Trying to figure out how to get from Lisbon to Cascais?
You’ve come to the right place!
Cascais is a picturesque fishing village located just 40 minutes away from Lisbon. It’s a very popular day trip amongst tourists and an idyllic weekend getaway for locals looking to escape the city.
The best part? Getting from Lisbon to Cascais isn’t difficult at all!
Matthew and I made the journey from Lisbon to Cascais on a beautiful, sunny Saturday (in hindsight, the busiest day you could choose). We found the travel to be very easy, affordable and convenient!
There are several transport options you could take and we will share the best ones with you. Here’s everything you need to know about getting from Lisbon to Cascais.
QUICK ANSWER: How To Get From Lisbon To Cascais
The best way to get from Lisbon to Cascais is by taking the train. It’s very easy, quick and relatively cheap! You can catch the “Linha de Cascais” urban train service from Cais do Sodre station which takes you directly to Cascais train station.
The cost to get from Lisbon to Cascais is only €2.30 ($2.47 USD). The train journey takes about 40 minutes and you don’t need to change or make any transfers. They are pretty frequent, departing every 20-30 minutes! It’s a very scenic train ride along the coast, try to sit on the left side to get beautiful views!
TTA TIP: Make sure to arrive 5-10 minutes before the train is due to depart because the seats fill up quickly. We got there just in time and only just found seats – they fill up and you might be left standing for the entire 40-minute journey!
You cannot pre-book tickets for the train. Simply arrive at the Cais do Sodre train station, find a ticket office or machine and pay for a one-way ticket by cash or card. If you already have a prepaid Viva Viagem card (their local transport card), load it up with enough cash!
How Far Is It From Lisbon To Cascais?
It’s actually pretty close!
Cascais is a beautiful, seaside town located 34 kilometers (21 miles) just west of Lisbon, Portugal. The train ride from Lisbon to Cascais only takes about 40 minutes, while a car drive takes about 30-35 minutes on the A5 highway or a little longer on the scenic route on the A6 highway.
You won’t need to spend too much time on the train and that’s why it has become a popular day trip from Lisbon because it’s filled with many stunning beaches, medieval architecture and plenty of great restaurants or cafes to enjoy.
How To Get From Lisbon To Cascais In 2023: A Complete Guide
Cascais is a scenic coastal town only 40 minutes away from the city center of Lisbon. A lot of locals and tourists make their way to this beautiful town to escape city life and enjoy the ocean.
Matthew and I took the train from Lisbon to Cascais on a Saturday to spend our time relaxing on the beach. We had heard that the beaches were much nicer than the ones near Lisbon city center.
…and they were not wrong! It’s amazing that in only 40 minutes – you can be in this charming Portuguese town filled with lavish villas, cobblestone streets and beautiful beaches.
It’s really not complicated to get from Lisbon to Cascais. If Matthew and I can do it, so can you! Here’s everything you need to know about the best transport options to get you from Lisbon to Cascais.
Lisbon To Cascais Train: The Best Way To Get There
After having done the trip ourselves, we believe the best way to get from Lisbon to Cascais is by taking the urban train service. It’s cost-effective, fairly quick and a very easy trip from the city center!
Is There A Direct Train From Lisbon To Cascais?
Yes, there is a direct train from Lisbon to Cascais!
Once you get to the Cais do Sodre station, simply make your way to the urban railway bound for Cascais.
Make sure you arrive early to grab a seat. The trains fill up very quickly (especially on the weekends) so it’s best to wait by the train about 5-10 minutes before it is due to depart. Matthew and I got there just in time and we only just got a seat for both of us. The trains have a 2-2 seating arrangement, just plan accordingly if you’re a big group!
Where To Catch the Lisbon To Cascais Train?
Cais do Sodre station is where you can catch the direct train from Lisbon to Cascais.
The most popular areas to stay in Lisbon are Baixa, Alfama and Chiado. If you are staying in these areas, it’s about a 10-15 minute walk to get to Cais do Sodre station. You can also take a tram or a Bolt ride (the Uber alternative).
You will get off at Cascais station that’s right in the heart of the city center. You can walk around the town, explore the cobblestone streets and easily get to some of the best beaches in Cascais – all within walking distance from the train station!
How Long Is The Train From Lisbon To Cascais?
The Lisbon to Cascais train ride takes approximately 40 minutes. Sometimes, it can be a little quicker when the train has to make fewer stops. But in general, it’s about 40 minutes!
Along the journey, you will see glimpses of the beautiful Portuguese coastline!
There are a lot of stunning beaches along the way. We saw lots of people get off well before Cascais and the beaches looked so good! I quickly saved the stations on my phone in case you want to visit them – Carvacelos and Parede.
The Lisbon to Cascais train can get very busy, especially on weekends and during peak season (July, August)! The crowds are pretty big and it’s important to get there early to buy your tickets and save your seats.
When we took the train, we were able to snag seats for both of us but we did see some people that stood for the entire 40-minute journey to Cascais.
How To Buy Tickets For The Lisbon To Cascais Train?
It’s very easy to buy train tickets from Lisbon to Cascais!
You cannot pre-book train tickets in advance (or online). You can buy tickets directly from any of the metro stations around Lisbon! However, if you’re going to Cascais – you will need to buy the tickets from the Cais do Sodre station.
Here are the steps to follow:
- Once you’re at Cais do Sodre station, look for the ticket kiosk machines.
- Pick your destination, in this case, click Cascais.
- It will tell you the amount and you will have to pay extra for the Viva Viagem card which is a reusable transport card for travels across Lisbon. If you’ve already got the Viva Viagem card, you won’t need to pay the extra fee of €0.50.
- You can pay by cash or card and the machine will deliver your ticket.
