TLDR: Cascais is the seaside town 32 km west of Lisbon. 40-minute train from Cais do Sodré (€2.30 each way). Highlights: Praia da Rainha and Praia da Conceição beaches in the centre, the Cascais old town pedestrian streets, the Boca do Inferno blowhole cliffs (20 min walk west), the Marechal Carmona Park, the Casa das Histórias Paula Rego art museum (€5), and the famous seafood lunch at Marisco na Praça in the central market hall. From Casa Almada it is 18 min walk to Cais do Sodré + 40 min train.
Planning your stay?
Luxury Apartment Stays at Casa Almada — check availability and book direct.
Insider tip from Casa Almada
Take the 8.45am train from Cais do Sodré on a weekday. Sit on the right going west for the full 40-minute coastal view. Walk to Praia da Rainha first for an empty beach swim before 11am, then central old town for lunch at Marisco na Praça. Cliffs at Boca do Inferno from 3pm. Train back from Cascais at 6pm. Door-to-door from Casa Almada by 7.30pm. Avoid Saturdays in July-August — the trains are packed.
Cascais is what happens when a Portuguese fishing village becomes the summer residence of the royal family in the 1870s, then the favourite getaway of Lisbon’s upper-middle class for 150 years. Today it is the easiest seaside day trip from the capital — clean beaches, walkable old town, dramatic cliffs nearby, and one of the best seafood lunches in Portugal.
Casa Almada sits 18 minutes’ walk from Cais do Sodré, where the Cascais train leaves from. This is the local guide to a perfect day trip — when to go, what to do in the morning, where to eat lunch, and the cliff walk that makes the whole day worth the train fare.
Getting there from Lisbon
The Cascais train (Linha de Cascais) runs from Cais do Sodré station in central Lisbon. 40 minutes end to end, departures every 20 minutes from 5.30am to 1.30am, fare €2.30 each way with a Lisboa Viva contactless card.
The line follows the Tagus and then the Atlantic coast all the way out — from the centre, sit on the right-hand side going west for the full sea view. Stations along the way include Belém (10 min in, useful if you want to combine), Estoril (35 min, the casino town just before Cascais), and Cascais at the western terminus.
From Casa Almada to Cais do Sodré is 18 minutes’ walk down through Baixa, or one stop on the green metro line from Baixa-Chiado to Cais do Sodré (3 min). Total Casa Almada to Cascais beach is around 70-80 min door to door.
Planning a Lisbon stay?
Why not stay with me at Casa Almada?
220 m² luxury apartment in the heart of the old town, sleeping up to 9 guests plus 2 infants. Tram 28 at the bottom of the street, Sé Cathedral around the corner. From €219 per night.
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The beaches and the old town
Praia da Rainha is the small sandy cove right in central Cascais, 5 minutes’ walk from the station. Sheltered between rocky outcrops, calm water suitable for children, and the main bathing beach. Small bar-café at the top of the steps for drinks and pastéis. €5 sun lounger rental.
Praia da Conceição is the longer beach immediately east, also 5 min from station. Slightly busier and more developed — paid sun lounger area, beach bars, and a windsurf rental shack at the eastern end.
Praia do Guincho 9 km west is the wild Atlantic surf beach for stronger swimmers. Take the local bus 405 from Cascais bus terminal (€2 each way, 20 min). Beach restaurants and surf schools but watch the strong currents — not safe for unconfident swimmers.
The Cascais old town spreads east from the station — pedestrian streets paved with traditional Portuguese black-and-white mosaics, painted houses, small craft shops, fish restaurants, and the small Praça 5 de Outubro square as the centrepoint. Allow 90 minutes for a slow walk.
Cliff walks and the Boca do Inferno
Boca do Inferno (Mouth of Hell) is the dramatic Atlantic blowhole 1.5 km west of Cascais centre. A natural rock arch where the sea has carved a deep cleft into the cliff — at high tide and in strong westerly winds, waves explode through the gap with spectacular spray. Free entry, always open.
Walk there along the coastal path from central Cascais — 20 minutes on a paved promenade with sea views the whole way. Past the small Boca do Inferno chapel and a few seafood restaurants. The Boca itself has a small lookout platform with railings, plus a craft market area on busier days.
For a longer walk, continue another 25 minutes west along the coast to Praia do Abano — wild small cove with no facilities, often empty, popular with local divers. Beyond that the cliffs continue into the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park.
