Cascais Surfing & Travel Guide
Cascais is a super elegant resort in the Lisbon area. More than that, it’s almost certainly the top beginner spot in the orbit of the Portuguese capital.
The town itself is tucked into a bay on the western side of the Estoril Coast. It’s well protected from the oncoming Atlantic groundswells, so the central beaches – Praia da Ribeira, Praia do Tamariz – are more for the sunbathers and the SUP boarders.
This guide will mainly focus on the beaches that stretch north, east and west of Cascais itself. They are some serious corkers, offering pretty heavy wedges and beach break barrels on the occasions that the Atlantic shows its teeth.
Places like Carcavelos – a few stops on the metro from Cascais – are the stars of the show, but they can get busy with Lisbon folk. You also Guincho Beach – a regional classic – and a few reef spots that can hold really well.
MY two cents: Cascais is about having fun and surfing. The nightlife is pretty darn good. Grand casinos loom up above the sands. You’ll drink Sagres beers and enjoy some fantastic Portuguese food in the open-air eateries too. And the beaches are some of the best in the Lisbon region.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
>>This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Portugal
Cascais surfing at a glance
The good:
- Uber-cool town that’s close to Lisbon
- Mix of south- and even east-facing beaches
- Beach breaks that get hollow but also cater to beginners, depending on swell
The bad:
- This whole coast can be busy
- Some pollution after heavy rain
- Localism can be a problem in some spots
Cascais surf spots
There are spots from the end of Lisbon’s city sprawl to the east all the way to the rugged coastline that rolls beneath the Sintra Mountains north of Cascais.
That means there are both SW- and W-facing beaches that pick up all sorts of different swells on offer here.
Praia da Adraga
A pretty stunning beach with huge jagged rocks that showcase what the Sintra Coast is all about, Praia da Adraga is a real stunner but also a bit of a chore to get to from Cascais (rental car highly reccomended).
There are some challenging lefts and other beach peaks to get stuck into. It’s also a great place to come to laze under the cliffs and escape the Cascais crowds.
Praia do Guincho
Praia do Guincho is the first of the major breaks that face west across the Atlantic Ocean. It’s pretty much the stand-out surf spot on this side of Cascais and a real favorite with learners and surf camps throughout the summer months (when swells are a bit smaller).
It is exposed to all the autumn and winter onshores, which can blow the whole place out in a jiffy. It’s a better choice for windsurfers when that’s happening. Better for intermediates when it’s over 5 foot and swells come NW.
Also a really beautiful beach.
>>Read a complete surf-travel guide for Praia do Guincho
Praia da Ribeira
Praia da Ribeira is the main beachfront in Cascais town. It’s got uber protection from the southerly bump in the coast to the west, which interrupts pretty much all the oncoming W swells and leaves the water pretty flat.
Some days can see S swells roll in and the local crowd will be on it straight away. Our advice? Discount Praia da Ribeira alltogether. It’s not one of the best of the Cascais surfing spots and will almost certainly not be working when you’re in town.
São Pedro do Estoril
São Pedro do Estoril is a high-quality beach break that rolls right off the headlands at the end of a lovely sandy beach. It’s popular but nowhere near as busy as Carcavelos nearer to Lisbon.
You’ll often find the surf crowd out of Cascais coming in – the train takes just 20 minutes! Works best on a strong W swell with a large period. They’ll wrap around the rocks to offer sets of fun but often wobbly rides.
There are a couple of spots to surf, with one larger wave out back and a few easier breaks closer to the shore. Works well for all levels.
Parede
Parede’s a stunning wave that needs bigger swells to get rolling. A few of the better surf crowd will peel themselves off the Carcavelos peaks when it’s going. They’re rewarded by a wedgy and hollow wall that’s a lovely right ride and supremely rippable. It’s close to Cascais and another stop on the train from Lisbon.
Carcavelos
Carcavelos is the most famous spot on the Estoril Coast. A classic left point comes off the east end of the bay and gets pretty wedgy and fast at high tide.
The west end of the bay, meanwhile, offers up a prety slabby right that’s hollow big and uber-fun for experienced surfers when it’s 5-10 foot.
Those are the two stand-out spots and they’re usually packed with the local crew who won’t hold back at the first sign of a snake. The middle of the bay is better for learners. When it’s 3-7 foot, you can get some decent waves but it’s also often dumpy AF.
ALWAYS busy.
>>Read our in-depth guide to surfing in Carcavelos
When to surf in Cascais?
The autumn is probably the peak period to surf in Cascais.
We love it for the regular W swells and the warm waters. Summer is better for beginners, while winter should be left to the more experienced riders, as the waves can get big. Spring is a transition time that starts with great intermediate sets and ends with something better for those on the starter surf camps.
Summer (June-August)
Summer is long and hot in Cascais. It’s also bloody busy, with all sorts of travelers joining the Lisbon crowds on their great escape from the city to the beaches. You should also find that the surf ain’t at its best. Yes, there are some stay SW swells that’ll kick up and you’ll get glassy days on the beaches, but there’s a huge lineup waiting to pounce (usually unfriendly locals) and it’s never that punchy. Our advice? Try to head north to Guincho or even Ericeira if you want better reliability between June and August.
Wear: 2mm or a rash vest for some
Autumn (September-November)
The autumn is the key season when it comes to Cascais surfing. With stronger westerly swells kicking through up to the Tagus estuary, the beaches of the Estoril really get going. There are lots of surfable days on São Pedro do Estoril and Carcavelos, offering fast, sometimes hollow waves of between 5-10 foot. Watch the onshores from the W. If they dip then it could also be worth exploring north to the Sintra coast and Guincho.
