The Farol de Santa Marta stands on a small point between the marina and the Boca do Inferno walk: a working lighthouse from 1868, its tower clad in white and blue azulejo tiles, attached to the small 17th-century fort of Santa Marta.
In 2007 the keepers' houses were converted by the celebrated Aires Mateus architecture studio into the Santa Marta Lighthouse Museum — a crisp white sequence of rooms telling the story of Portugal's lighthouses, their optics, technology and the daily life of the keepers. Entry is free, and on several days a week the tower itself can be climbed for a view along the coast.
With its terrace café above the rocks and its position on the seafront walk — next to the Casa de Santa Maria and five minutes from the citadel — it is the easiest and most charming small stop in Cascais.
Highlights
- Working 1868 lighthouse clad in blue-and-white tiles
- Free museum in the former keepers' houses
- Conversion by the Aires Mateus architecture studio
- Tower climbs on selected days
- Terrace café on the rocks, on the seafront walk
History & context
A lighthouse has marked Santa Marta point since 1868, built onto the 17th-century fort that guarded the bay; the museum conversion by Aires Mateus opened in 2007 and won wide architectural praise.
🗓️ Best time to visit
Mid-afternoon, folded into the seafront walk between the citadel and Boca do Inferno.
⏱️ Duration
30–45 minutes
♿ Accessibility
Museum rooms are level; the tower climb is by stairs only.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost?
Entry to the museum is free; occasional special exhibitions may charge.
What are the hours?
Tuesday to Sunday, roughly 10:00–13:00 and 14:00–18:00; the tower can usually be climbed Thursday to Saturday.