On the eastern side, the Marechal Carmona Park (a 5 min walk inland from the station) holds the Museu Conde de Castro Guimarães in a 19th-century palace (€5, Tue-Sun) and the Casa das Histórias Paula Rego art museum dedicated to the Cascais-born Portuguese painter (€5, Tue-Sun, free for under-18s).
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Where to eat and the Estoril detour
Marisco na Praça in the central Mercado da Vila market hall (Rua Padre Moisés da Silva) is the local seafood lunch favourite — pick your fish from the ice-display counter, they grill it on charcoal, served with boiled potatoes, salad and a glass of white Vinho Verde. €25-€40 per head. Open daily 12pm-11pm.
Mar do Inferno by the Boca do Inferno is the cliffside seafood restaurant — same fresh-fish-and-grill format with a wider view. €30-€55 per head. Book the terrace table.
For a quicker bite, Santini on Avenida Valbom is the famous Cascais ice-cream parlour since 1949 — pasteurised mango, Brazilian cocoa, and a chestnut flavour in autumn. €4-€5 a cone.
Estoril 5 minutes back along the train line is the elegant casino-and-villa town with the famous Casino Estoril (the largest casino in Europe by floor area, free entry to the gaming floors with ID). The Tamariz beach is the central swimming beach. Worth a one-stop detour on the way back.
- Train from Lisbon Cais do Sodré: 40 min, €2.30 each way, every 20 min.
- Praia da Rainha: Central sandy cove, 5 min walk from station.
- Praia da Conceição: Longer central beach, 5 min walk.
- Praia do Guincho: Wild surf beach 9 km west, bus 405 from terminal.
- Boca do Inferno: Cliff blowhole, 20 min walk west, free.
- Marechal Carmona Park: 19th-century palace gardens, 5 min from station.
- Casa das Histórias Paula Rego: €5, Tue-Sun. Free under-18s.
- Marisco na Praça: Mercado da Vila. €25-€40 seafood lunch.
- Mar do Inferno: Cliffside restaurant by Boca do Inferno, €30-€55.
- From Casa Almada total time: ~70-80 min door to door.
Photos of Casa Almada
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Stay with us in Lisbon
Casa Almada — luxury family apartment in the heart of Lisbon
220 m² of beautifully restored space across 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, sleeping up to 9 guests plus 2 infants. Three super king beds that split into singles, blackout blinds throughout, original art by Lisbon artists, Egyptian cotton linens, Rituals products, and a stunning rooftop terrace with panoramic city views. Tram 28 at the bottom of the street, Sé Cathedral around the corner, Castelo de São Jorge ten minutes on foot. A far cry from the soulless chain hotels of yesterday.
From €219/night. FTC disclosure: this is our own apartment booking page.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Lisbon to Cascais?
Take the suburban train from Lisbon Cais do Sodré direct to Cascais. 40 minutes, trains every 20 minutes, €2.30 each way with a Lisboa Viva card. From Casa Almada it is 18 minutes’ walk to Cais do Sodré, or one stop on the green metro line from Baixa-Chiado.
How long do you need in Cascais?
A full day. Morning beach (Praia da Rainha or Praia da Conceição), lunch in the old town at Marisco na Praça, afternoon cliff walk to Boca do Inferno, optional return via Estoril for the casino. Total 7-8 hours including the train each way. Some visitors stay overnight to add Praia do Guincho the following day.
Is Cascais worth visiting from Lisbon?
Yes for first-time visitors who want a coastal day trip. The 40-minute train with sea views, the central beaches, the old town walk, the dramatic Boca do Inferno cliffs and the seafood lunch combine into one of the best easy day trips from the capital. Add Estoril if you have an extra hour.
What is the best beach in Cascais?
Praia da Rainha is the most central and family-friendly — small sandy cove, calm water, 5 min from the station. Praia da Conceição next door is longer and busier with more amenities. Praia do Guincho 9 km west is the wild surf beach for stronger swimmers, with strong currents that make it unsuitable for children.
Where is the best seafood in Cascais?
Marisco na Praça in the Mercado da Vila central market hall — pick your fish from the ice display, they grill it on charcoal, around €25-€40 per head. Mar do Inferno by the Boca do Inferno cliffs is the cliffside alternative at €30-€55. Both family-run, both reliable.
If you are planning your stay around this, take a look at the rest of our Lisbon travel blog for itineraries, restaurants and seasonal tips.