Cascais, Portugal

Cascais

Cascais is a charming Portuguese village known for its quality of life, considered in 2016 as the second best city to live, visit and do business in Portugal according to the City Brand Ranking. Cascais is part of the greater Lisbon district, it is a perfect mix between nature in its pure state and glamour, it is the ideal place to spend an adventure or family vacation. Cascais has more than 300 days of sunshine a year. Cascais is a place known for its exoticism, romanticism, glamour, charm that it transmits to those who live there and visit it. It is a town full of history and stories told by the people who have lived there for generations, known for sporting competitions in the most varied sports, especially Golf, Tennis, Sailing and Regatta, Equestrian or Horseback Riding, Surfing, Motoring – Classic Cars, Sports and Motorcycling. Cascais offers excellent conditions for outdoor sports, thanks to the existence of bicycle paths, pedestrian walks and marinas. Cultural activity and cosmopolitanism are the hallmarks of this Portuguese town, visible in the various festivities that take place throughout the year, as well as the holding of international events and conferences on a wide range of themes, including the Festas do Mar, the Procession of Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes or the Estoril Film Festival. Cascais is considered the Riviera of Portugal, along with Estoril and Sintra.
Cascais is synonymous with high quality healthy lifestyle.

Cascais location and distances

The village of Cascais is separated from Lisbon by 1 highway and a coastal road facing the sea with a journey of approximately 20 minutes from Lisbon by car, 45 minutes by train. It is 20 minutes from Sintra and two and a half hours away by plane from the main European capitals, namely London, Paris, Madrid or Rome, eight hours and thirty minutes from New York and five hours and thirty minutes from Moscow. Cascais borders Sintra to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the south and west and Oeiras to the east. Cascais is located approximately half an hour from Lisbon and Lisbon Humberto Delgado International Airport.

Attractions to visit in Cascais (top 10)

1. Cascais Bay ![(38.696908, -9.420042)]: Cascais Bay has been a shelter for ships since the time of the Phoenicians, it is one of the most beautiful places in the village of Cascais, with several elements throughout from the bay, namely the marina, the beach, palaces and squares. Bathed by the Atlantic Ocean, the bay is surrounded by restaurants, shops, hotels and terraces. The buildings that stand out in the surroundings of the Cascais bay are the Cascais City Council, the Palácio de Seixas (now the Cascais Capitania), the Lotta de Cascais and the Hotel Baía, Praia dos Pescadores. Throughout the year it is possible to observe the traditional fishing boats moored along the bay. Cascais Bay was once the first port where it landed before entering Lisbon.

2. Cascais Marina ![(38.692156, -9.419183)]: located in the bay of Cascais, the marina is a harbor with a capacity for 650 boats, being the third largest marina in Portugal. The marina in Cascais was inaugurated in 1995, its main nautical services are a 70-tonne gantry, a 3-tonne crane, a ramp, bottom washes, trailers, dry parking. Cascais marina has hosted international events of the importance of the ISAF Sailing World Championship 2007 or the America’s Cup World Series Cascais 2011.
Cascais Sailing Club is located next to the

from the marina, with regular events of national and international regattas in the most varied classes, with a greater influx of Optimist, Laser, Dragon, SB20 classes, among others.

3. Marechal Carmona Park ![(38.692996, -9.422857)]: Marechal Carmona Park was inaugurated during the 1940s, however it was already frequented as a place of entertainment since the 16th century. The park was part of the structure of the Condes Castro Guimarães Palace. It was opened to the public in 1944 and was officially named Parque do Gandarinha. The Marechal Carmona Park has vast green spaces, large trees, birds, the Ribeira dos Mochos, lakes, picnic park, traditional playground, a children’s and youth library, a restaurant, a playground and the Cascais Biological Market which takes place every Saturday.

4. Casa da Guia ![(38.695611, -9.442950)]: Casa da Guia is an outdoor commercial place surrounded by green spaces, with terraces facing the sea, located halfway between Boca do Inferno and Guincho, it is very popular for spending time, going to restaurants, enjoying the leisure area or hiking sport. In this place it is possible to observe the greenhouses, the Atlantic Ocean, the Santa Marta Lighthouse, with a panoramic view that extends to Lisbon. Casa da Guia offers several spaces for restaurants, shops and a Roman amphitheater.

5. Guincho ![(38.732042, -9.472418)]: Guincho is a beach and a natural park located north of the village of Cascais, the name Guincho means species of seagull (larus ridibundus) common on the Portuguese coast, white and greyish, with a brown head in summer. The name of this region most likely comes from the abundance of this species of seagulls. Guincho beach is the ideal setting for the practice of Surfing, Kitesurfing and Windsurfing due to the strong winds that exist there throughout the year. Guincho is located between the Serra de Sintra and the village of Cascais, it is the place where important sporting events take place, namely the National Surf and Bodyboard Championship and the World Surf Championship. The area is also known for its high quality restaurants, especially Porto de Santa Maria, Os Prazeres da Carne or Furnas do Guincho.

