Although Lisbon is a beautiful city, we recommend escaping from the hustle and bustle of the city at least for a while, and go on a trip to see the beauty of Portugal. All the trips mentioned below are located close to Lisbon’s capital city and are ideal even for a one-day escape from the city. All are accessible by public transport. If you decide to visit these places, you will definitely not regret it!
Praia da Ursa – Don’t forget your swimsuit!
Beautiful, wild, and unrestrained .. three words that perfectly describe this beach. We were amazed the moment we saw the beach from above the cliff. It is truly one of the most beautiful beaches we have ever seen!
Praia de Ursa is perfectly accessible from Cabo da Roca that is (probably?) the westernmost beach in Europe. We came across it on the Internet completely by chance under the nickname “Secret Beach” – well, it wasn’t a complete secret. There were a few people there, but we still felt like we were the only ones 🙂 Most people stay at the viewpoint and don’t make the effort descending down to the beach itself, but it’s definitely worth it!
How to get to Praia da Ursa
If, like us, you are staying in Lisbon, you have two options to get to Praia da Ursa without having to rent a car. The first option is to take the train from Lisbon to Sintra where you take the super unreliable, but unfortunately the only option, SCOTTURB bus number 403 to Cascais. Get off one stop before Cabo da Roca or stop at Cabo da Roca. If you are facing Cabo da Roca, head right to get here.
On the way, you will pass wonderful views of the Cabo da Roca lighthouse and the adjacent cliffs.Don’t forget a suitable footwear.
After about 20 minutes you will arrive at the breathtaking view over Praia da Ursa! From the viewpoint, it is approximately 15 minutes to the beach. Be careful – it is not a simple path, but it is not a challenging one either. You just have to be careful about suitable footwear – flip-flops are not ideal. The path is very steep, over stones and logs, but it can be easily managed in about a quarter of an hour.
The weather in this part of Portugal literally changes in the blink of an eye. During our little hike, we experienced wonderful sunshine and scorching heat, replaced by fog, drizzle, and gusty wind in no time. The water is a bit cold, but amazing :).
Cabo da Roca – you can’t go any further west
Cabo da Roca is the westernmost point of continental Europe. One Portuguese poet, Luiís de Camoes, wrote about it that it is “the place where the land ends and the sea begins”, and that’s exactly how you feel there. You really feel like you’re at the end of the world!
We visited Cabo da Roca twice due to bad weather. We combined both visits with the Praia da Ursa beach. There is a very strong wind and the weather changes literally every minute.
You will find a small tourist center with souvenirs and paid toilets. There is no entrance fee to Cabo da Roca.
How to get here?
Actually, exactly the same as at Praia da Ursa – by bus no. 403 from Sintra or Cascais – get off at the Cabo da Roca stop. Please note that the bus absolutely does not run according to the schedule.. it’s a lottery, just like the weather 🙂
The fairytale town of Sintra + Palace of Pena
Sintra is less than an hour by train from Lisbon. Why is it called a fairy tale city? You will find there countless beautiful castles that you could explore for several days. Due to lack of time, we chose only the Palace of Pena – one of the seven wonders of Portugal. It is located on a hill approximately 6 kilometers from the train station. The journey on foot would be quite challenging and tedious in that heat (around 35 degrees Celsius), and the Portuguese are of course aware of this. Therefore, we paid for a bit overpriced bus, which takes you to the top.
Entrance to the park and the palace terraces costs EUR 7.5 per person, if you are also interested in the interior of the castle, the price is EUR 14. You can buy your ticket directly in front of the palace in a machine or at the counter. From the entrance, it’s still a long way up the hill.
From the entrance, we set off at rocket speed towards the palace in order to overtake the rest of the bus and enjoy at least a moment without others. The place is really beautiful and no wonder so many people visit it.
Be sure to check out the rest of the gardens as well. You can visit, for example, this viewpoint, from which there is a beautiful view of the Palace.
If you have time and want to see the other palaces as well, you can get an all-day “Hop on, hop off” ticket for about 15 EUR.
How to get here?
The easiest way from Lisbon is by train, specifically from Rossio station. The journey takes less than an hour.
The port town of Cascais
A pleasant picturesque harbor town not far from Lisbon. You can go here for a swim in the ocean or just for a walk along the coast. Perfect place for a half-day trip. Don’t expect any breathtaking sights or views in Cascais. But you can expect picturesque streets, a beautiful harbor, cozy cafes and restaurants, and a relaxed atmosphere. Sometimes that is all we want and need.
How to get here?
From Lisbon’s Cais do Sodré station, the train ride along the coast takes approximately half an hour. The ticket price is EUR 2.25 + EUR 0.50 for the train card.
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