Cascais is a great place for families to visit. From the land to the sea, from nature to music, here are x suggestions for entertaining the children.
Just 30 minutes from Lisbon, the Cascais coastline has wonderful beaches, good restaurants (especially fish restaurants) and even a museum district that you can walk around and learn as you go. And don’t worry if you have to bring the kids too. There is no shortage of things for the little ones to do in Cascais at any time of the year: educational farms, parks, more or less extreme activities, museums and swimming... lots of swimming. The hardest part will be getting them in the car, because it will just be a brief sample: there will be much left for the family to discover.
The smallest ray of sunshine has Cascais locals running to the beach. But there’s more than just sea and sand along the coast. Marechal Carmona Park is also worth a visit on sunny (and other) days. It has large lawns, ponds, woods and a three-part playground for different ages. Look out for the ducks, cockerels and peacocks that strut around hoping for the food that the park wardens won’t let you give them.
Marechal Carmona Park, Cascais. Mon-Sun 08.30am-7.45pm Free admission.
Me, Tarzan. You, Jane. In the heart of the Serra de Sintra, Pedra Amarela Base Camp has everything that kids who can't put their feet down for long can dream of. An arborist trail, slide, climbing, arrow tag, orienteering games, rappelling, mountain biking... Let loose the beasts and have fun with them! Mini environmentalists will also have a great time looking for local species like foxes, buzzards, genets and tawny owls.
Pedra Amarela Campo Base. (+351) 215 811 750. Mon-Sun 9am-6pm. Ask about prices
It’s the first dirt track in Europe for light, gasoline-free electric bicycles. And it’s kids-only. There are two routes: one for children aged between two and four; and one for kids aged four to eight. The teachers and the rest of the team are passionate and experienced cyclists and guarantee to do their best to teach all their tricks safely. A 45-minute session costs €35, but a ten-lesson package (€300) will be cheaper in the long run.
Quinta da Marinha Health Club (Cascais). (+351) 91 179 5199. Mon-Fri 2pm-6pm, Sat-Sun and holidays 10am-8pm
Just pull on the non-slip socks for some colourful fun and games. Treetop trails, climbing, zip-lining, slides, trampolines and video games are some of the attractions for kids. Think this is enough to tire them out? If not, there’s Brinquedão, a large space full of obstacles, a maze, a slide and a kid-size town with a supermarket or a kitchen for playing grown-up.
Rua Hermenegildo Pulquério, 246, Alcabideche. Fri 4pm-8pm, Sat-Sun 10am-8pm. €10
Comparing a visit to this Museum to a dive into the sea may be a little obvious, but we couldn’t resist. It was built in 1992 not only to preserve the history of the Cascais fishing community but also to study stories about the sea, which was something King Carlos began back in the 19th century. Each room addresses a different subject, ranging from marine fossils to the town’s fishing boats and stories. Thanks to the seamanship and navigation collection, you can also see anything from replicas of sailing yachts to a set of nautical instruments.
Rua Júlio Pereira de Mello, Cascais. Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-1pm/ 2pm-5pm.
This park with a stream was commissioned by the Duke of Palmela in the late 19th century. It used to be the venue for many events back in the day and maintains the tradition of concerts, plays and dance performances in the Lopes Graça Auditorium. It now boasts another leisure activity: a treetop trail, which fosters outdoor sports and environmental awareness. Just book with Pedaços de Aventura.
Palmela Park. (+351) 912 426 118. Mon-Sun 8.30am-8pm (treetop trails must be booked in advance, 10.30am to 6pm). Free admission to the park, €6.50-€10 for treetop adventures
It’s very popular with people addicted to thrills, but it’s not at all a hostile environment. In fact, more and more families with kids are going there. And no, you don’t have to have any experience. You can see great skaters and kids who can hardly stand up on the board. However, we do recommend that you fit them with helmets and other protective gear. No need to risk having to patch them up after a fall.
Rua António Ferro. Free admission.
Some years ago, a fairytale rococo carousel, with horses, elephants, giraffes and lions, was installed in this charming garden, right in the centre of Cascais. In the beginning of 2023 it has been replaced by an even more magical one, with hot air balloons that will take children's imagination to the sky. The new Viena carousel also has a swan, a running chicken, a sea horse and a carriage for parents with toddlers. Some kids are so obsessed with the ride that their parents say that they have spent enough money on the toy to be able to buy one just like it.
Visconde da Luz Garden, Cascais. Mon-Fri 11am-7pm, Sat-Sun 10am-9pm. From €2
In spite of the bowling in the name, there are plenty of other things to do at this activity centre. Inside, there is a games room, with table tennis and table football. Outside, you have paintball, bazooka ball (like paintball only with foam balls) and bubble football (yep, it’s football inside giant inflatable bubbles). Prepare to be spoiled for choice, as there are tons of options.
Rua Chesol 35. Mon-Thu 3pm-1am, Fri 3pm-2am, Sat 10am-2am, Sun 10am-1am. Prices vary
The Museu da Música Portuguesa – Casa Verdades de Faria, located in a grandiose house from the beginning of the 20th century, is the right place to stimulate the little ones’ taste for music. The collection takes you on a journey through all kinds of musical instruments, within a house lined with tiles that also tell a story, which can be told on guided tours. In addition, the garden is one of the best places in town to play hide-and-seek, it allows picnics and dogs on a leash, and it is free.
Only those in the know can find it easily, but there is an enchanted forest in Cascais that is well worth looking for. Bosque Feliz is full of books, toys and dolls, perfect for your playroom. Alternative pedagogies Waldorf, Pikler and Montessori have a special place on the shelves, as do products made from sustainable and environmentally-friendly materials.
In a seaside town, where the waves are so famous that they feature in surf championships, get the kids to jump on a surfboard and take some lessons. Green Wave Cascais is a newcomer to the world of surfing schools, but it has been doing sterling work with kids of different ages – and adults too! They offer private and group surfing lessons, and also stand up paddle classes.
Guincho Beach. (+351) 913 113 423. €25-€50
Miles and miles of sand for fun and games, with no timetable and no entry fee. There is very rarely a green flag allowing lengthy swims off the beaches at Guincho, but the beaches themselves are the most beautiful in the area, and the waves invite surfboards, windsurfing and kitesurfing. On the Line, it is difficult to decide which beach, from Conceição to Azarujinha, to place your towel on. From the Paredão, the best way to choose is: “Eenie meenie miney mo!”
380 hectares in Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. What Quinta do Pisão has to offer children who enjoy nature is not to be sneered at. There are horses, sheep, woolly donkeys and other wild animals, including rabbits and partridges. You can go there and pick your own food, learn more about the area’s flora, go for walks, take a bike ride, or even hire a Segway. What’s most important is to go.
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