Cascais day trip from Lisbon

What to see in Cascais

Cascais is small enough to do on foot, from the station to the bay, out to the cliffs and back along the sea.

The Boca do Inferno

At the western edge of town, about 25 minutes’ walk from the station, the sea has carved a hollow into the cliffs. The name means “the mouth of hell”, and on a day of rough sea and high tide, the waves boom in and throw spray high over the rocks.

On a calm day, mind you, it’s a much gentler sight. A walkway along the coast leads there from the centre, and it’s free and open at all hours. Whatever the sea is doing, stay behind the safety fence.

The bay and the beaches

In the middle of town, Praia da Ribeira sits right by the main square. Further round the bay are the Conceição and Duquesa beaches, and Rainha, a small cove that fills up fast in summer.

The beaches have lifeguards from May to September, and outside that season you swim at your own risk.

Casa das Histórias Paula Rego

The red pyramid towers are hard to miss. They belong to the Casa das Histórias, the museum of Paula Rego, the Portuguese painter who made her name in Britain, in a building by the architect Eduardo Souto de Moura.

The works on show change from time to time. It opens Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, last entry 17:40, and entry is €5.

The Cidadela

By the marina, the old fortress holds a palace that was the governor’s house and later the summer home of Portugal’s presidents. You see it on a guided visit, Friday to Sunday at 11:30, 14:30 and 16:00, for €5.

The seafront walk to Estoril

East of the bay, a promenade runs along the sea to Estoril, lined with bars and restaurants. The train runs right beside it, so you can walk one way and ride back from Estoril.

Cascais from Lisbon by train

The Lisboa Card covers the whole line, so you can get off at Belém on the way:

Trains leave about every 20 minutes in the middle of the day. Without the card, a return is €5.10 (2026 fares), on a navegante travel card that costs €0.50 extra.

For the evening, check how you’ll get back. In autumn 2026, works on the line put replacement buses between Caxias and Cascais from about 21:50 on weekdays and 20:50 on Saturdays, and on Sundays before 8:50 and from 19:50. Head back before then if you can.

The Lisboa Card in Cascais

In Cascais the card covers the train, as many trips as you like in its 24, 48 or 72 hours. Nothing in Cascais itself is on its lists, and the local buses aren’t covered.

Belém is on the way, and there the card does more: Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower are included, with a time slot booked ahead. Both close on Mondays, so from Tuesday to Sunday a morning in Belém and an afternoon by the sea make one day on one card.

Cascais by boat or on a tour

For a different way in, a two-hour cruise sails from Lisbon to Cascais with drinks on board, and with the Lisboa Card you take the train back. Or let a tour do the driving. The three after the cruise also take in Sintra:

Cascais from Lisbon airport

From the airport, the metro and then the train get you to Cascais with one change at Alameda and one at Cais do Sodré, all on the Lisboa Card. Taxis from the airport charge a fixed fare to Cascais: €53.40 by day and €64 at night.