That’s it!
On your way back from Cascais to Lisbon, you can just top up the Viva Viagem card again at any of the ticket machines at the station (unless you’ve already loaded it up with enough money).
Lisbon To Cascais Train Prices
The urban train from Lisbon to Cascais only costs €2.30 ($2.47 USD) each way.
That’s it!
You have to pay extra for the 7 Colinas / Viva Viagem electronic transport card (if you don’t have it yet) which costs €0.50 ($0.54. If you’ve got one already, simply load it with enough money to get to Cascais and travel back!
A round-trip train ticket will cost €4.60 ($4.94 USD) which makes it such an affordable day trip destination from the city center. It’s amazing how affordable it is to travel to nearby towns along the coast.
Make sure you keep the Viva Viagem card because you can continue to use it throughout your stay in Lisbon, Portugal!
TTA TOP TIP: Get Off One Station Before Cascais For A Coastal Walk!
Along the train journey, there are some cool stops with beaches on the coastline. However, we noticed a lot of people get off about one station before Cascais called Monte Estoril.
We couldn’t figure out why so many people got off just before the most popular destination! After we left Monte Estoril station, we started to see this beautiful coastline walk that takes you all the way to Cascais. And then we realized everyone was going to walk the last couple of minutes to Cascais instead!
This walk is called “Paredão de Cascais” and it only takes about 15 minutes. The views are honestly breathtaking and we quickly wished we got off with everyone else! Ahhh, we will just have to do it the next time we are visiting Cascais!
If you want to have a little walk along the coast, make sure you get off at Monte Estoril station instead! There is a beautiful promenade that makes walking very easy, especially when you’ve got gorgeous coastal views right next to you!
2x More Ways To Get To Cascais From Lisbon
Don’t want to deal with the hassles of public transport?
You don’t have to! There are other ways to get from Lisbon to Cascais. Here are some of your options if you want to get to Cascais:
Familiar with Uber? While it is available in Lisbon, we prefer using Bolt – a more local alternative! They offer better prices and there are much more cars available whenever we try to book a car.
You can take a Bolt car all the way from Lisbon to Cascais! You can order a car on the app directly to your hotel (which means you won’t have to make your way to Cais do Sodre station) and the Bolt will drop you off right at your destination.
It’s very convenient and if you’re a group of 4, it’s a great option because you can split the price!
How much does a Bolt cost to get from Lisbon to Cascais? You’d be surprised because it honestly isn’t that expensive for a 40-minute drive! When I check the Bolt app, the price I get from a central location like Baixa is about €20 to €33 ($35.43 USD). Price also depends on the time of day and other several factors, make sure you check it for yourself! When we traveled from Lisbon Airport to the city center, we also used Bolt which was very affordable and quite reliable!
For a 40-minute drive, you can hop in a taxi for only €20 to €33 ($35.43 USD). This is definitely the more convenient, hassle-free option to get from Lisbon to Cascais.
2. Book A Private Car In Advance
Want to travel in luxury? You can book a private car to take you straight from your hotel in Lisbon to Cascais!
While this option is a little more expensive, you are paying for the experience! Sometimes, we like to use private transfers whenever we arrive in a new country. It just makes the journey much more comfortable.
Whenever we book transfers, we like to use Bookaway. They have a few offers for a private car including:
As you can see, if you are a bigger group – it’s a pretty good option! If you are a bigger group, this could also be a cool little road trip you can do together.
How To Get Back From Cascais To Lisbon?
You can get back from Cascais to Lisbon the same way you came!
If you are taking the train, walk to the Cascais train station and hop on the next train to the city center! If you want to take a taxi, you can hire one locally or you can check the Bolt app to see if there’s a car available in the area.
Can You Do A Day Trip To Cascais From Lisbon?
Oh yesss!
We think it’s the perfect day trip from Lisbon if you are looking to get away from the city center and explore a charming Portuguese fishing town!
As it’s only a 40-minute train ride away, you can leave Lisbon early in the morning and have more than enough time to enjoy the area. The train is very affordable at only €4.60 ($4.94 USD) for a return journey!
Here are some cool things to do in Cascais on a day trip:
- Walk from Monte Estoril to Cascais on the Paredão de Cascais trail.
- Lay on popular beaches like Praia da Ribeira de Cascais and Praia da Rainha.
- Wander the cobblestone streets around Cascais Old Town.
- Gaze at the stunning Boca de Inferno sea cave.
We lived in Lisbon for a month as digital nomads and one of the best things we did was take a day trip to Cascais. This seaside town is the perfect escape from the city, we simply laid out our towels and relaxed on the beach!
The beaches in Cascais all have very nice sand which is a welcome change to the beaches we visited in Croatia! The ocean, however, was pretty cold so we didn’t get in the water.
If you are looking for a change of scenery, Cascais is a great option for you!
Conclusion: Take The Lisbon To Cascais Train
Cascais is the perfect day trip from Lisbon if you want to relax, swim in the ocean (although it’s usually cold waters in Portugal) and explore this charming Portuguese fishing town.
After doing the journey ourselves, we highly recommend taking the Lisbon to Cascais train! The train departs from Cais do Sodre station and the best advice we can give you is this — make sure to get there 5-10 minutes early to ensure you get a seat on the train. It’s only €2.30 ($2.47 USD) each way, it’s reliable and it’s a scenic 40-minute journey along the coastline!
You can also take a Bolt/Uber to Cascais or even a taxi! This will cost a much more but it’s very convenient and it could be a good option if you’re a big group of friends.
Whichever way you choose to get to Cascais, enjoy wandering the cobblestone streets and relaxing on the beautiful beaches! We loved getting away from the city to explore this quaint resort town.
