Tagus river cruise in Lisbon: which one to choose

6cruises compared
€19.95lowest price
1 h 30 min to 2 htime on the water
3boarding points

The cruise to check first

Sailboat ride from Belém

2 h · from €20 · 9.5/10 (323)

Check dates and price

Updated 5 October 2026

Miniature model of Lisbon with a sightseeing boat on the Tagus

Which one, depending on what you want

Start here

Sailboat ride from Belém

2 h · 9.5/10 (323)
from €20
Lowest price

Lisbon boat tour from Terreiro do Paço

1 h 30 min · 7.8/10 (765)
from €19.95
For the evening

Sunset sailboat cruise from Belém

2 h · 9.4/10 (1,035)
from €45

Cruises in Lisbon side by side

For most visitors the best Tagus river cruise in Lisbon is the small sailboat ride from Doca do Bom Sucesso in Belém. It costs from €20, takes at most 14 people, includes a drink and scores 9.5 from 323 reviews. The catch is the location: Belém is a tram or taxi ride from the centre, and the boat is not wheelchair accessible.

The other five options are a large sightseeing boat from Terreiro do Paço in the city centre, its sunset version, a two-hour sunset sail, the hop-on hop-off Yellow Boat and a private yacht with skipper. Three operators run them from two docks about 7 km apart. Civitatis lists no dinner cruise on the Tagus, so nothing on this page comes with a meal.

Boat trips in Lisbon compared by type, duration, boat, food, price and rating
Cruise	Duration	Open or covered	Food	Price	Rating
Sailboat ride from BelémSightseeingOur pick	2 h	Open boat	No food	from €20	9.5/10 (323)
Sunset sailboat cruise from BelémEvening cruise	2 h	Open boat	No food	from €45	9.4/10 (1,035)
Lisbon boat tour from Terreiro do PaçoSightseeing	1 h 30 min	Covered with open deck	No food	from €19.95	7.8/10 (765)
Sunset cruise from Terreiro do PaçoEvening cruise	1 h 30 min	Covered with open deck	No food	from €34.95	8.4/10 (526)
Yellow Boat hop-on hop-offSightseeing	1 h 30 min	Covered with open deck	No food	from €24	7.4/10 (82)
Private yacht charter with skipperPrivate boat	2 h	Open boat	No food	from €250	9.8/10 (56)

Boat sheets

One sheet per cruise, same fields in the same order. Open a sheet for the pier, the commentary and what is included.

Sightseeing · DayOur pick

Sailboat ride from Belém

A one or two-hour daytime sail with Taguscruises from Doca do Bom Sucesso, next to the Belém Tower, in a group of 14 at most.

from €20

9.5/10 from 323 reviews on Civitatis

2 h
Open boat
No food
Doca do Bom Sucesso, Gate 1
Free cancellation up to 24 h before

Who it suitsAnyone who would rather share a yacht with a dozen people than a ferry with a crowd, at close to the same starting price. It pairs well with a day in Belém, since the dock is beside the tower. It has the best score of the shared cruises here: 9.5 from 323 reviews.

Pick something else ifSkip it if you use a wheelchair, as the listing says it is not accessible; the boat tour from Terreiro do Paço has a ramp. There are only two slots a day, 11 am for one hour and 3 pm for two hours, so it also fails anyone who needs a flexible timetable.

Check dates and price

Boarding, commentary, what is included

Boarding point: Doca do Bom Sucesso, Gate 1. Doca do Bom Sucesso, the marina beside the Belém Tower. You do not go to a ticket office: the listing sends you to a van with two Taguscruises flags, parked between the Vela Latina restaurant (marina Gate 1) and the BP petrol station. Be there 10 to 15 minutes early. The operator lists tram 15E and the train to Belém station, and puts the drive from Cais do Sodré or Terreiro do Paço at 15 to 20 minutes. Open pier on the map
Open or covered: A sailing yacht with an open deck. The operator's fleet page lists several Jeanneau Sun Odyssey sailboats taking 10 to 14 passengers plus crew. Its FAQ says there is a toilet on board and that blankets are provided.
Commentary: No audio guide and no set commentary. The operator says its skippers give general information about the monuments and history when asked, and that they speak Portuguese, English, Spanish and some French.
Included: 1 or 2-hour sailing tour
A soft drink or a beer
Small group of 14 people at most
Not included: Food and extra drinks
Transport to the dock
Bringing your own alcohol on board (€50 fee at check-in)
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. After that, or if you do not show up, there is no refund. The operator says it refunds in full when it cancels for heavy rain, fog or strong wind.

