We decided to spent my birthday in Portugal to get some sunshine and a break from our everyday life in Berlin. On top of our to-do list was the capital Lisbon, but that’s not where we stayed most of the time.
Accommodation in Cascais
We had accommodation in Cascais, a smaller town about half an hour from Lisbon. It was the right decision, because we didn’t only want to make a city trip to Lisbon, but also spent some time by the seaside. We found our accommodation on Airbnb and didn’t stay at a hotel. You just have a much more extensive choice and can find great accommodations on Airbnb, that you can not find on other websites. We found a great apartment in Cascais and immediately fell in love with it. Not only the apartment itself was very nice, but it also was very close to the ocean and had a rooftop pool with an amazing view.
Cascais is a coastal town
Now to our whereabouts: Cascais is a coastal town with about 200,000 inhabitants. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Portugal. Cascais has a charming town centre, and there are many beautiful buildings with interesting and old architecture to see. Therefore, a walk through the city definitely is worth it. You can find a medieval fortress and palace in the old town, just to name a few examples. In addition to the culture, the nature around Cascais is also worth a see.
Beaches around Cascais
There are several beaches around Cascais. Some are rather quiet, but in the north are some beaches that are popular with surfers, you can see some of them in my travelvlog about portugal so everyone gets their money’s worth.
Cascais – unbelievable cliffs along the coast
We also explored the area around Cascais and the cliffs along the Portuguese coast where one of the things we saw. You should definitely visit the “Boca do Inferno”, a cliff about two kilometres from Cascais. There is a viewing platform 20 meters above the sea. It was awe-inspiring to watch the intense waves breaking on the rock formations. If you are in Lisbon or Cascais, you should not miss this natural spectacle! In Cascais, we were able to combine relaxation and culture very well. Even if you are staying in Lisbon, Cascais is worth a day trip, and it takes only 30 minutes to get there.
Cascais to Lisbon
On my birthday we went to Lisbon to spend a day there. Although the drive usually takes only 40 minutes by car, we parked the car because of heavy traffic between the two cities and took the train. We missed the first train – you can see this in this travel video about portugal, that’s why we arrived in Lisbon around noon. Anyways, it still was a beautiful day.
Explore Lisbon by foot
We explored the city mainly by foot, and you should do that too as long as the weather isn’t too bad. That’s the way you see most of the city. We had expected better weather, but in the end, it was still pleasant. So we actually could walk most parts. We also took the tram to get around a bit quicker and see even more. One of the things you can see in the video is a pretty high lift in the middle of the city centre. This is the Elevador de Santa Justa, which was built in 1902 and connects the Baixa district with the higher Chiado district. Large cabins, which fit up to 20 people, bring you up the 45 meters. At the top, we had a great view of the city. Just like the tram no. 28, the Elevador de Santa Justa is one of the highlights of Lisbon. It is something you probably won’t see in any other city!
Just walk trough the city
Of course, there is so much more to see in Lisbon. You just should walk through the city yourself to get an idea of it! I hope we could give you some valuable tips for your holiday in Lisbon and Cascais. If you have any questions or want to add something, do not hesitate and leave a comment.
