Estoril, Cascais

Estoril is a coastal town in the parish of Cascais e Estoril, in the municipality of Cascais, on the coast road between Cascais and Lisbon. The businessman Fausto de Figueiredo developed it as a resort from the 1910s, around a casino, a hotel and the railway line to Lisbon.

During the Second World War, Estoril received exiled royal families and refugees from across Europe.

Estoril seen from the coast — Estoril, on the coast between Cascais and Lisbon.

Beaches in Estoril

The beaches of Estoril lie along the coast road and the seafront promenade, between Monte Estoril and São Pedro do Estoril.

S. Pedro do Estoril beach

Monuments in Estoril

Casino Estoril: the casino opened on 15 August 1931, designed by the French architect Raoul Jourde, and was enlarged and redesigned in the 1960s. It also holds an art gallery and a large hall for shows.
Estoril Park: the gardens between the casino and Tamariz beach, laid out as part of the resort.
Palácio Estoril Hotel: the hotel Fausto de Figueiredo opened in 1930 as part of the same project as the casino.
Espaço Memória dos Exílios: an exhibition space in the former post office of São João do Estoril about the refugees and exiles who passed through Estoril and Cascais during the Second World War.

Casino Estoril and its gardens — Casino Estoril, opened in 1931, at the top of the Estoril Park gardens.

History of Estoril

1910s: Fausto de Figueiredo begins a plan to turn Estoril into an international resort, with a casino, a hotel and the railway line as its main parts.
16 January 1916: the President of the Republic, Bernardino Machado, lays the first stone of the casino.
1927: the gaming concession is granted.
1930: the Palácio Estoril Hotel opens.
15 August 1931: Casino Estoril opens.
Second World War: exiled royals, refugees and foreign agents gather in Estoril. The British writer Ian Fleming, who knew the casino, used it as an inspiration for the first James Bond novel, Casino Royale.
1960s: the casino is enlarged and redesigned by the architects Filipe Nobre de Figueiredo and José Segurado, with interiors by Daciano da Costa and José Espinho.

Coast road and seafront at Estoril — The coast road and seafront at Estoril.

Visiting Estoril

Train: the Cascais railway line from Lisbon stops at São Pedro do Estoril, São João do Estoril, Estoril and Monte Estoril stations.
On foot: a seafront promenade links the beaches of Estoril with the centre of Cascais.