Cascais Beach Travel Guide — The 10 Best Cascais Beaches
With its lush beaches, exciting cities, and magnificent mountain ranges, Portugal is one of the most famous destinations in Europe. While most people visit the capital at Lisbon or the gorgeous beaches and caves in the Algarves, Cascais Beach is a hidden gem of a destination offering one of the best summer experiences in Portugal.
And whether you need to know about the best beaches in Cascais Portugal, or how to get there, this complete travel guide compiles my own experience and research across the web to explain everything you need to know about Cascais Beach.
Are The Beaches At Cascais Worth Visiting?
There’s no doubt about it: the beaches at Cascais are beyond worth visiting. With their warm golden sands and crystal-clear waters, they define picturesque. You’ll find yourself among thousands of tourists from all backgrounds who visit Cascais for its internationally renowned beaches.
Cascais has around a dozen beaches, all accessible through walking, hiking, or cycling! Some beaches closest to Cascais include Praia da Ribeira, Praia da Conceição, Praia da Rainha, and Praia da Duquesa. Still, if you’re willing to make the long journey to some other beaches around Cascais, it’s well worth it.
The beaches are perfect for swimming and safe for kids of any age. The waters are calm, warm, and clear, and you can even find specific beaches suitable if you want to do sports like surfing. You should research which beach you go to beforehand because some beaches have stronger currents and riptides than others.
And once you’re done enjoying the warm sands and crystal clear waters along the shore, there’s plenty to do in town. Cascais is less popular than cities like Lisbon and allows you to avoid the chaotic crowds, all while enjoying authentic Portuguese food and incredible historical sights that make the trip worthwhile.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Cascais
If you don’t mind sharing your sandy beach with other tourists, mid-July to early September may be the best for your vacation. Cascais is spectacularly pleasant through the entire late summer season. With not many rainy days and lots of warm, sunny weather, you’ll want to be sure you packed extra sunscreen!
Although the weather has its ups and downs, it’s generally pleasant enough to bring many tourists to Cascais. Some may not mind the crowds, but if your dream vacation features empty beaches and the noise of silence and crashing waves, the days in and between late May and early July will still have sunny days with significantly fewer crowds!
Of course, as Cascais is famous for many tourists, there will still be people taking their vacation like you. The crowds will certainly be smaller, but it’s uncommon to be completely alone on the shore.
If you’re curious about the temperatures, you can find all the answers you need here. Temperatures may go up or down from the average for any weather, but on average, May is the chilliest of these months, typically going from the mid-50s to high-60s in Fahrenheit. June goes up to the low 60s to mid-70s, a bit warmer. July and August are hotter than both, with the temperatures typically being in the high 70s to low 80s, a perfect range not too hot or cold for your vacation.
What Are The Most Beautiful Beaches In Cascais?
With over 17 spectacular beaches to visit along this slight stretch of shoreline, Cascais has a lot of incredible sights and fun activities to offer visitors. Whether you’re seeing the idyllic clear waters and soft sands to swim, sunbathe, sightsee, or even surf, there’s no shortage of things to do and explore on any of Cascais’s beaches.
With so many beaches to choose from, it might seem hard to determine which is right for your next vacation! To help, we’ve reflected on our own experiences and researched across the web to bring you a recommendation of the 10 best Cascais beaches. Whether you’re visiting alone or with friends and family, you won’t regret visiting one of these beautiful beaches.
1. Praia da Cresmina
While an intimidating 17th-century fortress once guarded this beach, the spectacular historical site has now been renovated into the Fortaleza do Guincho Hotel. As you climb the stairs leading down the rocky cliffs surrounding this beautiful beach and step onto the soft sand, you’ll find yourself in a perfect setting to sightsee and reflect on the incredible history of this beach.
After surfing with the locals or walking along the windy shores, plenty of local attractions keep you entertained. You can step behind the rocks below the fortress if you want a break from the harsh winds or can walk along the boardwalk to the Cresmina Dunes Interpretation Center to learn more about the flora and fauna of this gorgeous beach.
2. Praia de Santa Marta
While this beach might only be accessible at low tide, it’s worth a visit whenever you can access it. It’s significantly quieter than other beaches due to the difficulty of access. It is situated just below the Santa Marta Lighthouse and Museum, with a great view of the gorgeous green-blue waters.