6. Casino do Estoril and Jardins ![(38.708095, -9.397044)]: Casino do Estoril is the glamorous casino on Avenida Marginal, located halfway between Lisbon and Cascais is one of the oldest casinos in the country. Casino do Estoril stands out from the rest for being a great booster of culture, art and entertainment in Portugal. Highlights include the Black and Silver Room with capacity for approximately one thousand people, a large auditorium for 350 spectators, one of the most prestigious art galleries in the country, a panoramic foyer, the games room with roulette, blackjack, caribbean stud poker, french bank, 700+ slot machines and the outdoor gardens.
The Gardens of Casino do Estoril deserve a special mention for being a place of great beauty and where numerous cultural and leisure activities take place throughout the year, namely the European Street Food Festival</em >, the Meo Music Kids Festival or the Estoril Classic Week. The Gardens of Casino do Estoril have several lawns, fountains, trees and lakes.

7. Boca do Inferno ![(38° 41′ 16.79″, -9° 25′ 31.19″)]: Boca do Inferno is a coastal area of ​​natural escarpment located near Cascais, highlights due to the existence of sea caves. Boca do Inferno is an area of ​​rocks along the Atlantic Ocean that was created by the erosion of the ocean on the rocks. It is called Boca do Inferno due to the force of the sea and the intensity of the wind on winter days. In addition to the natural beauty, it is possible to try the gastronomy of Cascais at the local restaurant, or at one of the snack kiosks. In the place where previously there was a small chapel used by fishermen to pray before going to sea, there is now a small souvenir shop related to marine life, especially shells and whelks.

8. Butterfly Garden ![(38.696277, -9.345895)]: located in the Urban Park of Quinta de Rana, it is a unique place where you can learn about the life and evolution of butterflies and what are the various species that exist in Cascais

9. Espaço Memória dos Exílios: ![(38.703583, -9.396261)]: Espaço Memória dos Exílios is a space that provides the history of the Jewish presence in Estoril and Cascais between 1936 and 1962, located in the Post Office building in São Paulo João do Estoril. The main collections are related to the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), World War II (1939-1945) and Holocaust, Exiles, Jews and Estado Novo.

10. Museum Neighborhood:

Casa das Histórias Paula Rego ![(38.694689, -9.423544)]: Casa das Histórias Paula Rego is a contemporary architectural building designed by architect Eduardo Souto Moura with the aim of publicizing and promoting the work of artist Paula Rego, inaugurated in September 2009. The exhibited collection comprises more than 620 works. The museum has a shop, an auditorium, an educational service and a cafeteria.

Rei Dom Carlos Museum of the Sea ![(38.695250, -9.423163)]: the Rei Dom Carlos Museum of the Sea has as its objective the dissemination of maritime biodiversity and the environmental problems of the oceans, it was inaugurated on the 7th of June 1992 in the building of the former Sporting Club de Cascais. The museum is divided into seven collections:

• Open Ocean (Lives in Motion, People of the Sea of ​​Cascais)
• Fishing,
• Navy and Navigation,
• The Shipwreck Route,
• The Sea and the Origin of Life,
• The World of Molluscs,
• Dom Carlos and Oceanographic Science – the services offered by the Rei Dom Carlos Museum of the Sea are a shop, an educational service, a documentation center and an exhibition and conference space .

Teatro Gil Vicente ![(38.696344, -9.421547)]: Teatro Gil Vicente was inaugurated in 1869. It has a capacity for 273 spectators

Cascais Cultural Center ![(38.693975, -9.421255)]: Cascais Cultural Center is a space for the dissemination of visual arts and conference center in Cascais, it was inaugurated on May 15, 2000 The Cascais Cultural Center is part of the old building of the Convento de Nossa Senhora da Piedade, which served as a monastery throughout history, and was the first Portuguese College of Philosophy in the century XVIII.

Casa Sommer ![(38.694965, -9.421740)]: is the place where the Municipal Historical Archive and the Municipal Library of Cascais are located since December 7, 2016. Casa Sommer was built by Henrique de Araújo de Sommer (1886-1944) at the end of the 19th century. It is currently the most important example of architectural neoclassical residential of Cascais. Casa Sommer was rehabilitated by architect Paula Santos. The big highlight is the existence of more than 100 funds and collections dating from 1387 to 2016.

Museu da Vila: the Museu da Vila was built with the aim of spreading the history of Cascais from its foundation to the present day. The museum is divided into five thematic areas. The most important pieces are the Grutas de Alapraia sandals, the oldest representation of the village of Cascais and the Manueline charter from 1514.

Forte de São Jorge de Oitavos ![(38.699777, -9.468225)]: Fort São Jorge Oitavos was built between 1642 and 1648 to defend Lisbon and Cascais from Spanish attacks. The museum space is organized into two nuclei:

• the first nucleus tells the story of the maritime fortifications of Cascais and the story of Fort São Jorge;
• the second nucleus deals with the French Invasions and the history of the military equipment that existed in this place between 1760.

Casa de Santa Maria ![(38.691278, -9.421444)]: the Casa de Santa Maria was designed by the architect Raúl Lino (1879-1974) in 1902. The Casa de Santa Maria is located in cove of Santa Maria and close to the Santa Maria Lighthouse. This residence was commissioned by the banker Jorge O’Neil and was the private residence of Maria Teresa O’Neil and Dom António Avillez, José Lino, Raúl Lino and Manuel Ribeiro Espírito Santo Silva. Casa de Santa Maria offers an educational service as a service.

