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When planning a trip to Portugal, many travelers visit Cascais on a quick day trip from Lisbon. Or they skip it altogether, as I did on my solo trip to Portugal last year, and I immediately regretted it. So, during our family trip to Portugal this summer, we decided to spend four nights in Cascais before finishing our nearly three-week Portugal itinerary with three nights in Lisbon. Today, I want to answer one of the questions I get asked most: Is Cascais worth visiting?
My answer is absolutely yes, especially if you’re visiting between late spring and early fall. Looking back, staying in Cascais this summer was one of the best decisions we made.
While Lisbon is an incredible city, we loved slowing down in this beautiful seaside town, spending our days walking along the waterfront, relaxing on the beaches, enjoying excellent restaurants, and exploring the charming streets after most of the day-trippers had returned to Lisbon.
If you’re wondering whether Cascais is worth visiting or debating between a day trip and an overnight stay, here’s why I think it’s worth spending more than just a few hours here. I’ll also share where we stayed, a few Cascais hotel recommendations, and some of our favorite things to do in Cascais.
Is Cascais Worth Visiting?
If your Portugal itinerary allows, I highly recommend spending at least a couple of nights in Cascais instead of visiting on a rushed day trip from Lisbon. While one day in Cascais is certainly better than skipping it altogether, staying a little longer lets you experience everything that makes this coastal town so special.
Our family always loves to stay longer in towns that others often experience only as day trips. Â This includes places like Cinque Terre, Italy, and Sitges, Spain, as well as Antibes and Cassis in southern France. Â
The magic of these European coastal towns is in the morning hours and long summer nights after the day trippers have left, allowing you to wander and just immerse yourself in the destination!
5 Reasons Why We Loved Staying in Cascais, Portugal
We visited Cascais in June 2026 with our two teenagers, and it completely exceeded our expectations. I am already dreaming up ways to get back, and we even had family photos taken in Cascais, which were the ultimate souvenir!
But is Cascais crowded? While Cascais was certainly busy during the middle of the day, it never felt overwhelmingly crowded like some of the other European day-trip beach towns we’ve visited in the summer.
For our family, Cascais struck a wonderful balance between lively and relaxed. There was always something happening, but it still felt easy to slow down, wander, and enjoy everything this beautiful Portuguese seaside town has to offer.
And Cascais felt like a place people actually live, not just a place tourists visit!
#1 Cascais Is a Walkable Seaside Town
One of our favorite things about Cascais was how incredibly walkable it was. We don’t like to drive much when traveling, so walkability is always something we look for and appreciate.
We rented a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment in Old Town Cascais and were able to explore almost everything on foot without ever feeling the need for a car. It was in a fantastic location!
Old Town Cascais is filled with narrow (often beautifully tiled) pedestrian streets, colorful buildings, inviting cafés, local boutiques, and is perfect for wandering without a plan. It felt lively throughout the day but never overwhelmingly crowded for us, and we loved simply getting lost exploring the side streets.
From there, it was an easy walk to the waterfront promenade, the upscale marina, several beautiful beaches, the lighthouse, and the lovely Parque Marechal Carmona. We stopped by many of these locations during our family photo session with Claudia from Flytographer!
No matter which direction we headed, there always seemed to be something new to discover, which is exactly what made staying in Cascais for several days so rewarding!
#2 Beautiful Beaches Just Steps Away
Several of the best beaches in Cascais are within easy walking distance of Old Town. So, whether you want to spend a few hours relaxing on the sand, grab a drink at one of the nearby beach bars, or simply enjoy the ocean views, it’s easy to build beach time into your day without much planning.
One of our favorite daily routines was walking east along the waterfront promenade, stopping for a crisp glass of Vinho Verde or cold Super Bock beer at one of the many restaurants overlooking the beach. Watching people enjoying the sunshine and water was one of those simple travel moments that Matt and I will always remember.
#3 Great Restaurants, Wine Bars & Shopping
We had some fantastic meals in Cascais, including Thai, Italian, Indian, and, of course, Portuguese. We ate out for every meal, and there were still plenty of restaurants we wished we had time to try.
One of our favorite discoveries was The Tasting Room, where we sampled Portuguese wines on three occasions. Â I highly recommend adding The Tasting Room to your Cascais itinerary and getting the meat and cheese tray. Â One night we even had dinner at an excellent Indian restaurant just across the street.
We also loved stopping at Bougain Restaurant & Garden Bar for cocktails in its charming garden courtyard. It was right across the street from our rental, and immediately caught my attention on our first day in Cascais.
On our last day, we also stumbled across the Yellow Street (Rua Amarela) area. This is a lively, restaurant-lined pedestrian intersection with outdoor seating. We immediately wished we had found it sooner because the atmosphere was so much fun and the restaurants smelled amazing!
For a more upscale atmosphere, head toward Cascais Marina. The restaurants, luxury boutiques, impressive yachts, and exotic cars gave this area a completely different feel from Old Town. There were even luxury car dealerships and exotic cars on display, in case anyone in your group might enjoy that. Â
#4 A Relaxed Pace Compared to Lisbon
Although Cascais is certainly popular with tourists, it never felt like a tourist trap to us. It felt like a solid mix of locals, European travelers, and of course, American tourists like us! English was widely spoken everywhere.
