Cabo da Roca Lighthouse

Cabo da Roca Lighthouse stands in Colares, in the municipality of Sintra, on the cape that marks the westernmost point of mainland Europe. It is the most westerly lighthouse and structure on the continental mainland, and among the oldest lights still working on the Portuguese coast.

What is the history of the lighthouse?

A royal charter dated 1 February 1758, issued under the Marquis of Pombal, ordered its construction, and the light was first lit in 1772. It was designed as a lighthouse from the ground up rather than fitted onto an existing tower or fort, which makes it Portugal's first purpose-built one. The original lamp reached barely two nautical miles. In 1843 a rotating apparatus with sixteen Argand lamps and parabolic reflectors replaced it. Electric lighting came into use by 1897, and the station was automated in 1990.

Sources disagree on its exact rank among the country's oldest lighthouses. It is usually called the second or third oldest still in operation.

What does it look like today?

The tower is 22 m tall, and the lamp sits about 165 m above the Atlantic on top of the cliffs. Its range is 26 nautical miles, roughly 48 km. It remains an active aid to ships approaching the Lisbon coast.

What can you see at the cape?

A path from the car park leads to a stone monument topped with a cross, carved with Camões' line about the place where the land ends and the sea begins. From the cliff edge you look out over the ocean and along the coast of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. A nearby tourist office sells a certificate confirming that you stood at the westernmost point of the continent.

Can you go inside the lighthouse?

Parques de Sintra, which manages the heritage sites in the area, sells a paid panoramic visit at the lighthouse. Check its booking system for current slots, as availability depends on the season.

How do you get there?

Bus 403 runs towards Cabo da Roca from Sintra and Cascais. By car, approach through Colares or from the Cascais side. There is a car park at the cape, but it fills up quickly in high season.

When should you go?

Come early in the morning or shortly before sunset, when crowds are thinner. The cliffs are windy and sea fog rolls in often, so bring a windproof layer.

Frequently asked questions

Is Cabo da Roca really the westernmost point of Europe? Yes, of continental Europe. Islands such as the Azores lie farther west.

How tall is the lighthouse? The tower is 22 m tall, and the light is 165 m above sea level.

Since when has it been lit? Since 1772. It still operates, fully automated since 1990.

Do you pay to visit the cape? The viewpoint by the monument needs no ticket. The panoramic lighthouse visit and the certificate are paid.