The best day trips from Lisbon by motorcycle are Sintra and Cascais, the Arrábida hills, Cabo Espichel, Ericeira and Óbidos, each between 100 and 210 km there and back. With a car licence and at least 25 years of age, a 125 cc bike is enough for four of them.
Here are the five routes a local would ride on a Saturday, with distances, where to stop, which licence you need, the Highway Code rules that matter most on a motorcycle and how tolls work. Distances are approximate round trips and depend on the roads you choose.
Before you go: which licence you need to ride in Portugal
An A1 licence covers motorcycles up to 125 cm³ and 11 kW. A2 goes up to 35 kW and A has no power limit. Portugal's transport authority, IMT, also confirms a local rule: holders of a B car licence aged 25 or over may ride motorcycles up to 125 cm³ and 11 kW, with no motorcycle test.
This equivalence is a Portuguese rule and is not automatically recognised elsewhere. If you are visiting, check with the rental company and its insurer whether your car licence is accepted for a 125.
Tourists may drive in Portugal on a foreign licence for 185 days after entering the country, if it was issued by a country with an agreement with Portugal or a party to the international road traffic conventions. EU licences are recognised while valid. If you already live here, our guide explains when you need to exchange a foreign driving licence.
1. Sintra, Cabo da Roca, Guincho and Cascais (about 100 km)
This is the classic among day trips from Lisbon by motorcycle. Ride up to Sintra, cross the hills to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe, and come down the Guincho coast road to Cascais. The ride back along the Marginal, beside the river and the sea, rounds off the day.
- Distance: about 100 km round trip from central Lisbon;
- riding time: close to 2 hours, without stops;
- stops: Sintra village, the Cabo da Roca viewpoint, Guincho beach and Cascais town centre;
- best bike: any, including a 125 cc scooter.
Sintra's council restricts traffic in the historic centre and on the climbs to the palaces. Before riding up to Pena, check the rules in force and look for motorcycle parking away from the narrowest streets. Summer weekends are the busiest days.
2. Arrábida hills, Portinho and Sesimbra (about 160 km)
The road along the Arrábida ridge, with the turquoise sea below, is one of the most photographed in Portugal. Cross the Tagus, ride through Azeitão, climb into the hills and drop down to Portinho da Arrábida. Then Sesimbra for a fish lunch and Cabo Espichel for the sunset.
- Distance: about 160 km from Lisbon, less if you start south of the river;
- riding time: about 3.5 hours, with plenty of bends;
- stops: Azeitão, the hill viewpoints, Portinho, Sesimbra and Cabo Espichel;
- best bike: a naked or mid-size adventure bike, though a 125 manages it at an easy pace.
Here a motorcycle has a real advantage. Under the Arrábida sem Carros plan, Setúbal council bans or restricts car access to the beaches from 7:00 to 20:00 during the bathing season (in 2026, from 4 June to 15 September). Two- and three-wheelers are among the vehicles allowed, except sidecars.
Some stretches near the beaches may be closed for safety, for example because of rockfall risk. Respect the closures and signs, even on a bike.
3. Costa da Caparica, Lagoa de Albufeira and Cabo Espichel (about 110 km)
This is the calmest route and the best one for a first ride on a 125. It starts at Costa da Caparica, heads south to Fonte da Telha, passes the Albufeira lagoon and ends on the cliffs of Cabo Espichel, returning through Sesimbra.
- Distance: about 110 km round trip from Almada;
- riding time: just over 2 hours;
- stops: the Caparica beaches, Lagoa de Albufeira, the sanctuary and lighthouse at Cabo Espichel;
- best bike: a 125 cc scooter, with no motorway needed.
4. Mafra, Ericeira and Azenhas do Mar (about 115 km)
Heading north, Mafra Palace is the first stop and Ericeira, a fishing and surfing town, the second. Then follow the coast south to Azenhas do Mar, with its houses perched above the beach, and ride back through Sintra.
- Distance: about 115 km round trip;
- riding time: about 2 hours;
- stops: Mafra, Ericeira, Ribeira d'Ilhas beach, Azenhas do Mar;
- best bike: any; on a 125, skip the motorway and take the national roads.
