This seaside town is one of the most popular holiday destinations, less than 20 minutes’ train journey from the capital city of Lisbon. The beaches boast golden sand and waves perfect for surfing and body boarding. The historic town centre features incredible 19th century architecture and mosaic tiled squares and sidewalks with restaurants, cafes and stylish pubs in abundance. Take a stroll along the beachside promenade, which leads to the Estoril or discover the many museums, churches, monuments and galleries located throughout the city. Historically, Cascais was an old fishing village but over the centuries gained popularity as a playground for the Portuguese Royal Family and aristocracy.
Being a resort town, Cascais can get quite busy in the summertime but there is no shortage of leisure activities to take part in and include the likes of golfing, horse-riding, fishing, water-sports, cycling and open-air games such as cricket and tennis. Seafood plays a central role in the local cuisine, and Cascais is rumoured to have the best lobster, crab, shrimp and even barnacle in all of Portugal! The beaches are pristine, sandy and have good facilities. Praia de Rainha is sheltered and perfect for families, also only a stone’s throw away from beachside cafes and restaurants.
Museu Condes de Castro Guimaraes is a beautiful palace museum that was completed in 1900. It houses paintings, archaeological finds from the area, furniture, jewellery and porcelain. You will also find a library with more than 16,000 books, some dating back to the 17th century. If you don’t mind a bit of a drive you could visit Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site set high up in the mountains, with beautiful churches, grand mansions and fairy tale palaces that you can visit and explore. It is 16.7 km by car or you could take the train, which will take just under 2 hours.
Lisbon International Airport is located approximately 37 km from Cascais and the National Railway Service is modern and reliable.
