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 visitor area is now ticketed (from €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.

What to see

• The monument with its stone cross and the Camões inscription.
• The cliffs: sheer drops of over 100 metres to the ocean.
• The lighthouse, one of Portugal’s oldest.
• 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).

Getting there

• By car: the easiest option. It’s a scenic drive from Sintra or Cascais.
• By bus: check current local routes, as the old 403 bus between Sintra and Cascais was withdrawn.
• On a tour: most Sintra and Cascais day trips from Lisbon stop here. See Sintra day tours.

See Lisbon to Sintra.

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.
• Nearby: Guincho beach and Azenhas do Mar. See Sintra photo spots.

More: things to do in Cascais and visiting Sintra.

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