Best Things To Do in Cascais

Cascais is a city in Portugal located west of Lisbon, which makes it an easily accessible destination with numerous tourist options, thanks to its wide variety of natural spaces. It is an ideal place for water sports such as surfing and kitesurfing, and has extensive trails for cycling, among other activities.

During your stay, you will find many activities to enjoy. You can swim in the surrounding beaches, explore its imposing cliffs and even climb them, appreciate the sunset from a cruise, take a trip to the village of Sintra or Cabo da Roca, taste the local flavors in its restaurants and bars, visit the Marechal Carmona Park, and much more. Here are the details of these and other unmissable activities.

A very good option to enjoy the wonders of Cascais is to take advantage of its beaches with consistent waves, which are conducive to the practice of various water sports and adventure, such as surfing. So, you can sign up for a surf lesson in Cascais.

In this experience you will go into the Atlantic coast of Portugal and receive instructions for surfing by a professional instructor. The first thing will be to learn to get on the board and stay on it. Of course, after wearing the respective wetsuit.

As you gain confidence, you will complete the cycle of falling, getting up and surfing faster while you have fun and enjoy. During the activity you can admire the beauty of the surroundings, with sandy beaches, cliffs and crystal clear waters. At the end, you can continue exploring the city at your own pace.

Information of interest

• Price: from 39€ per person.
• Duration: about 2 hours.

If your main goal on your trip to Cascais is to relax, then you can book a sunset cruise in Cascais. This is an activity that usually involves only your travel group, walking along the coast of the city and its surroundings while the sun goes down.

For this experience you will have to go to the Cascais marina, where these tours usually start. On the boat, you can relax at your leisure and admire the orange tones of the Portuguese sunset. In the meantime, you can enjoy an alcoholic beverage, such as a Portuguese wine, as cruises often include on-board service.

During the cruise, you will not only be able to see the ocean horizon, but also some of the most famous beaches in the surrounding area, as well as some nearby villages. Among them, you will see the Citadel of Cascai, Praia do Tamariz and the town of Estoril, another tourist attraction in the area. You will also see the Santa Marta lighthouse and Praia da Conceição in the distance . In short, it will be an ideal walk to breathe fresh air and admire the beauty of the region.

Information of interest

• Price: approximately 481 per person.
• Duration: about 2 hours.

Cascais is a city surrounded by nature and therefore there are many options for adventure. Another must-do activity for adrenaline lovers is to climb a cliff by joining a rock climbing experience in Cascais, where you will test your senses and physical ability to reach the top.

To participate in the activity, you will join an instructor and your tour group. You will receive advice and instructions for the climb, as well as the necessary equipment, such as helmets, harness and climbing shoes. Thus, you will begin the ascent that will take you the time relative to your ability to climb.

As you climb through the mountain of rocks, you will be able to see the natural environment, where the rocky landscapes are mixed with picturesque tones and the imposing blue of the sea. Undoubtedly, in this challenge you will feel the adrenaline and pride of reaching the top, which will be rewarded with a beautiful panoramic view.

Information of interest

• Price: about 84€ per person.
• Duration: about 4 hours.

If you have little time to explore Cascais, a good idea is to tour it combining means of transport such as a jeep and a bicycle and, in addition, take the opportunity to visit the village of Sintra. You could do this activity on your own initiative or book a jeep and bike tour of Cascais and Sintra, where the itinerary will already be structured, as well as the guide through the places by an expert.

The experience usually starts by bike, covering from the historic center to the bay of Cascais. You will pass by the beautiful white sandy beaches, the marina with its boats and the old fish market.

For the getaway to Sintra, you will have to go by jeep. In this beautiful village declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, you will see magnificent buildings such as the Moorish Castle, Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira. You will also see the National Palace of Sintra and views of the Portuguese coast from Cabo da Roca and its cliffs.

Information of interest

• Price: from 249€ per person.
• Duration: between 6 and 7 hours.

Cascais is a town made for sports activities. If you love swimming and adventure, then don't hesitate to book a Cascais open water swimming experience. In it, you will enter the Atlantic waters to swim for a few meters, contemplate the natural beauty and practice physical activity.

For this experience, you will leave from Praia da Duquesa, an environment of calm and crystalline waters ideal for diving and swimming. With the guidance of an instructor, you will learn techniques to control your breathing, anxiety and receive tips for a better performance in the sea.

You will be assisted by a professional during the session and you will receive the corresponding swimming equipment. Also, photos and videos will be taken to record the practice, as well as the beauty of the beach and the surroundings. At the end, you will be refreshed and ready to continue with your travel itinerary.

Information of interest

• Price: about 53€ per person.
• Duration: on average, 1 hour.

Another must-see destination during your visit to Cascais is the Condes de Castro Guimarães Museum. It is a cultural and architectural jewel located in the Marechal Carmona Park. It is a building that combines neo-Gothic, neo-Romanesque and neo-Manueline elements, originally built as a private residence between 1897 and 1900.