Sources: Civitatis catalogue and taguscruises.com. Checked on 5 October 2026.

Evening cruise · Sunset

Sunset sailboat cruise from Belém

A two-hour Taguscruises sunset sail from Doca do Bom Sucesso towards Alfama and back, on a yacht with 10 or 11 places.

from €45

9.4/10 from 1,035 reviews on Civitatis

2 h
Open boat
No food
Doca do Bom Sucesso, Gate 1
Free cancellation up to 24 h before

Who it suitsCouples and small groups who want the sunset from a quiet boat and have two hours to give it. With 1,035 reviews and a score of 9.4 it is the most reviewed cruise in this comparison.

Pick something else ifSkip it if the hour of day matters less to you than the price: the daytime sail with the same operator starts from €20. The listing says only some areas are accessible and an accompanying person is required. Wine drinkers should note the included drink is a beer or a soft drink.

Check dates and price

Boarding, commentary, what is included

Boarding point: Doca do Bom Sucesso, Gate 1. Same meeting point as the daytime sail: the van with two Taguscruises flags between the Vela Latina restaurant (Doca do Bom Sucesso Gate 1) and the BP petrol station, close to the Belém Tower. Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. The operator says the sunset tour leaves two hours before sunset, so the start time moves through the year; check the slot when you book. Open pier on the map
Open or covered: The listing names two yachts used according to availability: a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39 with 10 places and a Sun Odyssey 42 with 11. Both are open-deck sailboats. The operator's FAQ mentions an onboard toilet and blankets.
Commentary: No audio guide. Skippers answer questions about the monuments when asked and speak Portuguese, English, Spanish and some French, according to the operator.
Included: 2-hour sailboat ride
One drink per person (a beer or a soft drink)
Small group
Not included: Food and extra drinks
Bringing your own alcohol on board (€50 fee at check-in)
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. After that, or if you do not show up, there is no refund. The operator says it refunds in full when it cancels for severe weather.

Sources: Civitatis catalogue and taguscruises.com. Checked on 5 October 2026.

Sightseeing · Day

Lisbon boat tour from Terreiro do Paço

A 90-minute FRS Portugal round trip from Terreiro do Paço, under the 25 de Abril Bridge to the Belém Tower and back, with an option to get off in Belém.

from €19.95

7.8/10 from 765 reviews on Civitatis

1 h 30 min
Covered with open deck
No food
Estação Fluvial Sul e Sueste, Pontoon A
Free cancellation up to 24 h before
Wheelchair accessible

Who it suitsVisitors staying in the centre who want an easy river trip without crossing town, families using the family ticket (2 adults and 2 children), wheelchair users and people travelling with a pet. It has six departures a day, the most of any cruise here.

Pick something else ifSkip it if you want a small boat. Its score of 7.8 from 765 reviews is well below the sailboat ride from Belém, which starts at almost the same price (from €20) and includes a drink.

Check dates and price

Boarding, commentary, what is included

Boarding point: Estação Fluvial Sul e Sueste, Pontoon A. Pontoon A of the Estação Fluvial Sul e Sueste, the river station next to Praça do Comércio, at Av. Infante Dom Henrique 1B. The listing asks you to be there 20 minutes before your slot and says an entrance to Terreiro do Paço metro station (blue line) is beside the meeting point. Listed departures are 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm, 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm, all subject to change. Open pier on the map
Open or covered: The listing does not say which boat you get. The operator shows two on its fleet page: MS Schaprode, a double-decker, and MS Hanseblick, which it calls a convertible excursion boat. It also describes a cafeteria selling drinks and snacks, toilets and free Wi-Fi. How much of the seating is in the open air is not stated.
Commentary: The operator advertises a multilingual audio guide without naming the languages. The listing is tagged as English only and does not mention the audio guide at all, so treat commentary in other languages as unconfirmed.
Included: Boat ride
Not included: Food and drinks (sold on board, according to the operator)
Return from Belém if you choose the option that ends there
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. After that, or if you do not show up, there is no refund.

