A stone column topped with a cross, with the Camões quote and the coordinates of the cape. The viewpoint looks down the cliffs to the ocean.
Price: free · Tip: come at sunset, when the sun drops straight into the Atlantic.
Cabo da Roca Guide 2026: Europe's Westernmost Point
Portugal · July 2023
Overview
First Impressions
Cabo da Roca is a windy headland with a red-roofed lighthouse, a stone monument and cliffs dropping about 140 m into the Atlantic. There is not much to "do" here, and most tours stop for only 20 minutes, but standing at the very edge of the continent, with nothing between you and America, is a special feeling. Keep in mind that it is often much colder and windier than Lisbon or Sintra, even in summer.
History & How Long to Stay
The Romans called the cape Promontorium Magnum, and sailors used it for centuries as a landmark. Portugal's great poet Luís Vaz de Camões described it in his 1572 epic The Lusiads as the place "onde a terra se acaba e o mar começa" ("where the land ends and the sea begins"), and that line is carved on the monument. The lighthouse, completed in 1772, was one of the first purpose-built lighthouses in Portugal. The cape is part of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park.
How long to stay: 1 to 2 hours, or half a day if you hike to Praia da Ursa. Combine it with Sintra or Cascais.
Last updated: October 2026
Quick Facts
Everything at a glance
- Nearest airport
- Lisbon (LIS), about 45 minutes by car
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Coordinates
- 38°47′N, 9°30′W, the westernmost point of mainland Europe
- Best time
- Late afternoon for sunset; clear days in spring and autumn
- Facilities
- Café, gift shop and toilets (small fee)
- Safety
- Stay behind the fences; the cliffs are unstable and the wind is strong
Location
On the map
On the Atlantic coast west of Lisbon, 18 km west of Sintra and 15 km north of Cascais, inside the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park.
Budget
What a day actually costs
Per person, as part of a Sintra or Cascais day.
| Backpacker | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transport | €5.20 (bus 1624 return) | €25–40 (Uber or Bolt) | Private tour €100+ |
| Food | €5–10 (snack) | €15–25 | €40+ |
Total €10–15 ($11–17) €40–65 ($45–73) €140+ ($158+) Visiting the cape is free.
Things to Do
What earned its place
The lighthouse from 1772, 165 m above sea level, whose light can be seen about 46 km out to sea. It is still active, so you see it only from outside.
Price: free to view.
The tourist office sells a certificate with your name saying you visited the westernmost point of continental Europe. It is a fun souvenir.
Price: small fee.
A rough path leads about 1 km north from the cape down to Praia da Ursa, a wild beach with giant sea stacks, often called one of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal. The descent is steep and loose, so you need good shoes and it takes about 20 to 30 minutes each way.
Price: free · Tip: do not swim; currents are dangerous and there are no lifeguards.
A longer cliff-top path north to Adraga beach, with a beach restaurant famous for grilled fish.
Time needed: about 1.5 hours one way.
Sintra, with its palaces (Pena, Quinta da Regaleira, the Moorish Castle), is 30 to 40 minutes away by bus. Cascais, a seaside town with beaches and the Boca do Inferno cliffs, is about 30 minutes away.
Transit Tips
Getting around
Getting there
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Fly into Lisbon (LIS).
From Lisbon: take the train to Sintra (from Rossio, about 40 minutes) or to Cascais (from Cais do Sodré, about 40 minutes).
Bus 1624 (Carris Metropolitana): runs between Sintra and Cascais via Cabo da Roca, about €2.60 a ride, 30 to 40 minutes. Bus 1253 also runs from Sintra. Buses are more frequent in summer.
Uber or Bolt: about €12–20 from Sintra or Cascais; keep in mind that getting a car back can take a while, so the bus is a safer return.
Getting around
On foot. The viewpoint, lighthouse and café are all next to the bus stop.
Good to know
Bring a jacket even on hot days and hold on to your hat; the wind can be very strong.
Helpful Words
Useful words in the local language
A few basics in Portuguese can make everyday conversations much easier.
- Olá
- Hello
- Por favor
- Please
- Obrigado / Obrigada
- Thank you
- Com licença
- Excuse me
- Quanto custa?
- How much is it?
- Onde fica…?
- Where is…?
Where to Stay
Where to Stay
- There is almost nowhere to stay at the cape itself. Base yourself nearby:
- Sintra: best for palaces and a fairy-tale atmosphere.
- Cascais: best for beaches and seafood.
- Azoia village: best for a quiet, rural stay a few minutes from the cape.
- Lisbon: best if you are doing it as a day trip.
Plan & Book
Browse hotels in Cabo da Roca
Explore accommodation options and open hotel details directly from the map.
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