Santa Marta Museum Lighthouse ![(38º 41’ 25.91’’, 9º 25’ 18.27’)]: it is the only museum lighthouse in Portugal. The Santa Marta Lighthouse Museum opened to the public in 2007 with a project by Francisco and Manuel Aires de Mateus. The museological model is innovative because it combines thematic exhibitions with the function of coastal signage. The permanent exhibition is divided into two nuclei, a nucleus with the name of Portuguese Lighthouses: Technology and History and another nucleus called Santa Marta, from Forte to Farol and the Lighthouse Trader . The services available in the museum’s space; Santa Marta Lighthouse Museum are a shop, an auditorium and an educational service.

Condes de Castro Guimarães Museum ![(38º 41’ 32.24’’, 9º 25’ 18.27’)]: the museum was inaugurated on July 12, 1931 in the old Torre de São Sebastião. The main highlights are the cloister, the Trevos Room, the Music Room, the Neogótica Room, the Reading Room and the Doctor José de Figueiredo Room. The panoramic view over the Bay of Cascais, the Bay of Santa Marta, the Marechal Carmona Park, the Casa de Santa Maria and the Santa Marta Lighthouse

Palácio Cidadela de Cascais ![(38.693982, -9.419194)]: Palácio Cidadela de Cascais opened to the public on November 23, 2011 after the rehabilitation carried out by the architect Pedro Vaz. The Palácio da Cidadela de Cascais was the home of the governor of the town until the arrival of King Dom Luís in 1870. After this date it functioned as a Holiday Residence of the Portuguese Royal Family who stayed here during the months of September and October. From the establishment of the Republic on October 5, 1910, it was used as the official residence of the Presidency of the Republic, especially by Marshal António Óscar de Fragoso Carmona and Marshal Francisco Higino Craveiro Lopes. After 2004 it has been used by the President of the Republic to receive diplomats and heads of state.

Other attractions to visit in Cascais

Museu da Música Portuguesa – Casa Verdades Faria ![(38.710046, -9.405377)]: the Museum of Portuguese Music was born in 1987 with the name of Museu da Música Regional Portuguesa. The museum had several phases of growth, namely in 1994 with the donation of the estate of the composer Fernando Lopes Graça and with the works of Giacometti. The museum is part of a building built by Jorge O’Neil in 1918 in Monte do Estoril, which he called the Torre de São Patrício. This same building was purchased by Enrique Mantero Belard and Gertrudes Verdades de Faria in 1942. Gertrudes Verdades de Faria was passionate about art and regularly held social and cultural meetings and gatherings with the aim of promoting artists and works of art.

Estoril Ocean Pool ![(N 38º 42′ 6.77” ,W 9º 23′ 52.76”)]: this pool was inaugurated in 1953 with the objective of being supplied with water across the Atlantic Ocean. The Estoril Ocean Pool is located near Tamariz

Cresmina Dune Interpretation Center ![(38.726517, -9.468898)]: Cresmina Dune Interpretation Center was created with the aim of promoting the fauna and flora of this place. The nucleus includes several activities, namely Dunar System Interpretation, Guided trail or virtual guide, Bird watching, flora identification.

Parque das Gerações ![(38.698313, -9.381186)]: Parque das Gerações is a skatepark located in São Domingos de Rana, offering a series of equipment for the practice of sports. The park also has a particularity that is the existence of community gardens.

Santo António da Barra Fort ![(38.698330, -9.384043)]: The Santo António da Barra Fort is a fort built by Filipe I of Portugal to defend Lisbon in 1589, located in São João do Estoril is also known as Forte de Salazar or Forte Velho. The Forte de Santo António da Barra underwent several renovations and functions over time, especially in 1681 following the War of Restoration, between 1762 and 1763 during the Seven Years’ War, 1889 when it became Post of the Fiscal Guard, 1915 when it was a summer camp at the Women’s Institute of Education and Work of Odivelas, Salazar’s seasonal residence from 1950 – it was in this fort that the Portuguese dictator died on August 3, 1968. On the 29th of September 1977 was classified as a national monument and began to be rehabilitated by the Municipality of Cascais from 13 March 2018

Black Gunpowder Museum

Palmela Park ![(38.703655, -9.412891)]: Palmela Park was built by order of the Dukes of Palmela in 1870 to host the parties promoted by the Dukes. The park has large trees, wide lawns and the Ribeira dos Boqueiros. Currently, Parque de Palmela offers two main leisure spaces: the Fernando Lopes Graça Auditorium and a space for outdoor sports

Alapraia Artificial Caves: located approximately 1 km from the Cascais Line inland. The caves are part of a Roman necropolis – the name given to cemeteries during the period of Roman occupation. TheAlapraia Artificial Caves were the first cultural space to be classified as of public interest in Cascais in the year of 1942. Four funerary caves and some important objects were discovered, namely votive limestone sandals, ceramic vases, decorated schist slabs and polished bone artefacts. These objects can be seen in the Museum of Vila de Cascais

Pedra do Sal Environmental Interpretation Center ![(38.694284, -9.371872)]: The interpretation center was built with the aim of disclosing the natural heritage of this region through various activities, namely through the Interpretative Route in Pedra do Sal with passages through the Caves I & II of São Pedro do Estoril, by Casamatas Casa do Holofote and Casa do Generador of the Second World War, by Ponte Filipina, by Aldeia de Cal Água and by Ribeira de Caparide / Manique. It is located in São Pedro do Estoril and stands out for its Atlantic Ocean landscape.

