Things To Do in Cascais, Portugal for a Seaside Getaway

There are a lot of fantastic things to do in Cascais, Portugal.

But, to be honest, it’s a perfect place to take it easy and enjoy a relaxing seaside getaway.

That’s what I did on a long Easter weekend in the middle of a month-long travel schedule.  It was glorious.

Why?  Think sunshine and sandy beaches, a charming old town, tantalizing seafood and getting thoroughly pampered at a five-star resort.  Who could ask for anything more?

Cascais (pronounced “kush-kaish”) is just 30 kilometres west of Lisbon, but it’s often overlooked as a destination by visitors from outside of Portugal.

Locals have known that it’s a great spot for a holiday ever since the Portuguese royals set up a residence there in the 1870s.

So, whether you want to get active, or take a break, here’s my “bliss list” to help you plan a Cascais getaway.

Things to do in Cascais, Portugal:

Relax

I couldn’t have picked a better place to fulfill my top priority than the lux Hotel Cascais Miragem Health & Spa.

This 192-room hotel is popular for business conferences during the week, which might be why I was able to snag an ocean-view room for Easter weekend.  With its top-notch service, ocean-side infinity pool and gorgeous views of the Atlantic, it was just the oasis I needed to recharge after a couple of busy weeks of traveling.  Once I curled up with a book on a couch beside the ocean, I didn’t want to leave!

Check prices and availability for the Hotel Cascais Miragem here.

Explore the waterfront

In between my high priority lounging activities, I took the opportunity to explore the Cascais waterfront and town.

The Casa de Santa Maria (above)  is a grand 19th-century mansion, which is now open to the public ( 2750-319 Cascais, Portugal).  Opposite the Santa Maria is a blue and white lighthouse, which also contains a small museum.

I also enjoyed a walk at the marina, where you’ll see yachts of the rich and famous as well as modest fishing boats and stacks of lobster traps.  If you’re looking for an ocean adventure, you can take a half-day deep sea fishing trip  or an eco-dive tour from the marina.

Wander in Cascais Old Town

Cascais has a charming old town, filled with winding lanes and traditional fishermen’s houses.  As in Lisbon, you’ll see the traditional “Portuguese pavement” made of small limestone blocks and arranged in a mosaic pattern.  But, be careful because they can be slippery.

Many of the traditional houses have been converted into cute shops and bars on the main streets.  Be sure to wander onto some of the quieter, residential streets to admire the older buildings and colourful tiles.

Since the centre of Cascais can get quite busy during the day, you may want to do your exploring in the morning before the crowds and the heat of the day arrive.

Enjoy the Cascais beaches

There are several small beaches in Cascais.  All of them feature golden sand. calm water and are supervised by lifeguards.  Of course, since this is the Atlantic ocean, the water is not very warm reaching only 21 degrees Celsius in the summer.  I was surprised to see a few hardy souls taking a dip on a hot day in April.

During the summer, parasols and sun loungers can be rented at most beaches for 10 – 15 Euros a day. You can expect these beaches to be very busy in peak season.

The Praia de Rainha (Queen’s Beach in photo above) is so-named because it was the private beach of Queen Amélia during the 1880s.  The jagged outcrops provided privacy for the Queen.

The Praia das Moitas is the little beach you see in the photo of the view from the Hotel Cascais Miragem.  The beach is small but tends to be slightly quieter.

Other options include Praia da Conceição and Praia da Duquesa, which together form the main beach of Cascais. This is a beautiful stretch of sand with lots of beach activities and an on-site bar.  You can also visit the Praia da Ribeira (photo below).  It faces the fishing harbour, but because of that, the quality of the water is so-so.

Cycle to Guincho Beach

If you’re looking for a more expansive beach and some wave action, the best beach in the area is Guincho, about 8 kilometres northwest of Cascais.  It’s also very popular with the surfing crowd.

You can get there using a red cycling path along the dramatic coastline which connects Cascais to Guincho.  The route is fairly flat, although strong winds can provide a challenge.  Cascais City Council provides free bikes, but you have to get them early and the bikes are very basic, with no safety equipment.  You can also rent a bike at a number of outlets in town (there is one at the marina).

You can drive to Guincho, but the parking is limited in the summer.  You can also get there via the 405 and 415 local buses.

Want more adventure?  Try a half-day rock climbing experience on cliffs in the area

Take a day trip to Sintra

Sintra-Cascais is a Natural Park in the area that seems like it’s from the pages of a fairy tale.  Sintra has its own mountainous micro-climate, which is why the Portuguese royals built their opulent palaces in the lush forests here.

