COME AND DISCOVER THE SURROUNDINGS OF CASCAIS WITH US
GREAT Day trips FROM cascais
Cascais is a great base to spend your holidays along the Lisbon Coast.
The town is a great holiday destination for travelers wishing to combine a beach holiday with exploring Lisbon and the beautiful region of the Lisbon coast. Discover the best day trips from Cascais including Sintra, Cabo da Roca, Ericeira and Obidos, and start planning your holiday to Portugal!
Sintra
Sintra is a beautiful village surrounded by lush green mountains full of romantic palaces and fairy tale estates.
It’s a magic and fascinating place to explore and a day trip to Sintra is quite an experience. There is a large number of sites to visit: Quinta da Regaleira, Pena Palace, Moorish Castle, Montserrat Park, amongst many other. Sintra is only 20 minutes away from Cascais, make sure to park your car outside the historic town and be prepared to walk to the sites.
During summer, the lines in front of Pena Palace can be very long, so make sure to arrive early or go late afternoon. Alternatively, skip the Pena Palace and head straight away to the Quinta da Regaleira, such a magic place!
Lisbon
Lisbon, Portugal’s hilly, coastal capital city, is definitely a must visit, and easy to reach from Cascais by train (40 min) or by car (30 min).
The city is easy to walk and the views from the several miradouros are just amazing.
Make sure to climb to Augusta Arch and soak in the amazing view over the most beautiful square of Lisbon, walk the old cobblestone streets of Alfama, listing to the fado music, take a simple lunch at one of the local tasca’s and feel Lisbon, walking up and downhill towards the Tagus River.
Check out Chiado and its cafes and watch the amazing street art all around the city. When you have time, discover the ultra modern Parque das Naçoes district and the massive Oceanario aquarium, chosen as best aquarium in the world by Tripadvisor.
Belem
Belem can easily be reached from Cascais by train and is filled with iconic landmarks and many architectural and historical sights and monuments. It’s easy to fill an entire day seeing the sights of Belém. You’ll finish with an excellent understanding of the history of Lisbon during the Age of Discoveries and the period of colonisation that followed.
Your visit should include Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Tower and the Monument of the Discoveries. Of course make sure to try the famous Pasteis de Belém in between visits.
End your trip by a visit to the MAAT and head to the nearby LX Factory for a drink or a bite or go to the Docas de Santo Amaro to eat some delicious seafood in one of the restaurants under the 25 April Bridge, quite an exceptional setting!
Ericeira & Mafra
afra is renowned for its convent and amazing National Palace, regarded as the most important baroque building in Portugal, while Ericeira is a still very authentic fishing village and a World Surfing Reserve, known for its pretty town as well as its internationally renowned surf spots.
Ericeira is a perfect fusion of Portuguese heritage with an ultra-cool surfing ambience, where traditional fishermen’s cottages nestle amongst trendy lounge bars and cafes. Make sure to try the excellent fresh fish and seafood in Ericeira!
Obidos
Obidos is a romantic and very picturesque little town at 1 h drive from Cascais, surrounded by a castle wall, a typical and well-preserved example of medieval architecture.
The hillside location gives you an amazing view of the Estremadura area. You enter the town through the southern gate of Santa Maria, which is decorated with eighteenth-century tiles (azulejos).
Inside the walls you walk through winding streets filled with tiny white houses with blue or yellow borders and wonderful flowers.
There are some beautiful churches, good restaurants and nice small shops. Make sure to try the ginginha de Obidos, a cherry liquor typically from the region.
Cabo da Roca and the beaches along the Sintra coast
Discover the beautiful Sintra coast with its amazing beaches such as Praia Grande, a great beach for surfers. When you’re not into surfing, just take a swim at the ocean pool of the Arribas Sintra hotel or have cocktails at the bar above the pool and take in the view and the energy of in the waves…Other beaches to explore in the area are Praia das Maças (great to visit with children) and the beautiful Praia da Adraga, as well as the small beach of Azenhas do Mar, a picturesque village perched on a cliff.
End your trip with a visit to Cabo de Roca, a wild and rugged headland that marks the most western point of the European continent – “at the edge of Europe”. You will enjoy the breathtaking views and the perfect sunset. Be aware that it is extremely chilly and windy on the site. A must see as you really will feel like being at the end of the world. Amazing sensation and spectacular views!