Sunset on the Tagus: Sailing the River of the Discoveries

Lisbon is best seen from the river. From the deck of a sailing boat you see the city as sailors saw it for centuries: hills of white and ochre houses, the bridge, the monasteries and the towers of Belém.

The river where the voyages began

In 1497 Vasco da Gama left the beach of Restelo, in Belém, on the voyage that opened the sea route to India. For more than a century, ships sailed from the Tagus to Africa, Asia and Brazil, and the riverside of Belém still tells that story.

What you see from the water

The 25 de Abril Bridge, opened in 1966. The Monument to the Discoveries. The Jerónimos Monastery behind its gardens. The Tower of Belém, built between 1514 and 1519 to guard the entrance to the city. And across the river, the statue of Cristo Rei.

When to go

Sunset sails leave about an hour before sunset, so the time changes through the year: early evening in winter, after 8 pm in summer. Bring a light jacket, because the river breeze is cool even in July.

Book a sail

Join our Lisbon sunset sailing trip on the Tagus, with a skipper and a glass of Portuguese wine on board. For a night out afterwards, see our Lisbon pub crawl.