Almada travel guide
Cristo Rei, the Cacilhas ferry and the Caparica surf coast
Almada sits across the Tagus from Lisbon, with the Cristo Rei statue, the ferry port of Cacilhas and the beaches of Costa da Caparica. June to September is beach season; spring and autumn suit the riverside walk. Give it a day from Lisbon, longer for a beach stay.
Almada occupies the south bank of the Tagus opposite Lisbon, joined to it by the 25 de Abril Bridge and a short ferry to Cacilhas. The views back over the river at the capital are the point. Add Cristo Rei and the long surf beaches at Costa da Caparica, which belong to the same municipality on the Atlantic side.
Take the ferry from Cais do Sodré; it takes about ten minutes and shows the Lisbon waterfront better than any viewpoint in the city. In Cacilhas the restored 19th-century frigate Dom Fernando II e Glória sits by the pier, and seafood places crowd the streets behind it. Walk west along Cais do Ginjal under the cliff, past empty warehouses, to the Boca do Vento lift up to the old town and the Casa da Cerca art centre.
Cristo Rei rises more than 100 m above the bridge approach; a bus climbs to it from Cacilhas, and a lift runs to the top of the pedestal. In summer Lisbon families pack the beaches at Caparica, while Fonte da Telha further south is calmer. The Transpraia, a little narrow-gauge beach train, has long run along the dunes between them in summer; check it is operating before you plan around it.
Explore Almada by theme
Find your kind of trip: 24 travel themes, each with the packages in Almada.
Almada at a glance
The essentials first-time visitors ask about, in one place.
Explore more of Portugal
Pick a place by travel style: beaches, nature, cities, heritage, islands.
Nothing in that category yet.
Top things to do in Almada
A ferry crossing, a riverside walk under the cliff, Cristo Rei and kilometres of Atlantic sand.
No things to do in Almada are listed yet. Browse all things to do
Best time to visit Almada
Month by month, so you can pick the weather and the crowds you want.
Warm and dry, with Costa da Caparica at its liveliest and surf schools busy.
Mild days for Cristo Rei and the Ginjal walk, with empty beaches.
Summer weekend traffic to Caparica jams the bridge; go on a weekday or take the bus from Cacilhas.
Packages in Demand
A Journey to Remember
Tours, activities and day trips in and around this destination, with the details you need before booking.
No packages in Almada are listed yet. Browse all packages
Create Your Custom-Made Trip to Almada
Traveling to Almada? Chat with a Local Travel Specialist in Almada Who Can Help Organize Your Trip.
START HEREOur Travel Experts are Recommended by
Plan your trip
Practical answers before you go. Pick a topic.
Getting there
Ferry, Fertagus and the bridge
Almost everyone comes over from Lisbon, not straight from the plane, and the river crossing is the best part. Transtejo boats leave Cais do Sodré for Cacilhas and tie up about ten minutes later beside the tram stop and the bus terminal, so onward connections start at the pier. Fertagus trains take the lower deck of the 25 de Abril Bridge from Roma-Areeiro, Entrecampos, Sete Rios and Campolide to Pragal, where the south-bank tram and local buses carry on into the centre. Drivers use the A2 over the same bridge; the toll is only charged heading back north into Lisbon.
- From the airport
- Red metro line to Alameda, change to green for Cais do Sodré, then the Cacilhas boat
- Ferry
- Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas in about 10 minutes
- Fertagus
- Roma-Areeiro, Entrecampos, Sete Rios or Campolide to Pragal, over the bridge
- Taxi or ride-hail
- Direct from the airport across the bridge, slow in rush hour
- Stand at the stern on the way over and watch Lisbon's hills spread out behind the boat.
- Load credit on a reusable Lisbon transport card before you reach the pier to skip the ticket machines.
Where to stay
Cacilhas, clifftop or the beach
Stay in Cacilhas, by the ferry pier and seafood streets, for easy Lisbon day trips, or in Almada Velha on the clifftop for river views and steep lanes. Few visitors sleep in Almada, but it works as a quieter base a boat ride from Lisbon, and Costa da Caparica suits a summer beach holiday.
