Cascais Holidays
Cascais Holidays – A royal resort with so much to do
Cascais might well have stayed a fishing village if it hadn’t been discovered by the royal court in 1870. It remains a fishing village, but an up-market one with glorious architecture, a 16th-century fort and an old town of narrow, twisting alleyways. As it is only thirty minutes from Lisbon it is a very popular weekend retreat for Lisboêtas, as well as foreign holiday makers.
There is so much to do in and around the resort that a holiday in Cascais is ideal for the sports lover and anyone who loves exploration. Cascais marina has a number of sailing schools and if you are a water-skier you can hire boats and skiing equipment. Being on the Atlantic coast, the winds and waves are a magnet to surfers, windsurfers and body boarders, and the nearby beach of Guincho has hosted world championships.
For more a peaceful pastime you can hire a bike to carry you to the local beaches, go horse riding on forest trails, or wander the town looking into its museums and visiting its parks. And you are never too far from a championship golf course.
When to go to Cascais
Any time from April to October will see weather that will allow you to enjoy the full outdoor life of Cascais, but obviously the high season months of July and August will find services more stretched due to Europe-wide school holidays and Lisboêtas taking a break away from the steamy city. Easter will also be busy; the first holiday opportunity after the cold of winter.
If you are a golfer, courses are open year-round, so if you don’t mind blustery weather then late winter and early spring could be the time to enjoy a game without the crowds.
The weather in Cascais
The Atlantic winds that are such an attraction to surfers also keep the temperatures lower throughout the year. They will have a comfortable cooling influence during high summer, which will hover around the mid-20º from June to September. December has the highest rainfall, around 4.8 inches, with an average of twelve wet days a month during the winter and just the occasional shower during the summer. Late spring and early autumn have temperatures of around 16-21º, making the days quite warm, but chilly at night.
Getting the best deal to Cascais
If you want a good deal to Cascais it’s probably best to forget high summer, Easter, and around Christmas, as that is when hotels and airlines will be doing the most business and don’t need offer incentives. There is a spread of accommodation available in Cascais; hotels, apartments and villas, so start looking early to make sure you get the sort of accommodation you want. If you aren’t fixed to dates a late deal can usually be found, which applies equally to flights as where you will lay your head.
Airport and transport need to know
EasyJet is the only no-frills airline with routes to Lisbon, flying from five UK airports. BA and TAP, the main Portuguese carrier, also have services to the city. (http://www.flightmapping.com/europe/portugal/lisbon for full list of airports)
There is no direct bus or train service from the airport to Cascais, and the combination of options will work out almost as expensive as taking a private pre-booked shuttle bus which will be between 10-15€ (£8-12) per person, depending on how many people are sharing it. A taxi for four people should be 40€ (£32) for the forty-minute ride.
For a day out in Lisbon from Cascais, take the train to the Cais do Sodré station via Estoril. It is a very attractive ride that takes around 30 minutes and costs 1.30€ (£1). You can take bikes on the train at weekends, but as Lisbon is very hilly it’s probably best to leave them and try the wonderful funicular, the train that climbs the hills.
Best beaches in Cascais
Praia da Rainha, Queen’s Beach, is so called because the last queen of Portugal, Dona Amelia, thought it was so beautiful that she claimed it for her own. It is a tiny, secluded beach of golden sand and calm water, very close to the centre of Cascais so is perfect for families with small children. There is a small snack bar that sells drinks, and the main street runs behind if for any other needs. Unfortunately it gets packed during summer months.
The Praia da Ribeira overlooks the small fishing harbour of Cascais, which gives it its local name, Praia dos Pescadores (Fishermen’s Beach). As the harbour is sheltered from the sea there are few waves, almost no tides or currents, and the water is shallow for quite a distance from the shore, which makes it perfect children to splash around in. The beach is directly in front of the grand Baia Hotel, one of the most exclusive hotels in Cascais.
Strictly speaking Tamariz Beach (Praia de Tamariz) is part of Estoril, the next resort along, but an easy walk from Cascais. It is one of the larger and better beaches of the locality, and has the same child-friendly attributes as the two beaches mentioned previously. Don’t expect sea temperatures to be warm, it is after all the Atlantic Ocean, but a swimming pool near the beach which fills at high tide is usually a bit warmer than the sea.
For surfers, the strong northern winds during summer months and heavy swells during winter make Praia do Guincho an ideal destination. There are surf camps and surf schools close by which offer accommodation, equipment repairs and rental, and surfing classes.
Useful links
www.lisbonweekendguild.com
Shared transfers http://www.partner.viator.com/en/4226/Lisbon-Tours/Airport-and-Ground-Transfers/d538-g15-c52
