Surprise proposal in Cascais

Best time

The last hour before sunset

Crowds

Beaches busy in July and August

Good for

Beach setups, cliffs

From Lisbon

About 40 minutes

Why Cascais

If you've imagined proposing with your feet in the sand, Cascais is the place. It's close enough to Lisbon for an evening trip, the old town is full of good restaurants for the celebration, and the coast west of town is wild and beautiful.

Where we propose in Cascais

A quiet beach at sunset

The rose heart and the MARRY ME letters were made for the sand. Outside the summer peak, the smaller beaches around Cascais are calm in the evening and the light over the bay is lovely.

Boca do Inferno

Cliffs and a sea arch where the Atlantic crashes in. Dramatic and photogenic for a simple proposal, but public and exposed, so not the place for a big setup.

Santa Marta lighthouse

A blue-and-white striped lighthouse beside a tiny cove and the marina. Pretty, small and easy to reach.

Guincho

A wild Atlantic beach backed by dunes and the Sintra hills. Stunning at sunset, but often very windy, so we choose the day carefully.

Beach setups and permission

Portuguese beaches are public, and a large temporary setup can need permission from the local authorities. We check the rules for your beach and date before we confirm, and we always leave the beach exactly as we found it.

When to go

In July and August the beaches stay busy until late, so we aim for the very last light or a quieter cove. From October to May Cascais is calm and the sunsets come earlier. Expect wind on the open Atlantic coast, especially at Guincho; if it's too strong for candles, we switch to lanterns.