Sintra Coast Hike: Cabo da Roca – Praia da Ursa – Azenhas do Mar, Portugal

Sintra-Cascais Natural Park in Portugal contains many national treasures like Pena Palace, Castle of the Moors, and Monserrate Palace.

Most Cascais and Lisbon day-trippers flock to the architectural wonders of Sintra and unknowingly overlook the beautiful Sintra coastline.

If you’re seeking an alternative way to experience Sintra, far away from the crowds, we highly recommend hiking from Cabo da Roca to Azenhas do Mar.

Highlights of this Sintra coastal hike are the lovely beaches of Praia da Aroeira, Praia da Ursa, Praia da Adraga, and Praia Grande.

If you’re interested in a shorter walk, we recommend walking the stretch between Cabo da Roca and Praia da Adraga. Praia da Adraga makes for a great end-point because there’s a restaurant directly at the beach. Secondly, a road leads directly to Praia da Adraga. So, you could get a taxi or Uber/Bolt back to Cabo da Roca, or Cascais.

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Sintra Coast Hiking Map

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Sintra Hike Difficulty

When researching this area, we read that it’s treacherous to hike from Cabo da Roca to Praia da Ursa. That’s a bit dramatic.

However, it could potentially be dangerous if you’re wearing sandals or inappropriate footwear. Or, if you’re hiking after rainfall.

Kati and I wore ligt hiking boots and we could confidently hike the steep passages along the route without a problem.

The section initially after Praia da Ursa is very steep and requires the occasional use of your hands for stabilization. Other than that, it’s not particularly hard. 

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Sintra Coastal Trail Waymarking

There are very few waymarks along this Cabo da Roca Atlantic coastal trail. The route hugs the coast, with very few exceptions. So, when in doubt, stick to the coast.

Because you won’t be able to rely on trail signage, we recommend using an offline maps app to navigate when it gets confusing.

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Where to Eat Along the Sintra Coastal Trail

There are many places to eat along this Sintra coastal walk.

The first is Restaurante Adraga at Adraga Beach. Next, there are several restaurants congregated around Praia Grande as well as Praia das Maçãs.

At the end of the trail, we counted only two restaurants in Azenhas do Mar. We had a bite to eat at Água e Sal.

Praia da Ursa is very beautiful, and you may want to stay there for an hour or two. If so, we recommend bringing a packed lunch. 

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How to Get to Cabo da Roca

Being the westernmost point of mainland Europe, Cabo da Roca is naturally a popular tourist attraction. Here, you’ll see tourist buses and hordes of people.

Don’t be discouraged: very few will venture further than the barrier zone of Cabo da Roca.

The good news is that it’s very easy to get to Cabo da Roca from Cascais, Sintra, or Lisbon. 

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Cascais to Cabo da Roca

Take Bus 403, operated by Scotturb, from Cascais to Cabo da Roca. It’s a 30-minute bus ride.

You can purchase your ticket directly on the bus. The bus departs from the Cascais bus terminal.

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Lisbon to Cabo da Roca

If you’re starting your day in Lisbon, head to Cascais first.

Go to the Cias do Sodré train station and take the train to Cascais.

The train ride from Lisbon to Cascais (and back) is included in the Lisbon Card (24, 48, or 72-Hour Pass).

From the Cascais train station, cross the street to the bus terminal (Google Maps) and take Bus 403 to Cabo da Roca. 

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Cabo da Roca to Praia da Ursa and Azenhas do Mar Trail Description

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Cabo da Roca to Praia da Ursa

From the Cabo da Roca parking lot, backtrack along the main road. There’s no side-walk, so please be careful.

After several meters, you’ll see a narrow dirt trail on your left leading to the coast.

We took this first trail. If you continue along the road, there will be several others, all leading the same way. It doesn’t really matter which one you take. 

The trail will split a few times. Opt for the left trail (twice) to the Aroiera Beach lookout.

You don’t have to hike down to the beach, but the lookout is beautiful. From the lookout retrace your steps to the last intersection.

Here, you’ll take a left, so you’re heading north and towards Praia da Ursa.

As you approach Ursa beach, you’ll see two striking limestone formations just off the beach.

They look like Hershey’s kisses floating in the water. Enjoy the view and descend to the beach.

The descent can be slippery, so hiking shoes will be immensely helpful.

It should only take 30-40 minutes to reach the beach from Cabo da Roca.

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Praia da Ursa to Praia da Adraga

We ascended back to the main trail via the same route we came. However, there’s likely another path further up the beach.

As you continue North, the views of Praia da Ursa continue to marvel.

The trail dips to a small water crossing and then ascends once more. This is the steepest part of the whole trail.

The trail levels and you continue straight for quite some time. We followed this path all the way to the cliff overlooking Praia do Cavalo, which is a very narrow cove framed by vertical cliffs. 

