Perfect Lisbon To Cascais Day Trip Guide
Planning a day trip to Cascais from Lisbon? You’ve come to the right article.
Cascais is a sunny coastal town, with picturesque beaches, amazing seafood, and charming colorful houses only a half hour away from Lisbon. Whether you want to spend time out in the sun, or savor seafood by the water, it makes for the perfect day trip.
This article will cover exactly how to get to Cascais from Lisbon, all of the must-see sites, and how to get around once you’re there.
Here’s everything you need to know to plan a memorable day trip to Cascais.
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How To Get To Cascais From Lisbon
The best and cheapest way to get to Cascais is to hop on the train from Cais do Sodre Station in Lisbon.
This train is operated by Comboios de Portugal (CP), and it runs to Cascais daily from around 6am to 1am, leaving every 30 minutes during peak hours. Tickets are €2.40/adult (€4.80 roundtrip), and the train ride only takes around 30 to 40 minutes.
It’s a commuter train, so the train makes a few stops along the way, but overall it’s a short and comfortable ride. You can view the train’s timetable here. This is the same train you’ll take if you plan on doing a day trip to Belem as well, but I recommend dedicating a separate day to each.
The Cais do Sodre train station is only a metro stop away from downtown (Baixa-Chiado). If you exit the metro, you’ll find the train station on the second floor.
You’ll buy train tickets here directly from a kiosk (no need to buy them ahead of time), and you can use the same Navegante card you use for the metro. If you have any questions about train tickets, there’s a green information desk on the first floor by the metro.
Lisbon To Cascais Tours
If you plan on going on a day trip to Sintra, I highly recommend joining a full day tour to Sintra and Cascais. This will give you an extra travel day in Lisbon, and you won’t have to worry about using public transportation to get around.
Plus, you’ll get to see sites like Cabo de Roca, Boca de Inferno, and more landmarks tucked along the coast. Here are some of the best tour options from Lisbon.
Here are the highest-rated tours from Lisbon:
- Most Popular Sintra Cascais Tour Full day group tour to Sintra, Cascais, and Cape Roca
- Cheapest Sintra Cascais Tour: Full day group tour to Sintra, Cascais, and Cape Roca
Taxis or Uber/Bolt
If you’re traveling with luggage or don’t want to use the train, taxis and Uber/Bolt are readily available in Lisbon. It’s only a 30 minute drive, and ride share services are typically much cheaper than taxis.
A Bolt/Uber costs around €25-30/one way, whereas taxis can be around €40+ for a one way trip.
Cascais Day Trip Itinerary
Once you arrive in Cascais, it’s just a short walk to the downtown strip, and marina from the train station. The downtown area is lined with cafes, restaurants, and bars you can stop at to get breakfast before a day of exploring.
Relax On The Beaches
One of the best things to do in Cascais is to relax on the beaches. From the train station, its just a short 5 minute walk to Praia da Rainha, Praia da Ribeira, and Praia da Praia da Duquesa.
These are all sandy beaches perfect for swimming and sunbathing in the summer months.
Stroll Around The Marina
The next must-see site in Cascais is the marina. This area is home to a variety of historic sites, and museums that you won’t want to miss checking out as you stroll around town.
Visit The Santa Marta Lighthouse
The Santa Marta Lighthouse is a beautiful striped lighthouse tower nestled on Cascais’s marina. This lighthouse was built into a 17th century fortress, and it now operates as a museum that you can tour for free!
It’s adjacent to the Santa Maria house, a unique 20th century home with azulejos and an oil-painted ceiling that you can tour the inside of (€5/adult) to admire the architecture.
See The Condes de Castro Guimarães Museum
Located right across the shore from the Santa Maria house stands the Condes de Castro Guimarães Museum. This is a gorgeous 1900 revivalist-style palace, and mansion museum that you can tour the inside of.
It has a collection of fascinating artwork, azulejos (hand-painted ceramic tiles), preserved furniture, an outdoor courtyard, gardens, and more. It’s open Tues-Sun only, and costs €5/adult to enter.
Visit Santa Marta Beach
For an amazing view of the Santa Marta lighthouse and nearby mansions, head to Santa Marta beach. This beach has crystal clear water, and a beautiful view of the lighthouse on the right, and Condes de Castro Guimarães Museum on the left.
Visit Boca do Inferno
The next interesting site you won’t want to miss is Boca do Inferno or the “mouth of hell” in Portuguese. This is a breathtaking coastal viewpoint of a large sea arch, that you can watch waves crash into when the tide’s high.
It’s only a 20 minute walk from the marina, and easily accessible by riding the 427 bus from Cascais train station.
Here you can savor seafood by the water at Mar do Inferno, or enjoy gelato from Rocha do Inferno! This is also a peaceful area to go for a long walk down the coast.
Other things to see in Cascais:
- Citadel of Cascais (15 min): 16th century fortress by the marina
- Guia Lighthouse (20 min): Lighthouse nestled along cliffs north of Boca do Inferno
- Casa de Guia (20 min): Outdoor shopping center with restaurants, cafes and gift shops
- Paula Rego House Of Stories Museum: Pyramid shaped museum housing a collection of Paula Rego’s artwork and unique paintings
Best Time To Visit Cascais
It’s best to visit Cascais in the spring, summer, or early autumn, when it’s sunny, and you can spend time relaxing on the beaches.
Summer is the peak season so there may be more crowds, but the weather’s perfect, and you’ll likely still be escaping the crowds from Lisbon!
Cascais Attractions Map
Summary
Cascais is the ideal day trip from Lisbon, whether you want to enjoy seafood by the water, sunbathe, or stroll around the marina with gelato.
It was one of my favorite areas I visited in Portugal, and I hope to return in the summer one day to enjoy the beaches!
If you’re looking for more ideas on interesting cities to visit, check out our list of the best day trips from Lisbon!
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