Even in the busiest parts of Old Town, it felt easier to wander into local shops, stop for a drink, or linger over dinner without feeling rushed from one attraction to the next. In fact, we noticed that in Portugal, you pretty much have to linger for dinner. Service can be very unhurried and slow-paced, as with many parts of Europe.
After nearly three weeks of traveling through Portugal, slowing down in Cascais before finishing our trip in Lisbon was exactly what our family needed!
That said, I think it would also be a great place to start your trip to the Lisbon area. Â When we fly into big cities, we love to spend the first few days in a smaller coastal town when possible, like we did staying in Sitges before Barcelona. Â
It gives us a chance to shake off the jet lag, take it easy, and enjoy a slower European pace before tackling a big city and logging those 20K+ steps a day. Â If you know, you know!
RELATED POST: Budget Friendly Europe Walking Shoes
#5 Cascais Is a Great Base for Day Trips
One of the biggest advantages of staying in Cascais rather than just visiting for the day is how easy it is to explore the surrounding area. Everyone talks about day trips from Lisbon, but day trips from Cascais are actually easier in most cases!
During our stay, we revisited Sintra, including both Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle, before returning to Cascais. Our Uber rides between Cascais and Sintra took about 20-25 minutes and cost under 20 euros each way.
There is also a train station in central Cascais that you can easily use to do a day trip to the Belém part of Lisbon or other coastal areas between the two.
When it was time to continue our trip, we simply took the train from Cascais into Lisbon, where we spent our final three nights at the Hyatt Regency Lisbon. The train station is conveniently located just a block from our rental in Old Town, making the transition incredibly easy without needing to drive or worry about parking!
Looking back, splitting our stay between Cascais and Lisbon gave us the best of both worlds. We spent a combined seven nights in the two areas, and you could easily split a weeklong stay between Cascais and Lisbon. When deciding which one to do for three or four days, just stay longer at the one that you will do your day trips from!
How Many Days Should You Spend in Cascais?
If you’re short on time, I still think Cascais is absolutely worth visiting as a day trip from Lisbon. Even with just one day, you can wander through Old Town, relax on one of the beaches, enjoy lunch overlooking the water, and stroll along the scenic waterfront promenade.
That said, I think three nights in Cascais is the sweet spot for most travelers. You’ll have enough time to experience the town at a slower pace, enjoy the beaches, take a day trip to Sintra, and still have plenty of time to relax without feeling rushed.
For our family, four nights in Cascais was perfect. Since we had already spent time in Porto and the Algarve, we were ready to slow down before finishing our Portugal itinerary in Lisbon. Those extra days gave us time to revisit our favorite spots, enjoy leisurely mornings, and simply soak up the atmosphere without constantly checking the clock.
If (or when) I return to Portugal, I’d happily stay in Cascais again! I would love to come back with just Matt and stay at one of those gorgeous waterfront hotels. The Farol Hotel looked so dreamy!
What Time of Year Is Best to Visit Cascais?
One reason I skipped Cascais on my first trip to Portugal last year was that I visited Lisbon in late January. Since Cascais is known for its beaches and outdoor lifestyle, I wanted to save it for warmer weather when I could fully experience everything the town has to offer.
For us, early to mid June was a great time to visit. The weather was warm and sunny, the beaches and restaurants were lively, and there was a fun energy throughout town without feeling overwhelmingly crowded. The long daylight hours also meant we could enjoy leisurely dinners followed by evening walks along the waterfront.
I think late spring and early fall are excellent times to visit if you’re looking for beautiful weather with slightly fewer crowds than the peak summer months. Â The peak summer season in Europe is July and August, so we got in slightly ahead of that.
But if your goal is a beach vacation with swimming, beach clubs, and the classic Portuguese seaside atmosphere, summer is hard to beat.
Winter can still be a nice time to visit Cascais if you’re more interested in sightseeing, coastal walks, and enjoying the town without the crowds. However, if you’re dreaming of relaxing on the beach, dining outdoors late into the evening, and experiencing Cascais at its liveliest, I’d recommend planning your visit between late spring and early fall.
Where to Stay in Cascais, Portugal
If I were planning another trip to Cascais, I would stay in Old Town again without hesitation. We loved being able to walk almost everywhere, whether we were heading to the beach, the promenade, the marina, restaurants, or the train station. It was the perfect location for exploring the area without ever feeling like we needed a car!
In fact, we did rent a car in Faro a week before, drove it to Vilamoura and Lagos, and then up to Cascais. We returned it in Cascais on the day of arrival. Logistically, it was easy to park in the train station’s paid parking for a couple of euros when we arrived.  We unloaded, got settled, then Matt and I dropped off the car and took a short 5-euro Uber back to Old Town.
For our stay in Cascais, we rented a spacious two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in Old Town through Booking.com. It was a very short walk from the train station, making it incredibly convenient when we continued on to Lisbon, and the location was amazing!
