Lisbon Dolphin Watching
Cruise & boat tour options, prices, best time, & Faqs
Lisbon is one of the rare European capitals where you can watch wild dolphins right from the city.
Dolphins regularly enter the Tagus estuary in spring and summer, and year-round tours also head out to the Atlantic.
Tours are run with marine educators/biologists and follow conservation rules, so you’ll learn as you watch.
Below you’ll find the best tickets & tours, how they differ, where to board, what to expect, and practical tips.
Top Tickets
# Dolphin-watching adventure from the Tagus river cruise
# Dolphin watching with a Marine Biologist
# Dolphin watching boat tour with a welcome coffeeAs Lisbon Dolphin Watching tickets often sell out quickly, it’s recommended to book them as soon as your travel dates are confirmed.
Dolphin watching tours: options & prices
Look at Lisbon’s top dolphin-watching options below—routes, durations, start times, inclusions, meeting points, and prices—so you can quickly book the best fit for your day and budget.
Dolphin-watching adventure from the Tagus river cruise
- The cruise lasts around 2.5 hours
- The cruise starting time is 14:00
- Depart from central Lisbon and cruise the picturesque Tagus River
- Navigate with experienced maritime specialists and a live guide available in English, French, and Portuguese
- Observe dolphins leaping and gliding in their natural habitat
- Cruise along the Commerce Square, Christ the King, Bugio Fort, Belém Tower, Monument to the Discoveries, and more, then out toward the ocean
- An open bar is available onboard, featuring wine, beer, sangria, and soft drinks.
- Meeting point: Look for a white building with a large clock, go inside to the ticket booth 1 – Pacific Cruises inside Estação Fluvial Sul e Sueste.
- Prices: €35 for adults, €15 (up to 10 Years)
Dolphin watching with a Marine Biologist
- This dolphin watching tour lasts around 3 hours
- Choose between two starting time slots: 9:30 and 14:00
- Learn about Lisbon’s nearby cetaceans with a marine biologist and crew who speak English, Portuguese, French, Italian, and Spanish
- Depart from Lisbon’s city center on a fast rigid inflatable boat (RIB)
- Cruise down the Tagus past Belém to Bugio Lighthouse, then head into the Atlantic along the Lisbon–Cascais coast
- Look for dolphins, and you can sight fish, sharks, jellyfish, and sea turtles
- Meeting point: Doca de Santo Amaro, Gate 3 (under the 25 de Abril “big red” bridge), Alcântara riverside.
- Prices: €65 for adults, €50 for children (ages 5-11 years). Infants up to 4 years are not allowed.
Dolphin watching boat tour with a welcome coffee
- This dolphin watching boat tour takes around 3 hours
- Select from two starting time slots: 9:30 and 14:00
- This boat tour begins at the Oceanic Lounge, where you can relax with a Nespresso coffee
- Cruise the Tagus on this boat tour and look for dolphins, whales, seabirds, and other marine life
- Learn from a marine biologist and crew who speak in English, Portuguese, and Spanish
- This tour supports real-time research (Oceanário de Lisboa × ICNF), contributing to sustainable tourism in Portugal.
- Finish your boat tour at the lounge with freshly served pastéis de nata, Portugal’s beloved custard tarts.
- Meeting point: Terra Incógnita shop, Doca de Santo Amaro, inside the Mercedes-Benz Oceanic Lounge.
- Prices: €65 for adults, €49 for children (ages 6-12). Infants up to 5 years are not permitted.
Arrábida dolphin and whale watching with a Biologist
- This dolphin and whale watching tour lasts around 3 hours
- This educational boat tour inside Arrábida Natural Park (Sesimbra) starts at 10:00
- Discover the hidden treasures in Sesimbra, which is 35 minutes from Lisbon
- Make a swim stop at Ribeiro do Cavalo Beach and see Monkfish Cave
- Spot wildlife beyond cetaceans: seabirds, sharks, sunfish, tuna, swordfish
- Learn from a marine biologist about wildlife in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French
- This dolphin watching tour is wheelchair accessible
- Meeting point: ‘ESPADARTE’ tourist boarding pier, Sesimbra. Go to the third white boarding gate after the CNS (Clube Naval de Sesimbra) building.
- Price: €55 per person
Save with the Lisboa Card: free entry to Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower & 50+ sights, plus unlimited metro, trams, buses and CP trains—skip lines and costs.
Which tour type should I choose?
- Want science & small groups? Choose a biologist-led RIB (SeaEO) to cover more coastline faster.
