Welcome to Cascais
Welcome to Cascais, the city of Lighthouses
Cascais is a Portuguese city of 35.000 inhabitants, located on the coast 30 km west from Lisbon. It is well known for its beaches, marina and its touristic city centre. The city was occupied by Romans and Arabs before being conquered by the Portuguese people in the XII century. Fishermen then came here and gave the current name to the city, linked to the high amount of fishes in the sea. This is why you can see so many ancient and beautiful lighthouses if you go there. Nowadays it is a touristic destination, both for Portuguese and foreign people. You can lie on the white sand and enjoy the warm weather. The architecture of the city looks very much like Lisbon, with its recognizable pavement and white walls. There is ruins of a castle, different museums, many restaurants offering all types of food and prices.
Sightseeing
The Cultural Center of the city, a pink building, is promoting art and opened in 2000. You can then visit the Fort Cidadela de Cascais which displays the history of the city. The Chapel of Sao Sebastiao is a big beautiful building which is actually a museum. The Portuguese Music Museum is one of the mainpoint of Cascais landscape. The Boca do Inferno (Hell's mouth) is a place to see, as well as Guia's Lighthouse and House.
Shopping
There are many shops in the main street, and two shopping centers: Cascais Villa and Cascais Shopping. There you have all types of shops, luxurious and more affordable ones. You can also find handmade products is traditional shops to buy souvenirs made of shells or wood.
Leisure and Sports
There are many beaches in and near Cascais, all along the coast. It is better to rent a car if you want to see all of them. You can enjoy the sun and the ocean. The water is arounds 23 degrees, which is refreshing! In winter you can walk along the beach and find shells.
Nightlife
At night, the Praca Luis de Camoes is animated with its different bars, and there is a disco bar in the marina. Some shops are opened late at night in summer and put on some music. Young people usually go to the beach and drink while making a barbecue.
Time
Standard time zone: UTC/GMT +1 hour
Climate
The weather is summer is very sunny and hot, with temperatures going up to 45 degrees. In summer it is not too cold but rainy. The best time to go is spring, around May, when the touristic season has not started yet.
Public Transport
The best way to get to Cascais is by train from Lisbon, it is only 40 minutes and the trail is following the coast, therefore th view is very nice. You can also rent a car. Once in Cascais everything can be done by foot, as it is auite small.