Cabo da Roca: One of the references in Cascais is the Cabo da Roca, the most western point in Europe. Cabo da Roca is much sought after by nature lovers due to its surroundings of wild landscapes, steep cliffs, panoramic views over the Atlantic Ocean, with unique sensations when watching the Atlantic waves crashing against the rocks. From here it is possible to get a panoramic view to the ocean horizon, it is sought after by people who like adventure due to the primitive aspect of nature that still exists in the region.

Administrative Organization

The Cascais City Council, with approximately 211,000 inhabitants, of which 21 thousand are foreign residents, is administratively organized into three parishes:

• Alcabideche
• Cascais and Estoril
• Saint Domingo de Rana

Reasons to live in Cascais and Estoril

Cascais is a great attraction for those who want to live in Portugal due to:

• Mild climate: the climate in Cascais is humid temperate, (Csb in the Köppen-Geiger climate classification) with dry and temperate summers, and very mild winters due to proximity to the sea, southern exposure and protection of the Sintra Mountains to the north. Cascais 265 days without rain, creating a constant outdoor life in the village and surroundings.
• Natural beauty: There is a unique natural beauty due to the great natural diversity, including forest, sea and countryside. . The landscape of Cascais is extremely diverse with all kinds of natural beauty, from the white sand dunes of Guincho, to rocks that adopt various forms due to erosion caused by the force of the sea, as is the case of Boca do Inferno, passing by a cliff as far as the eye can see, such as Cabo da Roca to a dense forest such as the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park.
• Tranquility: Cascais is a peaceful, calm and safe place
• Friendliness of the inhabitants: this is a characteristic that distinguishes the people of Cascais, the Cascais. The welcoming of the people of this village makes everyone, or almost everyone who visits it, have a feeling of tranquility and well-being.
• Gastronomy: Cascais gastronomy is highly appreciated due to the variety, freshness and quality of the food. The highlights are fresh fish, wine from Carcavelos, broad bean soup, chicken soup, mussel stew, meat from alguidar, sand and walnuts from Cascais
• Health: Cascais has the best health indices in the country at various levels, especially through programs such as the possibility of a family doctor for each inhabitant and Smart Health. The existence of infrastructure in the health area such as the Hospital Sant’Ana na Parede, considered the largest hospital for orthopedic surgeries in the Iberian Peninsula, or the Alcoitão Rehabilitation Medicine Center, one of the best rehabilitation centers in the world.
• Education: Education is highlighted with the infrastructure of universities, namely the Nova School of Business & Economics in Carcavelos, with 29 amphitheaters and 33 classrooms and capacity for 4,000 professors and students, and the Faculty of Medicine of the Catholic University. The municipality of Cascais is served by private high-ranking colleges in Portuguese and international education.
• Mobility and transport: Cascais City Council has programs to improve citizens’ mobility. Highlight for MobiCascais and MobiBuscas with more than 60 bus lines and the installation of dozens of charging stations for electric cars throughout the county, and bicycle access to more than 38 thousand people. Tires Aerodrome includes eight aviation schools. These schools train about 200 pilots a year. Tires Aerodrome is part of the flight between Bragança and Lisbon
• Outdoor leisure and sports spaces: Cascais presents several projects related to healthy living and sustainability, namely the creation of small organic gardens in the municipality
• Closeness to all the structures necessary for daily life: it is possible to live in Cascais without the need for your own transport. Distances are short and the offer of services is concentrated with easy access. In Cascais there is a wide variety of commerce on offer, from seafront restaurants, traditional street commerce, to covered shopping malls and large supermarkets.
• Economy and Innovation: Projects such as DNA Cascais allowed the creation of more than 300 companies, the Centro de Mar de Cascais, the European Innovation Academy, Get in the Ring and Horasis</ read>
• Political, cultural and environmental activity: the Cascais Chamber develops projects such as
  • The Cascais Underwater Archaeological Map Project allowed the discovery of a ship from the 16th century Carreira das Índias;
  • The Muralize Festival of Urban Art: an awareness campaign to end the use of plastic bottles in the Cascais City Council,
  • Cascais Smart City, Estoril Conferences,
  • Cascais Gastronómica which includes the participation of Michelin Star Chefs

The Surf

Cascais is the place where Surf was born in Portugal. This sporting activity emerged in the mid-1960s. At that time there were practically no surfers in the country, which aroused great curiosity in those who passed by car in Guincho, as the first surfers in the country could observe. The Cascais Line saw the birth of between 30 and 40% of national surf champions, namely Ruben Gonzalez four-time champion, José Gregório, Vasco Ribeiro, < em>Maria Abecassis, Patrícia Lopes or Rodrigo Herédia, all outstanding athletes in surfing in Portugal.
The most popular places for surfing in Cascais are Praia da Poça, Guincho, São Pedro do Estoril, São João do Estoril and Praia de Carcavelos.

