Free walking tours in Cascais and what to see

Must-sees

Cascais was a fishing village and a summer retreat for the Portuguese court, and it still has the air of an elegant seaside town. The historic centre revolves around Fishermen's Beach, the citadel and the marina, with pedestrian streets paved in black and white cobbles.

A few minutes' walk away is the Boca do Inferno, a hollow in the cliff where the sea crashes in. The seafront promenade links Cascais with Estoril along several beaches, and to the west the road carries on to Guincho beach, open to the Atlantic, and Cabo da Roca. In the centre there are museums such as the Casa das Histórias Paula Rego.

Free tours and guided visits

The Cascais free walking tour covers the centre, the citadel and the bay, and tells the story of the town as a refuge for European royalty. It is short and goes well with an afternoon on the beach.

Among the paid activities there are dolphin watching, boat trips along the coast and bike routes through the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. Day trips also leave from here to Lisbon and to Fátima, Óbidos and Nazaré.

How long to spend

One day is enough for the centre, the Boca do Inferno and a walk to Estoril. Many travellers choose Cascais as a base for several days: the train reaches Lisbon along the coast in under an hour, and Sintra is half an hour away by car or bus. In summer the beaches fill up at weekends, when people from Lisbon arrive.

Where to stay

The historic centre is the most convenient: beach, restaurants and the train station a few steps away. Monte Estoril and Estoril, along the promenade, offer seafront hotels and the casino, with the train just as close. For surf or nature, the Guincho area has more isolated places to stay among dunes and pine woods, always with a car.