If you prefer a hotel, there are plenty of excellent options within walking distance of Old Town and the beach. Staying in this area gives you easy access to the restaurants, shops, waterfront, and everything that makes Cascais such an enjoyable place to spend a few days.
For travelers looking for a more upscale experience, Cascais also has several beautiful luxury hotels, many with ocean views, pools, and full-service spas. They make a great choice if you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply want to enjoy a relaxing resort stay along Portugal’s coast.
Click here to browse accommodations in Cascais, Portugal!
Here are some of the hotels in Cascais that caught my eye:
- Hotel Baia
- Farol Hotel
- Grande Real Villa Itália
- Villa Cascais
- The Albatroz
- Artsy Cascais
- Pergola Boutique Hotel
Our Favorite Things to Do in Cascais
Although there are plenty of things to do in Cascais, some of our favorite memories honestly came from simply slowing down and enjoying the town rather than rushing from one attraction to the next.
That said, if you want Cascais recommendations, here are a few experiences I wouldn’t miss!
Walk the Waterfront Promenade
One of the highlights of our stay was walking along the beautiful Cascais-Estoril promenade, which stretches along the coast east of Old Town for almost two miles. Whether we were heading to the beach, grabbing lunch, or simply enjoying the ocean views, we found ourselves returning here several times each day.
Relax at the Beaches
Cascais has several beautiful beaches within easy walking distance of Old Town, making it easy to spend an hour or an entire afternoon by the water. The beaches in Cascais are one of the town’s biggest draws!
Explore Old Town
We loved wandering the colorful pedestrian streets, browsing local shops, and discovering charming cafés tucked away on side streets in the Historical Center or Old Town Cascais. The main street, Rua Frederico Arouca, will be the most congested, so branch off and take new paths.  You will come across little surprises around every corner!
Visit Parque Marechal Carmona
One of our favorite discoveries was Parque Marechal Carmona. This peaceful urban park is filled with beautiful gardens, walking paths, fountains, and plenty of shaded areas to relax. It’s a wonderful break from the beach and a great place to enjoy a slower afternoon. Â
If you are visiting Cascais with kids, you must take them to this park! There is so much room to run, playgrounds, and more. Â You may even see some peacocks and roosters!
Book a Kayak or Boat Tour
There are several opportunities to get out on the water in Cascais. We didn’t have a chance to do these because we’d already done the sailing cruise in Lagos and the Douro Valley boat tour. But they look really fun!
Click here to browse some of the most popular tours in Cascais.
And here are quick links to Cascais tours with great reviews!
Enjoy the Local Restaurants and Wine Bars
From The Tasting Room to the lively restaurants around Yellow Street, we had some fantastic meals in Cascais. I highly recommend making time to eat out. Make sure to order a glass of Portuguese wine and embrace this seaside community!
Browse the Marina
The Cascais Marina offers a completely different feel from Old Town. We were very surprised to see the impressive yachts, luxury boutiques, and waterfront restaurants.  It wasn’t what we were expecting. There are even luxury car dealers and cars on display if anyone in your party is a luxury car enthusiast. It’s a modern, upscale area to explore, even if you’re just window-shopping.
Take Family Photos
One of the best decisions we made was scheduling family photos in Cascais. The combination of beaches, colorful streets, gardens, and ocean views created a beautiful backdrop, and the photos are some of our favorite souvenirs from Portugal.
Is Cascais Worth Adding to Your Portugal Itinerary?
Yes, I absolutely think Cascais is worth adding to your Portugal itinerary!
If your schedule only allows for a day trip from Lisbon, don’t skip it. You’ll still get a taste of the beaches, Old Town, waterfront promenade, and relaxed coastal atmosphere that make Cascais such a special place to visit.
That said, if your Portugal itinerary has a little flexibility, I highly recommend spending at least a couple of nights here. Staying longer gives you time to slow down, enjoy the restaurants and beaches, explore nearby Sintra, and experience Cascais beyond the busiest midday hours.
I think Cascais is especially perfect for couples, families, and anyone who enjoys slower-paced travel. If you’re looking for nightlife and nonstop sightseeing, I’d spend more time in Lisbon. But if you love beautiful coastal towns where you can slow down and simply enjoy being there, I think you’ll fall in love with Cascais.
Without question, we would happily stay in Cascais again on a future trip to Portugal. In fact, I think I would plan our itinerary the same way again, pairing a few nights in Cascais with a few nights in Lisbon for the best of both worlds!
More Portugal Travel Inspiration
If you are planning to visit Cascais, there’s a good chance you’ll also be visiting Lisbon, Sintra, or other parts of Portugal. Make sure to read all of my Portugal travel blog posts!
Here are a few popular posts that can help you plan the rest of your trip:
- Pena Palace Tickets & Tips
- Visiting the Moorish Castle
- Hyatt Regency Lisbon Review
- Family Photos in Europe
- Sintra Day Trip Tips
- Lagos Coastal Walk
- Lagos Sailing Trip
- Porto Tourist Trap
- Douro Valley Day Tour
- Best Flight Deals
- Europe Travel Essentials
PIN: Is Cascais Worth Visiting for Later
