Visiting Cabo da Roca: Europe's Westernmost Point

Cabo da Roca is the westernmost point of mainland Europe: wild cliffs above the Atlantic, a lighthouse, and a monument quoting Portugal’s national poet Camões, “where the land ends and the sea begins”. Here’s how to visit, and how to combine it with Sintra and Cascais.

Quick answer: Cabo da Roca is about 20 minutes’ drive from both Sintra and Cascais. The clifftop viewpoint is free; only the lighthouse visit is ticketed (from about €5). Most visitors stop for 30 to 60 minutes. It’s easiest by car or on a Sintra and Cascais tour. See tours that include Cabo da Roca.

Why go

Standing at the edge of a continent has a pull of its own. The view is huge: open ocean to the west, the green Sintra hills behind you, and cliffs dropping straight into the surf. It sits inside the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, so the landscape around it is wild heath with no big development. It also fits neatly into a day between Sintra and Cascais.

What to see

• The monument with its stone cross and the Camões inscription. The line comes from his 16th-century epic poem, Os Lusíadas. A plaque gives the cape’s coordinates.
• The cliffs: sheer drops of over 100 metres to the ocean. Paths and fenced viewpoints run along the edge.
• The lighthouse: one of Portugal’s oldest. It was ordered in 1758 by the Marquis of Pombal and first lit in 1772. Parques de Sintra now runs paid visits: a basic ticket covers the courtyard and an exhibition area, and a pricier panoramic ticket adds a guided climb to the tower balcony.
• Sunsets over the Atlantic. See the best sunset spots.
• Coastal walks: trails lead along the cliffs, including down to the wild Praia da Ursa (a steep, difficult path).

The tourist office at the cape sells an optional certificate saying you have been to the westernmost point of mainland Europe. It costs about €11.

Getting there

• By car: the easiest option. It’s a scenic drive of about 20 minutes from Sintra or Cascais, and roughly 45 minutes from central Lisbon, traffic allowing. There is a free car park, but it fills up by late morning in summer.
• By bus: the old 403 bus between Sintra and Cascais was withdrawn. Carris Metropolitana now runs the routes: the 1253 from Sintra station takes about 45 minutes, and some trips on the 1624 between Cascais and Sintra stop at the cape. Not every 1624 does, so check the timetable.
• On a tour: most Sintra and Cascais day trips from Lisbon stop here. See Sintra day tours.

See Lisbon to Sintra.

A one-day loop

Take the train from Lisbon to Sintra and see a palace in the morning. After lunch, take the bus to Cabo da Roca for an hour on the cliffs. Continue by bus to Cascais, stop at Guincho beach if you have a car, and catch the train back to Lisbon along the coast from Cascais. See Sintra and Cascais in one day.

Food

There is only a small café and shop at the cape, so plan to eat elsewhere. The nearby villages and the Guincho coast are known for grilled fish and seafood. Try Colares wine, made from vines grown in the sand near the coast, and Sintra’s sweet pastries, travesseiros and queijadas.

When to go

Spring and autumn usually bring clearer days and fewer coaches. Summer is busiest, and sea fog can roll in on hot days. Winter can be stormy, which is dramatic but cold. Go early in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid tour groups.

Tips

• Wind: it’s almost always windy and cooler than Lisbon. Bring a jacket.
• Stay behind the barriers: the cliffs are unstable.
• Fog: the cape is often in cloud. A clear afternoon is best.
• Lighthouse times: the lighthouse visit usually runs from about 9:30 to 17:30. Check current times with Parques de Sintra.
• Nearby: Guincho beach and Azenhas do Mar. See Sintra photo spots and Guincho beach.

More: things to do in Cascais and visiting Sintra.

Some links in this guide are affiliate links (GetYourGuide, Booking.com, Discover Cars). If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep our groups and this site free.