The Ultimate Day Trip to Cascais from Lisbon
Going to Cascais from Lisbon on a Day Trip? Read on for tips on having the perfect day!
Cascais has this cool mix of relaxation, adventure, and that coastal vibe that makes it impossible not to fall in love with! Picture this: strolling through cobblestone streets, the sea breeze in your hair, and vibrant cafés everywhere tempting you with pastries. Getting lost exploring the charming town center or soaking in the sunshine beachside.
A former fishing village, Cascais is one of the best and easiest day trips from Lisbon. It offers a great escape form the hustle and bustle of the city where it feels a world away, yet only 40 minutes by train. It’s also so cheap to get there (less than 5 euros) so it’s a no brainer if you have the time. It’s a highlight on our Ultimate 2 week Portugal Itinerary.
The town boasts stunning beaches, the historic center with cobbled streets, lively squares, and a variety of cafes, restaurants, and shops. I personally loved strolling through the town and browsing the shops where I scored beautiful Turkish beach towels! Cascais also has a notable history as a royal retreat, having been a favorite spot for Portuguese nobility in the 19th and early 20th centuries, hence the beautiful mansions and sophisticated flair.
Logistics on a Day Trip to Cascais
Where is Cascais, Portugal?
Cascais is situated at the mouth of the Tagus River, on the western coast of Portugal. It’s part of the Lisbon metropolitan area, making it a very accessible from Lisbon. The town is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the lush Sintra Natural Park on the other – offering a diverse landscape from stunning coastal views to hills and forests.
It’s quite common to see Cascais in combination with Sintra and Cabo Roca. It’s definitely doable and there are many tours offering that, but I recommend splitting those if you can. It would be a hectic and long day.
How to Travel to Cascais from Lisbon
Public Transport
The easiest way to get to Cascais from Lisbon is by train. You can take the CP (Comboios de Portugal) suburban train from Cais do Sodré Station in Lisbon to Cascais. The journey takes about 40 minutes and offers a scenic ride along the coast so make sure you put your phone down and look out the window. Trains run frequently throughout the day and is very affordable at less than 5 euro!
Sit on the left side of the train from Lisbon to Cascias or the right side of the train back to Lisbon to get the best views.
Uber/Taxi
Not the most affordable but the most convenient! You can easily take an Uber or taxi for about 25 euro each way. I recommend to download Bolt and FREENOW, which are cheaper versions of Uber in Portugal. The drive is about 30-40 minutes to account for traffic.
Driving to Cascais
If you prefer driving, that’s also doable and takes about 30-40 minutes. While it provides flexibility to explore at your own pace, I would recommend taking the train. We stopped at Cascais as part of our 2 weeks in Portugal with our car and parking was challening! It is very busy in the summer months and it can take a while to find parking. If you do decide to drive you will take the A5 highway from Lisbon to Cascais. You can look for street parking or parking garage. There is also the Park & Ride option where you can park further away and take a shuttle into town.
Tour to Cascais
There aren’t any tours that include only Cascais. It’s honestly so easy to do on your own, I don’t think a tour would be worth it. There are tours, however that include Sintra and Cabo Roca and while it’s doable, I wouldn’t recommend it. It would be a long day at a quick pace and moving quite a bit. It was be tiring, especially with kids! If you decide to do a tour, I’d recommend one like this.
How to Get Around Cascais
The best way to see Cascais is on foot. Wear comfortable shoes because those cobblestone streets can be tricky! Walking makes it convenient to pop into any cute shops or cafes more spontaneously. You can get to shops, marina, beaches and local attractions like Boca do Inferno, Cascais Citadel, and Museu Condes de Castro Guimarães on foot.
If you want to cover more ground at a quicker pace, a bike or scooter is a fun option. You can rent bikes from several stations in town at Bicla Cascais. Make sure you have a an ID and you’ll need to leave a deposit. There are designated bike lanes making it pretty safe. You can’t miss the especially scenic coastal cycle path from Cascais to Guincho Beach. There are also e-scooters available via apps like Bolt and Lime.