5. Óbidos and Peniche (about 210 km)
This is the longest of these day trips from Lisbon and the best one for an adventure or touring bike. Ride north to Óbidos, the walled town, then on to Peniche and Baleal. The motorway is faster but tolled; the national roads are prettier and slower.
- Distance: about 210 km round trip;
- riding time: about 3 hours by motorway, a lot more on national roads;
- stops: the Óbidos walls, Peniche harbour, Baleal and Cabo Carvoeiro;
- best bike: 300 cc and up, with some comfort for the motorway.
The rules that matter most on a motorcycle
Portugal's Highway Code (Código da Estrada) has specific rules for motorcycles. These are the ones a day trip puts to the test:
- An approved helmet, adjusted and fastened, for both rider and passenger;
- dipped headlight on at the front and position light at the rear, also by day;
- speed limits: 50 km/h in towns, 90 km/h on national roads, 100 km/h on roads reserved for cars and motorcycles and 120 km/h on motorways;
- passengers under 7 may not ride on a motorcycle;
- no riding side by side with another motorcycle.
Motorcycle tolls in Portugal: what you pay and how
Without a toll device, a motorcycle pays as Class 1. With Via Verde, motorcycles become Class 5 with a 30% discount, except on the Vasco da Gama Bridge. On a rental bike, ask whether it has a device and how tolls are charged. Rental contracts usually make the renter pay them.
On electronic-only stretches, with gantries and no booths, you have a deadline to pay after passing. Our guide to tolls in Portugal explains the payment options. On the routes above you can avoid almost every motorway, at the cost of more time.
Renting a motorcycle in Lisbon for these rides
If you have no bike of your own for these day trips from Lisbon, the motorcycle rental in Lisbon run by RENT.MOTO.PT, a sister project of AUTO.MOTO.pt, publishes its fleet with daily prices. These are the rates listed on the site on 7 October 2026:
- Scooters: from €36/day (Honda Vision 110), with 125 cc scooters at €46 to €63/day;
- mid-size bikes: Yamaha MT-125 at €60/day, Honda NC750X at €100/day, Yamaha Ténéré 700 at €120/day;
- big bikes: up to €195/day for the BMW R 1300 GS Adventure;
- included: 400 km a day, a basic helmet and third-party insurance;
- deposit: held on a credit card, depends on the model; you book by paying 30%.
Pick-up is in Sobreda, Almada, a few minutes from Costa da Caparica and Arrábida, or with delivery in Lisbon. Even the longest ride on this list, Óbidos and Peniche, uses about half of the 400 km included each day.
For motorcycles over 125 cc, the site's terms require age 21 and an A licence; over 700 cc, also 2 years of riding experience. Read the full terms before booking.
If you like it and want to buy
Some people rent first to try before buying. On AUTO.MOTO.pt we counted 81 motorcycles up to 125 cm³ for sale, with a median price of €3,090, and 50 used adventure and enduro motorcycles, with a median of €6,025. For the city, see the scooters for sale. The figures are from active adverts on 7 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best motorcycle day trip from Lisbon?
For a first time, Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais: about 100 km, varied scenery and doable on a 125. If you love bends, go to the Arrábida hills.
Do I need a motorcycle licence to rent one in Portugal?
For bikes over 125 cc, yes: an A2 or A licence, depending on power. Up to 125 cc and 11 kW, Portuguese law accepts a B car licence from age 25. Rental companies may add their own requirements, such as minimum age or experience.
How much does it cost to rent a motorcycle in Lisbon?
At RENT.MOTO.PT, listed prices run from €36/day for a 110 cc scooter to €195/day for a BMW R 1300 GS Adventure, with 400 km a day included. The deposit depends on the model.
Do motorcycles pay tolls in Portugal?
Yes. Without a device they pay as Class 1; with Via Verde they become Class 5, with a 30% discount, except on the Vasco da Gama Bridge.
Can I ride to the Arrábida beaches in summer?
Yes. Under the Arrábida sem Carros plan, two-wheelers are among the vehicles allowed in the restricted zones, but some sections are closed for safety. Check that year's plan before you go.
Can I take a child on a motorcycle?
Only from age 7, with an approved helmet that is adjusted and fastened. Below that age, the Highway Code forbids carrying them on a motorcycle.
