Cascais is a nice city in Portugal near Lisbon. It is located by the sea and is the perfect base for visiting Lisbon, Sintra, and the surf beaches in the area.
In this blog, we will tell you everything you need to know about Cascais. For example, you will find the 7 best things to do in Cascais, and we will give you tips for good restaurants and other hotspots.
All you need to know about Cascais in Portugal
Cascais is about a 30-minute drive from Lisbon. It is originally the place where the Portuguese royalty enjoyed their vacations. Nowadays, you will find many surfers in Cascais because of the good beaches for surfing in the area and expats. Especially expat families come to live in Cascais because of the beaches and the proximity to the metropolis of Lisbon. This makes this small city surprisingly international, and you will also find trendy restaurants and brunch hotspots in the suburbs of Cascais.
Cascais has nice city beaches, and just outside the center, you will find a large green park. Here, you are not far from several spacious beaches that are perfect for surfing. The centre is beautiful with colourful houses, facades covered with Portuguese tiles, and street art. Cascais is ideal for a family trip with small children, but also very suitable if you are travelling as a couple. We spent a week in Cascais with our little family, and below we share our tips and experiences!
Tip: from Cascais, there is a direct train to Lisbon and Sintra. You can visit other hotspots in the area by bus. If you want a bit more freedom, we recommend renting a car. We always rent cars via Sunny Cars because of the insurance and flexibility to cancel. Click here for more information.
How many days do you need for Cascais?
Cascais is not very big, but don’t be fooled, it is also not a small fishing village as we initially thought. Therefore, take at least two nights and three days to explore Cascais and the surrounding area. Especially if you also plan to visit Sintra for a day, you will need this time.
Are you also visiting the Algarve? Then read our blogs about the cities of Tavira and Lagos, or about the beautiful Southwest Alentejo & Vicentine Coast Nature Park.
The 7 best things to do in Cascais and the surroundings
There is plenty to do in Cascais and its surroundings. Below we name 7 nice sights and activities in and around Cascais.
1. Walk through the center of Cascais & along the harbor
The center of Cascais is beautiful. Narrow streets full of boutiques lead to lively squares where the terraces are always full of people enjoying Portuguese cuisine. South of the center, you will find an old fort and a harbor with luxury yachts. Not far from here is a small bay with a beautiful viewpoint, Casa de Santa Maria. From here, you look straight at the blue and white lighthouse. Behind this viewpoint and the harbor, you will find a nice city park, Parque Marechal Carmona. If you walk further west, you will reach the impressive viewpoint at Boca do Inferno (Devil’s Mouth). An arch in the rocks where the water enters.
Tip: It is possible to do a guided walking tour through Cascais. Click here for a nice 3-hour walk for 6 euros per person.
Cascais is a good shopping hotspot. In the center, there are plenty of nice shops besides the standard tourist shops. A few of our favorites are Sunlook for nice t-shirts and sunglasses, Be We, a cool concept store, Ceramicas na Linha for beautiful pottery, and Casa Da Guia, a unique place outside the center with restaurants and shops overlooking the sea.
2. Learn more about Cascais at the free city museum
Right in the city center, at Praca 5 de Outubro, next to the city hall, you will also find the city museum of Cascais. This free museum tells you all about the history of Cascais. Definitely worth a visit to learn more about the city.
Another museum that we thought was cool, just because of the building it is housed in, is Casa das Histórias Paula Rego. The orange pyramids that are located in a beautiful park contain art by the famous Portuguese artist Paula Rago and other artists from the area.
3. Day trip from Cascais to Sintra
Sintra is a fairytale city close to Cascais, where you will find dozens of palaces and castles. The town is located inland in a hilly area and has existed for over 2000 years. With all the impressive castles surrounded by forests, it looks like a fairytale! If you have the time, you can spend days here, but it is also a nice destination for a day trip from Cascais (30 minutes’ drive).