Where to Stay in Cascais
If you are looking to extend your day trip into a night or two, these are some of the top rated hotels:
- Albatroz Hotel – cliffside views over the ocean, historic charm, and fine dining.
- Pestana Cidadela Casais – inside a historic fortress with art galleries and a unique vibe
- Farol Hotel – chic, designer hotel right on the ocean. Great restaurant
Best Things to do in Cascais
Now that we got all the logistics out of the way, let’s talk about how to spend a day in Cascais, Portugal. You don’t need to plan much as it’s the type of place where letting spontaneity lead is best. There isn’t a long list of ‘must see’ activities so soaking in the lifestyle and pretending you’re a local is the vibe I go for.
Check out the Beaches
This is probably why you decided to visit Cascais in the first place, so let’s talk beaches! There are different types of beaches from centrally located and relaxing to more wild beaches for surf lovers and an option that’s more of a hidden gem.
- Praia da Rainha: is a small, scenic cove in the heart of Cascais, named after Queen Amélia’s fondness for it. Just steps from the train station and old town, it’s surrounded by cafés, boutiques, and gelato shops like Santini. Calm, clear waters make it ideal for swimming, especially for families. Though there are no facilities on the sand, amenities are nearby. Accessed via a short staircase, it feels like a hidden gem but may be challenging for those with limited mobility. It’s a peaceful beach escape right in town.
- Praia da Conceição / Praia da Duquesa: combined these two beaches form one of Cascais’ largest and most popular sandy stretches. With golden sand, calm waters, and nearby cafés, restaurants, and hotels, they’re ideal for families and casual swimmers. Amenities include sunbeds, umbrellas, showers, and summer water sports. Just a 5-minute walk from the train station, it’s a perfect beach stop after arriving from Lisbon.
- Praia do Guincho: A bit more remote than the central beaches mentioned above, this is perfect for adventure seekers looking for surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing. It offers surf schools, restaurants, and bars. It located within the Sintra National Park
Wander Around Old Town Cascais
Wandering around towns is my favorite thing to do! I know Cascais is a beach town and we all rush there for the beach, but I must say, wandering around the cobblestone streets and enjoying an Aperol in the square was my favorite thing to do.
Praça 5 de Outubro is the main square, where you’ll find lively outdoor cafes. This is a perfect spot to enjoy a coffee, drink or traditional Portuguese walnut pastry. Great place to people watch as well! The Old Town is extremely walkable filled with souvenir shops, coffee shops, restaurants, boutiques. You can really spend as little as 5 minutes or as long as a couple of hours here.
Walk over to Boca do Inferno
The walk over to Boca do Inferno is a leisurely walk along the coast that is well worth your time. Boca do Inferno, translated to “Mouth of Hell” is a dramatic coastal cliff formation where waves crash into the rock formations making thundering roaring sound. It’s beautiful year round but if you visit when the sea is extra rough or high tide, it will be even more beautiful.
It’s about a 20-minute walk from the center of Cascais along Avenida Rei Humberto II de Itália. You can stop and check out landmarks like the Condes de Castro Guimarães Museum and the Santa Marta Lighthouse Museum.
Shop at Mercado da Vila
Mercado da Vila is a lively market that sells everything from fresh produce, fish, flowers, cheeses, crafts and even clothing. There is also a wide selection of restaurants and terraces serving all types of food. It’s all housed in a large hall full of vendors. It’s a fun place to get a local souvenirl
It is located at Rua Padre Moisés da Silva, 29 – a 5 minute walk from the train station. The market is open daily from 6:30AM – 2AM. Farmers market days, when the fresh produce is sold, are Wednesdays and Saturdays so those tend to be the more lively days.
That’s a wrap for this Ultimate Day Trip to Cascais from Lisbon. Will you visit this colorful and quanit beach town?