I enjoyed an afternoon visiting the Palácio Nacional da Pena, a colourful castle in the style of 19th century Romanticism.   Starting from a parking area in San Pedro, I hiked up to the palace through the exotic forest, thick with dewy ferns and lichens.  The interior of the palace is fascinating to visit, having been restored to reflect the decor from 1920.  To close out the visit, I did another short, but steep, hike up to the Cruz Alta viewpoint for the panoramic view in the photo above.  It was well worth it!

The Pena Palace gets very busy during the day, and it’s best to go early in the morning or late afternoon, as I did.  Driving and parking during peak season is extremely difficult.  There is a direct bus service (#417) from the Cascais bus station, and if you prefer not to do the steep hike, you can take the tourist bus #434 to make your way up to the Palace.

Of course, there is a lot more to see in Sintra.  If you enjoy photography, a great option is a private day tour of Sintra with Lisbon Photo.

Cascais Museums

I have to admit, that with my relaxing/hiking/eating agenda, I did not get a chance to go inside the museums in Cascais.

The Condes de Castro Guimarães museum is a 19th-century mansion that displays furniture and art from the collection of its owner, an Irish tobacco millionaire. It’s on the grounds of the Marechal Carmona Park, which includes a duck pond, strolling peacocks and a petting zoo.  It’s located near the marina at Av. Rei Humberto II de Itália Parque Marechal Camona, 2750-319 Cascais, Portugal.

There’s also an interesting art museum called Casa Das Historias  (Av. da República 300, 2750-475 Cascais, Portugal).  It’s housed in a striking building, with two terracotta pink, conical towers that resemble the chimneys of the National Palace in Sintra.

You may also enjoy an urban art tour of the Bairro da Torre neighbourhood in Cascais.

Take in the sunset at Boca de Inferno

The Boca do Inferno (Hell’s Mouth) is an eroded cave, along with weathered cliffs.  It’s about a 20-minute walk north from the Cascais marina and one of the best places in Cascais to enjoy the sunset.

Where to Stay:

My stay at the Hotel Cascais Miragem turned a quick travel break into a dream getaway.  It is surely one of the best hotels in Cascais.

My suite, decorated in contemporary style and warm earth tones, was spacious with a comfy king-size bed.  It had fast, complimentary wifi, and, as a non-coffee drinker, I really appreciated the tea selection and electric kettle.  The marble bathroom was huge with a large rain shower and luxury amenities.

I thoroughly enjoyed breathing in the sea air on my terrace overlooking the pool and the ocean. Those views – – this is the way to relax!  And to top it off, the hotel gave me a complimentary chocolate Easter egg, filled with truffles.  These people know the way to my heart!

The hotel also features a health spa and fitness room, and guests have access to the serene Miragem Water Lounge to relax in a series of whirlpools, a salt lake and a sauna.

All in all, it was the perfect getaway spot!

Hotel Address: Av.Marginal n.8554, ​2754-536 Cascais – Portugal

Where to eat

As you can see, weekend brunch is an event at the Hotel Cascais Miragem.  There was also the added bonus of enjoying my breakfast outside beside the pool and the endless ocean view.

Equally eventful was the 7-course dining experience at the hotel’s Gourmet Restaurant, also with an exquisite ocean view.  The restaurant serves a mix of international cuisine and the flavours of Portugal.  The meal started with a tasting of local olive oils and bread.  I had no idea there were so many varieties.  I will never forget the first starter, a “foie-gras trilogy”, which included a delicious foie-gras macaron.  This was followed by seared sea scallops with macadamia nuts, a fish stew and Iberian black pork cheeks.  The wine pairings with each course were fabulous right to the final port after dessert.

In a word, it was sublime!

If you’re looking for Cascais restaurants in the old town, I also enjoyed fresh grilled fish at  O Viriato  ( Avenida Vasco da Gama 34 Centro, Cascais 2750-509 Portugal) and Apeadeiro  (Avenida Vasco da Gama 252, Cascais 2750-509 Portugal).  Both are reasonably-priced restaurants recommended by locals and are slightly off the tourist track.

Finally, while you’re strolling about the town, you must try one of the many flavours of gelato or ice cream at Gelados Santini , Avenida Valbom 28F, Cascais 2750-508 Portugal.

How to Get from Lisbon to Cascais

Another advantage of staying at the Hotel Cascais Miragem is that it has valet parking.  Otherwise, it can be tough to find a parking space in Cascais in the summer.

If you’re not driving, Cascais is an easy train trip via the “Linha de Cascais” urban railway from the Cais do Sodre train station in Lisbon.  You can get details on fares and schedules here.

You can also arrange a private transfer from the Lisbon airport.

Either way, you’re in for a fantastic seaside getaway in Cascais!

Travel Bliss Now received a media rate from the Hotel Cascais Miragem, but my opinions are, as always, my own.

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