In addition to admiring the architecture of the place, you can learn about what life was like for the Portuguese aristocracy in the early 20th century and admire a collection of art and historical artifacts. Among them are period furniture arranged among its rooms, tapestries, porcelains and paintings belonging to artists from Portugal and Europe.

Also, the Chronicle of D. Afonso Henriques, an illuminated manuscript from the 15th century considered one of the most important in the collection, attracts a lot of attention. There are also the gardens that are part of the park and offer panoramic views of the Atlantic and a playground for children. During the visit, guides provide information about the attractions observed, making it an entertaining and educational experience.

Information of interest

• Admission: about 5€ per person.
• Hours: from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Another of the most enjoyable experiences you can have in Cascais is to join a gastronomic tour, which will be ideal to get to know the rich culinary tradition of Portugal. In this type of tour, you will go (on your own or with a guide) through the most authentic restaurants and bars of the city, where you will taste a variety of typical dishes made with fresh and local ingredients.

During the tour, you will not only enjoy the food, but also learn about the history and culture surrounding each dish. Local guides will share anecdotes and trivia about each recipe. You can try dishes such as Portuguese-style clams and bacalhau à brás, a classic version of the famous Portuguese cod. There are also grilled sardines and seafood rice, a typical delicacy of the region.

Many of the tours incorporate a tasting of traditional sweets such as travesseiros and queijadas de Sintra, accompanied by a coffee or a ginginha, the famous Portuguese cherry liqueur. In short, this experience offers an opportunity to get to know the soul of Cascais through its flavors.

Information of interest

• Price: the tour will have a variable cost according to the supplier you connect with or the restaurants you decide to visit.
• Duration: will depend on your itinerary or the organizers (on average 2 hours).

A bike tour along the Guincho coast is another sporting, touristic and ecological adventure you can undertake during your stay in Cascais. It is a scenic route that connects Cascais with the famous Guincho Beach. The route is surrounded by cliffs, dunes and the deep blue Atlantic.

This route is suitable for cyclists of all levels, with an accessible and varied route that offers a moderate challenge. Along the way, you can make strategic stops at viewpoints and points of natural interest, where you can rest and take pictures of the surrounding scenery. Among the highlights is Cabo Raso, which offers panoramic views of the coast and the Atlantic in all its splendor.

If you go with a local guide, you will hear information about the natural environment and its ecological importance. You will also be able to observe seabirds and, if you are lucky, spot a seal or dolphin in the nearby waters. You will arrive at Guincho Beach, famous for its golden sand and good conditions for water sports such as surfing and kitesurfing. You can relax on the beach, enjoy an outdoor lunch or even try your hand at some water activities.

Information of interest

• Price: will depend on the price of the bike rental or the provider you connect with.
• Duration: at your own pace, or about 3 hours.

During your stay in Cascais you can take the opportunity to explore all that the Atlantic coast of Portugal has to offer and book an excursion to Sintra and Cabo da Roca from Cascais. Located a little more than 20 minutes drive from Cascais, these two towns have history and beauty within them, worthy of knowing and admiring.

You can do this trip on your own or join a tour. This option is more convenient, because the organizers take care of all the logistics (transportation, itinerary, etc.) for you. In any case, you will venture to Sintra, a village that houses palaces and castles of high historical and cultural value such as the Pena Palace, the Quinta da Regaleira and the

. You will also go to Cabo da Roca, which is the westernmost point of Portugal and continental Europe, which for many centuries was considered the place where the earth ended. You will observe the imposing lighthouse, which is one of the oldest in Portugal and offers beautiful panoramic views of the region that you can capture in photographs and videos.

Information of interest

• Price: the tour starts at 84€ per person.
• Duration: approximately 7 hours, including transfers to and from the lighthouse.

The Marechal Carmona Park is a natural lung in the heart of Cascais, ideal if you want to relax and enjoy nature. Here you can take a walk, have a picnic or just relax in the shade. Stroll along its paths while you get away from the hustle and bustle of the city center.

The site is also home to a rich biodiversity, with several species of birds nesting in its trees and ponds. During your visit, you are likely to encounter peacocks roaming freely. If you are traveling with children, you should know that the park has a playground, designed with recreational activities to keep them entertained while the adults relax in the surroundings.

Don't forget to stop by the Estanque dos Patos, a small lake full of ducks and other birds. Also, in the surrounding gardens you will see a great variety of plants and flowers that change their appearance according to the season. If you wish, you can have a picnic, as there are designated areas for this purpose. Also, if you go during a weekend, you will probably find cultural activities or local markets, where you can buy handicrafts or enjoy typical food.

Information of interest

• Price: free.
• Hours: from 8:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., from November to March and from 8:30 a.m. to 7:45 p.m., from April to October.