The coastline of Cascais has excellent natural conditions for surfing due to the possibility of surfing for six months of the year, with prevailing winds from the Northwest, the existence of 20 to 25 different types of waves, and surf schools, namely: Surf Technique, Cascais Surf School, Guincho Surf School or Moana Surf School. Cascais has several shaping and surfboard manufacturing factories, namely Polen Surfboards, Surfactory or Malta Factory, among many others.
The Cascais Line has a great influence on the history of Surfing in Portugal with the creation of the first surf club in Portugal, the Surf Clube de Portugal, with the election of the first president of the Portuguese Surf Federation, Antero Santos, who was born in this region or the launch of Rádio Marginal with the first report on the state of weather conditions on beaches for surfing in the 1980s.
<h4″>Golf

Cascais offers seven golf courses, with great emphasis on the Oitavos Dunes golf course, classified as the first golf course in Portugal and 55 in the ranking of golf courses worldwide according to Golf Magazine, Top 100 Courses in the World. The Oitavos Dunes golf course stands out for the beauty of its natural landscape, located between Serra de Sintra and Praia do Guincho, it is one of the two golf courses in Europe designed by Arthur Hills. American designer of golf courses and for the hotel it offers. The course has 18 holes and 71 pairs, the ability to have 60 athletes playing simultaneously and a training field with approximately 5600 m2.
Other golf courses in Cascais:

• Praia d’el Rey golf course: Inaugurated on June 14, 1997, the Praia d’el Rey golf course has 18 holes and 73 pairs. It was designed by Cabell Robinson. The infrastructure of the Praia d’el Rey golf course includes a clubhouse, a golf shop and a training program for younger golfers.
• Penha Longa golf course: integrated in the Penha Longa Hotel & Resort, Penha Longa golf course is considered one of the 30 best courses in Europe. It was opened in 1992 and designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. The course is divided into two smaller courses, Campo Atlântico and Mosteiro. The highlight of the Penha Longa golf course is the scenic setting of the course with the Serra de Sintra, the Monastery of Penha Longa and a Roman bridge providing unique and unforgettable settings. The Penha Longa golf course support structures include a golf shop, a driving range, a putting green, chipping green, a bar and a restaurant.
• Pestana Beloura Golf course: the Pestana Beloura Golf course was inaugurated in 1993, it has 18 holes and 72 pairs. It was designed by Rocky Roquemore. the Pestana Beloura Golf course includes a Clubhouse, changing rooms, golf shop, restaurant, bar, school, putting green, driving range and chipping.
• Lisbon Sports Club: located in Serra da Carregaira, the Lisbon Sports Club golf course has 18 holes with a par 69. The course was inaugurated in 1964 and the club in 1873 with the name of Lisbon Cricket. In 1922 it changed its name to Lisbon Sports Club. The Lisbon Sports Club has available a clubhouse, changing rooms, golf shop, restaurant, bar, school, putting green, driving range and chipping. The big highlights are the Scottish countryside-like layout, the constant presence of small wild animals such as rabbits and the existence of numerous streams.
• Estoril Golf: it is an 18-hole course that is integrated in the Palácio Estoril Hotel, Resort & Wellness. The Estoril Golf course was designed by Mackenzie Ross. The infrastructures consist of a golf academy, chipping course, golf club, driving range, putting green, golf shop, restaurant, bar, terrace and a swimming pool.
• Quinta da Marinha golf course: golf course integrated in the Hotel da Quinta da Marinha, the Quinta da Marinha golf course has 18 holes with a par 71. The course was designed by Robert Trent Jones and opened in 1984. The Quinta da Marinha golf course has a golf shop, driving range, putting green, practice bunker, chipping green available. , bar and restaurant.

The beaches of Cascais

The municipality of Cascais has 17 beaches along approximately 25 km of coastline, popular for family walks and relaxation, surfing, bodyboarding, windsurfing, diving, swimming or boat sailing, among many other activities. Guincho Beach is located in Cascais, one of the most popular beaches for surfing, where World Championships are held, and is also one of the beaches in a pure and wild state where you can find a landscape of dunes and verdant mountain range. There is a coastal bike path and footpath from Cascais to Guincho, a regular walk for lovers of sport and the outdoors.

• Praia Grande do Guincho
• Praia da Rainha – Praia da Rainha is a small beach on the left side of Cascais Bay. It was on the beach chosen by Queen D. Amélia to swim during the royal family’s stays in Cascais
• Conceição Beach
• Santa Marta Beach
• Ribeira de Cascais Beach
• Praia do Abano (38.741699, -9.472525): beach located near Guincho, is very popular for surfing, bodyboarding, kite surfing and windsurfing due to strong winds and large swells.</ read>
• Praia das Avencas (38.688305, -9.360591): located in Parede, it stands out for its natural beauty due to the existence of cliffs. Avencas beach was considered a Biophysical Interest Zone in 1998 and was classified as a Protected Marine Area of ​​Avencas in 2016
• Praia da Azarujinha (38.700663, -9.389342): located in São João do Estoril, it stands out for its amphitheater shape created by the erosion of the sea on the rocks over time. Access to the beach can only be done on foot
• Bafureira Beach (38.692446, -9.366296): located in São Pedro do Estoril, it stands out for its cliffs and the large staircase that allows access.
• Praia de Carcavelos (38.679876, -9.336034): located in Carcavelos, it offers an extensive beach of more than one kilometer. The main highlights are the Fort of São Julião da Barra, the various surf and bodyboard schools that exist there and a bar / restaurant
• Praia da Cresmina (38.725647, -9.476682): beach located in Guincho, stands out for its natural beauty and for being very popular for surfing
• Praia da Duquesa (38.700817, -9.414955): located in the village of Cascais, it is surrounded by restaurants, cafes and terraces
• Praia das Moitas (38.702041, -9.409215): located in Monte do Estoril, it is also known as Praia da Rata. The main highlights are the Atlântica pool and the terraces along the beach
• Praia da Parede (38.685940, -9.354694): located in Parede, it stands out for being very popular for sunbathing and less water due to the existence of a large amount of rocks near the beach. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century it was highly sought after due to the therapeutic qualities of the waters, especially with regard to bone-related diseases.
• Praia da Poça (38.702053, -9.391991): located in São João do Estoril between Forte Velho and Forte da Cadaveira. It is a popular beach for surfing</li >
• Praia da Rainha (38.699140, -9.418169): located in the center of Cascais, its main highlights are its proximity to the village center and its natural beauty
• São Pedro do Estoril Beach (38.693706, -9.369494): located in São Pedro do Estoril, near Ponta do Sal. It stands out for its natural beauty and excellent infrastructure of support services
• Praia do Tamariz (38.702911, -9.399909): located in Estoril, it has excellent access conditions and resources in the surrounding areas. The main support services are changing rooms, restaurants, bars, terraces. Tamariz beach also has an Atlantic swimming pool