Sources: Civitatis catalogue and frs-portugal.pt. Checked on 5 October 2026.

Evening cruise · Sunset

Sunset cruise from Terreiro do Paço

An FRS Portugal sunset round trip of 80 to 90 minutes from Terreiro do Paço to the Belém Tower and back, with one welcome drink.

from €34.95

8.4/10 from 526 reviews on Civitatis

1 h 30 min
Covered with open deck
No food
Estação Fluvial Sul e Sueste, Pontoon A
Free cancellation up to 24 h before
Wheelchair accessible

Who it suitsPeople who want the sunset without leaving the centre, and anyone who needs step-free boarding: the listing tags it wheelchair accessible if you say so when booking. A family ticket for two adults and two children aged 4 to 11 is offered.

Pick something else ifSkip it if you can reach Belém. The sailboat sunset cruise costs from €45, lasts longer and scores 9.4 against 8.4 here. If sunset is not the point, the daytime boat from the same pontoon costs from €19.95.

Check dates and price

Boarding, commentary, what is included

Boarding point: Estação Fluvial Sul e Sueste, Pontoon A. Pontoon A of the Estação Fluvial Sul e Sueste, Av. Infante Dom Henrique 1B, next to Praça do Comércio. Arrive 20 minutes before the time on your booking. Access is by a QR code that is emailed after you book, which the listing says can take a few minutes to arrive. Open pier on the map
Open or covered: One of the operator's large sightseeing boats; neither source says which. The fleet page shows a double-decker (MS Schaprode) and a convertible excursion boat (MS Hanseblick). The operator describes a cafeteria, toilets with a wheelchair-accessible one at the front, and Wi-Fi.
Commentary: The operator lists a multilingual audio guide for its sunset cruise and does not name the languages. The listing is tagged as English only.
Included: Boat ride
1 welcome drink (wine, beer or a soft drink)
Not included: Further drinks and food
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. After that, or if you do not show up, there is no refund.

Sources: Civitatis catalogue and frs-portugal.pt. Checked on 5 October 2026.

Sightseeing · Day

Yellow Boat hop-on hop-off

A 24-hour ticket for the Yellow Boat, which runs between Terreiro do Paço and Belém and lets you get off and back on.

from €24

7.4/10 from 82 reviews on Civitatis

1 h 30 min
Covered with open deck
No food
Estação Fluvial Sul e Sueste (Terreiro do Paço)
Free cancellation up to 24 h before

Who it suitsTravellers who plan to spend a Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday in Belém and like the idea of going one way by river, with recorded commentary in four languages on the way.

Pick something else ifSkip it on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, when the operator says there is no Belém stop and no audio guide: the boat tour from the same terminal costs from €19.95. The listing says it is not wheelchair accessible, and 7.4 from 82 reviews is the lowest score here.

Check dates and price

Boarding, commentary, what is included

Boarding point: Estação Fluvial Sul e Sueste (Terreiro do Paço). Terreiro do Paço river terminal (the operator names it as Estação Fluvial Sul e Sueste), or the Belém river terminal on days when the boat stops there. Timetable in the listing: from Terreiro do Paço at 11 am, 2 pm and 4 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and from Belém at 12 pm, 3 pm and 5 pm on the same days. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays it leaves Terreiro do Paço at 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm and 5:30 pm. Open pier on the map
Open or covered: The listing says you can sit inside or outside on the deck. The operator's own page does not describe the boat. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays the operator states the trip is run by a partner company, so it may be a different vessel.
Commentary: Recorded commentary in Portuguese, English, French and Spanish, according to the operator. There is none on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Single-use headphones are handed out; the listing suggests bringing your own.
Included: Unlimited travel on the sightseeing boat for 24 hours
Recorded commentary in various languages (not on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays)
Not included: Food and drinks
Belém stop on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. After that, or if you do not show up, there is no refund.

