Cascais makes an excellent day trip from Lisbon, particularly if you are looking for somewhere that can be explored at a relaxed pace without needing a complicated itinerary.
My visit was mostly about walking around, enjoying the coastal atmosphere and spending some time away from the busy streets of Lisbon.
Arriving in Cascais
I travelled to Cascais by train, arriving conveniently in the centre of town.
From the station, most of the places I wanted to explore were within walking distance, which made Cascais particularly easy to visit as a day trip.
Rather than planning a long list of attractions, I spent most of the day exploring on foot.
Walking Around Centro Histórico
The majority of my time was spent around the Centro Histórico, wandering through its streets and seeing where they led.
Cascais has the kind of centre that works particularly well without a strict route. Small streets, shops, restaurants and traditional Portuguese architecture make simply walking around part of the experience.
Eventually, my walk brought me towards the waterfront and Praia da Ribeira.
Located directly beside the historic centre, this small beach provides a pleasant introduction to the coastal side of Cascais. Fishing boats, the beach and surrounding buildings create a scene that feels considerably different from Lisbon despite being close enough for an easy day trip.
Lunch at Hífen Restaurant
For lunch, I stopped at Hífen Restaurant.
Its location near the waterfront made it a convenient place to take a break after spending the morning walking around Cascais.
One thing I liked about this day trip was that there was no need to rush between attractions. Lunch could simply become part of the day rather than something squeezed between sightseeing stops.
After eating, I continued walking along the coast.
Marina de Cascais and Cidadela
From the centre, it was a relatively short walk towards Marina de Cascais.
The marina provided another pleasant area for walking, with boats filling the harbour and the Atlantic coastline nearby.
I then stopped for a coffee around the Cidadela de Cascais.
The historic surroundings of the citadel, marina and waterfront make this one of the nicest areas to slow down for a while before heading back towards the centre.
Livraria Déjà Lu
Before leaving Cascais, I visited Livraria Déjà Lu.
Bookshops are often among the smaller places I enjoy finding while travelling, particularly when they have a little more character than the typical commercial bookstore.
It was a fitting final stop on a day that had mostly been about discovering Cascais at a relaxed walking pace rather than rushing through a long sightseeing itinerary.
Back to Lisbon
After visiting Livraria Déjà Lu, it was time to make my way back towards the station and catch the train to Lisbon.
Cascais worked particularly well as a simple day trip.
There was no complicated schedule: arrive by train, wander through Centro Histórico, pass Praia da Ribeira, have lunch at Hífen, walk towards Marina de Cascais, stop for coffee around Cidadela de Cascais, browse Livraria Déjà Lu and eventually head back to Lisbon.
For me, that was enough.
Sometimes a day trip doesn't need to be filled with museums and major attractions. Cascais was simply an enjoyable place to walk, eat, have a coffee and experience a quieter coastal side of Portugal before returning to Lisbon.