Cascais: The Portuguese Riviera

A former fishing village, Cascais was transformed into a cosmopolitan resort when the Portuguese king chose the city as a summer retreat in the late 19th century.

During World War II, when Portugal remained neutral, European monarchs sought refuge on the coast of Lisbon, settling in Cascais and neighboring Estoril. The region gained even more glamour and became a symbol of sophistication.

Today, Cascais is a destination for everyone: Lisboners and visitors alike seek out its beaches, dive into the refreshing waters of the Atlantic, enjoy fresh seafood or simply stroll along the seafront.

✨ Highlights of Cascais – 3 Reasons to Go

• Sandy beaches with a Mediterranean atmosphere on the Atlantic.

• Surfing on the westernmost coast of Europe.

• A tourist town just minutes from Lisbon's urban attractions.

🚉 What you need to know before you go

• Direct train to Lisbon (40 minutes) and bus nº 403 to Sintra (less than an hour).

• A 1.6 km promenade connects Cascais to Estoril, famous for the largest casino in Europe.

• In the summer, expect crowds and queues for train tickets. The Lisboa Card is a practical way to save time and money.

• Hotels sell out quickly between June and September — book early for better prices.

🏛️ Curiosities about Cascais

• One of the richest cities in the Iberian Peninsula, home to Lisbon's elites in nineteenth- and twentieth-century palaces.

• First city in Portugal to have electricity: the first light was turned on in the citadel in September 1878.

Historians speculate that a navigator from Cascais discovered America in 1482, before Columbus, who later used this knowledge to convince the Spanish king to support his voyage.