The 13 Best Dolphin & Whale Watching in Lisbon

1.Tagus River Cruise to the Ocean & Dolphin Watching

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3,019 reviews · from $38Our pick

Cruise from Estação Fluvial Sul e Sueste along the Tagus and out to the Atlantic with a live guide in English, French, or Portuguese. You’ll pass Belém Tower, Christ the King, Bugio Fort, and beaches near Cascais while searching for wild dolphins. Drinks are included, but sightings are never guaranteed.

“everything went Well. Guide was very friendly and told us a lot about lisbon history also. we saw dolphins, which can't Be guaranteed in trips like These, but we were lucky. would reccommend!”

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2.Dolphin Watching with Marine Biologist

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,853 reviews · 3 hours · from $76

Join SeaEO Tours at Doca de Santo Amaro for a three-hour RIB boat trip led by marine biologists such as Bart, Sara, Sid, or Cidonio. Look for dolphins, porpoises, sunfish, seabirds, and other wildlife, then return past Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery, and the Discoveries Monument.

“Extremly good value for your money!!! Everything was perfect. We saw a lot of dolphins, it was amazing!”

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3.Dolphin Watching with Marine Biologist – Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 867 reviews · 3 hours · from $61

Set out from Doca de Santo Amaro with a marine biologist and skipper for a three-hour search for wild dolphins, whales, seabirds, and sunfish. You’ll learn about local marine life, support cetacean monitoring, and return past Lisbon landmarks on a fast, scenic boat ride.

“I booked this trip after reading the reviews and I couldn’t fault this experience at all! All the staff were extremely knowledgeable, professional and passionate. We were around 3/4 through our trip and hadn’t seen any dolphins, I must admit I wondered if it wasn’t going to be our day but the staff tried their best to locate them by approaching other fishing boats with radar to see if they had seen any. They both said no, they hadn’t even seen many fish!! Anyway, on the way back our luck turned around and we saw a pod of around 30 dolphins which was just incredible. We stayed with them for…”

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4.Dolphin Watching with a Marine Biologist – Ocean Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 812 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $62Top rated

Join SeaEO Tours at Doca de Santo Amaro for a three-hour ocean safari with a marine biologist and crew. Ride an 8.5-meter RIB beneath the 25th of April Bridge, pass Belém landmarks, head toward Bugio Lighthouse, and search for dolphins in the Tagus and Atlantic. Expect jockey seats, wind, spray, and wildlife.

“It was an experienc that my wife and I will always remember. We planned it a day after her birthday and we could not have planned anything better. I would recommend this to any traveller who are visiting Lisbon and I have listed the positives below (there were no negatives): 1. The Crew: SeaEO team is just brilliant - they know what they are doing and are both friendly and professional. They knew the conditions would be rough during our booked time so they offered to have us join an earlier slot ensuring everyone's saftey. Our group had kids and the crew made sure they constatly spoke to them and…”

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5.Dolphin Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 801 reviews · 2 hours · from $53

Join Dolphin Bay in Setúbal for a two-hour catamaran trip led in English and Portuguese by marine biologists. Look for resident dolphins, learn how the crew protects them, swim in the bay, and peer through two underwater viewing rooms. A welcome Moscatel drink is included.

“The boat was really nice and comfortable. The employees were marine biologists so they knew the dolphins from studying them . I also like how environmentally conscious they were ! Great trip I highly recommend this tour boat .”

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6.Dolphin Watching Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 423 reviews · 2 hours · from $53

Setúbal Bay is home to bottlenose dolphins all year. In two hours, you’ll ride a modern speedboat through calm waters, search for dolphins, and see Arrábida Natural Park, white-sand beaches, and small islands. Guides speak English, Portuguese, and Spanish.

“we didn't see dolphins for a long time, so we could enjoy them for a short time. also people were running from their seats, so it was difficult to get to the side where the dolphins could be seen better. I would say that the organization of the guides was lacking. despite that the experience is good. definitely recommend to try.”

