Beyond Lisbon: A Scenic Hike to Praia da Ursa
Hiking to Praia da Ursa is the perfect little side adventure away from Lisbon’s urban tourist spots. I’m not suggesting that you skip the city’s popular highlights, but this coastal hike offers a refreshing escape conveniently close to Lisbon. Located right next to the well-visited Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe, you may not realize how close you are to this side-adventure. Read on to learn more about this hidden gem!
FITZ BITS TIP: Pack a light backpack with water, sunblock, a towel and some snacks. There a no concessions or services at the beach.
Getting to Praia de Ursa Beach
Many travelers take day trips outside of Lisbon to nearby Sintra and Cascais. You can do this by train, taxi, bus, or on a tour. You may even rent a car, though you’ll need to navigate parking and narrow streets. What did we do? A private all-day e-biking tour, and it was amazing!
We started by taking a train to Sintra, where we explored the windy streets and forested trails on our e-bikes. In the afternoon, our guide led us down a dirt road as we neared Cabo do Roca, introducing us to this fabulous hike to a beautiful beach. He kindly stayed with our bikes for about an hour while we hiked to the beach and back.
The trail to the viewpoint and then the beach
First, you’ll hike to a beautiful viewpoint. If you aren’t wearing the right shoes or are short on time, this is where you’ll want to turn around. However, I hope you are prepared to continue, as this trail rewards you with a stunning beach with huge rock formations. Do not hike down from the overlook — this is a cliff! Instead, you’ll hike onward, continuing parallel to the coastline. You have a bit more hiking before you descend to the beach.
I’d call the trail to Praia da Ursa a moderate hike because going down and up from the beach involves a steep decline. There is a rope at one stretch, which helped us on the very dry and loose gravel. Have fun!
Closing thoughts....
Many folks visit the westernmost point in mainland Europe, the Cabo da Roca lighthouse, without realizing how close they are to this great hike and beautiful beach. We did this side excursion as part of an all-day e-biking tour — and afterward, we biked on to Cascais, eventually taking a train back to Lisbon in the late afternoon. Friends who took my recommendation to do this hike loved it! They mentioned that it was easy and inexpensive to take an Uber/taxi from Lisbon. I hope you get to enjoy this adventure and that it remains a hidden gem!
Visited July 2021.