- Cacilhas
- By the ferry pier and the seafood streets; easiest for Lisbon day trips, crowded with commuters at rush hour
- Almada Velha
- Clifftop old town near Casa da Cerca, river views and steep lanes
- Pragal
- Business hotel and youth hostel by the Fertagus station; practical, little to walk to
- Costa da Caparica
- For a beach stay; far from Lisbon once the summer bridge traffic builds
Getting around
Tram, buses and the riverside lift
Use the Metro Transportes do Sul light rail, whose three lines include two starting beside the Cacilhas pier, to reach central Almada, Pragal, Corroios and the university at Monte da Caparica. Carris Metropolitana buses from the Cacilhas terminal serve Cristo Rei and Costa da Caparica, and the Boca do Vento lift links Ginjal with Almada Velha. Tap your card each time you board.
- Tram
- Three lines linking Cacilhas, Pragal, Corroios and Universidade
- Bus
- Carris Metropolitana from Cacilhas to Cristo Rei and Costa da Caparica
- Boca do Vento lift
- Ginjal riverside up to Almada Velha
- Beach train
- Seasonal Transpraia line along the dunes towards Fonte da Telha, when running
- Walk Cais do Ginjal westward from the pier and ride the lift up at the end, so the bridge stays in front of you the whole way.
Know before you go
Almada is the ferry ride, Cristo Rei and the beaches of Costa da Caparica.
Why travelers love it
- The ferry ride over the Tagus, with all of Lisbon spread out behind you.
- Cais do Ginjal, a crumbling riverside path with seafood restaurants at the far end.
- The top of Cristo Rei, looking down on the bridge and across to the city.
Good to know
- Caparica has strong surf; swim where the lifeguards are on duty.
- The Ginjal path is unlit in places, so walk it in daylight.
Trip fit
BookingMentor editorial ratings out of 5, based on a first-time visitor's experience.
Weather in Almada, month by month
Month-by-month climate figures for Almada are being researched.
A day on Almada's south bank with the frigate, Ginjal and Cristo Rei
Almada makes a full day out from Lisbon. Take the ferry from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas, board the 19th-century frigate Dom Fernando II e Glória, walk the Cais do Ginjal riverside path to lunch at Ponto Final, ride the Boca do Vento lift to Almada Velha, then a bus to Cristo Rei or a summer swim at Costa da Caparica.
Morning: take a ferry from Cais do Sodré and, once in Cacilhas, go aboard the Dom Fernando II e Glória, a 19th-century sailing frigate restored for Expo 98 and now kept in dry dock by the pier. The small church of Nossa Senhora do Bom Sucesso stands in the streets just behind.
Late morning: walk west along Cais do Ginjal. The path squeezes between the river and the cliff, past roofless warehouses, with the far shore close enough to pick out individual buildings. Stop for lunch at Ponto Final, whose tables sit on the jetty at the end of the path, then ride the Boca do Vento lift up to Almada Velha. The garden of the Casa da Cerca art centre looks straight across at the bridge.
Afternoon: catch the bus from Cacilhas to Cristo Rei and take the lift to the platform below the statue, where the bridge deck runs beneath you and the whole city lies across the water. On a hot summer day, skip the statue and head for Costa da Caparica instead, for a swim and a beach-bar dinner as the sun drops into the Atlantic.
Evening: back at Cacilhas, catch a late boat home over the lit-up river.
Clams, cuttlefish and grilled sardines across the Tagus
Lisbon crosses the river to Almada to eat fish. In the lanes behind the Cacilhas pier, order amêijoas à Bulhão Pato, clams with garlic and coriander, choco frito and caldeirada, with grilled sardines in summer. Ponto Final and Atira-te ao Rio on Cais do Ginjal have river views, and Costa da Caparica beach bars grill fish on the sand.
Lisbon crosses the river to eat fish, and the lanes behind the Cacilhas pier are where it ends up. Seafood houses set out tanks of crab and trays of shellfish at the door. Order amêijoas à Bulhão Pato, clams steamed with garlic, coriander and olive oil, and mop up the juice with bread. Grilled sardines are a summer dish, at their best around Lisbon's June saints' festivals. Choco frito, strips of fried cuttlefish that come from Setúbal down the coast, appears on most menus, and caldeirada, a layered fish and potato stew, is the dish to share.