Transport to and from Cascais

• Cascais Municipal Aerodrome: aerodrome located in Tires, approximately 20 km from Lisbon. It has an airport with the capacity to receive 300 people and a runway 1700 meters long and 30 meters wide. The Aerodrome is also used as an aviation school, as a parking place for private jets, for aircraft maintenance and for aeronautical festivals.
• Marina de Cascais: marina located at 38º 42′ N – 09º 25′ W in Cascais, with parking capacity for 650 boats, including the Mega Yacht Pontoon, which allows receiving boats with dimensions above 36 meters in length.
• MobiCascais: this project by the Municipality of Cascais includes approximately 23 km of cycle paths and provides the municipality’s inhabitants with the following:
  • 1200 bicycles
  • 5 bus lines
  • 21000 parking spaces
• Trains: Cascais is part of the Cais do Sodré Line, which starts in Lisbon and is approximately 30 km long. The Cais do Sodré-Cascais Line runs in about thirty minutes between 6 am and 1 am. The Train Stations in the Cascais municipality are:
  • Carcavelos Train Station
  • Wall Train Station
  • São Pedro do Estoril Train Station
  • São João do Estoril Train Station
  • Estoril Train Station
  • Monte do Estoril Train Station
  • Cascais Train Station
• Buses: Cascais county has 38 Scotturb bus lines. The ones that deserve to be highlighted are:
  • Bus 403: connecting Sintra and Cabo da Roca, from the Cascais Villa Shopping Center station
  • Bus 417: connecting to Sintra, from the Cascais Villa Shopping Center station
  • Bus 418: with connection to Sintra, from the Estoril Train Station

Educational Institutions in Cascais

• College Love of God
• College Senhora da Boa Nova
• Colégio da Bafureira
• Colégio Mrs. Luísa Sígea
• Quinta do Lago College
• Salesian School of Manique
• Cascais Professional Theater School
• Our Lady of the Rosary Externship
• International Christian School of Cascais
• International Preparatory School – EPPI
• Vila Bicuda Kindergarten
• Saint Dominic’s International School
• Saint John’s School
• Saint James Primary School

Health Services, Clinics and Hospitals in Cascais

• CADIn: Child Development Support Center
• Cascais Bay Clinic
• Clínica Lev Cascais
• Clinic Medicines: Integrative Holistic Clinic
• Pedro Choi Clinics: Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Chris FisioDerm Clinic Spa
• Health Club Viscount
• Holmes Place Cascais
• IMI: Integrated Medical Images
• Institute of Science and Health: Clínica Poço Novo
• Kangaroo Health Clubs of Cascais
• Holy House of Mercy of Cascais
• Comprehensive Health – Unipessoal Physical Recovery and Treatment Center lda
• SPA Dramatic & Medical Aesthetics Clinic

The Restaurants

• Santini Ice Cream Shop
• Bag Pastry Shop
• Capricciosa Restaurant
• Rels Restaurant
• Confraria Restaurant
• O Cantinho da Belinha Restaurant
• Fortress of Guincho Restaurant
• Sea do Inferno Restaurant
• Port of Santa Maria Restaurant
• Res do Mar Restaurant
• Visconde da Luz Restaurant

Places to shop

• Cascais Shopping
• Cascais Villa
• Dejá Lu
• Loja das Socks
• Right Street

Hotels

• Estalagem Muchaxo Hotel
• Grande Real Villa Itália Hotel & Spa
• Lighthouse Design Hotel
• Hotel Albatroz
• Hotel Citadel
• Hotel Pestana Cascais
• Hotel Quinta da Marinha & Resort Villas
• Hotel the Oitavos
• Cascais Inn, Fortaleza da Cidadela
• Vila Bicuda Hotel

Fairs, Parties and Pilgrimages in Cascais

• CSI Longines Global Champions Tour: world equestrian event held annually in July
• Procession of Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes: procession that takes place annually in August
• International Culture Festival: festival held annually in September
• Lumina: Festival of Light: festival held annually in September
• Marginal A Passo de Corrida: sporting event held annually in September
• Swim Challenge Cascais: the biggest open water swimming competitions in Portugal held annually in September
• Billabong Pro Cascais – World Surf Leage: stage of the World Surfing Championship held annually in Cascais
• Cascais Classic Motorshow: held annually in September

