Cascais, The Most Stunning Coast In Portugal

On our last day in Portugal, we decided to see the coast! We heard Portugal has some of the most stunning coastlines and I was so excited to see it for myself! Also, after a crazy week of sightseeing in and around Lisbon, it was awesome just to spend the day relaxing, by the water. There is something truly therapeutic about a day at the beach! There are many different and beautiful spots in Portugal; it was hard to decide which one we wanted to see. Cascais was just a quick train ride away, so the choice was easy for us.

(Other ideas included: Lagos and Algarve where you can spend the day exploring sea caves and canoeing! It is on our list for next time).

How To Get There:

To get to Cascais from Lisbon, you can take the CP train. The train station nearest our hotel was Entre Campos; we took that to Alcantara – Terra; got off, walked two blocks, then got back on the train at Alcantara – Mar to Cascais (train station). If you are staying in a different part of Lisbon, make sure to get on the Cascais line (yellow), and that will take you directly to Cascais. How easy is that!?

We used the Viva Viagem green card for all our transportation and topped it off for the three days we were in Lisbon (around $16).

We used the Lisbon rail app to help us get around Lisbon, Sintra, and Cascais. It was a great app to pinpoint the stations, however, it did not create a route to take, like some other transportation apps we are used to.

The train station drops you off right in the heart of Cascais. The town gave off the most relaxing beach vibes and I was loving it! Shops, restaurants, and gelato made Cascais seem like another world compared to the bustling parts of Lisbon. It wasn’t too crowded in October; however, we can imagine how busy it must get during the summer holidays. There are so many restaurants and bars with amazing seating and gorgeous views of the water! There is a small section of a beach area, where you can enjoy the day soaking in the rays and dipping your toes in the cold Atlantic waters!

3 Different Routes:

You can explore Portugal’s coast in many different ways; you can spend the morning by the water and see the stunning sea caves of Boca do Inferno! Head up the coast to the most western part of continental Europe, Cabo da Roca (Cape Roca). Or, make a full day out of it and see some palaces in Sintra too! We have created several routes you can take, you can choose 1, 2, or all 3 for a full day of exploring! (If you choose all 3, we recommend staying the night in Sintra or you will not have enough time to explore).

Boca do Inferno

From the Cascais train station, we started walking towards Boca do Inferno (I think we took the long way around, but we still had a great time exploring the town!).

Right near the entrance to Boca Do Inferno are some shops and a café in case you are in need of a quick snack.  There are also small shops to explore as well!

Boca Do Inferno (or the mouth of hell) was absolutely stunning! The constant crashing of the waves against the cliffs created the most gorgeous sea caves and bays! It was amazing to see such powerful water and beautiful scenery! Oh, and it is free to access! Seeing the natural-made arches were my favorite! If you are more into physical activity there are several bike paths to explore in Cascais!

There were several different overlooks to see the caves; one included barriers, and one did not *gulp*. It certainly took some courage to climb down the rocky path, but we were rewarded with a gorgeous view and great shots of the splashing waves! Also, this part can be a bit crowded, so be respectful of others and watch your step!

Other Things To Do:

After exploring Boca do Inferno, we headed back into the main part of Cascais. But what a gorgeous walk back, right along the shore! We found a great place to eat lunch Paul – one of our favorite cafes from back home! They offer the most delicious sandwiches, soups, and salads! Of course, we got a seat outside and soaked in the beautiful Portuguese weather! We just wanted a quick bite, but there are many different restaurant options that offer some of the best seafood in Portugal!

Cabo da Roca (Cape Roca)

After exploring Cascais, you have the choice of visiting Cabo da Roca (Cape Roca). This is the most western part of continental Europe. From Cascais, it is very easy to get to Cabo da Roca. If you take bus 403 it will take you directly there in about 25 minutes. You are able to use your Viva Viagem green cards for bus fare too. (You could also find a taxi to take you, but it would be around $40). Although we had decided to spend the day in Cascais, we heard the Cabo de Roca is very windy; so bring a light jacket and be careful not to get too close to the edge! Bonus: No entrance fee!

Sintra

If you are wanting to make a full day of traveling outside of Lisbon try this route! After spending the morning in Cascais, take the bus 403 to Cabo da Roca. Have a nice picnic lunch, and continue on bus 403 until you reach Sintra! (This is where having an extra night in Sintra will come in handy, but it is not mandatory).

Back to Lisbon:

Sintra has so much to offer and there is so much to explore! Take the bus 435 from the Monserrate Palace all the way back to the Sintra train station and take the train back to Lisbon!

There are so many beautiful spots in Portugal and we would love to come back to visit them all!! We were blown away by the beauty of Cascais and Portugal’s coast! This is something you cannot miss while exploring Portugal! Again, You can choose any one of these routes, or reverse the routes! It is up to you and your schedule. 

Until the next destination!!

P.S. Let us know in the comments below if this blog was helpful to you!