Photographer’s Travel Guide to Cascais, Portugal

A travel guide to the best photo spots in scenic Cascais, Portugal

When travelling to Portugal, most people start their journeys in gorgeous Lisbon. Without a doubt, Lisbon is worth a trip to Portugal on its own, but not many people realise that they are missing out on so much beauty by coming to Lisbon and not taking the train to Cascais. Missing out on urban culture and coastline beaches and, for us photographers, missing out on many of those frantic moments where you just want to shoot on every single side you turn. So let me convince you why Cascais is a must-stop on your next trip to Portugal. But, of course, I’m biased; I love this place so much that I now live here.

Cascais is one of the most beautiful seaside towns in the world. It has a gorgeous coastline with some of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal and being 30 minutes from Lisbon makes it perfect for a change of pace. For all you movie nerds out there, the opening scenes from a James Bond movie were filmed on one of Cascais’ local beaches!

A little Cascais history background in the next two paragraphs, so if you’re not interested in that, feel free to jump ahead.
Cascais was a fishing village that goes back to the times of the Romans, who built here a fish processing centre. It also had an important strategic position in defending against attacks from the sea. However, it wasn’t Cascais’s economic and military importance that turned it into Portugal’s most popular seaside town in those times. Instead, it was Kind D. Luís who fell in love with the city and transformed it into his summer royal residence.
And, of course, when kings and queens come along, so does the court. Along with the court came the construction of several bungalows, palaces, mansions, theatres and hotels. Cascais became known as the Court Town. And since summertime is equated with leisure, this is where new sports were introduced in Portugal, such as sailing, canoeing, swimming, tennis and football. The nation’s first marine biology lab was also established here. The area grew in importance to the point that, in 1930, the end station of the famed Sud Express, the railway line starting in Paris, was Cascais.

Before we dive into the best spots in Cascais to take photos or to simply wander, I kindly remind you, when travelling here (or anywhere else), to do your best to maintain a sustainable and responsible journey. Respect the culture, environment and people of that destination.

So coming up are my 12 favourite location in Cascais.

Praia do Guincho

Starting with the furthest spot in Cascais (if you’re coming from the town train station) and the most beautiful one to me. A wooden boardwalk through the dunes and fine grass leads to the deep blues of the Atlantic. Often wild and windy, but that is part of the charm of the raw beauty of this coastline. The sun sets directly in front of Guincho beach, reflecting onto the glistering waves, turning the whole experience into a surreal psychedelic land. Couples are cosying up in the golden light while surfers catch those perfect end-of-day waves. Children are playing carefree on nature’s best playground, and everyone feels grateful to end the day again in this special spot.

The best way to get here is by car, bus or electric scooter/bike. I wouldn’t recommend walking since it is a 7km walk in one direction. Just remember to respect the dune signs and only walk in designated areas. Don’t jump across the fence and walk in the dunes. That will endanger the native wildlife of the dune habitat.

Praia da Cresmina

Cresmina Beach is next to Guincho beach and is often referred to by the same name, even though they are technically different beaches. This beach is my favourite spot to stop on my coastal walks. It has two cafes directly on the beach (on each side) that serve an excellent selection of drinks and food. For all you football nerds out there, Cristiano Ronaldo is often seen in Cresmina Beach Bar and apparently has a house not far from here. There are two viewpoints that I like for taking photos. The first one is on the side of Hotel Fortaleza, looking towards Cresmina beach. The second is on the beach’s opposite side, by the main road and next to Forte de Cresmina.

Duna da Cresmina

The Cresmina Dune extends over 66 hectares and is a part of the Guincho-Oitavos dune system, located just above Praia da Cresmina. This dune system is fairly unique because due to the prevailing northwest winds, the sand from the Guincho and Cresmina beaches eventually returns to the sea 5 km further to the south near Guia after migrating over the flat, rocky and largely uninhabited area of Cabo Raso. Therefore, when visiting Cascais, Cresmina Dune is a must. A wonderful cafe sits at the top of the dunes, with the best views in the area and a circular boardwalk taking you on a journey through the whole dune system. Again, respect the signs and stay within the designated paths. Don’t forget to take many photos along the way (it is incredibly scenic during sunset!).

Casa da Guia

Casa da Guia is a favourite spot of the locals of Cascais and has become a place where friends and family come to meet, spend together, eat and enjoy the views. Housed in a 19th-century mansion, it is located on the Guincho road out of Cascais and is surrounded by two hectares of gardens that extend along the cliff tops to the Guia Lighthouse, overlooking the vast Atlantic Ocean. Outside, there is an area dedicated to excellent restaurants, shops, culture and leisure in which the outdoor cafés and amphitheatre represent the perfect settings to enjoy a stunning evening by the sea. If you love açaí as much as I do, you would be thrilled to hear that one of the best açaí in town is right here, in Friends Cafe. And if you’re after views, cool music, boho vibes and outdoor dining, then Palaphita Cascais is your spot. It’s a cool concept of a restaurant and a music venue woven with the natural surrounding.

