Cascais Day Trip from Lisbon: Beaches, Boca do Inferno and Guincho

Cascais is Lisbon’s seaside escape: a former fishing village turned elegant resort, with sandy beaches, a pretty old town and dramatic coastline, just 40 minutes away by train. It’s one of the easiest and most relaxing day trips from Lisbon.

Quick answer: take the train from Cais do Sodré to Cascais (about 40 minutes, with sea views). Spend the day on the beach and in the old town, walk or cycle to Boca do Inferno, and if you have time or a car, carry on to wild Guincho beach and Cabo da Roca.

Why go

Cascais gives you a break from Lisbon’s hills and crowds without any planning. The train runs right along the coast, the town is flat and walkable, and you can swim within minutes of arriving. In the late 19th century the Portuguese royal family spent their summers here, which is why you’ll see grand villas and a fortress next to the fishing boats. It’s a good choice for families, for a slow day after a lot of sightseeing, and for anyone who wants sea air.

Getting there

• Train: from Cais do Sodré station along the coast, about 40 minutes (33 minutes on the few peak-hour express trains). Trains run about every 20 minutes during the day and more often at rush hour. Pay with your navegante card (zapping) or a 24-hour pass that includes CP trains. See our Lisbon transport guide. Sit on the left for sea views.
• Late evenings: because of upgrade works on the line, replacement buses have run between Caxias and Cascais on some evenings since April 2026 (from about 21:50 on weekdays and earlier at weekends). Check the CP website before you plan a late return.
• Car: about 30–40 minutes via the coastal road (the Marginal) or the A5. Parking in summer can be tricky, so use one of the paid car parks near the station or the marina.
• Tour: combine Cascais with Sintra and Cabo da Roca in one day on a Pena, Cabo da Roca and Cascais tour, or use the Sintra and Cascais hop-on hop-off bus.

Things to do in Cascais

• Beaches: right in town are Praia da Rainha (tiny and pretty), Conceição and Duquesa. They’re calm and great for families. The water is cool even in August. See the best beaches near Cascais.
• The old town: cobbled lanes, ice cream shops and seafood restaurants around the bay. Look for the wave-patterned black and white pavements and the fishing boats pulled up on Praia da Ribeira.
• The Citadel and marina: the 17th-century fortress by the bay now holds a hotel, galleries and a courtyard you can walk through. The marina next door is good for a stroll.
• Boca do Inferno: a dramatic sea arch and cliffs a 20-minute walk west of town, at its best when the waves are big. Stay behind the railings, as the rocks are slippery.
• Casa das Histórias Paula Rego: a striking museum of the Portuguese artist’s work, in distinctive red pyramid-shaped buildings designed by the architect Eduardo Souto de Moura. Allow about an hour, and check opening days before you go.
• Parque Marechal Carmona: a shady park near the museum with ponds, peacocks and chickens wandering about. Good for a break with children.
• The seafront promenade to Estoril: a flat, easy walk of about 3km along the sea, lined with cafés.
• Cycle the coast: a cycle path runs along the shore towards Guincho. Bikes are easy to hire.

Beyond Cascais

• Guincho beach: a huge, windswept Atlantic beach backed by dunes and the Sintra hills, famous for surfing and kitesurfing. Great for a walk and seafood lunch, but take care swimming, as the water is rough. Without a car, MobiCascais town buses, such as line 15, run out from Cascais station.
• Cabo da Roca: the westernmost point of mainland Europe, with a lighthouse on wild cliffs. Carris Metropolitana bus 1624 runs there from Cascais, or go by car or tour. Walking the clifftop is free; only the lighthouse visit is paid. It opened to visitors in July 2026: about €5 for the essential visit, or €10 with a guided climb. See our Cabo da Roca guide.
• Sintra: on the other side of the hills. You can combine Sintra and Cascais by bus or tour. Bus 1624 carries on from Cabo da Roca to Portela de Sintra station, not the station in Sintra town. See our Sintra tips.

Sample day

• Morning: train from Lisbon, coffee in the old town, then a stroll to Boca do Inferno.
• Lunch: grilled fish by the bay.
• Afternoon: beach time, or cycle towards Guincho.
• Evening: walk the promenade to Estoril and catch the train back from there.

Only have half a day? Take the train out, walk the old town and the Citadel, and go on to Boca do Inferno. You can be back in Lisbon by mid-afternoon.

Food

Cascais still has a working fishing fleet, and the catch is sold at the fish auction by the harbour. Look for grilled sardines in summer, sea bream, octopus and clams in garlic and coriander. Fish is often sold by weight, so ask the price before you order. For dessert, Santini, an ice-cream maker founded in Estoril in 1949, is a local institution.

When to go

June to September is beach season, but the town beaches get very full on summer weekends, so a weekday is better. May and late September are warm and calmer. In winter, Cascais is quiet and still lovely for a coastal walk, and the train ride is just as good. The Estoril Open tennis tournament now takes place in July.

Staying in Cascais

Lots of families base themselves in Cascais and take the train into Lisbon: you get beaches, a relaxed pace and easy trips to Sintra. See places to stay in Cascais, or compare with our Lisbon neighbourhoods.

FAQ

Is Cascais worth a day trip from Lisbon?

Yes. It’s a cheap, easy train ride, and you get beaches, an old town and coastal walks in one day without any planning.

Can you swim in Cascais?

Yes. The town beaches are calm and good for families, though the water is cool even in August. Guincho is much rougher, so take care there.

Can you visit Cascais and Cabo da Roca in one day?

Yes. Spend the morning in town, then take bus 1624 or drive out to Cabo da Roca for the afternoon and sunset.

More ideas: the best day trips from Lisbon.

From our sister blog: 20 things to do in Cascais, a couple’s guide on Sunset Travellers.

See also: is Cascais worth visiting? and Boca do Inferno.

Some links in this guide are affiliate or referral links (GetYourGuide, Booking.com, Discover Cars, Welcome Pickups, Airalo, Yesim, Saily, Tiqets, Radical Storage, EKTA, AirHelp, Uber). If you book or sign up through them we may earn a small commission or ride credit at no extra cost to you. It helps keep our groups and this site free.