Booking choice: The sunset and wine sail, from $63 per person. Check dates Tour details
None of the boat trips lands at the tower or includes entry. They pass it, with the bastion and its watchtowers lit gold if you time it right. That is also why they are the most reviewed way to see Belém Tower on Viator: almost 6,400 reviews between the four.
Here is how they compare, where each one leaves from, and when to go now that the clocks go back on 25 October 2026.
The quick answer
For most people, the sunset and wine sail from Doca de Belém ($63, twelve guests at most, wine included, runs in all weather). The Bom Sucesso sail ($52) leaves from the marina right beside the tower, with one drink. The yacht ($69) is the bigger, steadier boat with two drinks. The Hippotrip ($34) suits families: a bus that drives into the river for about 25 minutes. Pick a departure about an hour before sunset, which falls around 5:40 pm from 25 October.
Can you see Belém Tower on a boat tour?
Yes. Three sunset sails and the Hippotrip pass it from the river. None of them stops or includes entry: you see the tower from the water side.
From the river you get the face of the tower the city side never shows: the bastion's gun openings at water level, the loggia, the Virgin and Child statue looking out over the Tagus. Every trip also passes the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, and the sails go on under the 25 de Abril bridge.
If you want to go inside too, that is a separate €15 ticket with a timed slot, best booked for the morning: see the tickets guide.
Which Belém Tower boat trip should you choose?
Compare four things: where it leaves, how many people share the boat, what you drink, and what happens if the weather turns.
The four options, side by side:
| Trip | Leaves from | Boat and group | Drinks | Weather | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset and wine sail | Doca de Belém, near the Padrão | Sailboat, max 12 | Portuguese wine | Runs in all weather | $63 |
| Bom Sucesso sunset sail | Doca do Bom Sucesso, beside the tower | Sailboat, max 30 | 1 drink and snacks; wine for sale | Weather dependent; new date or refund | $52 |
| Luxury yacht sail | Doca de Belém, near the Padrão | 50 to 58 ft yacht, max 14 | 2 drinks and snacks | Free cancellation 24 h | $69 |
| Hippotrip | Doca de Santo Amaro, under the bridge | Amphibious bus, max 37 | None | About 25 min afloat | $34 |
Ratings are all high: 4.9 from 2,942 reviews for the wine sail, 4.9 from 400 for Bom Sucesso, 4.9 from 1,192 for the yacht and 4.8 from 1,861 for the Hippotrip. The wine sail's listing does not name the operator; the others are run by Taguscruises, Lisbon By Boat and Hippotrip.
Twelve guests, a skipper and Portuguese wine, past the tower at sunset. The most reviewed way to see it.
Check dates for the sunset and wine sailWhich boat gets closest to Belém Tower?
The Bom Sucesso sail. Its marina is next to the tower, so you see it as you leave and as you come back. The Doca de Belém boats start about 1 km east, by the Padrão.
Doca do Bom Sucesso sits just east of the tower on Avenida Brasília. Taguscruises meets at a van with a red flag at gate 1, between the BP station and the Vela Latina restaurant, 15 minutes before departure. The listing asks you to type "Doca do Bom Sucesso" into Google Maps or Uber, not "Avenida Brasília", which is long. One guest called the start "perfect in Belem right near the Tower".
The wine sail and the yacht both leave Doca de Belém, beside the Padrão: check in at the "Rent a Boat" van with orange and blue flags at least 30 minutes ahead for the wine sail, or find the blue and white Lisbon By Boat van for the yacht. Taxis do get it wrong. A wine-sail guest in October 2026 wrote that "Our taxi dropped us off at the wrong pier but the staff from 'Rent a Boat' coached us to their meeting point using FaceTime!" A 1-star yacht guest the same month never found the boat. Arrive early and save the operator's number.
What time should you book a sunset sail?
About an hour before sunset. In late October that means a departure around 4:40 pm once the clocks go back on 25 October; in June, closer to 8 pm.
Sunset in Lisbon, from timeanddate.com:
| Date (2026) | Sunset | Book a departure around |
|---|---|---|
| 21 June | 9:04 pm | 8 pm |
| 1 October | 7:19 pm | 6:15 pm |
| 24 October | 6:46 pm | 5:45 pm |
| 25 October (clocks go back) | 5:44 pm | 4:40 pm |
| 15 November | 5:23 pm | 4:20 pm |
| 30 November | 5:15 pm | 4:15 pm |
The jump on 25 October catches people out: a sail you booked for 6 pm in early autumn would start after dark a week later. Operators shift their sunset departures with the season, so check the time on your date. A wine-sail guest in October described "sunset 5:30 to 7:30". The tower is floodlit after dark, so a late sail still sees it.
