The Pestana Cascais is a 4-star hotel located in one of the most luxurious areas of Lisbon's coastal region, Vila de Cascais. It is very close to various beaches, including the surfer's paradise Guincho beach, parks, museums, shopping centres and the Casino do Estoril. My family and I spent a great evening at Casino Estoril in Oct 2019. The casino is an upmarket well organised establishment and although it is really big - the staff are extremely helpful in assisting you to navigate your way around the casino to the different areas, from slot machines to the Black Jack and Roulette tables. Casino do Estoril Whilst maybe not quite as glitzy as Las Vegas the Casino in Estoril is reputed to be the largest in Europe. Whether or not this is still case the casino is definitely big, offering over 1,000 slot machines. Estoril casino and grounds. The casino is also steeped in history; during World War Two, when Portugal remained neutral, the casino was a prominent rendezvous for spies and their handlers. These intrigues and meetings were the inspiration for writer Ian Flemming’s character James Bond and the basis of the book Casino Royale.

Cascais Intro > Cascais Sights > 1 Week in Cascais > Cascais Beaches > Day Trip to Cascais > Lisbon to Cascais

Cascais and Estoril are two popular beach resorts that are situated on the beautiful Lisbon coastline. Both Estoril and Cascais make for outstanding holiday destinations and offer wonderful beaches, interesting day trips and a social holiday atmosphere. This guide will provide a comparison of Cascais and Estoril and identify which is more suitable for your holiday.

The grand buildings of Cascais

Overview of Cascais and Estoril

Historically, Cascais was a minor fishing port, which was discovered in the 19th century by the Portuguese nobility, who transformed the sleepy town into a fashionable royal retreat. Today Cascais is a prosperous and lively town that offers grand mansions, pretty parks and a busy fishing harbour.

Estoril developed later, and became a major tourist destination with the construction of the grand Estoril Casino, which to this day is still one of the largest casinos in Europe. The writer Ian Fleming was inspired to create his legendary hero, James Bond, based upon the intrigue and events that played out in the historic casino. Estoril is a sophisticated town but with the historical charm of Cascais.

The Casino of Estoril

This article will provide a comparison between the two towns, but it should be noted that they are next to each other. It is only a short walk (2km) from Estoril to Cascais, and the route follows the pleasant coastal promenade. It is possible to catch the train from Cascais to Estoril (€1.50 single) but for the short journey it is far more practical to take a taxi/Uber (approximately €7).

Cascais has four beaches which are within walking distance; two are scenic and not really suited for a beach day, while the Praia da Conceição and Praia da Duquesa fill up rapidly in the summer. Estoril has a single beach, the Praia de Tamariz, which is again very popular in the summer. So, realistically both towns are very similar.

The glorious beaches near Cascais

Larger beaches can be found to east, and include the Praia de Carcavelos, the best beach of the Lisbon coastline. Carcavelos can be reached by the train that departs from both towns. To the north of Cascais is the vast surfing beach of Praia do Guincho. Guincho has a remote and isolated atmosphere but there are limited public transport connections and is not really suited for families.

Guincho Beach is north of Cascais

Cascais has many more historical sights than Estoril. Popular sights in Cascais include Cascais fort, the Condes de Castro museum and the Paula Rego art gallery. Between these sights are grand 19th-century homes, shady parks (Parque Marechal Carmona) and a selection of other free museums (Sea Museum, Centro Cultural and the Santa Marta Lighthouse). There are sufficient sights in Cascais to fill a full day of sightseeing, and this is why it is a popular day trip from Lisbon. Estoril has a single main attraction; the Casino, and there are almost no historic buildings in Estoril.

The Guimaraes museum in Cascais

There are sufficient sights in Cascais to fill a full day of sightseeing, and this is why it is a popular day trip from Lisbon. Estoril has a single main attraction; the Casino, and there are almost no historic buildings in Estoril.

In the historic centre of Cascais (the Largo de Camões) there is a wide range of restaurants serving traditional Portuguese cuisine or popular foreign foods such as Italian, Chinese, Indian or British. There are also a good number of bars and late-night clubs. Estoril has less choice than Cascais and the night-time entertainment is focused around the casino.

The shops and restaurants of central Cascais

Cascais and Estoril are connected to Lisbon by a regular (departures every 20 minutes) and inexpensive (€2.20 adult single) train service which also makes transfers from the airport relatively easy and inexpensive. Accommodation in both towns fills up quickly during the summer months, so it is advisable to book hotels well in-advance.

The beach of Estoril

We personally prefer Cascais to Estoril. There are many more sights and activities in Cascais, and the best beaches are easily accessible from both towns. Cascais makes for a great destination for a holiday; please click here to read our suggested guide for a one week holiday to Cascais.

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