Lisbon Coast Holidays

Lisbon Coast – Luxury and elegance, combined with beautiful beaches

Lisbon’s coast combines elegant city architecture with picturesque fishermen’s cottages; long walks along beautiful beaches with horse rides through nature parks; the freshest of fish cooked from that morning’s catch (and celebrated in Lisbon’s annual ‘Fish Flavours’ festival) with the aroma of roast chestnuts sold on the streets during autumn.

A holiday on Lisbon’s coast, the most western point of Europe, has something to suit everyone. The culture and nightlife of Lisbon, wonderful for a long weekend to look at the historic sites and enjoy some excellent traditional restaurants, is perfect for party people and lovers of history. The beautiful beaches of Cascais and Estoril are only a half hour train ride away so you can enjoy a day on the sands, while families who want a beach holiday can do the reverse.

Cascais was ‘discovered’ by the royal court in the late 19th century, and is now a charming mix of narrow cobbled streets and stately villas. Estoril speaks of luxury and a slight air of decadence, with its casino, the largest in Europe. It also has Guincho beach, a magnet for surfers and windsurfers. There are a number of championship golf courses nearby, as well as horse riding, deep sea fishing and simply relaxing.

A little further north is Sintra, with its whimsical Pálacio Nacional da Pena, and when the 18th-century poet, Lord Byron, visited the town, he described it as ‘perhaps in every respect the most delightful in Europe’.

When to go

With sunny days from May to October the Lisbon Coast has a long holiday season, but even during early spring and winter there is still plenty to do if you enjoy exploring. The city of Lisbon is a fascinating place, and there are events throughout the year. April to early July and September to October are the best times to go for an activity holiday, as summer temperatures can make long days in the sun uncomfortable – but perfect if you are looking for a beach holiday.

Many of the beaches are quite small, and those around Cascais and Estoril are used as much by weekenders from Lisbon as they are by people on holiday there, so they can get pretty packed during July and August.

The weather on the Lisbon Coast

The coast is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, so the strong winds and waves that are a delight for surfers also keep the temperatures lower. They also affect the water temperature, and at almost any time of the year other than July and August, the sea can be a bit chilly. Most rain falls in December and March, and through winter months the skies can be grey and overcast, with around five days of sunshine and temperatures of around 15º. In contrast, temperatures in August average at 25º, tempered by cooling ocean breezes, with long days of sunshine and only a couple of days of rain a month during high season.

Getting the best deal

Avoiding school holidays, Easter and any main Portuguese festivities will not only give you more space on the beach it is also more likely that you will get a good deal. All inclusive deals mean that you aren’t paying out for every single drink and meal, so you can stretch your spending money if you are forced to take your holidays during high season. If this is the case, begin looking early, otherwise you might find that all the affordable accommodation in your chosen resort is gone. Better to pay the normal going rate than not getting the holiday you want. The earlier and later in the year you can take your holiday the better, as far as getting a deal is concerned, but look below to see some great deals, and also check out our late offers.

Airport and transport need to know

Lisbon Airport has recently undergone a major re-construction, adding a lot more cafes, shops and services. However, it is still quite small in comparison to most international hubs. Flights from the UK are operated by EasyJet, BA and the main Portuguese carrier, TAP, from some of the larger airports, although some services may be limited to the main holiday season of March to October.

There are plenty of metered taxis at the airport, although some reports of scams would suggest that you make sure the driver switches the metre on or fix the price before leaving. There are plenty of transfers from the airport to your destination that can be booked on-line, and can often prove to be a more economical option than taking a metered taxi, particularly if you are travelling as a family or group.

If you aren’t weighed down by luggage, consider taking one of the AeroBus shuttle busses that pass most of the hotels in Lisbon, and which will drop you at the Cais de Sodré railway station to catch the local train to either Cascais or Estoril.