While sipping on Portuguese wine and admiring the amazing views from the sailboat, I couldn’t imagine a more relaxing way to take in a Lisbon sunset. When I travel, I am usually always on the go and usually forget to take time to relax, but choosing the sunset sailboat tour was the best decision I made in Portugal. This blog post offers my personal review on a sunset sailboat experience in Lisbon and why I think it is definitely worth your time!
Sunset Sailboat Tour Logistics
Tour Company: Lisbon Sail
Price: €35
Duration: 2 hours
Views: Belém Tower, Lisbon Cathedral, St. George’s Castle, Cristo Rei, and 25 de Abril Bridge
Features:
- Portuguese wine served generously throughout the tour
- Unobstructed views of famous monuments and statues
- Friendly tour guide that explains the history of the region
- Fun experience to meet other travelers
Why was the tour worth it?
Best Viewpoints
Lisbon’s most popular attractions can often become crowded with tourists, making it hard to capture your favorite photos. Luckily, from the sailboat, it was very easy to see all of the landmarks up close, including the Cristo Rei (Jesus Statue) and the 25 de Abril Bridge.
Relaxing Vibes
One of my favorite budget-friendly activities to do in a new city is to watch the sunset from the best viewpoint in the city. While there are several places in Lisbon to do this, including St. George’s Castle, I found the cruise to be a great way to watch the sunset fold right into the waterline. We were even lucky enough to spot a rainbow before the sunset.
Historic Sailing Culture
The Portuguese were one of the first to begin sailing, as early as the 1300s. Throughout the 1400 and 1500s, Portugal began growing into one of the most dominant European empires, using sailboats to explore new land. Despite the controversy over their colonization, sailing is prominent to the Portuguese culture and something you should experience while visiting Lisbon.
Meeting New People
If you are traveling solo or in a small group, it is not always easy meeting new people. This boat trip created the perfect opportunity to meet other travelers, as there was a diverse crowd of young people from many countries. Everyone was very friendly!
Worth the Price
Last but not least, the trip was very affordable for what it included. I was satisfied with the service and appreciated our guide for going above and beyond to explain the history, recommend places to explore in Lisbon, and most importantly making sure our wine glasses were never empty.
Things you should know
Bring a jacket – Near the water, it will be windy and can become quite chilly after the sun goes down. Be sure to pack an extra layer with you!
The boat can get rocky – Depending on the weather, you should be prepared for a wavy experience. While the crew members were very calm and handled the situation effortlessly, I was quite surprised by how much our boat was rocking. The crew reassured us that the waves were normal and the boat would never tip over. However, I would be cautious for people who easily get seasick or are scared of rocky waters.
Boat departures from Belém, not downtown Lisbon – The dock is located at Doca de Belém and not the main city center of Lisbon. We didn’t find this as an inconvenience because Belém is only a 15-minute ride from Lisbon and has several landmarks to explore. Be sure to check out my Lisbon blog post for my favorite pastries in Lisbon that are located in Belém!
My overall review
Portuguese has a rich history of sailing and wine-making. Taking a sunset sail tour allows you to experience both in one tour. This was one of my favorite ways to relax in Lisbon and should definitely be on your list to check out!
This post is sponsored by Lisbon Sail. As always, all opinions are my own.
Comment below for your review on the sailboat tour!
