy an authentic Fado evening: Fado Performances and Shows in Lisbon.
Finally, if you have a few days left over in Lisbon and feel like discovering its surroundings, I recommend taking a trip to Sintra and discovering the Palacio da Pena, a place that looks like something out of a fairy tale. Read more about this excursion here: Sintra Day Trips from Lisbon.