Cascais, A Great Day Out from Lisbon

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If you are visiting Lisbon, and you have a day with beautiful beach weather, I recommend getting our of the city and visiting the town of Cascais.




Cascais has a long history as a seaside fishing town. It has been providing seafood to Sintra and Lisbon since the 12th century. In 1870 King Luis I made the decision to summer at the sea shore, and Cascais quickly became “the destination” for Lisbon’s elite. Today, tourists and the Portuguese alike flock to the town, which sits west of the mouth of the Tagus River.




The easiest way to get to Cascais is by train from the Cais do Sodré station in Lisbon. The trip takes you along the banks of the Tagus, with beautiful views along the way. The Cascais station is a short walk from the three beaches in town. 




From the station you can take a walk through the historic center of Cascais. Here you will find stores and restaurants that cater to both day-trippers and longer-term visitors. I stopped at Sacolinha, a wonderful cafe and pastry shop for coffee and…




Across the street from Sacolinha is a stop for the #27 bus. This line will take you on loop through Cascais and out along Avenida Rei Humberto II de Italia. Here you will find the Boca do Inferno (Devil’s Mouth). This chasm and sea arch forms an explosive blow hole when the seas are rough.






 

Looking up the coast you can see the Farol da Guia (Guia Lighthouse). In front of the lighthouse is the Paladar da Guia, a collections of stores and restaurants with great views of the ocean.





You can also take the #43 or the #5 bus which loop out further along the Atlantic coast. Here you will find the largest beaches in the area, along with some excellent seafood restaurants. I enjoyed lunch at Meste Zé with great views of the Atlantic from my table.




Making my way back to town, I visited the Casa de Historias Paula Rego. Paula Rego (1935-2022) was a British-Portuguese artist. Her work has surrealist tinge, and is based on feminist themes tied to local folk tales.



The Nicotine Cat

Love

Self-Portrait

Day

Night

Untitled

Mother Wears the Wolf's Pelt

Four


As I walked back to the station I passed the statue of Dom Carlos I (1863-1908). Carlos I had a keen interest in sailing and the nautical life, and, as king, he played a key role in the development of Cascais as a beach and boating retreat. His state looks over the main marina of the town.






Nuts and Bolts


  • The train to Cascais leaves from the Cais do Sodré station 2-3 times every hour. The ticket is €2.30 each way
  • Bus fare in Cascais is €1.50 for a 2 hour ticket or €2 for a full day pass.
  • Casa Historias Paula Rego is located at Av. Republica 300. It is open Tue - Sun, 10:00 AM - 6:00PM. Tickets are €5
Location: Cascais, Portugal

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