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.

  1. Lovely restaurant. Our first time in Portugal and if this restaurant is anything to go by we are in for a fantastic holiday. The starters, for us crab pate and tuna tartare were delicious with very nice fresh bread and olives, main was steak with rice and home made chips and for me the most perfect melt in your mouth pork ribs that you could.
  2. 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.

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.

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 or Estoril for Beaches?

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.

Cascais or Estoril for tourist facilities?

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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Restaurante Chines Casino Do Estoril

Located in Estoril, 18km from Lisbon and 20km away from the Lisbon International airport, the Casino Estoril was the first Casino to open inEurope.
Visiting the Casino means embarking in one of the most diverse and animated experiences in greater Lisbon. The Casino is in constant modernisation and innovation, with thrilling shows, an extensive programme of exhibitions in the Art Gallery, modern restaurants with excellent food and service, two very entertaining night clubs and, for those who take pleasure in gaming, a wide choice of machines and tables for an enjoyable evening. The only condition is to be over the age of 18.

Casino Do Estoril Restaurante Valencia

With around 1000 machines and a great number of tables, the Casino Estoril enriches its offers with eight different extra centres.
The Black & Silver Room, the most versatile and dynamic room in the Casino Estoril. It is prepared to receive 1100 guests to dine a top-quality cuisine and assist a lively show. This stage hosted on a daily basis some of the best performances in town, but it is currently under negotiations to create a new partnership with other performance directors to keep innovating the shows on offer. The Black & Silver Room is a multifaceted room, where banquets and conventions may be organised.
The Panoramic Room has a beautiful view of the Casino gardens. At night, the cybernetic fountain displays a multimedia water show. It is a multipurpose space, where everything, from presentations to cocktails, may be held.

Casino Estoril Restaurante Chines


The Casino’s auditorium has as a motto “It is all about the show”. It includes medium-format concerts and a wide variety of performances with great creativity. With seating for over 340 people and the latest sound and light technology, the Auditorium is not only a great place to enjoy a show, but also for organising conferences.
Apart from the impressive Black & Silver Room, the Casino Estoril has a fantastic dining experience to offer. On the restaurant scene, try out, The Mandarim Estoril Restaurant, one of the best Chinese restaurants in Portugal. The menu has over 119 specialities, but the Dim Sum definitely stands out. It is open both for lunches and dinners, closed both on Mondays and Tuesdays. The Zeno Lounge Restaurant has a relaxing environment that invites you in to try a delicious mixture of Portuguese cuisine with Italian and Latin American influences. The restaurant views over the Casino’s gardens with the ocean as a backdrop are breathtaking. Open every day, but only serving lunches on Sundays. The famous Café de S. Bento serves one of the best beefs in town. With a carefully selected menu, this restaurant also suggests other Portuguese delights, such as Beef á Portuguesa or a grilled steak. It is open every day for dinner only. And finally the Buffet In where you can eat a different menu every month for only 15€.
To have a drink, go to the Du Art Lounge in the centre of the Casino, which receives live bands on a daily basis. Enjoy a cold drink and an animated concert in a modern and comfortable environment. Here you may also try some of the tastiest culinary delicacies.

L
ater, visit the Art Gallery on the top floor. This is the second oldest Portuguese galleries, having opened its doors in 1958. It aims to promote works with great quality of young artists. The art gallery exhibits pieces in various media, such as, paintings, prints and sculptures. It offers an extensive programme of exhibitions sure to please all who enjoy modern art and are curious about the promising values of the world of the arts.
Visit Casino Estoril for guaranteed animation in the largest Casino in Europe.
For more information visit: Casino Estoril
Visiting Lisbon? Click here to stay at one of the best hotels at the best rates in the city.

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