Cascais – a town and resort near Lisbon: what to see in Cascais, beaches and promenades, how to get from Lisbon and from the airport to Cascais.
Cascais is a former fishing village that became a cosmopolitan resort when the Portuguese king made it his summer residence and vacation spot in the late 1800s. As a result, many elegant 19th-century mansions appeared here, which can now be seen along the cobbled pedestrian streets of the historic center and the waterfront.
During World War II, European monarchs sought refuge on the Lisbon coast, settling in Cascais and neighboring Estoril. This added even more wealth and glamor to the area.
Today, Cascais is a place and resort for everyone. Residents of Lisbon and its surroundings head there every time they want to relax on the beach, dive into the cool waters of the Atlantic, dine on seafood, or just take a walk by the sea. They are joined by many tourists visiting Lisbon. They also find time to enjoy a sunny day on its shores. For most tourists, this is often a one-day trip, but many make Cascais their base for a few days as part of a long summer vacation.
Cascais is also a place for surfers and windsurfers who spend their days on the beaches of Carcavelos and Guincho (the World Surfing Championships were held here, by the way). But it’s not just a city of sand, sea and surf, it’s also home to a growing number of cultural attractions that, together with world-class hotels, a mild climate and stunning beaches, make for the perfect vacation destination.
Season – when is the best time to go on vacation to Cascais
This city is wonderful all year round – it’s a great place to spend a vacation in winter and summer. It all depends on what you want.
If you are interested in beaches, the best time to visit is from July to September. It’s sunny and hot, but you shouldn’t expect warm water in the ocean. The temperature here is never higher than +18-20℃.
In other seasons, Cascais is a great place to walk along the ocean promenades, breathe in the salty air, and take your children to the parks. It’s not as noisy and crowded as Lisbon – it’s the Riviera, and the mood and atmosphere in Cascais is appropriate.
Cascais beaches
The main reason most people go to Cascais is to spend a day at the beach.
Praia da Ribeira
It’s a small beach in the heart of Cascais-it’s not very cool, but tourists also rest here. In fact, it’s a fishing beach – boats with fish come here. But there is a small strip of sand where you can lay out a towel, sunbathe, and dive into the cool ocean water.
Praia da Conceição
Praia da Conceição beach is the closest to the train station and is also one of the best beaches on the Lisbon coast where you can sunbathe and get your feet wet. Overlooking the mansions, it is the starting point of the oceanfront promenade that passes several other beaches all the way to Estoril.
Praia da Rainha
Its name translates as ” Queen‘s Beach “, reminiscent of the time when it was the private beach of Queen Amelia in the 1880s, but now it is open to everyone. It’s a small but perfect Instagram beach tucked away between rocks and cliffs, right in the pedestrianized center of town. The calm, crystal clear water attracts families with children, young couples, stand-up paddleboarders, and teenagers who like to jump off the rocks.
Praia do Tamariz
The Praia do Tamariz beach on the Lisbon-Cascais coast looks like a postcard: a castle rises above it, which was originally a fort in the 1600s. It is one of the most popular beaches in the Lisbon region, thanks to good transport links (the train station is right behind it). Part of it is reserved for umbrellas and sun loungers, but there is always room to spread a towel on the sand, even on the most crowded days. It is also a place for summer nights thanks to its bars and late-night party atmosphere.
Praia do Guincho
The wind is always blowing here, but the place is beautiful and ideal for surfing and windsurfing. That is why international surfing championships are held here. It is also the largest beach in Cascais, and its location is about 6 km from the city center, in the Sintra Cascais Natural Park. That is, it is almost never crowded.
Praia do Guincho remains a wild beach with dunes of fine powdery sand, surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation. It was this beach that was the backdrop for the first scene in the James Bond movie “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service“. There are several excellent restaurants overlooking the sea, mostly specializing in fish and open all year round.
What to see in Cascais
In fact, the city is not designed for sightseeing; it is a Riviera of beaches and promenades. It’s nice to walk, relax and breathe the ocean air. But there are a few interesting places that you need to see with your own eyes. At least they were the ones I liked in Kashkaysha.