From here, the path seems to continue to Adraga beach. But, we decided to turn back, because the path was getting increasingly narrow through thick vegetation.

You’ll want to find the path that leads inland and ultimately down to the paved road. At the trail – road intersection, turn left and walk to the beach: Praia da Adraga. 

Praia da Adraga is a great place for lunch. There’s a self-service casual restaurant adjoined to a more formal restaurant.

We grabbed some drinks and took a long break here, before continuing to Praia Grande. 

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Praia da Adraga to Praia Grande

From Adraga beach, the trail ascends on the other side of the parking lot. There’s a trail marker signed GR 11 – E9 Praia Grande (1600 m). There’s a beautiful view of Adraga beach from this lofty perspective.

The trail then steers inland and you’ll hike through a beach-forest section for a few minutes, before heading back to the coast. 

Eventually, you’ll reach a pretty spectacular lookout of Praia Grande. You’ll probably see a few surfers floating about, waiting to catch a wave.

On the opposite side of the beach, there’s a large saltwater pool that extends to the ocean. 

There’s a long stone staircase that leads from the trail all the way down to Praia Grande. We followed a bunch of locals down the stairs, missing the signage that said it was closed off.

When we reached the bottom, we saw a huge sign stating that the staircase was closed. Whoops. 

To avoid the staircase, you’ll just have to walk inland and take the road to Praia Grande. It’s a small detour. 

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Praia Grande to Praia das Maçãs

The trail continues along the length of Grande beach. You’ll pass the large saltwater pool and continue on a sidewalk along the coastal road: Avenida Alfredo Coelho.

This stretch of trail follows the road. Eventually, there’s a walking path that leaves the road and heads to the coast to the Archeological Site of Alto da Vigia, which is situated above cliffs overlooking the beach of Praia das Maçãs.

We missed the site completely. But, the views of the town above Praia das Maçãs are quite captivating. 

Continue all the way to the beach of Praia das Maçãs and then to the white-washed town above the beach. 

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 Praia das Maçãs to Azenhas do Mar

After crossing the beach of Praia das Maçãs, continue along Rua Nossa Senhora da Praia, the road hugging the coast. The route to Azenhas do Mar is straightforward.

You’ll either walk on a sidewalk along the main road or on a walking path. You’ll see fishermen and fisherwomen teetering on the cliff edges catching their dinner. 

The final stretch along Rua Dr. António Brandão de Vasconcelos (the road leading to Azenhas do Mar) is beautiful, making your efforts to get to this point more than worth it. 

The whitewashed village of Azenhas do Mar is an enchanting sight to behold. Stacked houses are clustered above the sea, sheltered by a cliff. At the foot of the town, there’s a saltwater pool and beach. 

Follow the staircase into town. We had a celebratory drink, or two, at Água e Sal. 

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How to Get Back to Cabo da Roca, Cascais, or Sintra

There’s no direct bus from Azenhas do Mar to Cabo da Roca, or Cascais. So, we took an Uber (22 EUR) back to Cascais.

Note: Uber is not always available around Azenhas do Mar. Try the other apps, “Bolt” or “FreeNow”, or ask a restaurant to call a taxi for you.

There is however a bus from Azenhas do Mar to Sintra (Portela de Sintra Station). If you’re heading to Sintra, take Bus 440 or 441 (22 minutes). 

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Where to Stay near the Sintra Coast

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Lisbon

Budget | Goodmorning Solo Traveller Hostel is a lively and buoyant hostel in Lisbon. The atmosphere lends itself to meeting and connecting with other travelers. Repeat guests come back for the breakfast, happy hour, and good vibes. 2 nights minimum stay.

Midrange | Tesouro da Baixa by Shiadu is a stylish guesthouse featuring notably spacious rooms, delicious breakfast, and outstanding staff. Guests can join a free walking tour of the area, conducted by the staff. Bonus: coffee and tea are freely available in the restaurant at all times during the day. 

Luxury | Casa Balthazar is a hidden gem in Lisbon. This delightful guesthouse was designed with thoughtfulness and care. Guests have access to a garden with a pool and an on-site bar. In-room breakfast is included. 

Look for accommodation in Lisbon.

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Cascais

Budget | Nice Way Cascais Hostel and Surf Camp

Midrange | Casa Vela Boutique House – 2 nights minimum stay

Luxury | The Albatroz Hotel is an elegant boutique hotel with fine furnishings, beautiful views, and a fabulous location. Guests have access to an outdoor pool overlooking the bay. 

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Discover More of Portugal

Hiking Trails:

• Rota Vicentina Fisherman’s Trail
• Seven Hanging Valleys Trail

Portugal Travel Guides:

• 2-Week Portugal Itinerary
• Algarve Travel Guide
• 1-Week Algarve Road Trip Itinerary
• Where to Stay in the Algarve

European Coastal Hiking Trails:

• Seven Sisters Cliffs Walk, England
• Best Coastal Hikes in Malta

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