Sources: Civitatis catalogue and yellowexperiences.com. Checked on 5 October 2026.

Private boat · Day · Sunset

Private yacht charter with skipper

A Taguscruises yacht hired for your group alone for 2, 4, 6 or 8 hours from Doca do Bom Sucesso, with an English-speaking captain.

from €250

9.8/10 from 56 reviews on Civitatis

2 h
Open boat
No food
Doca do Bom Sucesso, Gate 1
Free cancellation up to 24 h before

Who it suitsGroups of six or more, for whom the starting price of €250 for the boat works out near the per-person price of the shared sunset sail. Also for anyone marking an occasion who wants to choose the route and bring their own food.

Pick something else ifSkip it as a couple unless privacy is the whole point: two places on the shared sunset sail start from €45 each. Read the drinks rules first. Red wine is banned, beer must be in cans, and the listing mentions a €50 charge for drinking your own alcohol on board.

Check dates and price

Boarding, commentary, what is included

Boarding point: Doca do Bom Sucesso, Gate 1. Doca do Bom Sucesso, near the Belém Tower, at the van with two Taguscruises flags between the Vela Latina restaurant (Gate 1) and the BP petrol station. Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. The listing warns that the day and time you ask for may turn out to be unavailable after booking, in which case the operator contacts you with alternatives. Open pier on the map
Open or covered: The boat depends on group size. The listing names Maggy (up to 8 people), Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39 and 42 sailboats or similar (10 and 12), a Dufour Classic 45 or similar (14) and the catamaran Vértigo (18). The operator's fleet page shows open-deck sailboats and catamarans.
Commentary: No audio guide. You get an English-speaking captain who, according to the listing, suggests a route for the time and weather or follows yours.
Included: Yacht rental
Professional, English-speaking captain
Fuel, insurance and taxes
Not included: Food and drink (you may bring your own)
Sunset fee: €50 per group on certain days and times
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. After that, or if you do not show up, there is no refund.

Sources: Civitatis catalogue and taguscruises.com. Checked on 5 October 2026.

Three questions, one cruise

Tell us how much time you have, whether you want to eat on board and when you can go.

Sunset in Lisbon today Plan a sunset cruise

/ How much time do you have?

Next: food on board and time of day

Still deciding?

One page per decision, with the cruises it compares.

Is a Lisbon sunset cruise worth it?

Yes, if you choose the sailboat.

Lisbon boat tour: sailboat, catamaran or big boat?

Choose the sailboat if you can get to Belém: it costs from €20, carries 14 people at most and scores 9.5 against 7.8 for the big boat.

Is the Lisbon Yellow Boat hop-on hop-off worth it?

Only on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and only if you want recorded commentary on the way to Belém.

Where to board a Tagus cruise in Lisbon

The six cruises we compare leave from two places.

Questions about boat trips in Lisbon

Which Tagus river cruise is best for a first visit to Lisbon?

The sailboat ride from Belém, from €20, if you can get to Belém: small group, a drink included and a 9.5 score from 323 reviews. If you would rather not leave the centre, take the boat tour from Terreiro do Paço from €19.95.

How long does a boat tour in Lisbon take?

Between one and two hours for the shared cruises. The big boat tour takes about 90 minutes, its sunset version 80 to 90 minutes, the sailboat ride one or two hours and the sunset sail two hours.

Is there a dinner cruise on the Tagus?

Not in the Civitatis catalogue when we checked. No Tagus cruise there includes a meal; the sunset cruises include one drink. On the private charter you can bring your own food.

Are Lisbon boat tours wheelchair accessible?

The FRS Portugal boat tour and sunset cruise from Terreiro do Paço are tagged wheelchair accessible with accessible toilets, if you say so when booking. The sailboat ride, the Yellow Boat and the private charter are listed as not accessible.