Farol de Santa Marta

The Santa Marta Lighthouse is next to the Cascais marina, and it is a beautiful white-tiled modern lighthouse with a touch of navy reds and blues. I can’t hide that I’m a real fan of contemporary architecture, and this location made me even more obsessed with the minimal architecture look. The lighthouse has many photogenic angles, from the palm tree view to the open window fence framing the sea and the amazing views from within the lighthouse. I’ve taken so many photos I love here, and this location will always be special to me. Something to bear in mind if you’re visiting is the opening hours. The lighthouse opens around 10 am, but better check that yourself because hours change depending on the season. An extra tip, the best coffee shop/lounge bar in Cascais is right inside the lighthouse.

Praia de Santa Marta

Right next to the lighthouse is one of the cutest little city beaches. Depending on the tide, the beach transforms into two different kinds of experiences. This location has many photo angles you can choose to frame your shot. Perhaps from the top of the stairs framing the beach and the lighthouse in the background with trees, or maybe on the other side, from the Santa Marta museum balcony. Either way, I feel that there is no wrong angle in the case of Praia da Santa Marta.

Museu Condes de Castro Guimarães

Right behind Praia de Santa Marta is this Gothic castle - a former aristocratic residence overlooking the sea and surrounded by beautiful gardens that are now the beautiful public park Marechal Carmona. It was built between 1897 and 1900 and was home to Jorge O’Neill, an aristocrat of Irish descent. Later, it was acquired by Count Castro de Guimarães and was turned into a museum in 1931, sometime after the last residents left. It displays a collection of decorative art, which includes Indo-Portuguese furniture, paintings, ceramics, and an extensive library with over 25,000 books. The most prized item is an illuminated manuscript from 1505 depicting Lisbon at the time (250 years before the Great Earthquake almost destroyed it). In the basement are several archaeological finds. Visitors enjoy the romantic fairytale architecture, a great way to see how the aristocracy lived at the turn of the century.

The Old Town

The old town of Cascais is the whole area from the train station to the Museu Conde de Castro Guimarães. It is a romantic maze of narrow alleys with pastel-hued houses. Laundry hanging off the windows, overgrown facades with the most beautiful colourful little flowers and cats lazily hanging on the window ledges, watching the many passersby throughout the day. My advice here is just to get lost. Dedicate a few hours and explore the area without much planning. Soak in the details of the Portuguese architecture and the everyday moments of the locals. Once you’ve had enough exploring, choose one of the many restaurants on offer. There is everything here, from burgers and pizza to fusion Japanese cuisine. A little photography tip I can share is that you don’t need to wait for sunset to shoot here; it’s south-facing, so the position isn’t ideal for catching the last rays of light. However, the pastel hues of the surroundings are perfect for shooting in bright sunshine and experimenting with creative shadow play composition. If you’re interested in learning more about composition in photography, I recently wrote THIS article, or check out my Photography Guide, which goes even further in-depth into the intricacies of composition, light, gear, location scouting and much more.

Miradouro Fernandes

This little secret viewpoint between the beaches is only accessible by foot. It’s a relaxing spot to stop and soak in the views. Floating boats in the distance, swimmers splashing on the beach and seagulls peacefully meandering in the sunshine.

Praia da Rainha

Praia da Rainha, or Queens Beach, is a beautiful small beach in the old town, only accessible by foot through the many scenic alleys. If you are at Miradouro Fernandes, continue walking east through the buildings. Before you access the beach, you will discover another little viewpoint next to Praia da Rainha. This is my preferred angle when capturing this beach. The water is shallow and therefore much more pleasant for swimming. Rugged rocks frame the beach and give it a feeling of a private enclave. You can enjoy the fine sand or sit on one of the many benches above and soak in the view.

Beachfront Promenade Walk

After Praia da Rainha, there is a chain of little beaches with amenities and a choice of cafes. This path is the Beachfront Promenade walk that connects Cascais to Estoril. It is an enjoyable 25 min walk (3km) starting in Praia da Conceição in Cascais to the west, and ending in Praia da Azarujinha in Estoril to the east. It is wide and flat, suitable for all ages and abilities. Tourists like to walk; locals run, youth skate and kids bike here, past beachfront cafés, bars, restaurants, and several grand 19th-century mansions and modern hotels. There is workout equipment on the Promenade and a seawater pool. This area is part of the famous Portuguese riviera - an affluent coastal region to the west of Lisbon, centred on the coastal municipalities of Cascais (including Estoril), Oeiras and Sintra.

Miradouro da Azarujinha

Coming to the very end of the Beachfront Promenade Walk is the Azarujinha viewpoint. It is a small viewpoint that overviews the whole coastal walk towards Cascais and the scenic rocky beach below to the west. If you would like to continue walking on the coast towards Lisbon, you would need to go on the main road until there is an opening that will allow you to come back down to the city beaches. Alternatively, hop on the train; your closest station is Estoril, only a few minutes away. Or, if you’re staying in Cascais, simply enjoy the walk back on the Beachfront Promenade.

Places to Stay in Cascais:

I hope you enjoyed this photographer’s travel guide to Cascais and if you have any questions, just pop them down below in the comments section.

If you’re interested to learn more about other scenic locations in Portugal, I wrote The Portugal Guide, an ebook in which I’ve included all my location recommendations that a traveller would enjoy visiting and capturing as much as I do. Also, check out THIS post in which I give you a sneak peek of some locations included in The Portugal Guide.

Check out the whole collection of recently released Creative Development eBooks § Travel Guides.

Photographer’s Travel Guide to Cascais, Portugal