Most Lisbon day trip lists look the same: Sintra, Óbidos, Setúbal. They’re all good. But if you want something genuinely different — something that gets you away from tour coaches and into the landscape — a horse riding trip to Cascais deserves serious consideration.
Here’s how to plan it, hour by hour.
Why Cascais?
Cascais sits at the western end of the Estoril coast, where the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park meets the Atlantic. It has a well-preserved fishing village centre, excellent restaurants, and direct rail access from Lisbon — but the main reason to come here for a day trip is the landscape.
The Guincho dunes, the Quinta da Marinha pinewoods and the clifftop paths of the Natural Park are best explored on foot, by bike — or on horseback. Of these, the horse option covers the most ground and requires the least effort from you.
The equestrian centre is the Centro Hípico da Quinta da Marinha, one of the largest in the Iberian Peninsula. Miguel Alves Horses operates guided trail rides from here, year-round, for all experience levels.
A suggested itinerary
Morning: the ride
Aim to arrive at the equestrian centre between 09:00 and 10:00. This is the best slot — horses are fresh, the light on the dunes is beautiful, and you beat the midday heat in summer.
Book a Pinewood + Dunes ride (1 hour) if you’ve never ridden before, or the Extended Guincho ride (2 hours) if you have some experience. Both include a safety briefing and guide.
What you’ll see on the 1-hour ride:
- Quinta da Marinha pinewoods — shaded sand trails under a continuous tree canopy
- Guincho dune ridge — a panoramic point with Atlantic ocean views to the west and the Serra de Sintra to the north
- Possible wildlife: roe deer, Egyptian mongoose, kestrels
The experience takes around 1.5 hours door to door including the briefing.
Late morning: Guincho beach
After the ride, head to Praia do Guincho — a 10-minute drive north from the equestrian centre. It’s one of the most dramatic beaches in Portugal: wide, wild, windswept, and often completely uncrowded compared to the beaches closer to Cascais.
In summer, the wind makes it a world-class windsurfing spot. In autumn and winter, it’s almost deserted — long Atlantic swells and a backdrop of dunes and natural park.
Good to know: there’s a Michelin-starred restaurant (Fortaleza do Guincho) right on the beach, useful if you want to make the lunch stop special.
Lunch: Cascais village
Drive or take a 15-minute bus to Cascais village centre. The fishing harbour area has a good cluster of seafood restaurants — the kind that have been there for 40 years and aren’t particularly interested in tourists, which is usually a reliable quality signal.
What to try: percebes (barnacles), amêijoas à Bulhão Pato (clams with garlic and coriander), grilled sea bream.
The village centre is small and walkable. The covered market (Mercado da Vila) is worth a look, and the pedestrian streets around Largo Luís de Camões are pleasant for a post-lunch walk.
Afternoon: the coast or Sintra
From Cascais, you have two good options depending on your energy:
Option A — coast road to Cabo da Roca Drive the coastal road north (N247) to Cabo da Roca — Europe’s westernmost point. The drive takes 20 minutes and the road itself is spectacular. There’s a lighthouse, a viewpoint, and the kind of Atlantic cliff scenery that puts things in perspective.
Option B — Sintra Sintra is 20 minutes from Cascais via the EN9. If you haven’t been, the Pena Palace and the surrounding mountain forest are genuinely extraordinary. In summer, arrive by 14:00 to avoid the worst of the crowds.
Evening: back to Lisbon
The A5 motorway takes you back to central Lisbon in 25–30 minutes (slightly longer during rush hour, roughly 17:30–19:30). Alternatively, the train from Cascais station to Cais do Sodré runs every 20 minutes and takes 40 minutes — a relaxed option if you’d rather not drive.
Practical details
Getting to Quinta da Marinha from Lisbon
| Option | Journey | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Car via A5 | ~25–30 min | Free parking at the centre |
| Train + Uber | ~50 min | Train to Cascais, then 10-min Uber |
| Organised transfer | Variable | Ask the school — available for groups |
Address: Rua do Mirante, Casa 25 Pátio E, 2750-004 Cascais
Ride prices
| Ride | Duration | Price per person |
|---|---|---|
| Pinewood trail | 30 min | €35 |
| Pinewood + Dunes | 1 hour | €60 |
| Extended Guincho | 2 hours | €80 |
| Sunset ride | ~1.5 hours | €120 |
Prices excluding VAT. No prior experience required for any ride up to 1 hour.
When to go
- Spring (Apr–Jun): ideal — mild temperatures, green park, fewer tourists than summer
- Summer (Jul–Aug): book well in advance; ride in the morning before the heat builds
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): excellent light, quiet beaches, still warm enough for the dunes
- Winter (Dec–Mar): pinewoods ride available year-round; dune ride depends on weather
What to wear
- Comfortable trousers (not stiff jeans), closed-toe flat shoes
- A light windproof layer — the Guincho coast is exposed to Atlantic wind even in summer
- Helmet provided free of charge
Booking
Rides can be booked by WhatsApp, phone or contact form. Book at least 48 hours in advance — weekend slots fill up quickly, especially in summer.
The school is open every day from 08:00 to 20:00. English, Portuguese and French spoken.