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Trip guides  /  Sintra and Cascais

Where to Stay in Cascais: Best Areas and Hotels

By the Portugal Travel Tips team · Updated 7 October 2026

Cascais is a lovely alternative to staying in Lisbon: a pretty seaside town with beaches, a marina, great restaurants and an easy 40-minute train ride into the capital. It’s also close to Sintra and the wild beaches of Guincho. Here’s where to stay in Cascais, from boutique hotels on the rocks to family resorts.

Quick answer: for sea views in town, the Farol Hotel or The Albatroz. For a quirky, central stay, Pestana Cidadela in the old citadel. For a big luxury escape, The Oitavos near Guincho. For good value by the beach, Hotel Baía or Vila Galé Cascais. Stay near the station if you’ll go into Lisbon often.

Where to Stay in Cascais

Why stay in Cascais

You get the sea on your doorstep, quieter nights than in central Lisbon and easy access to the whole coast. Mornings start with a swim or a walk along the bay, and Lisbon is still close enough for a day of sightseeing. Cascais is also a good base for Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Guincho, which most Lisbon visitors only see on a rushed tour.

Should you stay in Cascais or Lisbon?

  • Cascais is better for a relaxed beach holiday, families, and day trips to Sintra and Guincho.
  • Lisbon is better for nightlife, museums and a city break.
  • Both? Split your stay: a few nights in each. See where to stay in Lisbon.

The best areas

  • Cascais centre: restaurants, beaches, the marina and the train station all within walking distance. Best if you don’t have a car.
  • Along the bay to Boca do Inferno: hotels on the rocks with sea views, a short walk to town. Quieter at night, and lovely for sunset.
  • Estoril: the next town along, with the casino, a long promenade and calmer beaches. It’s on the same train line and slightly cheaper. Places to stay in Estoril, or see our Estoril guide.
  • Guincho and the Quinta da Marinha: resorts and golf near wild beaches. You’ll want a car. See Guincho beach.

A seafront promenade links Cascais and Estoril, about a 30-minute walk, so you can stay in one and eat in the other.

The best hotels in Cascais

Luxury

  • Farol Hotel: a design hotel right on the rocks by the lighthouse, with a pool above the sea and rooms styled by Portuguese designers. Sunsets are spectacular.
  • The Albatroz Hotel: a 19th-century aristocrats’ mansion perched over the beach in the centre, with a pool and wonderful sea views. Its interiors were refreshed by Viterbo Interior Design in 2021. Cascais’s classic grand hotel.
  • The Oitavos: a modern five-star resort among the dunes near Guincho, with a golf course, spa and huge views. Peaceful and very stylish.
  • Grande Real Villa Itália: once the home of Italy’s exiled king, now a five-star hotel with a spa and ocean views, on the coastal road towards Boca do Inferno.

Boutique and mid-range

  • Pestana Cidadela Cascais: a pousada inside the old citadel walls, with an art district of galleries and studios around it. Unique and right by the marina, with indoor and outdoor pools and a spa.

Families and value

  • Onyria Marinha Cascais: the former Martinhal Cascais family resort near Quinta da Marinha, with pools, villas and plenty of space for kids. Run by Onyria since 2023, it’s now part of IHG’s Vignette Collection.
  • Hotel Baía: a classic, long-running hotel right by the fishermen’s beach, with an indoor rooftop pool and a sea-view terrace. Great location for the price.
  • Vila Galé Cascais: a good-value four-star with a pool and a health club, on the coast road a few minutes from the beach, the marina and the old town.

Or browse all places to stay in Cascais.

Note: the Hotel Cascais Miragem on the seafront road has been closed since 2 October 2026 for a long renovation, so don’t plan around it.

Which is right for you?

  • Couples: the Farol or the Albatroz for sea views and sunsets.
  • Families: Onyria Marinha for space and pools, or Hotel Baía for the beach on your doorstep.
  • Golfers and spa lovers: The Oitavos.
  • Train users: anywhere in the centre, Hotel Baía or Pestana Cidadela.

When to book

June to September is high season, and the best sea-view rooms go months ahead. Prices also rise for big events, such as the Estoril Open tennis in July and the free Festas do Mar music festival in late August (20 to 30 August in 2026). Spring and autumn are cheaper and still warm enough for the beach on many days. In winter, many hotels offer good deals, and the coast is lovely for walking.

Food near your hotel

The old town and marina have plenty of seafood restaurants. Try grilled fish, clams and octopus, and a scoop of ice cream on the seafront in the evening. Prices are higher than in Lisbon, so look a street or two back from the water for better value. See our things to do in Cascais.

Tips

  • Getting to Lisbon: the train from Cascais to Cais do Sodré runs every 20 minutes or so and takes about 40 minutes, along the coast. Because of upgrade works in 2026, replacement buses run between Caxias and Cascais on many evenings, so check CP’s website if you’re coming back late.
  • From the airport: about 30–40 minutes by Uber, Bolt or a pre-booked transfer, longer in rush hour.
  • To Sintra: Carris Metropolitana bus 1624 runs from Cascais via Cabo da Roca to Portela de Sintra station, on the edge of Sintra rather than in the old town, so allow time for a short onward bus, taxi or walk. Check times before you go. Private cars can’t drive up to Pena Palace, so the bus is often easier than driving.
  • To Guincho: MobiCascais town buses (lines 5 and 15) run out to Guincho, or you can cycle there on the coastal cycle path.
  • Parking is limited in the centre, so check with your hotel.
  • Summer weekends get busy with Lisboetas heading to the beach, so book early.

FAQ

Is Cascais a good base for visiting Lisbon?

Yes, if you like the idea of the beach at the end of the day. The train to Cais do Sodré takes about 40 minutes, though late evenings are slower in 2026 because of replacement buses.

Do you need a car in Cascais?

Not if you stay in the centre: the beaches, marina, station and restaurants are all walkable. A car helps if you stay near Guincho or Quinta da Marinha.

Where should families stay in Cascais?

Onyria Marinha Cascais has the most space and pools, while Hotel Baía puts you next to a town beach and the station.

Plan your stay

See our Cascais guide, Sintra in one day and surfing in Portugal for Carcavelos and Guincho.

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

See also: the best hotels in Cascais and Cascais vs Lisbon.

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