Cascais, Portugal – a Royal summer retreat

Portugal offers great travel for anyone seeking something cultural and with fun. Take a train from Lisbon and keep going and it will end at Cascais (pronounced – cash-kaysh). Cascais was the resort of the Portuguese Royal Family up until the very early 1900’s. It’s a gorgeous coastline town on Portugal’s Atlantic Costa Estoril. This is a premier resort, with plenty of places to discover.

Find the beautiful Marina, a fort and three great beaches along its esplanade. Summertime is obviously the peak period in this area where the crowds visit en masse but bring with them a vibrancy and soul of summer pleasures. Younger and more vibey than the more conservative Estoril, Cascais is a less exclusive resort but its chic. It has an almost hip, grungy feel of a fishing village that is vaguely sensed.

Why is a vacation in Cascais a top rated choice?

The reasons why Cascais is rated as one of the top vacation destinations are numerous.  Bars and nightlife abound in the summer months. This is particularly on weekends with the main concentration around Largo Luís de Camões.

Imagine sitting back in one of the many cafes and enjoying a sun-downer with the local delicacy of grilled sardines and a cold local brew. The beaches are beautiful and clean and there is a cultural aspect all around.

Cascais’ many other areas of interest are found to the west of the town center. Walking past the church, you’ll discover the very tranquil Parque Municipal da Gandarinha,. Here you will find the mansion of the counts of Guimarães. This edifice is preserved with the nineteenth-century fittings as the Museu Biblioteca Conde Castro Guimarães. Most of the time, you’ll find someone to give you a guided tour of the furniture, paintings, and antiques that the count gave to his beloved nation.

Places to Discover in Cascais

Cascais is well known for its little town coastlines like the popular Praia da Rainha and Conceicao. From a hotel, the 15-minute stroll down the impressive contemporary promenade from Cascais takes you to the gorgeous shoreline of Sao Joao.
Golfing getaways to the Cascais will certainly not be a disappointment. Plenty of courses are available in Estoril, Penha Longa and Quinta de Beloura among others. There are a great many fantastic fairways to test the expert or learner.

Planning for travel in Portugal, I would strongly recommend hiring a car. Certainly avoid one for a major city like Lisbon but in the other regions, such as Cascais, it is almost a prerequisite. A quick drive takes you to the popular coastline of Praia da Guincho. Here the long sand dunes will greet you with marvelous caverns forming the backdrop to the landscape.

More places to see

Boca do Inferno is a magnificent natural destination along the shoreline, where the big Atlantic waves hit the rocky shoreline forming substantial caverns and amazing blowholes.
Some of my best travel experiences have been in Portugal. The food, the feel, the climate and the people make this a fantastic destination. A vacation in Cascais, Portugal, is highly recommended and definitely, in my opinion, one of the top tourist places to be found.

You’ll find some of the finest beaches on the Lisbon Coastline in Cascais. Lined with vacation apartments, villas and great hotels, perfectly situated for anyone with a passion for sun and water-sports.

This part of Portugal is a destination that is world-renowned for the superb wind-surfing conditions. In an area with such an wide diversity of landscapes and natural environments, a vacation in Cascais means a variety of things to do.

Hotels in Cascais are easily located in the picturesque seaside town where the opportunities for recreation and leisure can include more or less anything. From hiking and biking in the surrounding mountainous countryside to checking out the fascinating wealth of history and culture. This you’ll find from the smallest rural town to the cosmopolitan splendor of the city of Lisbon.