Lisbon Sailing Tours FAQs
Sails, docks, drinks, children, the cold and refunds, answered from the operators' own listings. Planning sailing in Lisbon? The answers below settle most of what you need first.
Two answers matter more than the rest. First, what kind of boat you want: a small sailboat with a skipper who talks you through the city, a wine sail where the wine is the point, or a bigger cruise boat with a bar and room to move. Second, which dock. The boats leave from Belém, Alcântara, Santo Amaro under the bridge and downtown, and the gate or the van is on your booking.
After that, it is the wind and the clock. A sailboat puts up its sails when the wind allows, the sunset moves by almost four hours between December and July, and the way back is cold. Every boat refunds you in full up to 24 hours ahead.
What is a Lisbon sailing tour?
About two hours on the Tagus from one of four docks, passing the Belém waterfront, the 25 de Abril Bridge, Cristo Rei on the south bank and downtown from the water. You get a drink, a crew and, on most boats, a skipper who names what you pass. Most leave for the sunset.
How long is a sailing tour in Lisbon?
Most run two hours. The sunset catamaran runs 90 minutes, the cheapest sail one hour, one sailboat two and a half hours, and the private boat one to two hours.
How much does a Lisbon sunset sail cost?
From $28 a person for one hour, and $34 to $69 a person for two hours on a shared boat. The 90-minute catamaran is $31. A private sailboat for up to six costs $289 for the group.
Where do Lisbon sailing tours leave from?
Four docks: Belém (Doca de Belém and Doca do Bom Sucesso), Alcântara, Santo Amaro directly under the bridge, and the Sul e Sueste boat station downtown. Your booking names the gate, and the meeting point is often a van or a café rather than the boat.
What time do sunset sails leave in Lisbon?
The operator times the slot to the sunset, which moves from about 17:15 in early December to about 21:05 in early July. The clocks change on the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October, so an evening sail in late October leaves an hour earlier than the week before.
Do the boats sail, or motor?
On a sailboat, when the wind allows. One crew promises to hoist the sails and some let you help, but on a calm or very windy evening the skipper may motor instead. The catamarans, the yacht cruise and the traditional boat are sold as cruises, not sails.
Are drinks included?
Yes, every fare pours something: one welcome drink on most sailboats, two on the Lisbon By Boat yachts, wine through the evening on the wine sails, and an open bar on one yacht cruise. Further drinks are sold on board on some boats.
Is it cold on the river?
The return leg usually is, even in summer, once the sun has gone. Bring a warm layer; several sailboats carry blankets.
Can I cancel my booking?
Yes, free up to 24 hours before the start on every boat listed here. Inside 24 hours, and for a no-show or a late arrival, nothing is refunded.
What happens if the weather is bad?
The operator can cancel for wind or rain, and then offers you another date or a full refund. Some boats also cancel if too few people book.
Is hotel pickup included?
No. You make your own way to the dock and meet the crew at a gate, a van or a café, so allow time to find it.
Can children come?
On most boats, yes, and reviewers call the catamaran a good fit for small children. The open-bar yacht cruise is not for children under 6, and alcohol on board is for adults only.
Are the boats wheelchair accessible?
No boat listed here is, and several exclude wheelchair users or people with limited mobility. Ask the operator before you book.
Do I need sailing experience?
No. The crew sails the boat. On a couple of sailboats you may take the helm or help with the sails if you want to, when the wind allows.
Is there a toilet on board?
On many boats, yes: the catamaran lists two, and several sailboats and the open-bar yacht list one. Check the listing if it matters to you.
Which is the best sunset sail?
It depends on the evening you want. A ten-guest sailboat with a skipper's commentary, a wine sail where the wine keeps coming, or a bigger, social cruise boat with a bar: each suits different people.
Is there a private sailing tour?
Yes: a whole sailboat for up to six people, for one to two hours, from $289 for the group. Every other boat here is shared.
Is there a guide on board?
On most sailboats the skipper or a host explains the landmarks as you pass. The 90-minute catamaran, the one-hour sail and the red-flag-van sunset sail list no guide.
How many people are on the boat?
Ten on most sailboats, 12 to 14 on others, 18 on the sailing catamaran, 30 on one sunset sail and up to 47 on the traditional boat. Some listings state no maximum.
Can I bring my own drinks?
Not on most boats, and one forbids your own food and drink outright. The private boat charges a €50 service fee if you bring your own.
Is red wine allowed on board?
Not on every boat: some ban red wine on board. White wine, rosé, port and beer are what the fares pour.
What should I wear?
Flat shoes with soft soles (some boats ban high heels), a warm layer for the way back and sunglasses for the low sun. Keep your phone in a pocket you can close.
How early should I arrive?
Fifteen minutes before on most boats. The open-bar yacht asks for 20 minutes, and the wine sail with snacks asks for 30, and says it is mandatory.
How do I get to the Belém docks?
The train from Cais do Sodré, the tram or a taxi. For the red-flag van, type "Doca do Bom Sucesso" into your taxi app rather than the avenue, as the operator asks.
How do I get to the Alcântara dock?
Take the train from Cais do Sodré to Alcântara and walk about five minutes, as one operator advises. Your booking names the gate.
Where is the Santo Amaro dock?
Directly under the 25 de Abril Bridge, between Alcântara and Belém. Gates and doors are numbered, and one reviewer found the walking directions in a map app sent them the wrong way.
Will I see dolphins?
Maybe, but no listing promises them. Plan your evening for the city and the sunset, and count a sighting as luck.
Does any tour stop to swim?
No. These are river sails and cruises, and no boat listed here stops to swim.
Is there food?
Light snacks on most sailboats, a cheese appetiser on the day yacht sail, and cheese tapas on one wine sail. Catering can be ordered ahead on some boats at extra cost.
Do I tip the crew?
Gratuities are left out of most fares, so a tip is your choice. Bring a little cash if you want to leave one.
Is a sunset sail worth it?
Yes, if you want Belém and the bridge from the water at sunset with someone telling you what you see. If not, the Cacilhas ferry gives you the river for the price of a ticket.
What language is the commentary in?
English on every boat listed here. Many also run in Spanish, Portuguese or French, and the Lisbon By Boat yachts in all four.
Can I sail in the morning?
Yes. The Lisbon By Boat day sail leaves in the morning or afternoon, and one Alcântara sailboat runs morning, afternoon and sunset slots.
Will I get seasick on the river?
The Tagus inside the estuary is sheltered, so most evenings are smooth. A strong wind can raise a chop, so take a remedy beforehand if you are prone to it.
What is the best month for a sunset sail?
Late spring to early autumn gives the warmest evenings and the latest sunsets. In winter the sunset comes early and the air on the water is cold.
Do I need ID?
One sailboat asks for a passport or ID card, and alcohol is served to adults only. Carry a photo ID to be safe.
Still deciding? The practical detail is in the visitors guide, what travellers made of each boat is in the reviews, and every fare sits side by side on Lisbon Sailing Tours.