Museu do Mar (Museum of the Sea)

The basics

Highlights of the Museu do Mar include sections on natural history, which display fish, mammals, birds, and fossils, and ethnographical exhibitions that feature traditional clothing. There are also many artifacts related to naval technology. Many day trips to Sintra from Lisbon stop in Cascais to see its historic center and sandy beaches. While the museum might not be on their itinerary, these excursions usually include free time to explore.

Things to know before you go

• There’s a small admission fee to enter the museum; kids go free.

• Information panels are in Portuguese and English, and some of the audiovisual exhibits have subtitles.

• The museum is wheelchair accessible; there’s a stair lift to the upper floor.

How to get there

From Cascais station, the museum is a 5-minute drive via N6 and R. Feritas Reis or a 15-minute walk. You can take the train from Cais do Sodre station in central Lisbon to Cascais; the trip takes around 40 minutes and trains depart several times an hour.

When to get there

Museu do Mar is open from morning to late afternoon Tuesday–Sunday; it’s closed on Mondays and holidays. Due to its small size, you only need to set aside around 20–30 minutes to visit the museum.

The best museums in Cascais

For such a small town, Cascais really delivers when it comes to culture. The Museum Quarter is home to nine different museums, which explore cultural aspects ranging from art and architecture to ancient history. Highlights include the Museu da Vila (Town Museum), which traces the history of Cascais within a gorgeous tile-covered building, and Casa Sommer, a 19th-century neoclassical mansion that hosts rotating exhibitions.