3. Praia da Duquesa
If you’re tired out by your train ride into town and want a break, you’re in luck — Praia da Duquesa is very close to the Cascais train station and easily accessible! This beach can get quite busy during the summer, but the exciting atmosphere makes it a worthwhile destination.
Praia da Duquesa has pleasantly calm waters perfect for swimming or paddling, making it an excellent destination for families. You can also rent parasols, boats, and other amenities.
4. Praia da Conceição
Connected with Duquesa Beach during low-tide periods to form one of the most extensive beaches in all of Portugal, the Praia da Conceição is gorgeous. The currents are low and comfortably calm, and lifeguards monitor the beach for extra protection, so this is a great place to bring kids! This beach is also conveniently close to the cafes and shops of Cascais and offers handicap-friendly ramps to ensure the beach is accessible for everyone.
If you’re looking for a beautiful hotel option, the 5-star Albatroz Hotel is a two-minute walk from Praia de Conceição.
5. Praia do Tamariz
Praia do Tamariz, commonly known and loved among locals and travelers alike for its golden sand and vivid turquoise waters, is a must-see destination for anyone vacationing in Cascais!
With attractions including restaurants and bars, a nightclub, and all the beach activities you could think of, boredom is near impossible for those visiting Tamariz.
For those who may not have much time to spend on the beach during their short trip, Praia do Tamariz is a great pick. Since it’s technically in Estoril, it offers a wonderful opportunity to explore the two towns as an exciting day trip.
6. Praia da Rainha
Since it’s one of the most popular beaches in the Cascais area, you’ve probably heard about the Praia da Rainha. There are many good reasons why this beach is so beloved among visitors! Aside from the majestic cliffs that overlook this beach, you can enjoy proximity to the Old Center during your visit to Praia da Rainha.
And while this might be the smallest beach in Cascais, it has a wonderfully deep history. This secluded, gorgeous beach was chosen as the private beach of Queen Amélia back in 1889, and since then, it has been called the Praia da Rainha, or Queen’s Beach. If you travel to the western side of the beach and climb onto the large boulders, you can see a view truly fit for a queen!
7. Praia do Ribeira
If you enjoy watching the bustling activity of boats and fishermen going about their day, you’ll find the Praia do Ribeira fascinating. Known as Ribeira Beach or Fisherman’s Beach, this beach is close to the Cascais Marina and offers comfortably warm shores. Due to the boat pollution, however, it isn’t ideal for swimming!
8. Praia de Carcavelos
Located between Lisbon and Cascais, the Praia de Carcavelos is a popular destination for sports lovers — whether that entails volleyball on the sands or kitesurfing in the crisp blue waters. Aside from the great surf schools and volleyball nets dotting the shoreline, you can enjoy exploring a wide selection of shops, bars, and restaurants in the area.
Overall, Carcavelos beach is an excellent destination for sports like surfing and swimming. Lifeguards monitor the beach, so this is also a great place to go if you’re worried about your safety or your family. And conveniently, there are convenient and complimentary bathrooms and showers offered to beachgoers!
9. Praia da Poça
If you dream about walking along rocky coastlines and exploring wonderfully warm shallow tide pools, the Praia da Poça is an excellent beach! This beach is especially popular among families vacationing with children due to its mild conditions, but it also offers scenic views perfect for any nature lover!
Due to its proximity to public transportation and local attractions like shops and restaurants, this beach is also great if you’re looking to spend the other part of the day exploring the local area or even attractions a town or two away!
10. Praia do Guincho
Located just north of Cascais in the Serra de Sintra park, the Praia do Guincho is popular among surfers for its impressively large waves and gorgeous, rugged landscape. Aside from being ideal for classic surfing, this is also an excellent destination for kitesurfing due to the strong winds that blow over the waters!
With rentals and lifeguards at the beach, you can visit Praia do Guincho worry-free. And after you’ve tired yourself out surfing some waves, you can make your way to a beautiful restaurant overlooking the beach to enjoy some fresh fish! These restaurants are famous all around the year for their gorgeous views and decadent foods.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Cascais Beach
Cascais Beach is essentially a seaside suburb, with its sandy beaches and calm coastal waters being one of the most popular beach destinations for tourists. With a regular train service running from Central Lisbon, Cascais Beach is a convenient destination for those who wish to explore the Lisbon coast. Whether you visit Cascais Beach for surf, sand, or gorgeous views, you can find the perfect beach spot in Cascais.