We visited Pena Palace (the most famous palace) and Monserrate Palace (with very beautiful architecture inside and out), both beautiful. Next time, we would also like to visit the Moorish Castle because of the view and Quinta da Regaleira.
4. Relax on the beaches of Cascais
Unlike Lisbon, Cascais has fine sandy beaches. In the center of Cascais, you will find three city beaches, namely Praia da Rainha (our favorite), Praia da Ribeira (the most central beach), and Praia Nossa Senhora da Conceição (the largest beach).
Also nice: Due to Floris’ bedtime, not an option for us, but a boat trip during sunset is cool. Click here for more information.
Just outside the center of Cascais, more towards the west, you will find a number of beautiful and extensive surf beaches such as Praia do Guincho. A bit further north, you will also find Ursa Beach, a raw bay, enclosed by high rock walls. You can only get here after a hike of about 30 minutes, but because we were with our one and a half year old son, we had to skip this beach.
Tip: Do you want a surf lesson in Cascais to see if surfing is something for you? Then click here for a fun two-hour lesson in a small group. From €40 per person.
In our opinion, the most beautiful beaches in Portugal are located in the Algarve, and we have some great tips for that too! So read our blogs with tips about the 6 best beaches near Tavira and Faro, the 6 best beaches around Lagos, and the 6 most beautiful beaches of the Costa Vincenta!
5. Walk along the boulevard from Cascais to Estoril
A fun activity when the weather is not so amazing is hiking to Estoril, a coastal town nearby. A large part of the coast has a spacious boulevard for pedestrians. This way you walk from beach to beach and you pass several small swimming pools made in the sea, beautiful buildings, and small castles. We walked from Cascais to Tamariz beach in Estoril, but you can go a lot further.
Did you know: there are many dolphins living in the area around Cascais? With a boat tour, you can see these dolphins, and sometimes you even see a whale. Click here for more information.
6. Day trip from Cascais to Lisbon
If you are in Cascais, a day trip to Lisbon is a must. You can reach the heart of the city by train within 45 minutes. We visited the Belem Tower, the Miradouro de Santa Luzia viewpoint, the Santa Justa Lift, and the Praca do Comércio. And of course, we enjoyed the famous Pastéis de Belém (called Pastéis de Nata in the rest of Portugal), the beautiful old trams that drove through the steep streets, and all the colorful and tiled buildings.
You need several days to explore Lisbon, but a day trip is already a lot of fun to visit this vibrant city!
Tip: Are you traveling with (small) children? Then leave that stroller at home when you go to Lisbon. With all the small cobblestones, stairs, and hills, it is of little use. A baby carrier is more convenient (we have this one) or, if your child is older, a back carrier (we recently bought this one).
7. Visit Cabo da Roca
A great place to visit from Cascais is Cabo Da Roca. This is the westernmost point of mainland Europe. Here you will find a rugged coastline with cliffs above which stands the oldest lighthouse in Portugal. It is a popular place, so expect busloads of tourists. And bring warm clothes against the strong wind that always blows here. The walk to Ursa Beach also starts from here.
Tip: It is possible to combine Cabo da Roca with Sintra in a day tour from Cascais. Click here for more information about this trip.
The best restaurants & hotspots in Cascais and surroundings
The centre of Cascais is bursting with restaurants and bars. We searched for the best restaurants in Cascais and share our experiences below!
Café Jouyeux – budget-proof breakfast in Cascais
Café Jouyeux is located in the centre of Cascais and is run by people with disabilities. We opted for the extensive brunch here, and it was enormous (the three of us ate from it). It is a nice place with a very friendly, priced menu! Click here for the location of this restaurant in Cascais.
Euphoria – breakfast & lunch in Cascais
This trendy breakfast place is located in the centre. They serve all kinds of brunch dishes, and we went for avocado toast and an acai bowl. Delicious and especially nice to sit outside on the terrace. We found it a bit too dark inside. Click here for the location of this hotspot in Cascais.
