Historic landmarks
Main monuments, best viewpoints, and what’s worth your time in Cascais.
Private Transfers in Cascais — Airport & Day Trips
Private and reliable transfers in Cascais – airport, hotel, business travel and day trips across Portugal.
Explore the best of Cascais
Cascais is in the Lisbon & Surroundings region of Portugal, about 32 km from Lisbon Airport.
Weather
20°C
Clear
Lisbon time 15:09 • 19 Oct 2026
Nearest airport
LIS
32 km
Lisbon Airport (LIS) · 32 km
Region
Lisbon & Surroundings
Portugal
Population
214,124
Residents
Overview
Plan your visit: the sights of Cascais, what to eat and where to stay.
Landmarks · Cuisine · Hotels
Hotels & stays
Book the right stay in Cascais: best areas, smart picks, and options for every budget.
Cascais Old Town
A knot of mosaic-paved lanes behind the bay — fishermen's chapels, bright façades, pavement cafés and boutiques — where the former fishing village still shows through the riviera polish.
Citadel of Cascais
The 16th-century fortress that guarded Lisbon's coast and housed Portugal's kings each summer — now an open citadel of art galleries, a pousada and ramparts over the marina.
Boca do Inferno
The 'Mouth of Hell' — a collapsed sea cave where Atlantic swells surge and explode against the cliffs, a short, dramatic walk from the centre of Cascais.
Guincho Beach
A wild, dune-backed Atlantic beach inside the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park — world-class wind for surfers and kitesurfers, with the Sintra hills as a backdrop.
Casa das Histórias Paula Rego
A museum dedicated to the painter Paula Rego, in a striking red building with two pyramid towers by architect Eduardo Souto de Moura.
Santa Marta Lighthouse Museum
A blue-and-white striped lighthouse by the sea, now a small museum about Portugal's lighthouses.
Arroz de marisco
Soupy seafood rice loaded with prawns, clams and crab in a rich tomato-and-coriander broth — the great sharing dish of the Cascais coast, at its most famous in the restaurants above Guincho beach.
Peixe grelhado
Whole fish from the day's auction — sea bass, bream, sole — grilled over charcoal and dressed with little more than olive oil, salt and lemon. Cascais was a fishing port first, and this is the proof.
Santola recheada
Spider crab stuffed in its own shell — the meat picked, seasoned with mustard, beer and herbs, and served cold with toast. The grand opener of a Cascais seafood dinner.
Percebes
Goose barnacles prised from the wave-battered rocks of this coast — boiled briefly in seawater and eaten with the fingers. Strange to look at, intensely of the ocean, and a delicacy the Portuguese take seriously.
Areias de Cascais
The town's own sweet: little butter biscuits rolled in sugar that crumble like the sand they are named after, baked in Cascais since the 19th century.
Colares and Carcavelos wines
Two of Portugal's rarest wines bookend Cascais: salty, ungrafted reds from the sand vineyards of Colares and the revived fortified Carcavelos — tiny appellations a short drive from town.
Cascais travel guide & FAQ
Cascais travel guide
Cascais sits on the Atlantic coast west of Lisbon, where the River Tagus opens to the ocean. Once a fishing village and later the summer retreat of the Portuguese royal family, it is today a relaxed seaside town with small beaches, a marina, mosaic-paved streets and a long seafront promenade.
What to see
Wander the old town and the fishermen's beach, then visit the Citadel, now home to galleries and a pousada. A short walk west, the waves crash into the Boca do Inferno. Art lovers should not miss the Casa das Histórias Paula Rego. Further along the coast, Guincho beach is wild, windy and loved by surfers.
What to eat
Cascais is a place for fish and seafood: grilled fish of the day, arroz de marisco, stuffed spider crab and, for the adventurous, percebes. For something sweet, try the Areias de Cascais biscuits.
Nearby
The coast road leads to Cabo da Roca and Sintra; the seaside promenade connects Cascais with Estoril, and Lisbon is about 30 minutes away.
Getting there
Cascais is about 35 km from Lisbon Airport. GoToo drives you door to door at a fixed price per vehicle, with flight tracking.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers, so you can book with confidence.
Yes. It combines beaches, a pretty old town and great seafood, and it is easy to pair with Sintra or Cabo da Roca.
Yes, in the small town beaches such as Rainha and Conceição. Guincho is better for surfing and walking, as the sea and wind are strong.
Grilled fish, seafood rice, stuffed spider crab, percebes and the Areias biscuits.
GoToo runs private transfers from Lisbon Airport, about 35 km, at a fixed price per vehicle.
Map of Cascais
Highlights
- Elegant seaside town near Lisbon
- Historic centre and coastal fortifications
- Easy access from Lisbon Airport
- Beaches, marinas and outdoor activities
- Gateway to Sintra and the Atlantic coast
- Refined yet relaxed lifestyle
Private transfers in Cascais
- ✓ Fixed price · no surprises
- ✓ Up to 90 min airport waiting included
- ✓ Professional licensed driver
Getting to Cascais
Cascais sits about 37 km from Lisbon Airport, roughly 34 minutes by road. Public transport often means changes and waiting, and may leave you a walk from where you want to be. A private transfer takes you door-to-door, with a fixed price and no connections — from €31 from Lisbon Airport.