Visit Cascais

Cascais (pronounced kush-kyesh) is the "Portuguese Riviera". A former fishing village, it became a cosmopolitan resort when the Portuguese king made it his summer retreat in the late 1800s. The nobility soon followed, and as a result, elegant 19th-century mansions now line the cobblestone streets of the historic center and waterfront.

During World War II, when Portugal remained neutral, European monarchs sought exile on the coast of Lisbon, settling in Cascais and neighboring Estoril, making the area even richer and more glamorous. Today, it is a place for everyone, with the locals and surroundings coming towards you whenever they want to rest on the beach, a dip in the refreshing waters of the Atlantic, a rich seafood meal or simply a walk by the sea. They are joined by the many tourists who visit Lisbon, who also enjoy a sunny day on its beautiful coast.

Highlights of Cascais - 3 Reasons to Go

- Sandy beaches with Mediterranean atmosphere on the Atlantic

- Surfing on the westernmost coast of Europe

- A resort town just minutes from the European capital's urban attractions

What you need to know before going to Cascais

- From Cascais, you can take the train to Lisbon (it's a 40-minute trip, with several stops along the coast), and the bus to Sintra (number 403, which takes less than an hour, going inland). Check out the guide to day trips from Cascais.

- A 1.6 km promenade connects Cascais to Estoril, a similar resort town known for being home to Europe's largest casino.

- The sun-worshipping crowds have discovered Cascais, and it can be quite crowded in the summer. If you are coming from Lisbon, expect long queues and long waits to buy your train tickets. One way to save time (and money) is to purchase the Lisboa Card, which includes free transportation within Lisbon and to Cascais.

- The growth of tourism on the Lisbon coast also means that if you decide to stay in Cascais, you have to book in advance. Hotels tend to be fully booked between June and September, and booking in advance also offers better prices. Check offers and availability here: Cascais Hotels

Some curiosities about Cascais

- Cascais is one of the richest cities in the Iberian Peninsula. It is where Lisbon's upper classes live, many of them in palatial mansions dating from the late 1800s and early 1900s.

- Cascais was the first city in Portugal to have electricity, even before Lisbon. The first electric light was lit in the citadel in September 1878. A plaque outside the monument commemorates the event.

- Historians speculate that a navigator from Cascais accidentally discovered America in 1482, a decade before Christopher Columbus. Apparently, he stopped at Columbus's home on the Portuguese island of Madeira on his return, and through his nautical diary, Columbus learned about the newly discovered land. With this new knowledge, the famous explorer then tried to convince the Portuguese king to support his own voyage westward, but was denied and obtained the support of the Spanish king.

- The name of the city derives from the Roman "Cascale", which means a pile of shells.

BY : CASCAIS Portugal TOURISM Guide - Complete 2022 Trip Planner