When I planned our trip to Portugal, I knew that I wanted to head to Lisbon. The capital city has always fascinated me and with about a month in the country, there was plenty of time to explore its surroundings. My question however was ‘Is Cascais worth visiting?’.
The famed seaside town seemed as if it had nothing much to offer at first glance. I was very wrong and so glad that I did my research. There are tons of attractions in Cascais and most of them can keep you walking through the town for a whole day. This is why many people try to breeze through Cascais in a day and why it has become a popular day trip from Lisbon.
In general, Cascais is an absolute gem that has stunning beaches, excellent food and plenty of history. There are however a few detractors from the town and I’ll talk about them in a bit.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Read my disclaimer for further information.
Table of Contents
Is Cascais Worth Visiting – Pros
1. Cascais Doesn’t Have The Same Tourist Scene As Lisbon
Lisbon is often plagued with overtourism. The gorgeous city is over run with people tryng to catch a glimpse of all the sights that the city has to offer. Located a short way off, Cascais is also a tourist destination and has been one for decades. Few people stay here though because most tourists just visit on one of the tours. For them, Cascais is a short stop on a larger itinerary.
This means that if you roam around the city and know where to head to, you can avoid the worst of the crowds. I found myself quite enjoying the pretty streets and I found a number of places where we were relatively alone. So is Cascais worth visiting? It is if you love a bit of solitude.
2. Cascais Is Easy To Get To
For many, transportation is an issue when it comes to visiting cities and towns in Portugal. Cascais does not pose this issue. It is connected by train to the main Lisbon train station. So all you have to do is book a ticket and head out there. The train station is located very close to the main city so you can easily walk to it and the famed beaches.
3. The City Is Walkable
Is Cascais worth visiting when it comes to walkability? Yes. There are great footpaths and ramps in all parts of the city. Where there are no ramps you will find that there are elevators. Cascais is also a very small city so you can easily walk from end to end and back again. We walked about with our toddlers and did not find an issue at all. Just make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes because there are some steep slopes that you may have to climb.
4. It Has Some Really Awesome Hotels
Cascais is one of those towns in Europe that has jaw dropping views of the coast. Think limestone cliffs with waves that smash against them. The best part is that there are some really cool luxury hotels along the coast that have these views from the rooms. Unlike many parts of Europe, these hotels will not break the bank. In fact, I found many of them more affordable than the hotels in Amsterdam.
Some pretty iconic ones along the coast are:
Is Cascais worth visiting? If you love luxury hotels and want some spectacular views of the coast, then Cascais will have you craving for a longer vacation.
5. Amazing Coastal Views With Gorgeous Beaches
It goes without saying that this town has some amazing beaches and drop dead views of the wave battered limestone coast. As Cascais became more popular, people gave it the nickname ‘The Portuguese Riveira’ and rightly so.
You don’t have to go far to discover the pretty beaches. In fact, if you know about the secret spots and beaches, you can even swim in a nice rocky pool.
6. Some Of The Best Seafood In Europe
Portugal is famed for its seafood and Cascais is one of the best places to enjoy it. The unique blend of spices and fresh fish is a treat for the senses. I could not get enough of the grilled fish and the children kept trying one seafood rice after another. Shawn on the otherhand tried everything.
Now we have tried the seafood in different countries across Europe and Portuguese seafood appealed to our senses partly because it reminded us of home and partly because the Portuguese really know how to use spice. Something that we have missed.
7. Good Weather
By and large the weather in Cascais is warm. If you think its cold here, odds are it is colder in the rest of Europe. This means that its a great place to enjoy the sands and water. Luckily there are a number of different beaches which you can head to and get away from the largest crowds. Generally speaking the beaches closer to the town are busier.
8. There Is Plenty Of History
Cascais is steeped in history. You won’t catch this at a glance but when you visit some of the attractions in the city like Museum de Condes de Castro Guimaraes or Musee de Villa, you can see trace back history. Musee de Villa is a free museum and it talks about Cascais from way in the beginning, its evolution through time, the conquests of various different armies, the earthquake and more. If you are curious about the history of the city then this is a very good place to start.
9. You Can Easily Visit To Lisbon And Belem
A lot of people choose to stay in Lisbon and visit Cascais and Belem. The reverse also holds true. Since the cities are very close to each other, you can choose to live in this gorgeous beachside town and visit Lisbon on a day trip. The upside to this is being able to live and enjoy a slower pace of life while taking in some of the best views on the Portuguese coast.
Lisbon and Belem are connected via train from Cascais making it an easy journey. The trains are frequent and the train stations are accessible. If you are interested in day trips, you will find that you can also head to Sintra, Ericeira and Mafra from this location with ease if you have a car.
Is Cascais Worth Visiting – Cons
1. It Is Very Crowded During The Day
Cascais is insanely popular and many people head here as part of a day trip from Lisbon. Many even combine it with Belem and Sintra. In fact, there are loads of tours that organize these trips. This means that generally speaking, Cascais is very busy during the day. It does however get quieter in the early mornings and the evenings when the tourists have not arrived or have already left.
2. Cascais Doesn’t Have A Very Active Nightlife
Cascais isn’t a big city and while it is active during the day, it gets rather quiet at night. Now for me, this was a big draw since we were traveling with kids and were looking for a quieter scene. For many that may not be the case and I can see how it would dissuade them from staying over in Cascais.
As you can see, there are a lot of pros and cons when it comes to the city. Is Cascais worth visiting? The pros definitely outnumber the cons. I personally loved my time in the town and should I head back to Lisbon, I know I will be staying in the same area once more. The quiet vibe, excellent food, beautiful beaches definitely spoke to our souls and the kids loved it too!
Other Posts That You May Enjoy
Don’t Forget To Pin This Post
