Things to do in Cascais

Cascais spent centuries as a fishing town, then became a royal one almost overnight. In 1870 the king moved his summer court here, and the aristocracy followed him. The fishermen never quite left either.

The town of kings and fishermen

• The nickname. Locals still call it the Town of Kings and Fishermen, for the working harbour that never closed even after King Luís I made Cascais fashionable.
• The old centre. Narrow streets around the citadel and marina, with fishing boats still working from the same harbour the royal court once looked out on.
• The Museu Condes de Castro Guimarães. A turreted seaside villa turned museum, built for one of the wealthy families the royal move drew to the town.

The coast west of town

• Boca do Inferno. A sea cave and blowhole two kilometres west of the centre, named for the noise and spray the Atlantic forces up through the rock.
• The Marginal. The coastal road and promenade linking Cascais to Estoril, four minutes apart by train and an easy walk or cycle along the water.
• The beaches. Several small bay beaches sit inside the town itself, sheltered enough that they hold a crowd even when the open coast is rough.

Practical

• Weather. Summer runs near 27C, milder than inland Portugal thanks to the bay; winter days sit around 15C.
• Getting there. The train from Cais do Sodré in Lisbon runs along the coast and takes about 40 minutes, passing Estoril just before the end of the line.
• Getting around. The centre, marina and nearest beaches are all walkable; a bike path continues along the coast well beyond Boca do Inferno.
• Wind. Boca do Inferno throws spray well past the barriers on a rough day; keep back from the edge rather than trusting the railing.