Solo Time and Working Remotely in Cascais
Cascais is absolutely gorgeous — the coastline is truly breathtaking! The overall vibe is calm and relaxed, with a slightly older feel, like the kind of place you could happily retire and settle into. It’s a small town, and you won’t find too many young people around, but that’s part of its charm. Simply wandering through the narrow streets and quiet neighborhoods instantly puts you at ease. Unlike some other towns in Portugal, Cascais doesn’t have much of a digital nomad scene. Also, keep in mind that it has its own microclimate — the weather can change quite quickly and unpredictably. I wanted to surf here but I ended up not because the winds where I was located were too strong, but there are lovely places to surf more south.
MINI GUIDE/FAQs
How many days should I stay? The area is small, you could visit for just a day if you wanted to or longer if you want to spend time
What is the weather like? Microclimate, sometimes it was windy and cloudy and then sometimes beautiful and sunny
How do I get around? I biked around, but honestly I wish I had a rental car but they were a little too expensive
OVERVIEW
Offers one dorm style room with super comfy beds that are very private with a curtain.
Hotel Spotlight: LEGASEA
I absolutely loved staying at Legasea Cascais Guesthouse. It feels much more like a boutique hotel than a typical guesthouse, with the most beautiful surfer-beachy design that makes you instantly relax the moment you walk in. Every detail is thoughtfully curated and aesthetically stunning.
They have a mix of private rooms plus one unique dorm room with six beds — and it was the first time I’d ever seen three beds stacked on top of each other! Somehow, even that felt stylish and well-designed rather than cramped.
The location is perfect — right near the center of town, making it easy to walk everywhere in Cascais. There’s also a great pizza restaurant attached to the hotel, and the rooftop and courtyard spaces are incredible bonuses. I used the rooftop daily for meditation, yoga, and working remotely, and it truly became my little sanctuary.
Things to Do
Bike along the coast
Bike north up the coast to Praia do Guincho. It can be a little wildy since this area has a micro climate, but the water is stunning and the beach is big with soft sand.
You can also go down south, the beaches here are smaller and some are better for surfing.
Chill out at the beaches near town
Praia de Santa Marta: Near the main town and is small and the water is bluer in color.
Praia da Ribeira de Cascais: Near the main town, bigger, but a little touristy.
Eat and walk around
Walk around Rua Amarela and there are tons of restaurants. Souldough Pizza was good with a beautiful interior that incorporates and indoor/outdoor feel. It was inside the hotel I stayed at, Legasea Cascais, which had one dorm room.
The restaurants weren’t noteworthy but there are lots of them with news views of the ocean. Near Palaphita Cascais there's a trail with lots of shops and smaller stands.
Visit Boca do Inferno
Walk around Parque Marechal Carmona
SPOTLIGHT: URSA BEACH, CABO DA ROCA
There’s a short 3-mile hike from Ursa Beach, Cabo da Roca, you can find it on AllTrails. I biked from the main town to here, but it is quite of a ride and alot of it is uphill. The actual hike felt like a breeze compared to the bike ride to here. There are alot of nice little restaurants in small villages along the way.
