A Day In Cabo Da Roca And Cascais, Portugal: How To Get To The Westernmost Point Of Europe
If you go to Lisbon, you should see how the end of the world looks like, or at least the place that used to be called like that in the past. Cabo da Roca, or the place where the land ends and the sea begins, is the westernmost point of Continental Europe, and one of Portugal's most emblematic touristic attractions.
A visit to Cabo da Roca can be combined with a day trip from Lisbon to Cascais, a chic resort town on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, popular as a tourist destination for summer vacations, for its beaches, but also for a short trip at any time of the year, thanks to its attractive center.
Cabo da Roca is the westernmost point of Continental Europe, and the place that used to be called "the end of the world". It attracts thousands of tourists that enjoy a wonderful view around. Above a steep cliff, 140 meters high, is the place "where the land ends and the sea begins", as the poet Camões said in the 16th century and as it is written on a plaque plate here.
A symbolic view from Cabo da Roca is that of the red and white colored lighthouse. Built in 1772, it is one of the oldest lighthouses along the Portuguese coast. It is 165 meters above sea level and its light can be seen up to 48 kilometers away.
How do you get to Cabo da Roca
You can reach Cabo da Roca by bus 403, which departs either from Cascais or from Sintra. A single travel ticket costs 3.5 euros, but you can also travel with the one-day pass of 11.5 euros bought in Sintra, for all the tourist buses (Read this article about what you can do with such a pass: A Day In Sintra, Portugal - The Land of Castles - Tourist Attractions).
Cascais
Cascais is a city located in the western part of Portugal, on the Atlantic coast, at a distance of 25 km from Lisbon. It is a former fishing town, and afterwards the favorite place for nobles to spend the summer. Today, Cascais has developed into a beautiful holiday tourist destination, suitable both for a one-day trip, where you can take a leisurely stroll through the streets of the city, as well as for a longer stay, to spend a few days at the beach.
How do you get to Cascais
The easiest way to get to Cascais from Lisbon is by train, from the Cais do Sodre station. A return ticket costs 4.6 euros, plus another 0.5 euros for the physical travel card (it's the same physical card we used when we traveled to Sintra from Lisbon). The trains run every 20 minutes, and the journey takes 40 minutes.
The city can also be reached by car, but it can be more complicated to find parking spaces.
Tourist attractions in Cascais
In a few hours in Cascais we got lost in the cheerful streets of the city. Cascais is a city to discover on foot, to enjoy the scenery and the relaxing atmosphere, to enjoy a coffee on a terrace or to walk along the oceanfront. In the few hours we reached the main tourist attractions of the city.
Boca de Inferno
Boca de Inferno is one of the most fascinating places in Cascais. Its name denoted the huge size and force of the waves that hit these shores, being the remains of an ancient cave.
For surely you will be impressed by what nature was able to make of this place. The view is absolutely spectacular, especially if you have the opportunity to catch the sunset in the ocean.
From the city center you can get here on foot in about 20 minutes, but the walk is wonderful, on the oceanfront.
Casa de Santa Maria and the Lighthouse in Cascais
Another representative image for Cascais is that of the Casa de Santa Maria and the white and blue lighthouse, located next to the house. The house was built in 1910 in a traditional Portuguese style.
If you have several days available to spend in Lisbon, you can organize a day trip to these two locations. The landscapes are beautiful, and you will have the opportunity to see Portugal beyond the borders of a big city.
We really liked how this day went, it was a relaxed day, and we felt that we got to know and discover Portugal even better.
