Boca do Inferno

Thanks to its prime location between Lisbon and Sintra, Boca do Inferno is a popular stop on day trips along Portugal's coast. These excursions typically combine the rock formation with the UNESCO-listed historic center of Sintra, the pastel-colored fairytale-like Pena National Palace, and Quinta da Regaleira, a mysterious estate home to grottoes and wells. While most tours transport you by coach, some use electric bikes so you can stop more regularly to admire the scenery.

• The viewing platform at Boca do Inferno is free to enter and wheelchair-accessible.

• A small market at Boca do Inferno sells souvenirs made by local craftspeople; painted Portuguese plates and woolen jumpers are top picks.

• Wrap up warm—the bracing Atlantic breeze can be chilly no matter when you visit.

From central Lisbon, Boca do Inferno is a 30-minute drive or a 1-hour public transport journey. You can take the train from Cais de Sodré in central Lisbon and disembark at Cascais station, from which Boca do Inferno is a 25-minute walk. Tours nearly always include transport, which makes a quick stop at the coastal chasm easier.

Boca do Inferno is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Unlike most coastal attractions, the best time to visit it is in winter (December–February). This is when the Atlantic Ocean is at its roughest, and the crashing waves make more of a spectacle when they collide with the cliffs.

There’s more to see in Cascais, a charming seaside town known as the preferred getaway for Portugal’s rich and elite. Top attractions include Poça Beach, whose sheltered bay is ideal for swimming in; Centro Historico de Cascais, with its cobbled streets and seafood restaurants; and Museu Condes de Castro Guimarães, a treasure trove of a museum.