Condes de Castro Guimarães Museum
The most famous landmark of Cascais, the Condes de Castro Guimarães Museum, resembles a fairy-tale castle. It was once home to a count, but it has been turned into a museum featuring a collection of decorative art, swords, paintings, sculptures, and manuscripts. Outside, there is a 16th-century chapel and the crystal clear waters of the tiny but beautiful Santa Marta Beach. In principle, it’s enough to see this museum from the outside, as almost all tourists do.
Santa Marta Lighthouse Museum
This lighthouse stands next to the Casa de Santa Maria Palace and dates back to 1868. It was completely restored in 2006 and turned into a museum. It displays the tools and equipment needed to build and operate lighthouses. A common highlight of the visit is climbing to the top of the lighthouse to see Cascais and the Atlantic from a bird’s eye view.
Boca do Inferno
The caves and rock formations formed by the power of the waves gave this impressive place its name – Boca do Inferno, which means “Gate of Hell“. It is a popular place among tourists who take pictures of the scenery to the sounds of the crashing waves.
Marechal Carmona Park
This shady park was created in the 1940s and is a place for family picnics. When the children are not running around the lawn, they play near the duck pond, and their parents sit in the sun or in the shade of palm trees and pines in the company of peacocks. The park, dotted with sculptures, is also a cultural landmark, and the park is home to various birds. On the park’s trails, it is easy to meet roosters, hens with chickens, geese, and peacocks. Dogs are not allowed in the park.
Estoril – walks along the waterfront
The suburb of Estoril, formerly known as Costa do Sol (the “Coast of the Sun“), is part of Cascais. Together they form the “Portuguese Riviera“. Estoril is located a little more than 20 kilometers from Lisbon, closer than Cascais. The rich and famous Europeans, as well as representatives of royal families from various European countries, fled here during World War II, when Portugal remained a safe and neutral country.
Grand hotels and the largest casino in Europe, Estoril, were built to accommodate these nobles. It was here that writer Ian Fleming got the idea to create the character of James Bond. Although the special agent’s birthplace is no longer as glamorous and glitzy, it remains a cosmopolitan city with palm-lined streets, aristocratic mansions, world-class golf, and beaches that attract locals and tourists throughout the year.
There are several beach bars and restaurants along the promenade connecting Estoril to Cascais. So even in winter, when it’s too cool to lie on the sand, there’s always a good alternative. A nice day trip from Lisbon for a few hours of walking by the sea.
Estoril has a fairly rocky coastline with fine sand and calmer waters, making it attractive to people of all ages, including children. The city has six beaches, all connected by a walking path and within walking distance of each other.
How to get to Cascais from Lisbon
There are several transportation options to get to Cascais from Lisbon.
Train from Lisbon to Cascais
Trains from Lisbon to Cascais depart every 20 minutes from the Estação Cais do Sodré station, located near the old Mercado da Ribeira market on the waterfront in the center of the capital. It is a scenic 40-minute ride along the Tagus River and then along the ocean. But you’ll need a little patience before you get on board: waiting times at ticket booths and vending machines are usually 20-30 minutes.
Where to buy train tickets?
Tickets can be purchased at the box office or from vending machines. There are six vending machines with instructions in English, but there are always huge queues during the high season(from May to October). If you are buying train tickets in Lisbon for the first time, you will need to get a magnetic and reusable Viva Viagem card from a ticket machine. You can then reuse it, recharging it with money as needed for future trips.
How to use railway ticket vending machines?
Using the machines is quite simple – you need to insert a navegante card into the required slot, then select and click on the name of the destination(Cascais, Estoril, Carcavelos, etc.) and insert money or a bank card to pay. There are no return tickets, so you will have to pay for two single trips to go and come back.
Train ticket price from Lisbon to Cascais: 2.30 euros per ticket (four-zone fare).
There is a 24-hour ticket for 7 euros. But if you are just going for one day and returning in the evening,. It really doesn’t give you any savings. If you are planning to visit the beach on the Cascais coast by taking the train several times a day, this may be an option. But it’s a very strange idea.
