Portugal: Estoril & Cascais

[bjorn]

Pastel colored villas, red tiled roofs, beautiful gardens, mild weather, and sunny beaches make the towns of Estoril and Cascais a terrific area to walk about for the day. Before the Algarve became the place to go, Estoril was the holiday resort of international jet setters and royalty. The towns of Estoril and Cascais are part of the Costa do Sol; the Portuguese Riviera.

Estoril is no longer a horribly exclusive enclave for the rich and famous. Anyone can enjoy the posh casino, cabaret shows, and fine dining in town. The Casino, the Parque do Estoril and the Tamariz esplanade, where you can stroll past sunbathers, alfresco restaurants, and snack bars are Estoril's main attractions. Following the beach front, it's easy to walk between the towns of Estoril and Cascais.

Cascais, with its breathtaking bay, was once a sleepy fishing village. It's now very developed with everything a traveler could want, but seems cozier and quieter than Estoril. There is still the fish auction and Museu do Mar (Museum of the Sea), but the biggest attraction is the Boca do Inferno, or Mouth of *beep*, a natural grotto where waves crash and boom against the rocks.

When to go:
Portugal's climate is Mediterranean. The country is sunny and pleasant from April to October.

What to Do:
History/Ruins:
The Town Hall, Medieval Castle, Citadel, Parish Church are interesting local buildings to check out.

Museums:
Cascais has a Municipal Museum, the Museum of the Sea, and the Verdades-Faria Museum of musical instruments.

Shopping:
Cascais has more shopping opportunities than Estoril. There is plenty to buy here.

Beach:
Estoril's coast is known for it's calm waters and fine sand. The beach area is well set-up, with changing rooms, beach tents, umbrellas, and chairs for hire, restaurants, bars, etc. Carcavelos is a very popular surfing beach. You can sunbathe on the Tamariz beach in Estoril almost all the year round. Pescadores, in Cascais, is where fishermen haul in their catches to be sold at the market. Guincho, near the Boca do Inferno, is known for surfing.

Cultural Comments:
Local farmers sell fresh produce on Wednesday and Saturday mornings in the center of Cascais. Weekday nights you can check out the Cascais fish auction. As soon as the fish arrives off the boat, the auction starts.

Festivals/Events:
In July, Cascais hosts a jazz festival. Estoril holds the Motorcycle World Championship here every September 3. In July and August, there's the Estoril Music Festival and the Handicrafts Fair.

Nightlife/Bars:
Some fado clubs and several discos round out Cascais' social scene. The place to be in Estoril is the Casino.

Cost:
Estoril and Cascais are resort areas and prices here are a bit higher than in the rest of Portugal.

Getting Around:
Trains leaving from the Cais do Sodre Station connect Estoril, Cascais, and Lisbon every fifteen minutes for the half hour journey.

Safety:
As with most resort areas, be aware of your belongings, especially on the beach.

Language:
Portuguese is the native language in Portugal. Most tourist-oriented spots have someone on hand who speaks English, but it is good to pick up some basic phrases in Portuguese.

Party/Social Scene:
The towns are quiet at night.

Other Info:
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