from which direction to visit Belem?? Cascais or Lisbon??

You definitely don’t need or really want (IMO) a car in Lisbon especially. And you don’t really need one in Cascais unless you are staying far out of town. And the actual getting to Belem is easy from either place by train. But, since there is more to do in Lisbon, I would say go while in Cascais. Or, if there is a way to manage it, going on the way between destinations might be ideal. However, I’m pretty certain there is no luggage storage at the Belem station, so that might not be doable.

My first rwcrion was to visit Belem from Lisbon since it is part of the xity. However, you only have a few days in Lisbon so
probably is best to go there to go from Caiscais. If you can change your hotel reservations, I would stay in Lisbon longer than you have planned.

Thanks!! As long as there is a train from both places or easy to do from Cascais that was the way we were leaning! what is the minimum time in belem needed? thank you!!!

Lisbon, taxis are cheap in Lisbon.

The amount of time for Belem really depends on what you want to see. If you just do the Monastery and the Discoveries monument, it might take less than two hours - depending on if you have purchased tickets to Jerónimos ahead of time. If you want to climb the Tower, go to the Coach museum, see the Bernardo museum and go to Pasteis de Belem, it could take all day.
FYI - if you go from Cascais and go before 10:00, be certain you are not on an express train as they don’t stop in Belem - or you can change trains in Oreiras to get on the slower train that makes all stops.

Thank you for all of the replies.... we plan on visiting the Monastery and the Discoveries monument. 1)
Should we purchase tickets ahead of time and 2) should we climb the tower? Definitely no museums for us but we absolutely we will go to Pasteis de Belem. is there a better time to to go pasteis de belem, is morning better or afternoon? any idea of how long we will need in belem?

You should purchase tickets to the monastery ahead of time as the lines are really long. The lines to climb the tower are really long also, but I don’t know if you can purchase ahead of time. There is also a bit of a walk from the Discoveries monument to the tower, so keep that in mind.
If you climb the tower, the visit will likely be at least four hours , but that is really just a guess.

To beat the crowds at Pasteis de Belem, walk to the left of the line for take away and go back into the back where the tables are located. There are a number of rooms with about 500 seats. There is no reason to wait in the long take away line, and the natas are warm when served at the tables.

Great tip for the Pasteis de Belem! but just to clarify, we should go to the take out line and there are extra tables for that to sit at? we are from NYC so we are used to eating standing up or sitting on a patch of grass. we just heard the inside of the castle was very crowded and maybe a bit overrated so we shall see. Thank you!!!!

See it like a native. Leave from Lisbon on one of the old trolley cars. Inexpensive and a slice of Lisbon life.

No, Lizzie, go to the front and side of the (usually very long) take out line and go back into the shop. There are a number of rooms with tables and chairs. There is wait staff to take your order and bring you your natas and coffee, etc. You can also watch them making the pastries through a large window in one of the rooms. It’s a real sit-down place but most people just stand in line for take away.

I'd be inclined to go from Cascais. The trams and streetcars from Lisbon there are very crowded.