For a table with a view, eat on Cais do Ginjal. Ponto Final at the far end puts its tables on the jetty facing the city, and Atira-te ao Rio is close by; book either for a weekend evening. Up in the old town, Amarra ó Tejo has the same panorama from the top of the cliff.
On the Atlantic side, the beach bars of Costa da Caparica grill fish right on the sand in summer, and the queues for a lunchtime table start early on weekends.
Travelers are asking
No questions yet about Almada. Ask the community or our travel team, and the answer will show here once it is published.
Our travel desk answers questions about Almada
How we research our Almada travel guide
Cristo Rei opening hours come from cm-almada.pt, and the Transtejo ferry, Fertagus trains and Carris Metropolitana buses from their operators. Visit Portugal and IPMA, the Portuguese weather service, provide context.
Last updated . Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Checked against trusted sources:
Official website of AlmadaVisit PortugalIPMA, Portuguese weather service
Before You Go...
Discover Trips & Info
A Travel Network Connection Travelers and locals
Incredible Event & Festival, Don't Miss!
Most Popular Event & Festival of Almada
Festivals and events in this destination, with dates, venues and ticket details where available.
No upcoming festivals or events in Almada are listed right now. Browse all events
Memorable Experiences
Where to Go (& NOT Go) In Almada!
Roaming the World one Adventure at a Time: Travel Tales, Tips, and Inspiration for wanderlusters.
Subscriber
Popular car hire destinations
Explore more options to hire a car for cheap
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Almada questions on ferries, the statue and the beaches.
Getting there
Usually, yes: the Transtejo boat from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas takes about ten minutes. From northern Lisbon, Fertagus trains over the 25 de Abril Bridge to Pragal can be handier.
Ride the red metro line to Alameda, switch to the green line for Cais do Sodré and take the Cacilhas boat. A taxi straight over the bridge is quicker outside rush hour.
A bus runs up from the Cacilhas terminal to the statue, and a lift inside the pedestal takes you to the viewing platform.
A full day covers the ferry, Ginjal, the old town and Cristo Rei. Stay longer only for a beach holiday at Costa da Caparica in summer.
Prices & payment
Yes. It is the municipality's Atlantic coast, reached by bus from Cacilhas or Lisbon, with surf schools along the beach.
General
A narrow riverside path under the cliff west of Cacilhas, lined with derelict warehouses and ending at seafood restaurants and the Boca do Vento lift. Walk it in daylight, as parts are unlit.
Yes. The Dom Fernando II e Glória, a 19th-century sailing warship restored for Expo 98, is a navy museum ship in dry dock beside the ferry pier.
In the lanes behind the Cacilhas pier for clams and grilled fish, or at Ponto Final at the end of Cais do Ginjal for a table on the water.
Only northbound. Driving from Lisbon to Almada is free; you pay coming back into the city.
Two of the three Metro Transportes do Sul lines start at Cacilhas, running through the centre to Corroios and to the university; Carris Metropolitana buses from the same terminal serve Cristo Rei and the beaches.
Use the Metro Transportes do Sul light rail, whose three lines include two starting beside the Cacilhas pier, to reach central Almada, Pragal, Corroios and the university at Monte da Caparica. Carris Metropolitana buses from the Cacilhas terminal serve Cristo Rei and Costa da Caparica, and the Boca do Vento lift links Ginjal with Almada Velha. Tap your card each time you board.
Timing & weather
The best time to visit Almada is Jun to Sep. Beach weather on the Caparica coast and clear evenings for the river views.
- Beach season: June - September (Warm and dry, with Costa da Caparica at its liveliest and surf schools busy)
- Spring and autumn: April - May, October (Mild days for Cristo Rei and the Ginjal walk, with empty beaches)
Booking
Give it a day from Lisbon, longer for a beach stay.
Visa & documents
Portugal's entry rules are the Schengen area's. Citizens of the EU and of many other countries, including the US, UK, Canada and Australia, can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; other nationalities need a Schengen visa. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) records non-EU travelers' fingerprints and a photo at the border.
Health & safety
Portugal is one of Europe's safest countries, and pickpocketing on Lisbon's tram 28 and in crowded tourist areas such as Baixa is the main risk. Strong Atlantic waves and currents make lifeguarded beaches the safe choice, and wildfires are a summer risk inland. Call 112 for police, fire or ambulance.
