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Portugal City Travel Guide: Estoril & Cascais

City Guide | Turismo | Arrival | Accommodation | Entertainment

Estoril

Portugal's Riviera.
Sophisticated Atlantic Ocean resort.
Famous for one of Europe's largest casinos.
Great golf courses within easy reach.
Guaranteed to relax and charm.
Population 23,000.
Venue of the Estoril Open Tennis Tournament.
Attracts an older clientele than nearby Cascais.

The Atlantic resorts of Estoril and Cascais - which along with nearby Sintra make up Portugal so-called 'Golden Triangle' - are an excellent base for visitors to Portugal.
Within easy reach of the capital Lisbon by train from Cais do Sodre station both Estoril and Cascais, (less than 30 minutes apart on foot) have long been the preferred getaway of rich Lisboetas and well-to-do European visitors.

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Known as a haunt of international spies in World War II and later hideaway of various pretenders to European thrones, Estoril is now a palm-fringed, pastel playground of the well-off and well connected, drawn by a winning combination of Europe's largest casino, a range of first-class hotels and some superb golf courses. Praia de Tamariz is the lovely beach at the centre of the town with showers, an ocean swimming pool and a number of good bars for a sun-downer.

Estoril Casino (Tel: 214 667 700) includes a variety of restaurants (one seats 1,000 people), bars, a nightclub and a nightly floor show. The casino provides roulette, blackjack, slots and poker tables.

Estoril plays host to the Estoril open tennis tournament in April - an important clay-court warm-up for the French open and the Estoril Golf course has held the PGA Portuguese open. Other nearby golf courses include the Quinta da Marinha, Penha Longa, Quinta da Beloura, Estoril-sol and Belas Clube.

If you are looking for a sophisticated, cosmopolitan scene head for Estoril.

Casino Estoril.

Estoril Casino

Casino Estoril.

Estoril Casino

Estoril Tourist Office

Arcadas do Parque
2769-503 Estoril
Tel. 214 663 813
9am-7pm Mon-Sat; Sun 10am-6pm
Opposite the train station

Getting to Estoril

Train Travel in Portugal

Trains from Lisbon's Cais do Sodré station.

Bus Travel in Portugal

There are bus services to Sintra
* The bus from Lisbon airport which served both Estoril and Cascais is no longer running.

Boca de inferno, Cascais.

Boca de inferno (Mouth of Hell) Cascais, Portugal

Santa Marta Lighthouse, Cascais.

Santa Marta Lighthouse and Cascais Municipal Museum, Portugal

Portugal Hotel & Hostel Accommodation

Book Hotel Accommodation in Estoril

Recommended Accommodation in Estoril

Vila Galé Estoril

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Eating

English Bar
Av. Sabóia, 9, Monte Estoril
Tel: 214 680 413
Sea views, fish and game bird specialities.
12.30pm - 4pm 7.30pm - 11.00pm. Closed Sun.

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Estoril Casino

Parque Estoril
Praça José Teodoro dos Santos
Tel. 21 466 77 00
(Cover charge)
3pm - 3am

Cascais

City Guide | Turismo | Arrival | Accommodation | Entertainment

Attractive Atlantic resort on Portugal's Riviera.
Former resort for the Portuguese royal family.
Population 35,000.
Surfing & windsurfing center at Praia do Guincho.
Lively eating, drinking & night life scene.
Easy access to Lisbon, Estoril & Sintra.
Still active fishing port.

More vibrant, younger and less exclusive than nearby Estoril, Cascais is famed for its traditional black and white calçada wave-patterned pavements, fine seafood restaurants and lively seafront street cafes. The main bar and restaurant strip is centered on the pedestrianized Rua Frederico Arouca and the more raucous Largo Luis de Camoes. There's a colorful market every Wednesday on Rua do Mercado, an early morning fish market at between Praia da Ribeira and Praia da Rainha and occasional evening bullfights in the summer in the Praca de Touros Avenida Pedro Alvares Cabral to the west of the center.

The Parque Municipal da Gandarinha is a pleasant open space containing the nineteenth century stately home of Irishman Jorge O'Neill - the Museu Condes de Castro Guimaraes (Tel 214 825 407). Also worth a visit is the Museu do Mar (Tel 214 825 400) which charts the area's connections with the sea.

The area's main beaches lie between Estoril and Cascais or you can trek out to wind surfers' paradise at Praia do Guincho - a large but unshaded and somewhat dangerous stretch of fine beach 6km west of Cascais, which has played host to the World Surfing Championships.

Festivals

Cascais big bash is the Festas do Mar in June with a procession of colorful fishing boats. There's a jazz festival in July and summer fireworks on Saturday evenings.