Best Viking Excursions in Lisbon for Couples

Lisbon is a city of seven hills, yellow trams and tiled facades, where the Tagus River opens out toward the Atlantic. On Viking Ocean cruises, it’s often where an Iberian voyage begins, and Viking currently gives it two days. That’s enough time for an evening of Fado, a day out of town, or both.

It’s also a port where couples’ interests split clearly. One of you will want monasteries and monuments. The other wants a tuk-tuk, pastries and a tram ride up a hill. Viking’s excursion list covers all of it, and here’s how to choose.

A quick note: Viking says shore excursions “vary by each itinerary and are subject to change.” The options below come from Viking’s current Spain & Portugal Discovery and Spain, Portugal & the Mediterranean pages, both starting in Lisbon, and from the Iberian Odyssey page, where Lisbon comes on Day 7. Check your own sailing in My Viking Journey. The activity levels below are our estimates; check the rating Viking gives each tour before you book.

How Your Lisbon Days Work

On Spain & Portugal Discovery and Spain, Portugal & the Mediterranean, you board in Lisbon on Day 1, and Viking lists an evening option that night. Day 2 is the full touring day. Viking Ocean fares include one complimentary shore excursion in every port.

Your First Evening: A Musical Evening of Fado & Tapas (Easy, Our Estimate)

Viking describes this as a chance to “experience a Portuguese cultural tradition as you savor mouthwatering specialties, local wine and music.” Fado is Lisbon’s soulful, melancholy song, and an evening of it is about as Lisbon as it gets.

Why couples like it: It’s a relaxed, romantic way to start the trip together, with no walking to speak of and a lot of atmosphere.

The Included Tour: Lisbon City Drive

The Lisbon City Drive is the included excursion on these itineraries. Viking says you’ll “witness the enduring legacy of the Age of Discovery in Portugal on this tour of Lisbon’s grandest landmarks.”

Activity level (our estimate): Easy. As the name suggests, it’s mainly a drive.

Why couples like it: It’s a low-effort overview of a very hilly city. Afterward, the partner who wants more can head back out, and the other can relax.

Optional Viking Lisbon Excursions Worth Considering

In the City

The UNESCO Sites of Lisbon (Moderate, Our Estimate). Viking says you’ll “see two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Lisbon: the famed Belém Tower and the renowned Jerónimos Monastery.” For history lovers, these are Lisbon’s top sights.

Classic Monuments & Monasteries (Moderate, Our Estimate). Viking pairs Lisbon’s “most beloved monuments” with “its tradition of azulejos, the finely wrought tiles of Portugal.” It’s a good pick for the partner who loves architecture and design.

Lisbon Tram Ride (Easy, Our Estimate). “Ride one of Lisbon’s famous trams through the city’s seven hills, accompanied by the rhythmic sounds of Fado.” The hills come to you, and you’ll have a seat.

A Culinary Tour by Tuk-Tuk (Easy to Moderate, Our Estimate). Viking says you’ll “travel in a tuk-tuk around the most beautiful and interesting areas of Lisbon, while sampling Portuguese cuisine.” It’s playful and tasty, and a nice one to do together.

The Kitchen Table (Easy to Moderate, Our Estimate). Viking lists this on Iberian Odyssey: “our Executive Chef leads you on an interactive culinary adventure.”

Out of Town

Queluz Palace, Sintra & Seaside Vistas (Moderate, Our Estimate). Viking promises “some of Portugal’s most picturesque and captivating” places. Sintra’s palaces and hills make it one of Portugal’s best-known day trips.

Medieval Óbidos (Moderate, Our Estimate). Viking calls Óbidos a “romantic hilltop city” and “a delightful labyrinth of narrow warrens and whitewashed houses.” With its cobblestones and town walls, it’s one of the more romantic options on the list.

Holy Fátima (Easy to Moderate, Our Estimate). Viking describes a visit to “one of Christendom’s holiest sites,” the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Fátima. For many guests, it’s a meaningful pilgrimage.

Best for: Out-of-town trips suit couples who want to see more of Portugal than its capital. Expect real time on the coach.

Tips for Couples with Different Interests

• History buff + foodie: One partner does The UNESCO Sites of Lisbon while the other takes A Culinary Tour by Tuk-Tuk. Then compare notes over dinner on board.
• City + countryside: If one of you wants Sintra and the other wants to stay in Lisbon, split up. Queluz Palace, Sintra & Seaside Vistas for one, the Lisbon Tram Ride and a café afternoon for the other.
• Faith + design: Holy Fátima means a lot to some travelers. If only one of you feels that pull, the other can take Classic Monuments & Monasteries and enjoy the tiles.
• Both want romance: Medieval Óbidos together by day, and A Musical Evening of Fado & Tapas on your first night.
• Save energy for the hills: Lisbon is steep. If one of you tires easily, rely on the included Lisbon City Drive and the Lisbon Tram Ride to get around.

Since Lisbon is usually the first port on these itineraries, it’s the one couples most often leave to the last minute. Viking opens excursion booking roughly 130 to 177 days before departure, depending on your cabin class, so plan Lisbon first.

Making the Decision Together with PortPlanner

On a Viking Ocean cruise, you’re planning a whole voyage of ports at once, and Lisbon’s long list is just the first page. It’s easy for one partner to take over the planning and the other to go along with it.

PortPlanner gives each of you your own space to rate every excursion, port by port, then shows your picks side by side so you can see what you agree on and where you differ. You’ll still book in Viking’s My Viking Journey, which doesn’t have a way for couples to compare picks. PortPlanner fills that gap.

You can browse one cruise free, and PortPlanner Pro is $3.99/month and covers both travelers. Start planning Lisbon together at portplanner.io.

FAQ: Viking Lisbon Excursions

What’s the included Viking excursion in Lisbon? On current Spain & Portugal itineraries, the Lisbon City Drive. Viking Ocean fares include one complimentary shore excursion per port.

What’s the most relaxing Lisbon excursion? The Lisbon City Drive and the Lisbon Tram Ride are both largely seated. A Musical Evening of Fado & Tapas is a relaxed evening option.

Can we visit Sintra on a Viking cruise? Yes. Queluz Palace, Sintra & Seaside Vistas is currently listed as an optional excursion. Check that it’s offered on your sailing.

Do Lisbon excursions differ by itinerary? Yes. Iberian Odyssey, for example, currently adds The Kitchen Table to the Lisbon list.

Is Viking’s Portugal river cruise the same? No. Viking’s river trip, Portugal’s River of Gold, sails the Douro, and it has its own itinerary pages and excursion list.