Curiosities from Cascais and Estoril

• Cascais was elevated to a village 650 years ago in the year 1364
• One of the master masons who participated in the construction of the Mafra Convent was António Martins from Cascais
• The first Portuguese philosophy college was created in Cascais in the 18th century
• The first electrical connection in Portugal was made in the city of Cascais in 1878
• First public football challenge was held in Cascais in 1888
• The first live jazz concert in Portugal took place in the summer of 1941 at Casino do Estoril and had the participation of the Willie Lewis Orchestra
• Canadian singer Bryan Adams lived in Cascais between 9 and 12 years old
• Cascais has the only bridge over the Atlantic Ocean, the Ponte de Santa Marta
• The inhabitant born in Cascais is called Cascais
• Most surfing champions in Portugal were born and raised in Cascais, as is the case with Ruben Gonzalez
• In Cascais there is a unique surfing event, Surf at Night
• The best beaches for surfing are São Pedro do Estoril, Monte Estoril, Tamariz, and Guincho
• Figures like Vinicius de Moraes, Thomas Mann, Calouste Gulbenkian, Indira Nehru, Robert Rotschild or Ian Flemming lived in Cascais or EStoril
• Ian Fleming created James Bond while living in Cascais
• It was in Cascais that António Oliveira Salazar died when he fell off his chair
• The Cascais Line was the birthplace of urban art in Portugal

In the village of Cascais it is possible to have a quiet and safe life, at the same time, a cosmopolitan and diverse life. Cascais is the third largest municipality in the district of Lisbon with more foreign residents, with the following communities standing out:

• over five thousand Brazilians,
• over a thousand UK citizens,
• over seven hundred Germans,
• over eight hundred Spaniards and
• over eight hundred Frenchmen.
  Cascais is undoubtedly a multicultural village, with a lot of outdoor life throughout the year. Cascais has one of the most expensive real estate markets in the world, with great potential for return on investment, similar to that of Saint Tropez. The quality of life, gastronomy, simplicity and knowing how to receive from the inhabitants of Cascais are the main assets of this location. The village of Cascais can be lived on foot, due to the proximity of all infrastructures.

Cascais and Estoril Quick Facts

• Cascais City Council is organized into four parishes:
  • Alcabideche,
  • Carcavelos and Wall,
  • Cascais
  • Estoril and São Domingos de Rana
• Cascais has a physical area of ​​97.4 km2 and a maritime area of ​​119 km2
• Cascais has approximately 211,000 inhabitants
• Cascais receives over 500,000 tourists a year, mostly from the UK, Spain and France
• Cascais provides three municipal libraries, 24 school libraries, a mobile library and a digital library
• Two out of ten of the inhabitants of Cascais were born in other countries
• Cascais was considered the third best municipal brand in the Tourism, Business and Social Areas
• Cascais offers excellent conditions for the practice of sport, namely through the existence of two bike paths, three mountain biking routes, 67 tennis courts, 14 swimming pools, 4 athletics tracks, 7 fitness circuits, 6 golf courses, 26 courses paddle, 4 equestrian centers, 4 nautical centers, a space for canoeing, 6 places for surfing and 2 for windsurfing and kitesurfing
• São Domingos de Rana has approximately 57 thousand inhabitants and has more inhabitants than 85% of the councils in Portugal
• The Tires Aerodrome is the eighth busiest airport structure in the Iberian Peninsula
• There are more than one hundred nationalities living in the Municipality of Cascais in a total of approximately 23 thousand immigrants. The majority of immigrants living in Cascais are from Brazil, 7,000, Romania, 2,000, Cape Verde, 1500, Ukraine, 1400, Guinea-Bissau, 1300, and the United Kingdom, 1100.

History of Cascais

Cascais is a village founded approximately 650 years ago. The most important events are:

• Elevation of Cascais to town by charter of 1364 issued by the king Dom Pedro
• The Spanish invasion of 1580 began in Cascais with the arrival of the Duke of Alba’s troops
• Most of the fortresses were built in the 17th century, during the reign of Dom João IV
• Cascais was virtually completely destroyed during the earthquake of November 1, 1755
• Cascais was invaded by Napoleon’s troops
• Cascais was used as a prison for supporters of Dom Pedro IV during the Liberal War in the 19th century
• Cascais was the vacation spot of the Portuguese Royal Family and the Corte Monárquica during the second half of the 19th century
• Cascais was the place where the first electrical lighting experiment took place
• Cascais was the site where the first marine biology laboratory was built
• Cascais was the place where the first electric traction railway lines were built
• Cascais was the pioneer in sport where the first competitions were held.
  • candle,
  • canoe paddling,
  • swimming,
  • tennis,
  • rugby,
  • cricket,
  • cycling
  • football
• Cascais was the refuge place for influential European families and celebrities during World War II

