Sintra Coastal Hike: Azenhas do Mar to Cabo da Roca
This coastal hiking route is in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, which is just two hours of so from Lisbon. The hiking route itself is a little off-the-beaten path, as many tourists choose to stay on the beaches or travel by road between these two spots in the Natural Park.
Azenhas do Mar to Cabo da Roca Hike Details
Walking Time: 4-5 hours (not including beach stops!)
Google Maps says the walk is only 2 hours, but don’t believe it. You’ll want to avoid walking along the roads and take the coastal path. There are ups and downs along the clifftop which mean the total walking time is longer. The 4-5 hours is for a one-way walk. You can take an Uber back from either end of the hike.
Distance: 10.8KM
Route: Azenhas do Mar – Praia das Maçãs – Praia Grande – Praia da Adraga – Praia da Ursa – Cabo da Roca
Difficulty: Moderate
The hike between Azenhas do Mar to Cabo da Roca can be done either way round. We’d recommend starting in Azenhas do Mar or nearby Praia das Macas. Praia de Ursa, which is just a stone’s throw from Cabo da Roca, makes for a glorious and beachy end to the hike.
Starting the Hike – Praia das Macas to Praia Grande
We started the Sintra coasta; hike just down the road from Azenhas do Mar, in the small beach town of Praia das Macas. We were staying in Praia das Macas at Surfiberia. Peering out at the weather from behind our large breakfast bowls of granola, we weren’t sure we’d picked the best day for a hike… See this fog?
Don’t worry! It turns out that the fog is usually heavy along the coast here in the early morning and it starts to lift by late morning. Not knowing what to expect, we wrapped up in lots of layers in case of wind and rain. We short-sightedly put off leaving until 9AM, dithering about the weather situation. Just an hour later, we were pulling off our fleeces in the heat and wishing we’d made the most of gaining some ground in the cooler morning mist.
To start the hike from Azenhas do Mar, follow the coastal path along for 10 minutes to Praia das Macas beach. At Praia das Macas, make your way down to the beach and across the sand. On the other side, you’ll reach the rocks in the photo above. Follow the little path up here and onto the rocky outcrop covered in heather.
Praia Grande to Praia da Adraga
Follow the path along the Atlantic coastline. Pass Praia Grande and head up onto the clifftops. Look out for the yellow and red painted markers that mark the trail from here.
In the above photos, we’re looking back on Praia Grande behind us. From the clifftops here you can see Cabo da Roca lighthouse in the distance if the visibility is clear enough. Carry on walking along the Sintra coastal path from here.
The trail is clear for the first half, but once you reach the mid-way point, there are a few dirt paths to navigate. Part-way through our route, near to Praia da Adraga, the Sintra coastal path wound away from the coastline. The route took us onto a small country road for about 15 minutes until the path continued over the cliffs.
Praia da Adraga to Praia da Ursa
We followed the route right to this incredibly stunning cliff overlooking Praia da Ursa. The path to this point was clear, but getting down to the beach from here was treacherous. After some searching, we decided there was no other option from where we were but to scrabble our way down onto the beach. We made it, but this part of the route was tricky and we wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re confident with climbing down rocks. If you’re not, then we’d recommend sticking to the road and finding the main path down to Praia da Ursa.
Praia da Ursa to Cabo da Roca
After our scramble down the rocks, we realised there were too many people on this beach for that to be the only path. There’s an alternate main path down to the beach from right next to Cabo da Roca lighthouse — although this path is also quite rocky. Praia da Ursa beach is glorious though. We had a flash dip in the freezing cold Atlantic before finishing our hike.
If you’re not in a rush, we’d recommend spending some time relaxing at Praia da Ursa. We felt it was the best beach on the hike and well-earned after the ups and downs of the Sintra coastal path. The beach is very close to the hike’s end point, so you can make the most of this beautiful spot without worrying about the time.
To finish the hike, follow the main, chalky path up off of Praia da Ursa. It’s a fairly steep path but doable. Once you reach the top, the path clearly leads you out toward the road. Take a slight right to stay off the road and on the coastal trail. From here, it’s only 5-10 minutes walking to reach Cabo da Roca lighthouse.
Cabo da Roca means “where the earth ends and the sea begins.” It is the westernmost point of continental Portugal, as well as of continental Europe. What a beautiful spot to finish a hike!
From Cabo da Roca, you can take an Uber to wherever you’re staying. There’s a small cafe here but we don’t recommend it. Drinks and snacks there are three times the price as local shops. If you can, carry enough food and water with you for the hike.
Sunset in Azenhas do Mar
If, like us, you started the hike from Praia das Macas, then don’t skip the stunning Azenhas do Mar! This little beach village made my heart skip a beat when I saw it. After our hike, I insisted we head to Azenhas do Mar for golden hour and sunset. Azenhas do Mar looked so special lit in a blissful golden light. There’s a small bar looking out over the sea en-route; worth a stop for olives and a sparkling vino verde.
Where To Eat in Praia das Macas
After a hard hike, a well-earned pizza was in order. Just up the road from Praia das Macas beach is the amazing OH Sintra Glamping where you’ll find hipster food trucks, a sushi restaurant and a wine bar. Amongst the food trucks is Souldough Pizza, serving up hot, fresh, wood-fired pizzas. We couldn’t resist piminetos padron (flash fried green peppers) with basil on our pizza. Vegan options are also available.
Where To Stay in Praia das Macas
Praia das Macas and Azenhas do Mar have some beautiful spots to stay, but accommodation is limited and quickly books out in the summer season. We stayed in the very cute Surfiberia Guesthouse in Praia das Macas. The guesthouse is run by the lovely Elliss and her partner, Luis, who is a five-time British surf champion.
At Surfiberia, you’ll be warmly welcomed. The guesthouse has a shared breakfast room and lounge room decked with wooden floor, and a small kitchen if you want to cook in. The guest rooms are upstairs and each room has their own separate entrance from the outside terrace. We’d recommend the Master Suite “Teahupoo” room as this is the one on the end with a sea view from bed. Breakfast of granola, yogurt, bread, fruit and cheese is included.
Are you planning to hike the Sintra coast? We hope you love it as much as we did.
