Cascais, Portugal, is a pristine beach town located 30 minutes from Lisbon. The town’s main focus is…of course…its beaches. If you follow the crowd, most likely they will be headed towards the water. The locals are pleasant and want to share their town with you, so take some time to people watch, eat some local fish, and enjoy this stunning coastal town.
Where do you fly in?
The nearest airport to Cascais is Lisbon (LIS) Airport which is about 20 miles away.
(You can take a cab right from the airport.)
CLICK HERE TO FIND AN AMAZING FLIGHT
Here are my 10 favorite things to do in Cascais:
Boca do Inferno
A beautiful 20-minute walk from the town are the cliffs of Boca do Inferno (Mouth of Hell). Stare in awe at the aggressive beauty of the ocean against these cliffs. On calmer days you will see men fishing from the rocks. It is fun to see them avoiding the huge waves with stealth. There is a visitor’s platform and they say the best time to visit is at sunset. I think it would be amazing to visit when the ocean is rough. There are a few café’s there, and it’s a great place to get a gelato.
Praia da Rainha
(Very fitting…the name means Beach of the Queen) As you sit back on this beach you are surrounded by high stone cliffs on 3 sides, and you will feel transported into another time period. This is one of the smaller beaches in Cascais but it is quaint, safe, and great for families since kids will love climbing on the rocks. There is a beach bar, which is perfect for an afternoon beer (for the grownups) or Sumol (a pineapple/orange soda for the kids). Above the beach are several small cafes that serve everything from pastries and expresso in the morning to fish dishes starting at lunch.
Walk around the town
One of my favorite things to do in Cascais is just wandering around and experiencing the culture. Take your time and sit in a café in late afternoon or stroll through the cobblestone streets and do a little shopping. The historic architecture of the town is amazing to look at. Kids will enjoy searching for the many murals around town. Try watching a sunset on a beach one evening.
I never felt unsafe walking around town, even at night.
Parque Marechal Carmona
This charming park is a great place to go when you need some relief from the summer heat. There is a nice playground and it was neat seeing my girls playing with local children even though they don’t speak a word of Portuguese. There are cafes and ice cream shops and it is the perfect place for a picnic. My girls loved that there were peacocks, ducks, hens, and roosters roaming the park. You can hear the call of the peacocks throughout your walk. The park is well-maintained and there are plenty of clean restrooms. It is free to get in!
Open: April 1- October 31, daily. 8:30 am -8:00 pm
November 1- March 31, daily 8:30 am- 6:00 pm
Museu Condes de Castro
This beautiful museum is located at the edge of the Parque Marechal Carmona, which is a 10-minute walk from the center of town. It is a small, but lovely, museum that only takes about an hour to visit, yet should not be missed. The gorgeous rooms are filled with historic furniture, Portuguese tiles, and enough swords and muskets to entertain your little ones. It is located on the water so there are amazing views from the rooms.
Open: From Tuesday-Sunday from 10:00-1:00 and again from 2:00-5:00
Cost: Adults cost 3 €, Children under the age of 11 and seniors are free!
Plan to visit this museum while visiting the park or before a trip to the beach.
Go to the outdoor market
Every Wednesday and Saturday the town holds a market. As you walk around, you’ll hear locals haggling to get the best prices and the freshest food. The market sells everything you could imagine including cheese, bread, pastries, fish, fruit, vegetables, meat, and flowers. My favorite area were the fish stalls. There were local fish I’d never seen and I wanted to bring most of them home to grill up. It is a neat experience for kids to see the people producing the items and how proud they are of what they are selling.
Walk along the waterfront
Walking along the waterfront towards Estoril is a beautiful way to spend a few hours. The fresh sea air is so refreshing and the waves will often crash up onto the pathway. Many people jog and bike along this path and you’ll see many people walking their dogs. Throughout the way you’ll pass several seaside café’s and restaurants. If you walk there around lunch time, it’s the perfect place to have petiscos (small traditional plates you share) and a pitcher of sangria!
Ribeira Beach
This beautiful beach is the perfect location because it is right in front of a ton of restaurants and stores. There is a volleyball net set up that’s very popular. In the morning and evenings, you’ll see people throwing a ball to their dogs, doing yoga, and having picnics.
Try some delicious desserts
There are endless options to satisfy your sweet tooth! One traditional pastry from Cascais are Areias, a small, dry, sweet cookie. If you’re looking for something cold, they sell delicious gelato on almost every street! I like to try flavors that we don’t have in the US.
Dine at amazing restaurants
There are so many amazing restaurants that use local ingredients. I always choose restaurants that serve traditional food and I like to find places locals eat.
Here are 4 of my favorite spots:
What else can you do near Cascais?
Sintra Full Day Small-Group Tour: Let the Fairy Tale Begin
Sea Kayaking in Cascais Bay, Lisbon – Private Group
Cascais Romantic Private 2h Cruise with sparkling wine
Fishing ticket in Cascais Coast
Sintra and Cascais From Lisbon 7 Hour Electric Bike Tour
Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at NO cost to you. Thank you for your support!