Sail from the marina beside the tower, one drink and snacks on board, and the skipper's commentary on the way.
Explore the Bom Sucesso sunset sail Tour detailsIs it cold on the Tagus after sunset?
Yes, even in summer. The wind picks up on the open river and the temperature drops fast once the sun goes. The crews carry blankets; bring a jacket anyway.
Guests say it every month. On the wine sail in October 2026: "They had blankets for when the sun went down and the temperatures dropped significantly." On the yacht in June: "It was an unseasonably chilly and windy June day, but the crew came prepared with blankets." On the Bom Sucesso sail: "Dress warm, we were cold but they had blankets for us."
Taguscruises' dress code is comfortable clothes, sports shoes, sunglasses and a coat. Add a hat in November. The Hippotrip listing asks you to dress for the season and for 25 minutes on the water.
What drinks and snacks are included?
Wine on the wine sail, one soft drink, beer or water on the Bom Sucesso sail, two drinks with cheese on the yacht, nothing on the Hippotrip.
- Sunset and wine sail: Portuguese wine is included. Guests mention vinho verde, the young "green wine", with cheese and snacks. Alcohol is for 18 and over.
- Bom Sucesso sail: one drink (water, beer or a soft drink) and peanuts or crackers. Wine and sparkling wine are for sale on board; catering can be ordered 24 hours ahead.
- Yacht: two alcoholic drinks and snacks, served by a crew of two, a guide and a host, in English, French, Spanish or Portuguese. Guests mention local cheese.
- Hippotrip: no food or drink included; souvenir photos are extra.
A 50 to 58 ft yacht, 14 guests at most, two drinks and cheese as the tower turns gold.
Check dates for the luxury yacht sunset sailWhat happens if the weather is bad?
The wine sail runs in all weather; the Bom Sucesso sail cancels in poor weather and offers a new date or a refund. All four cancel free up to 24 hours before.
The wine sail's listing says it operates in all weather conditions, so dress for it. Taguscruises sails only in favourable weather and also needs a minimum number of passengers; if either fails, you get an alternative or a full refund. On every trip a cloudy sky is a risk you can't book away: a Bom Sucesso guest wrote that "the clouds came in just before sunset", and still rated it 5 stars.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before applies on all four, so watch the forecast and move your sail if a grey evening is coming. The Hippotrip doesn't refund a missed departure, so be on time at Doca de Santo Amaro.
Which boat should you book?
Couples: the wine sail. Bigger groups or anyone prone to seasickness: the yacht. Closest to the tower for less: Bom Sucesso. Families with young kids: the Hippotrip.
- Couples and first-timers: the sunset and wine sail, small boat, wine poured.
- Steadier ride, more space: the yacht, 14 guests at most on a 50 to 58 ft boat.
- Start beside the tower: the Bom Sucesso sail, the cheapest of the three sails.
- Kids: the Hippotrip, 90 minutes by road and river, with a splash into the Tagus. No under-2s. One guest's tip: "Get your cameras out for the transition into the water."
Pair a morning slot inside the tower with an evening sail and you have both sides of it. Our tours comparison covers the land options.
Rated 4.9 by almost 3,000 guests: two hours under sail from Doca de Belém, wine and the tower at sunset.
Explore the sunset and wine sail Tour detailsFrequently asked questions
Do Belém Tower boat tours go inside the tower?
No. All four pass it on the river. Entry is a separate €15 ticket with a timed slot, and the last entry is at 5 pm.
How long are the sunset sails?
Two hours each: the wine sail, the Bom Sucesso sail and the yacht. The Hippotrip lasts 90 minutes, about 25 of them on the water.
Can children go on the sunset sails?
Yes, with an adult; the two sailboat trips list child prices for ages 4 to 12. Alcohol is served only to over-18s. The Hippotrip doesn't take children under 2.
What should I wear on a sunset sail in Lisbon?
Layers and a windproof jacket, even in summer, plus flat shoes with grip. The crews carry blankets.
Ready to book
Choose your visit
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Sunset & Wine Sail from Belém
- Sailing boat and skipper
- Portuguese wine on board
- All taxes and fees
Sunset Sail from Doca do Bom Sucesso
Leaves from the marina beside the tower; one drink and snacks included
Luxury Yacht Sunset Sail with 2 Drinks
A 50 to 58 ft yacht, 14 guests at most, two drinks and cheese