Cascais from Prehistory to the century. XIX

• Cascais has been occupied since Prehistory, since Neolithic times, especially in Guincho, Talaíde and Estoril, due to the mild climate and the safety of the bay for fishing. Proof are the Roman remains in São Domingos de Rana and in the village of Cascais, where a factory complex for salting fish was discovered. As examples of prehistoric occupation, there are the Caves of Poço Velho, Caves of Alapraia, Caves of São Pedro and the Caves of Porto Covo. Cascais was formerly much sought after by various peoples, including Phoenicians, Romans, Visigoths and Arabs. It was also occupied by the Moors, who founded towns such as Alcabideche and Alcoitão.
• Cascais is the birthplace of Ibn Muqãna in the early 11th century, one of the most famous Arab poets. The village of Cascais was conquered from the Moors by D Afonso Henriques in 1147. During the second half of the 12th century, fishermen and farmers lived in Cascais.
• Cascais has been the target of hundreds of pirate attacks throughout history, which led to King Dom Pedro I (1320-1367) providing the village in the port area with a wall to improve the defense of the town, and subsequently elevated the village of Cascais to a village in 1364. Currently there is only a small section of this wall.
• Due to the growth of Cascais with the Age of Discovery, D João II ordered the construction of a defensive tower in 1488.
• King Dom Manuel I (1469-1521) granted Cascais its first charter in 1514. The town of Cascais was invaded by the Duke of Alba (1507-1582) on July 30, 1580, with the main objective being to intention to occupy Portugal. Due to the occupation of Portugal by Spain, Cascais became the target of a series of attacks carried out by Francis Drake in 1587.
• It was in Cascais that the 61 galley Spanish fleet disembarked in 1580 with an army of 23,000 men commanded by the Duke of Alba, who later advanced on Lisbon. The Cascais fortress was partially razed, having been rebuilt after the Spanish occupation by D João IV. The village of Cascais was practically completely destroyed by the earthquake of 1755.
• After independence from Portugal in 1640, Dom João IV rebuilt the country’s defenses and, among them, were several in Cascais, namely the Guincho Fort, the Galé Battery, the Alta Battery (now the Hotel do Guincho) , Battery of Cresmina, Fort of São Jorge de Oitavos, Fort and Lighthouse of Santa Marta, Citadel of Cascais, among others that no longer exist.
• Cascais experienced a period of development after the destruction caused by the earthquake of 1 November 1755 through the construction of the Royal Wool Factory in Cascais in 1774, the intensification of wheat planting and cultivation of the Carcavelos wine. This economic development was briefly interrupted with the French Invasions of 1807 by General Junot and of 1809 by General Massena. At this time, Regiment 19 became known, which was quartered in the Citadel of Cascais and that, according to legend, due to being protected by a Statue of Saint Anthony, they did not have a single defeat in the fight against the French invader. Nowadays it is still possible to see the Statue of Santo António in the Cidadela de Cascais.
• In 1859 Cascais began to gain importance due to the construction of the road to Oeiras, making it possible to shorten the distance to Lisbon. From 1871 onwards, Cascais became the preferred place for the royal family’s summer holidays, due to the improvement of the roads and its mild temperatures in this village.

Cascais started to grow again in the century. XIX due to three main factors:

1. The increasing importance of the stone quarrying activity in the century. 19th century, which led to the creation of 26 quarries in 1873. In the 19th century, roads were built connecting Cascais to Sintra and Oeiras. The Gil Vicente Theater was inaugurated in 1869, the beginning of transport in the steam lines to Lisbon and the start of tourism with the officialization of Costa do Sol in 1935.
2. The arrival of the Portuguese Royal Family in Cascais that transformed the village into a seaside resort: Cascais gained the status of Corte beach in 1867, awarded by Dona Maria Pia and renovated by King Dom Luís. Dom Carlos, passionate about studying the sea, transformed Cascais in a large scientific research laboratory in this specific area, and launched twelve campaigns between 1896 and 1907 and where he established the first marine biology laboratory in Portugal. With the installation of the Portuguese Royal Family, Cascais developed the so-called summer architecture, a mixture of architectural styles that can still be seen today through several examples, namely the Palace of the Dukes of Palmela in English style, the Palace of the Duke of Loulé in French style (now the Hotel Albatroz), the residence of the Heredias, who built a palace in the image of Swiss chalets , or the banker’s palace George O’Neil, built in a mix of Manueline and Gothic style (now Museu dos Condes de Castro Guimarães) .
3. Construction of the railway that made it possible to establish a connection between Lisbon and Cascais: the Cascais Railway Line began to be built in September 1889 with the inauguration of the section between Pedrouços and Cascais. The railway then evolved with the launch of the section between Pedrouços and Alcântara-Mar in 1891 and that of Cais do Sodré in 1895.

Cascais and Estoril have been places of refuge for noble refugees fleeing persecution since World War II (1939-1945). Among them, the presence of several European royal families stands out, namely Humberto II of Italy, the Count of Barcelona, son of Afonso XIII of Spain, the King Carol of Romania, the Regent Orti of Hungary or the Duke of Windsor of England.

The Armed Forces Movement was created in Cascais at a meeting held on March 5, 1974. This meeting approved the manifesto “The Armed Forces Movement and the Nation” which served as the basis for the revolt on April 25, 1974 .

Origin of the Name Cascais

The name Cascais has two possible origins, one version is the fact that it means the singular of the word “cascal”, which means cluster of houses, the second version is related to the presence of an Almoravid admiral Kax Kax who used the bay of Cascais as an outpost.