Tourist tax in Cascais: the seasonal rule AL hosts get wrong
Cascais charges €2 per guest per night, capped at 7 consecutive nights — but only between March and October. Nights outside that window are not taxed at all, which makes shoulder-season stays the single biggest source of mistakes in Cascais declarations. Here is how the rule works and how Chave AL applies it night by night.
What the Cascais tourist tax is
Cascais applies a Taxa Municipal Turística de Dormida of €2 per guest per night on overnight stays in registered accommodation in the concelho — Cascais, Estoril, Carcavelos, São Domingos de Rana and Alcabideche included.
Unlike Lisbon, the tax runs seasonally: nights outside the March–October window are not charged.
As everywhere in Portugal, the money is collected from the guest on behalf of the council and paid over on a monthly declaration.
Who pays and who is exempt
- Guests aged 13 or over sleeping in registered accommodation inside the concelho de Cascais during the taxable season.
- Guests aged 12 or under are exempt.
- Nights outside the March–October season are not taxable for anyone.
- Only the first 7 consecutive nights of a stay are charged.
- Documented medical stays are exempt under the municipal regulation.
When the Cascais declaration is due
Monthly, per registered establishment, after the month of the stay.
Off-season months still need a declaration once you are registered — usually a null return.
Cross-month and cross-season stays are declared by nights actually slept in each month.
What the filing needs
- RNAL number and address inside the concelho de Cascais.
- Total dormidas and taxable nights in the month.
- Exempt nights split by reason: under-13, out of season, above the 7-night cap, medical.
- Amount collected at €2/night.
- Operator NIF and responsible contact.
Common Cascais mistakes
- Charging the tax in winter — Nights outside March–October are not taxable. Refund or do not collect.
- Taxing a whole shoulder stay — Split it — only the in-season nights are charged.
- Assuming Lisbon's €4 applies — Cascais is a separate council at €2. The rate follows the address, not the region.
- Missing the null return — Registered properties still declare in off-season months.
- Charging past night 7 — The cap is per stay and applies to the in-season nights.
- Treating the tax as income — Exclude it from AL turnover and from INE revenue reporting.
How Chave AL helps with Cascais
- Tests every night of a stay against the taxable season instead of taxing whole bookings.
- Applies the 7-night cap per stay and excludes under-13s automatically.
- Splits cross-month stays so each declaration reconciles.
- Produces a monthly PDF with taxable, exempt and out-of-season nights broken out.
- Reminds you to file, including null months.
Frequently asked questions
- How much is the tourist tax in Cascais?
- €2 per guest per night, capped at 7 consecutive nights per stay, and charged only on nights between March and October.
- Do I charge tourist tax in Cascais in January?
- No. Nights outside the March–October window are not taxed. Only the nights inside the season are charged.
- What about a stay that starts in February and ends in March?
- Split it: the February nights are untaxed, the March nights are charged at €2 up to the 7-night cap.
- Are children exempt in Cascais?
- Yes — guests aged 12 or under are exempt, as in most Portuguese municipalities.
- Is Cascais the same as Lisbon?
- No. Cascais is a separate concelho with its own tax (€2, seasonal). Lisbon charges €4 year-round. A guest touring both pays each council separately.
- How is it declared?
- Monthly to the Câmara Municipal de Cascais, per registered establishment. Chave AL prepares the totals and a PDF you can file from.
Related
Chave AL — SIBA, tourist tax and INE compliance for Alojamento Local. Pricing · Guides · Glossary