More about: Lisbon Cruises and Boat Tours
Enjoying a trip 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 as well as a few useful tips to make it easy for you. Here is a guide on how to do a river cruise on the Tagus River in Lisbon.
Options for a Tagus river cruise in Lisbon
- Traditional boat trip in Lisbon - from RM74
- Yacht ride around Lisbon - from RM127
- Sunset sailboat ride in Lisbon - from RM224 - from 99€
- Sunset sailboat tour of Lisbon with wine - from RM219
- Private sailing boat tour of Lisbon - from RM1,358
- Private catamaran ride around Lisbon - from RM2,694
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 the Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Tower, the Monument to Christ the King and the Monument to the Discoveries, among other points of interest, from the river on a tour lasting 2 hours. The price of this experience is 224.
Throughout the trip, the crew will introduce the places you visit or can see in the distance, telling the story or talking about their importance. 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 a guided tour in itself, so if you want to go deeper into the monuments and sights of the city I recommend you read this article: Lisbon Day Trips.
Sunset boat trip with a glass of wine on the Tagus River in Lisbon
This is another option for a boat trip on the Tagus River in Lisbon with a different company. This is a more relaxed and less sightseeing oriented ride and more about enjoying a glass of Portuguese wine of your choice while cruising along the Tagus.
Like the other one, this experience lasts 2 hours and you will be accompanied by a small group of other travellers (maximum 12). If I had to choose one, this would be the first one, because although they are very similar, this one has a slightly lower price219).
How to book a Tagus River Cruise in Lisbon
- To book either of the two experiences, you will need to indicate the date and number of participants and day to take the cruise. Once the payment is validated, you will receive a confirmation email (the one you have indicated, so be sure to give one that you normally use).
- 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 mobile phone during the trip.
- Both experiences have free cancellation, and you can 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 trip at the end.
Tips for a Tagus cruise tour
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 not usually the most pleasant thing to do.
Choose a sunny day
If you have the chance, it is best to book this experience a few days in advance so that you know what day the weather will be good. The boat goes out even if it is cloudy or even raining, even if this makes the views and the experience worse. Therefore, it is best to choose a sunny day.
During the trip
If you don't drink alcohol or don't like wine, you can change your glass for a bottle of water or a soft drink, simply when you are offered a drink. On the other hand, the commentary on the places you pass is not the most interesting in the world, so I would recommend just enjoying the sights and the breeze and relaxing for a while.
Arrive in good time to get the best spot
To make the trip along the Tagus a romantic moment (yes, this experience is full of couples) you can go 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 earlier 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 said before, river cruises are a wonderful experience to relax and enjoy a glass of wine, but they won't show you Lisbon and all its sights 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: Lisbon Day Trips.
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 is not easy to distinguish between the most genuine ones and the ones that offer a tourist experience. Luckily, we have a comprehensive guide on how to enjoy an authentic Fado evening: Lisbon Fado Shows.
Finally, if you have a few days to spare in Lisbon and you 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: Day trips to Sintra and Cascais from Lisbon.