Mar do Inferno
What to order: the grilled fish of the day, which you choose from the display case, and some shellfish to start.
geocalia
Day itinerary · 38.70° N · 9.42° W
A Sunday in Cascais, 40 minutes by train from Lisbon.
Cascais is 40 minutes by train from Lisbon. The Cidadela and the bay, the Boca do Inferno, fish above the cliff and the seaside promenade to Estoril.
Leaving from
Direct flight to Lisboa fromSevilla 1 hMadrid 1 h 15Málaga 1 h 15Asturias 1 h 30Alicante 1 h 45Bilbao 1 h 45Valencia 1 h 45Barcelona 2 hGran Canaria 2 h 30Tenerife Sur 2 h 30
Part of Cascais and Estoril
Add to my trip
Total time8 h
By car30 min each way
WalkingAbout 7 km, flat
DifficultyEasy
TrainAbout 40 min from Cais do Sodré
With childrenYes, with a pushchair along the promenade
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
-
Leave Lisbon 45 min by train
Cascais line train from Cais do Sodré; sit on the left
-
1
The Cidadela, the marina and the centre of Cascais
bay, Cidadela and marina · 1 h 30 · free
- 30 min on foot
-
2
Boca do Inferno
along the coast and the Santa Marta lighthouse · free
- 2 min on foot
-
3
Mar do Inferno
next to the viewpoint · open on Sunday; closed on Wednesday
Avenida Rei Humberto II de Itália, 2750-800 Cascais · +351 214 832 218
Restaurant €€€Book - 15 min on foot
-
4
Seafront promenade from Cascais to Estoril
3 flat km beside the sea
- 30 min on foot
-
5
Santini Cascais Baía
ice cream before heading back, or on arriving in Estoril
Alameda dos Combatentes da Grande Guerra, 100, 2750-326 Cascais · +351 210 966 779
Café €Book -
Back home 30 min by train
train from Estoril or Monte Estoril; you reach Cais do Sodré around 18:15
Approximate cost
About €45–80 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
The Cidadela, the marina and the centre of Cascais
A day trip from Lisbon without a car: Cascais is the end of a train line that leaves from the city centre and runs along the Tagus and then the Atlantic. In 40 minutes you are at the bay. This plan visits the Cidadela, follows the coast on foot to the Boca do Inferno, has fish on the clifftop and returns along the seafront promenade to Estoril, where you catch the train back without retracing your steps.
The day, hour by hour
9:30 · Train at Cais do Sodré. The Cascais line runs frequently. Sit on the left: you pass Belém, the tower and the beaches of Carcavelos and Estoril.
10:15 · The bay and the Cidadela. From the station walk down to Ribeira beach, the one with the fishing boats, and go into the Cidadela, the fortress that guarded the mouth of the Tagus: its courtyards are open and there are artists' workshops. Continue along the marina.
11:45 · Boca do Inferno. Through the park and past the Santa Marta lighthouse, about 25 minutes on foot along the coast. It is a sunken cave where the sea breaks; in a swell, the water rises in foam through the arch. Do not go past the railings.
13:00 · Lunch at Mar do Inferno. A few steps from the viewpoint, a family-run grilled fish and seafood restaurant with a terrace over the sea. On Sunday it opens at midday and in the evening; on Wednesday it is closed. Book by phone in summer.
15:30 · Seaside promenade to Estoril. Head back towards the centre and follow the promenade beside the beaches of Conceição, Tamariz and Poça: three flat kilometres with the sea beside you. From Tamariz you can see the Casino Estoril above its gardens.
17:00 · Ice cream. Santini, the ice-cream shop dating from 1949, is next to Cascais station; if you are already in Estoril, save it for another time.
17:30 · Heading back. Take the train at Estoril or Monte Estoril. You reach Cais do Sodré around 18:15.
If it rains
The Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, five minutes from the Cidadela, is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 and costs €5; under-18s do not pay.
With children
Everything is flat beside the sea. The walk to Estoril suits a pushchair; the centre has cobbles. The Boca do Inferno is a big hit, always holding hands.
Time2 h
Change the route
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
Santini Cascais Baía
What to order: a seasonal fruit sorbet and the flavour of the month.
Furnas do Guincho
What to order: some goose barnacles and a seafood rice for two (€82); if there are more of you, the cataplana caldeirada.
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Cascais and Estoril
All year round. From April to October the promenade and the beaches are at their best; in winter, with a heavy swell, the Boca do Inferno is more impressive.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Come back from Estoril
The promenade is best done in one direction only.
- 2Look at the sea before you set out
On a day of swell, the Boca do Inferno is worth the detour.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does the train from Lisbon to Cascais take?
Around 40 minutes from Cais do Sodré.
Is Mar do Inferno open on Sundays?
Yes, from 12:30 to 22:30. It is closed on Wednesdays.
Can it be done with small children?
Yes. About 7 km spread across the day, all flat.
What if it rains?
Swap the walk for the Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, under cover.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/portugal/lisbon-region/cascais/itineraries/boca-do-inferno-and-estoril
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.