- Prefer comfort & facilities? The Oceanic Lounge offers coffee and restrooms prior to boarding.
- Just want a scenic cruise with drinks? Choose the large-boat open-bar option and spot the wild dolphins, though sightings aren’t guaranteed.
- Visiting with kids? The Arrábida dolphin-watching experience with a biologist offers educational, fun, exciting, and suitable for all ages.
Key details about the dolphin watching tours
- Dolphins are wild animals, so there is no guarantee that you will see them. No refund will be provided if you don’t see dolphins.
- Boarding Tourist Tax €1.30 applies from Aug 1, 2025 (pay at check-in)
- If the minimum passenger count isn’t met, the tour may run on speed boats.
- From October to May, 10:30 tours will take place on speedboats along the Atlantic, where sighting chances are higher.
- High-heeled shoes, smoking, and alcohol or drugs are not permitted on board.
- By purchasing tickets, you consent to being photographed/filmed for institutional or promotional use. If you do not consent, please inform the crew at the time of filming.
- If you tend to get seasick easily, consider eating a substantial breakfast without milk, cream, or yogurt before you travel.
- If the tour is canceled due to unforeseen weather, you’ll be offered a new date or a full refund.
What you’ll see at the dolphin watching tour
- Special visitors to Tagus: Dolphins have become regular visitors to the Tagus in recent years, with seabirds and occasional sharks also spotted near the river mouth.
- Most common species: Common dolphins; bottlenose and striped dolphins also appear. Offshore/seasonal visitors can include harbour porpoise and occasionally minke/fin/sei/humpback whales and even transient orcas.
- Seasonality: Oceanário notes dolphins return to the Tagus from spring to the end of summer; outside that window, boats may run farther along the coast.
How long do dolphin watching tours take
Dolphin watching tours run 2.5–3 hours. The Tagus river cruise lasts around 2.5 hours, whereas the dolphin-watching tour with a marine biologist, welcome coffee boat tour, and Arrabida trip take approximately 3 hours.
Best time for dolphin watching
Morning seas can be calmer; afternoon trips are common too—pick what fits your day. The period from spring to summer improves the chances of finding dolphins in the Tagus area, according to Oceanário notes.
Practical info: facilities, what to bring & who can join
- The Mercedes-Benz Oceanic Lounge at Doca de Santo Amaro provides lounge seating, coffee, and restrooms prior to departure on eligible tours.
- Wear comfortable shoes and clothing, and bring warm layers (jacket or windbreaker)
- Pack a sun hat, sunscreen, a camera, a water bottle, and swimwear if you plan to swim.
- These tours aren’t suitable for pregnant women, people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users, anyone prone to sea or motion sickness, children under 5, or people with back problems.
- Choose licensed operators (ICNF cetacean-watching permits); crews keep respectful distances and adapt routes to sea conditions.
Beyond Lisbon: Arrábida/Sesimbra dolphin watching tours
Want a quick escape from Lisbon? Head to Arrábida Natural Park near Sesimbra—a protected coast with clear water and dramatic cliffs.
The dolphin-watching tour here lasts approximately 2.5 to 3 hours on the water (slightly longer if transfers from Lisbon are included) and offers a good chance of sightings. Some even include a local pastry. If you want dolphins plus beach time and big cliff views, this is a great pick.
FAQs about Lisbon dolphin watching
Here are a few questions tourists ask before going on the Lisbon dolphin watching tour.
Are dolphin sightings guaranteed?
No, sightings are not guaranteed (they’re wild animals). Operators do their best, but policies vary: some offer rebooking/credits if no dolphins appear, others don’t. To boost your chances, pick spring–summer, a morning slot, and a biologist-led RIB that can range into the Atlantic.
What species are most common in the dolphin watching tour?
Common dolphins are typical; bottlenose/striped dolphins, as well as harbour porpoises, also appear; whales/orcas are occasional offshore visitors.
Who can join the dolphin watching tour?
Most family dolphin watching tours are suitable for visitors aged six and above. Many speedboat tours don’t allow children under 5 years old, pregnant travelers, or people with back problems, so always check your tour’s rules before booking your tickets.
What are the best months to go for the dolphin watching tour?
From spring to the end of summer, there are more sightings in the Tagus estuary; tours run year-round, with ocean routes adjusted to conditions.
Is Lisbon really a capital for dolphin watching?
Oceanário states that Lisbon is the only European capital where you can observe dolphins in their natural habitat, with common dolphins frequently visiting the estuary.