Sir Manuel Seafood Bar – fish & seafood in Cascais
In the street of this restaurant, you will find a lot of nice hotspots, but if you are hungry for fish, go to this cozy restaurant. We went for vongole and raw tuna, and it was really delicious! Click here for the location of this nice restaurant in the center of Cascais.
House of Wonders: vegetarian restaurant in Cascais
House of Wonders is a popular restaurant in the center of Cascais. You come here for the dishes full of colorful vegetables. Only vegetarian food is cooked here. Also nice, there is no menu, but inside there are long tables on which all the dishes are showcased. We went for the shakshouka and the Labneh. Very tasty and also nice to eat a bit healthier after days with few vegetables. Click here for the location of this restaurant in Cascais.
Soya Noodle Bar Cascais: great Asian food
Oops… we ate at this restaurant three times. Twice we had delicious Pho & Ramen delivered via Uber Eats, and on the third day, we just craved Asian food again and decided to eat something at the restaurant itself. And the food was not disappointing the third time either! This time we went for gyoza, dimsum, Tom Kha Kai & noodles. All delicious! The inside of this restaurant is not super hip, but outside, you can sit on the terrace in a cozy street. Click here for the location of this hotspot in the center of Cascais.
Opheilia – lavish brunch in Cascais
A bit outside the center, but definitely worth the detour, you will find the cute brunch place Opheilia. Large lavish dishes such as stacks of pancakes, cakes, and eggs Benedict. The smoothies are also very tasty here. It is a popular place among expats, so come on time for lunch. Click here for the location of this hotspot in Cascais!
Duna da Cresmina: coffee & cake with a great view in Cascais
This small restaurant is hidden between the dunes near the popular surfing beach of Guincho. From the sheltered terrace, you have a view of the various bays, the dunes, and in the distance, the rocks of the Sintra & Cascais nature park. They serve small breakfast/lunch dishes, coffee, and sweets. You mainly come here for the beautiful view and to sit in the sun! Also nice, from the restaurant, there is a short boardwalk through the dunes, definitely do it (not stroller-proof). Click here for the location of this restaurant in the Cascais area.
Restaurants in Cascais where we did not eat, but got recommended to:
- Casa de Merocos: a popular tapas shop with wine. Click here for this hotspot in Cascais center.
- Taberna Clandestina Cascais: tapas and seafood. Click here for the location of this restaurant in Cascais.
- Malacopa Taco Bar: delicious tacos and Mexican food! Click here for the location of this hotspot!
- Holy Wine Cascais: a natural wine bar in the center of Cascais. Click here for the location of this hotspot!
Nice hotels or accommodation to stay in Cascais
There are plenty of nice hotels and holiday homes in Cascais. We stayed at the holiday park Vila Bicuda Resort just outside the centre. Not bad when you are travelling with children, but we found it a bit pricey for the houses and location. Next time, we would rather stay in the centre or the slightly nicer Onyria Quinta da Marinha Hotel.
Legasea
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This guesthouse is located in the center of Cascais. The large rooms are very nicely decorated, there is air conditioning, and you can lounge in the nice garden. Breakfast is served in the cozy restaurant, where homemade pizzas are served in the evening. From €127 per night including breakfast.
Onyria Quinta da Marinha
€€€
This luxury hotel is located in a large natural park on a beautiful golf course 3 km from the center. In addition to this hotel, on the same property, you also have the Onyria Boutique Hotel and the Onyria Quinta da Marinha Villas for when you want more space. From €150 per night including breakfast.
Casa Vela Boutique Hotel
€€€
This chic boutique hotel is super centrally located. In the middle of the hustle and bustle, you will find yourself in an oasis of peace. There is a large botanical garden with a swimming pool and a spa. The rooms are very nicely decorated and there are also spacious family suites with a kitchen. From €200 per night.
Click here for an overview of all hotels in Cascais!
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