What to See in Cascais: Our Top 10 Attractions & Tips

Our Top 10 Cascais Attractions

We love Cascais! And that’s mainly because of its cool vibe and beautiful beaches. If you’re planning a short trip to Lisbon, you really shouldn’t miss Cascais. Here are our ten favorite highlights in Cascais.

A stroll through the alleys of Cascais

Cascais was once a summer residence for the Portuguese royal family and the wealthy upper class. That’s why you’ll find many beautiful, grand buildings in the old quarter. At the same time, Cascais has managed to hold onto its charm as a small fishing village.

The narrow streets are seriously among the most beautiful things to see in Cascais — lined with small, colorful houses and cascades of flowers hanging from the balconies.

In between, you’ll also find some charming boutiques, traditional restaurants, parks, and even street art.

Port of Cascais

We really loved the small fishing harbor in Cascais. Small fishing boats bob along the promenade, seagulls squawk overhead, and you can watch the locals cast their nets. You’ll also find plenty of cool street art down at the harbor — very much in the same spirit as Lisbon.

A short walk away is the Citadela fortress, where you can stroll along the walls with sweeping views of the sea.

Behind it lies the large marina: here, a whole different class of vessel bobs in the water, from luxury yachts to sporty sailboats. This is where the rich and famous drop anchor.

Cascais City Beaches

Cascais has several city beaches right on its doorstep.

The two most popular are Praia da Ribeira and Praia da Conceição. Both are sandy beaches that have earned the Blue Flag award for exceptionally clean water. They’re great spots to soak up the sun and splash around — and both are perfect for families with kids.

Admittedly, it can get pretty packed here in summer. But you can usually find a spot if you arrive early in the morning.

Santa Marta Lighthouse and Museum

At the western end of Cascais stands the Farol de Santa Marta, a 19th-century lighthouse that’s now a museum.

You can climb the lighthouse itself — and from the top, you get a fantastic view of the sea. It’s especially magical at sunset!

Inside the museum, you’ll learn all about lighthouses, their history, and the technology behind them. Right next door is the Casa de Santa Marta, a magnificent villa that once belonged to Portuguese industrialists and is also open to visitors today.

Park and Museum: Condes de Castro Guimarães

Directly across from the lighthouse you’ll find the Condes de Castro Guimarães Museum and the sprawling Parque Marechal Carmona.

The museum is an old aristocratic villa with an impressive library, a small art gallery, and beautiful antique furniture. A visit gives you a real sense of how the Portuguese upper class once lived here.

The adjacent park is perfect for a stroll and offers some welcome shade on hot summer days. Among exotic plants and fairy-tale sculptures, you can truly unwind.

Cascais Beach Promenade

A roughly three-kilometer beach promenade connects Cascais to the neighboring town of Estoril — a wonderful walk, especially in summer.

At first glance, Estoril looks like just another pretty beach town. But it’s actually famous for housing the largest casino in Europe. Go ahead and bet 100 euros on 22 — surely that’ll bring you luck!

If your feet give out before you make it back, you can always hop on the train.

Boca do Inferno

Translated, Boca do Inferno means “Mouth of Hell.” It doesn’t just sound dramatic — it really is! No wonder this rock formation is one of the top highlights in Cascais.

Boca do Inferno is a massive rock arch on the cliffs at the western edge of town. The sea surges in and out, and waves crash against the rock walls with serious force — sometimes sending water spraying several meters into the air. That’s where the name comes from.

Important: During the winter months, the viewing platform is partially closed due to the high risk of slipping in wet and windy conditions.

The Maritime Museum

A museum about the sea? That can only be a good thing. The Museu do Mar Rei Dom Carlos I tells the stories of Cascais’s fishermen, with displays of old fishing clothing, nets, and gear.

There are also beautifully detailed scale models of various ships. And the coolest part: you can check out actual treasures recovered from sunken ships in the Tagus estuary.

Traveling with kids? They’ll love the biology section, which features models of sharks, rays, and porcupinefish.

Praia do Guincho

Our favorite beach near Cascais is Praia do Guincho. This long sandy beach sits inside a nature reserve, which means no hotel complexes — just an endless landscape of dunes. Absolutely stunning. It’s particularly popular with surfers, and it’s no wonder this spectacular setting even made it into a James Bond film (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service).

We’d recommend combining a visit to Praia do Guincho with a short bike ride. You can rent bikes at several shops in Cascais and cycle the nine-kilometer promenade out to Guincho. Just bring your ID — you’ll need to show it when you rent.

Sintra-Cascais Natural Park

If you have a little more time and are spending a night or two in Cascais, the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park is absolutely worth exploring.

It’s packed with hiking trails that wind through enchanted forests and along secluded coastal paths. Depending on your route, you might pass a palace or two, or stumble upon a hidden beach.

One of the standout spots in the park is Cabo da Roca — the westernmost point of mainland Europe. You can also join a guided tour from Lisbon that combines Cascais with Cabo da Roca and the fairytale town of Sintra. More on that below.

Getting There: How to Get from Lisbon to Cascais

The easiest and most comfortable way to reach Cascais from Lisbon is by train. From Cais do Sodré station, the journey takes about 30 minutes, with trains running roughly every 20 minutes.

A ticket costs just 2.55 euros. If you have a Lisboa Card, you can ride for free.

Our tip: Sit on the left side facing the direction of travel — that way, you’ll enjoy great views of the coastline the whole way.

Alternatively, Gray Line’s red hop-on/hop-off buses also run a route from Lisbon to Cascais.

Tickets for the red hop-on/hop-off bus in Lisbon

How to Get from Lisbon Airport to Cascais

At Lisbon Airport, take the red metro line to Alameda station, then switch to the green line toward Cais do Sodré and ride it to the last stop. From Cais do Sodré, catch the train to Cascais as described above.

The most comfortable option — though naturally the priciest — is a private transfer from the airport directly to Cascais. No transfers, no ticket stress, no crowded trains.

Book a private transfer to Cascais

Getting Around: How to Reach Cascais’s Highlights

Cascais is super compact, and you can easily reach most of the main attractions on foot.

That said, there’s plenty worth seeing in the surrounding area too. For nature excursions, we’d recommend renting a car — it gives you the flexibility to reach remote beaches and explore at your own pace.

Compare rental car deals on Discovercars

For a trip from Cascais to Sintra, the bus is the smarter choice — the search for parking and the narrow one-way streets can be seriously frustrating by car.

Bus routes are easy to find on Google Maps.

Guided day tour from Lisbon: Cascais, Sintra, and Cabo da Roca

If you want to see as much as possible in a short time, a guided tour from Lisbon is totally worth it. These tours don’t just take you to Cascais — they combine the visit with a tour of the fairytale town of Sintra and its castles, plus a stop at Cabo da Roca.

Not a fan of group tours? Private tours are available too. They cost a bit more, but they’re really worth it if you’re traveling as a family or in a group.

Group tour from Lisbon to Cascais

Private Cascais tour

Our Hotel Recommendations for Cascais

Even though most visitors only come for a day trip, Cascais is a wonderful place to spend a few nights. Here are our picks for truly lovely places to stay in Cascais.

Many thanks to the Cascais Tourism Board for supporting us on our trip to Cascais.