Living in Cascais, Lisbon
Quarto em apartamento partilhado Living in Cascais, Lisbon - direto do proprietário, sem agência - Lisbon
The great seaside and international resort at the western end of the Linha de Cascais: historic center, marina, beaches and Casino Estoril. Beautiful and well kept, but pricey and far from Lisbon.
Cascais is the great seaside resort at the western end of the Lisbon-Cascais line: once a buen retiro of the aristocracy and the royal family, today an elegant, touristy and very international town that absorbs nearby Estoril. It has a compact historic center, a marina, the sixteenth-century Cidadela, the Boca do Inferno carved by the ocean and a string of beaches, from the fashionable Tamariz in Estoril to the windy Guincho further north, a surfers' paradise. Estoril adds the famous Casino Estoril and its gardens. It's beautiful and well kept, but it's also the end of the line: pricey and quite far from the center of Lisbon.
Who lives here
Affluent Portuguese families, many expats and international retirees (British, French, Brazilians, Scandinavians), professionals who work in the area. There's a student community tied to international schools and a few campuses, but for those who study or work in central Lisbon it's mostly a lifestyle choice, not one of convenience.
What it's like during the day
A relaxed, outdoor life. The pedestrian seafront links Cascais to Estoril in 15-20 minutes on foot, passing the beaches. In the center: cobbled streets, shops, the Museu Condes de Castro Guimarães, the marina with its boats. Sun, sea and walks are the heart of the days.
What it's like in the evening
More quiet and resident-scale than wild nightlife. Fish restaurants, bars on the marina, the Casino Estoril with shows. In summer it comes alive a lot with tourism; off season it drops a great deal. For real nightlife you head back to Lisbon.
Getting around
The Linha de Cascais (CP) departs from Cais do Sodré, has its terminus at Cascais and stops at Estoril and Monte Estoril: about 33-40 minutes to Lisbon, frequent trains until late. Carris Metropolitana buses cover the area, with connections to Guincho beach and to Sintra. It's convenient within Cascais, but the daily commute to Lisbon is long.
Eating and shopping
Plenty of fish and seafood, international cooking and touristy spots in the center and at the marina. For shopping, major chain supermarkets (Pingo Doce, Continente) and the CascaiShopping center just outside. A municipal market for fresh produce.
When NOT to pick it
If you study or work in central Lisbon and don't want an hour of train a day round trip. If you're after an urban, alternative or nightlife scene: here it's seaside and residential. And if you're counting your money: it's one of the priciest areas of the metropolitan region.
Cascais is the right pick if you want sea, calm and an international, well-kept setting, and accept in exchange the distance from Lisbon and the price of the postcard.