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7.Arrábida Natural Park Dolphin Watching Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 212 reviews · 2.5 - 7 hours · from $58

Meet guides such as Marta, Mario, or Jessica in Sesimbra for a 2 to 3-hour dolphin search aboard a semi-inflatable boat. Expect marine-life guidance, Arrábida’s cliffs and coves, a regional pastry, and sometimes Moscatel wine. Central Lisbon transfers are available on selected options.

“Had a great time with lots of dolphins and fun on the speed boat”

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8.Arrábida Dolphin Watching Boat Tour with Biologist

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 197 reviews · from $63

Set out from Sesimbra with marine biologist Catarina and a STCW-certified crew to search for dolphins, whales, seabirds, and other marine life. The 3-hour trip also visits Praia da Mijona, Ribeiro do Cavalo Beach, caves, and clear water for swimming or snorkeling when conditions allow.

“It was a wonderful experince. Our guide found the dolphins pretty fast and we cruised with them for about one hour. We also visited some caves near by and our guide had interesting information about them.”

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9.Dolphin Watching Speedboat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 156 reviews · 2 hours · from $76

Join Dolphin Explorers at Cascais Marina for a two-hour speedboat search for wild dolphins, whales, porpoises, and seabirds. Guides João and Rui are known for clear wildlife explanations and careful boat handling. Morning trips usually offer calmer seas, but schedules depend on weather and ocean conditions.

“Wonderful tour with a courteous and knowledgeable crew. They knew where the dolphins were, and there were many, coming right up to the boat.”

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10.Setúbal and Tróia: Dolphin Watching and Arrábida Bays

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 153 reviews · 2 hours · from $53

Join Sado Emotion for a two-hour boat trip from Setúbal or Tróia. Guide Jessica and captain Adriano may lead you to Sado bottlenose dolphins, then along Arrábida’s beaches, forts, Santa Margarida cave, and Anixa island. Expect a small-boat feel, live commentary, music, and a free return voucher if dolphins are not found.

“The boat was fast and very comfortable. We were able to locate the dolphins after about 20 minutes of looking. We spent about 1/2 hour with the dolphins. Some of them swam right under our boat. The water was very clear so you could see them underwater. The guides were very informative. Then we toured the coastline which is beautiful with the guides telling us about points of interest.”

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11.Dolphin Watching with Marine Biologist – Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 131 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $78

Join a marine biologist and skipper for a three-hour search for wild dolphins from Doca de Santo Amaro. You’ll pass Belém landmarks, learn about ocean life, and may see dolphins, porpoises, whales, or sunfish. Guides such as Vanessa, Ines, and João keep the outing informed and personal.

“Beautiful experience, the speedboat ride was also very well received , we saw many dolphins, also very close to the boat. Jackets were available for those who wanted it, headgear and glasses are to be removed if possible. Backpacks can remain safe at the meeting point. Gladly again - it was a very nice experienceAuto-translated”

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12.Meet the Lisbon Dolphins – Dolphin Watching in Lisbon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 118 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $78

Set out from Doca de Santo Amaro with a small group of up to 10 people, first searching the Tagus and then the Atlantic for dolphins, whales, turtles, and seabirds. Francisco and the marine-life team explain animal behavior, identify species, and add monument views on the ride home.

“Magnifique ! Un guide passionné et déterminé. Nous avons vu toute une famille dont un bébé de 2 mois. À faire !”

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13.Dolphin Watching Boat Tour with Biologist Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 102 reviews · from $62

Join Bolhas Tours at Sesimbra Marina for a three-hour dolphin search led by biologists such as Rosa and Darcy. Expect wild cetaceans, Arrábida coves, a swim and snorkel stop near Ribeiro do Cavalo Beach, local Moscatel wine, and a fast boat ride that can get bumpy.

“We had initially booked the afternoon tour, but in order to get to the minimum number of participants, we then joined the 10 am tour. Rosa was a great guide and explained a lot about the dolphins and other species. We saw two different groups of common dolphins and swordfish. They get up really close to the boat. It was a lot of fun and really fascinating to see them up close. This is a very fast boat and the ride can get bumpy. In case you have any back problems, you should reconsider... All in all, I think it took about 3h.Read more”

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