Before boarding the train, you need to scan your Viva Viagem card at the turnstile to gain access to the platform. Also, keep your Viva Viagem card handy in case of a check during your trip. You also need to scan it to get out of the station in Cascais.
Train frequency and schedule from Lisbon to Cascais:
Trains run every 12 minutes from 7:00 to 10:00 am, then every 20 minutes until 5:00 pm, then again every 12 minutes until 8:30 pm. After that, every 20-30 minutes. Check the exact train times above or on the cp.pt website.
The trip between Lisbon and Cascais takes 33 to 40 minutes, depending on the time of day (faster during rush hours, as it does not stop in every suburb – be careful).
The last train from Lisbon to Cascais and from Cascais to Lisbon leaves at 1:30 am. The first day starts at 5:30 am.
How much does it cost to get from Lisbon Airport to Cascais?
If you buy a Lisboa Card you will be able to travel absolutely free of charge – both by subway and train.
If you are traveling by metro and train without a Lisboa Card, it is a total of 4.3 euro s per person (2 euros + 2.3 euros).
A single metro ticket costs €1.5, but the initial purchase requires a reusable magnetic card, which costs an additional €0.5. Each traveler needs their own individual card.
Where to stay in Cascais
Most hotels are located along the promenade and beaches. But there is a very large choice of comfortable apartments that are located a little deeper into the town. But also within walking distance of the beach infrastructure. Cascais also has hotel complexes with their own swimming pools. So I suggest that you take a closer look at the following options that are highly rated by other tourists.
Hotels in Cascais and Estoril near the waterfront and beaches
Hotel Cascais Miragem≫ – This hotel opened in 2004, and constant renovations have kept it fresh and modern. There is an indoor pool and spaю As well as an outdoor infinity pool that guarantees a beach holiday even on hot days when the ocean water is cold.
The Albatroz Hotel≫ – The beach hotel in the center of Cascais is a former duke’s house built in 1873. It is divided into two beaches(Praia da Conceição and Praia da Rainha) and is the starting point of the Cascais Estoril promenade.
Hotel Grande Real Villa Italia≫ – The former residence of the last king of Italy (Umberto II, who lived the last 37 years of his life in exile in Cascais) has been transformed into a luxury hotel. It enjoys a quiet location on the oceanfront, with easy access to beaches, but guests can also enjoy sunny days by the hotel’s two swimming pools.
Hotel Palácio Estoril≫ – An iconic hotel on the Lisbon coast since the 1930s, the Palácio still exudes the charm of the time when it hosted the rich, famous and spies during World War II. One of these prominent guests was the writer Ian Fleming, who was inspired by the casino on the street to write his first James Bond novel. Years later, the hotel was featured in the Bond movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Across the street is the postcard-perfect Tamariz Beach, and the hotel has a large outdoor pool, world-class spa and a great restaurant.
Apartments in Cascais
Cascais Downtown Apartment with Sea View≫ – Great location, stunning views of the sea and the beach. Cozy decor. Shops and restaurants are close by, the marina, museum and parks are all in the immediate vicinity, all within walking distance.
SEA VIEW with Terrace in Historic Old Town, Cascais≫ – The apartment is comfortable and well-equipped, with everything you need to have a great time. It has a good location, close to the train station and within walking distance to the ocean. There is also a bus stop nearby where you can take a bus to Cabo da Roca.
Apartments Casa Joana B&B≫ – Great accommodation for an affordable price, friendly hosts, breakfast included. The room is small but sufficient, comfortable bed, everything looks clean and new. Great location, anywhere in 5-10 minutes.
Cascais Twin Apartments – Daydream PT≫ – Comfortable apartments with convenient furniture and layout. Enough space for 4 adults. Great location – not far from the center of Cascais.
Getting to Portugal
Useful articles and links:
- Algarve – the best beaches in Portugal
- Nazare – the biggest waves and beaches in Portugal
- Sintra – a great guide to the city and beaches
- Beaches near Lisbon – where to relax, walk and play sports
Find train tickets in Europe conveniently on Trainline
Booking of hotels and apartments – Booking.com
Rent a car – Rentalcars.com