Wear: 4/3 – the usual for autumn across most of Portugal
Winter (December-March)
Winter is the untamed height of the Atlantic storm season. It brings very good consistency, though quality on the waves can be an issue. It’s the rare time of the year that the central Cascais surfing will work – places like uber-protected Praia da Ribeira, for example (check the buoy height and watch for 13-foot plus to get that while it’s on). Our main complaint in December and January is the spike in rainfall. That can drag pollution down from Lisbon and wave goodbye to that nice summer water quality.
Wear: 4/3 usually sufficient. Take a hood, gloves and booties too. A 5/3 in the van won’t hurt.
Spring (April & May)
The locals love getting out on the water in Spring. Cascais sees some lovely, warm and balmy days in Aprila and May. There’s still a trace of the strong S-SW swell coming in too, do there’s lots to surf. On top of that, you don’t get the full summer crowds. May is altogether calmer and we think it’s one of the best times of year to join a Cascais surf camp if you’re a total beginner.
Wear: 4/3 or 3/2
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Surf camps in Cascais
It’s not for nothing that Cascais is now one of the top places in the vicinity of Lisbon to do a surf camp.
The accessibility of the place, and the fact that it has access to west- and south-facing coasts mean that it’s great for beginners looking to do a planned surf itinerary. The town also has moxie; like great nightlife, fun cafes, and a good vibe. All the ingredients combine.
If we had to narrow it down, we’d say that the surf camps here really lend themselves to the younger, learner crowd. They tend to offer a great balance between practice in the water and fun vibes. The best of them would probably include…
- The Salty Cascais – This famous name comes up time and time again on our picks of the best surf camps. They have a great outlet in Cascais that’s heavy on the yoga and equally heavy night activities. If in doubt, pick this.
- Surf Cascais – For a more homegrown surf camp that’s tailored for 18-35s, go for Surf Cascais. They offer action-packed itineraries that include 12 hours of guided surfing and loads of extras like evening BBQs and whatnot.
>>We also have a guide to the best surf camps in Portugal and the best Lisbon surf camps, which includes plenty of places in Cascais.
Where to stay in Cascais?
One of the upsides of Cascais is the range of really nice hotel options. They have a whiff of luxury about them and sometimes don’t come cheap, but this is an old-school resort town for royalty, remember.
Here are the spots I like in town, with some budget options for those watchign the $$…
- EVOLUTION Cascais-Estoril Hotel – I pick this because it’s closer to the reefs and beaches where you can surf, but it is also a bit out of Cascais town. The hotel is a gorgeous spot, with a fantastic pool and sun terraces overlooking the Atlantic.
- Artsy Cascais – A banger of a hotel if you have the cash. Rooftop plunge pool, amazing cocktail bar, and just slick as can be throughout. You can walk to the main beach but it’s a short train/drive to the main surf spots.
- Lisbon Surf Hostel – A bargain spot with a great vibe that’s actually midway between Lisbon and Cascais, within walking distance of the region’s top surf beach: Carcavelos.
>>Check out our pick of the top surf hotels in Portugal right now
Surf shops in Cascais
Cascais is more of a come-and-chill destination than a full-on surf town like, say, Peniche. You don’t have so many dedicated surf stores in the area, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Check out:#
- The Base Surf Store – One of the best places to get a new setup in the Lisbon area. It’s actually a little bit back from the main beach in Cascais. It’s not that easy to get to if you don’t have your own wheels, but it’s worth the trip if you’re after something new for the quiver – they have Chilli stock, Rusty, RVCA and more. Plus: Second-hand boards!
- Quiksilver Cascais – A big store right on the Cascais seafront. The usual mix of big-brand gear and clothes.
- POLEN – Drop into the home of one of Portugal’s most iconic shapers: POLEN. They’ve been going since 1988, so must be doing something right! The range of in-house boards is also perfect for the local Portuguese breaks, especially that extra-fat summer rider with its five fin setup. Bring on the ankle burners!
Travel essentials for Cascais
Where is Cascais?
Cascais is the small town that lies along the Estoril Coast from Lisbon. It’s linked to the Portuguese capital by a comfy and fast railway line that takes about 50 minutes from the station in Santos. You can also drive it, but try to avoid peak rush hours becuase the roads in and out of town can be notoriously busy.
More generally, Cascais looks south into the mouth of the Tagus River. It’s just one headland around from the full brunt of the Atlantic Ocean, and there are other beaches to the east (closer to Lisbon) that angle perfectly into the swells to give fine surfing.
How to get to Cascais?
It’s easy. No stress. Seriously – a 40-minute train from Lisbon’s Cais do Sodré station is all you need to get to Cascais. That does mean being in Lisbon in the first place, of course, because Cais do Sodré is the station that’s right in the center of the city on the edge of the Tagus Estuary.
Trains leave every 30 minutes or something, so you should always have a service. Book at the station when you arrive – it’s €2.30 per person each way and you can buy tickets at the machines. Told you it was easy.
There are some surfers who might want to rent a car for Cascais. We’d only recommend it if you’re hitting the town on the way out of Lisbon on the way to the famous surf coast and surf towns further north – Ericeira, Peniche. If that’s the plan, then it’s a good one because there are loads of fantastic surf spots to get through on the way. What’s more, the drive from Lisbon Airport to Cascais takes a mere 50 minutes in all.
If you are going to drive, I highly reccommend checking DiscoverCars as they’ve been the cheapest for me on my last few trips out.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
