Cabo da Roca is the westernmost point of mainland Europe: a windswept granite headland in the Sintra hills, with a stone monument, a red-topped lighthouse and cliffs dropping into the Atlantic. The cape itself is free and open at all hours. The tourism office sells a souvenir certificate (€11 as of October 2026), and since the lighthouse grounds opened to visitors you can also tour them from €5. It’s about 10 km west of Sintra town, reached by car or by Carris Metropolitana buses 1253 (from Sintra) and 1624 (from Cascais).
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Tickets and tours for Cabo da Roca
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Why people come
Standing at the edge of a continent is the draw. At the end of the path, a stone cross on a plinth marks the spot. Its inscription quotes Portugal’s national poet, Luís de Camões, who described the place as where “the land ends and the sea begins”. Beyond it there is nothing but ocean until North America.
The headland is part of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, and the view is the real reward: cliffs of granite and limestone falling away on both sides, the Atlantic breaking far below, and the coast stretching south towards Cascais and north towards Praia da Ursa. Sunsets here are memorable. It is often windy and noticeably cooler than Lisbon, even in summer, and sea mist is common.
The lighthouse
The Cabo da Roca lighthouse is one of the oldest on the Portuguese coast. The order to build it came in 1758, in a charter from the Marquis of Pombal that ordered six lighthouses for the coast, and it first shone in 1772. The tower is 22 metres tall and the light sits 165 metres above the sea; it has been automatic since 1990. Since 2017 Parques de Sintra has managed visits together with the National Maritime Authority.
There are two ways in. The Essential Visit is self-guided and covers the courtyard and an interpretation centre about the lighthouse and the cape. The Panoramic Visit adds access, with a guide, to the upper viewing balcony, at set times.
How to visit
From Sintra City Council’s tourism site and Parques de Sintra, as of October 2026:
- The cape: free, open-air and always accessible.
- Tourism office (Posto de Turismo do Cabo da Roca): daily 9:00–18:30 from 1 October to 30 April and 9:00–19:30 from 1 May to 30 September; closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. It sells a handwritten certificate saying you visited the westernmost point of mainland Europe for €11, and a Braille version for €4.50.
- Lighthouse courtyard and interpretation centre: 9:30–17:30, last entry 17:00.
- Essential Visit: €5 for adults, youths and seniors; family (2+2) €15; under-6s free.
- Panoramic Visit: adults €10, youths (6–17) €5, seniors €7.50, family €20, under-6s free. Guided balcony visits at 13:30 in English and 16:00 in Portuguese.
- Where to buy: Parques de Sintra’s online ticket shop for the lighthouse; the certificate only at the tourism office.
How long to allow and when to go
Thirty minutes to an hour is enough for the monument, the viewpoints and photos, plus about an hour if you do a lighthouse visit. Late afternoon and sunset are the most beautiful times and the busiest; early morning is quietest. Bring a windproof layer whatever the season.
Safety
- Stay on the paths and behind the fences. The cliffs are high and crumbly, and the wind can gust hard.
- Keep children close and don’t climb out onto the rocks for photos.
Getting there
By car it is a short, winding drive from Sintra via Colares, or along the coast road from Cascais; there is parking at the cape. By bus, Carris Metropolitana route 1253 runs a loop from Sintra station past Regaleira, Seteais and Monserrate to Colares and Cabo da Roca, and route 1624 links Cascais and Sintra via the cape, which makes a good Sintra–coast–Cascais day. Older guides mention bus 403, which no longer appears in Carris Metropolitana’s line list.
Combine it with
Pair the cape with Sintra’s gardens on the same side of the hills: Monserrate and Quinta da Regaleira are both on the 1253 bus route. Or spend the morning at Pena Palace and the Castle of the Moors and come to the coast for sunset. The cliff village of Azenhas do Mar and the wild beaches of Adraga and Praia Grande are nearby. See our Sintra travel guide for the full picture.
Cabo da Roca FAQ
Is Cabo da Roca free?
Yes, the cape and its viewpoints are free. You pay only for the optional certificate (€11) or a lighthouse visit (€5 or €10 for adults, as of October 2026).
Is Cabo da Roca really the westernmost point of Europe?
Of mainland (continental) Europe, yes. Some islands, such as the Azores and Iceland, lie further west.
How do I get to Cabo da Roca without a car?
Take Carris Metropolitana bus 1253 from Sintra station or 1624 from Cascais. Both stop at the cape.
Where do I get the Cabo da Roca certificate?
At the cape’s tourism office, run by Sintra City Council. It costs €11 and is handwritten in calligraphy.
Can you go inside the Cabo da Roca lighthouse?
You can visit the courtyard and interpretation centre on your own, and the Panoramic Visit takes you with a guide to the upper viewing balcony.