Cabo da Roca: the westernmost point of mainland Europe

Cabo da Roca is the western end of the European continent: from here, going west, there is no land until America. It is a headland of high cliffs inside the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, with a lighthouse working since the 18th century and a stone marker carrying the line by Camões that everyone photographs — "where the land ends and the sea begins".

There is not much to do. There is a lot to look at, and what you look at is wind, ocean and scale. Half an hour covers the marker, the lighthouse and the viewpoints; anyone who wants to walk the clifftop trails can easily stay two hours.

Getting there

By car

The simplest option: about 40 minutes from Sintra and 20 to 25 minutes from Cascais, on hill and coast roads. There is free parking on site, which fills up in summer late afternoons.

By bus

Bus routes connect Sintra and Cascais to Cabo da Roca, but frequency is limited and drops outside the season. Check the timetable on the day and do not gamble on the last bus. Verifying: current timetable and operator

On an organised tour

This is the most common way, and it makes sense: almost every full-day tour leaving Lisbon for Sintra includes Cabo da Roca en route to Cascais. The stop is short — typically 20 to 30 minutes — but it removes the logistics problem entirely.

What to do next

• Praia da Adraga — to the north, one of the most beautiful beaches on this coast, with rock formations and a well-known fish restaurant.
• Praia do Guincho — to the south towards Cascais, with dunes and the steady wind that made it a kitesurfing destination.
• Peninha — the viewpoint at the high point of the natural park, on the way back to Sintra.
• Cascais — 25 minutes away, for dinner and the Cascais line train back to Lisbon.