Just sixteen miles west of Lisbon, Estoril is a cosmopolitan city with a famous promenade that lines three sandy beaches and is packed with luxurious hotels, a championship golf course and some of the finest cuisine in Portugal at the many excellent restaurants. Within close reach of the capital and the buzzing resort of Cascais, Estoril, a playground for exiled royalty in the Second World War, has established itself as a popular holiday destination with good weather all year-round, peaking in the summer months with temperatures in the mid-thirties, though autumn is often the best time to visit with lighter crowds and plenty of sunshine. The nearest airport is Lisbon International, which takes around two and a half hours to reach from most UK airports, with connections taking around 30 minutes along the A5 motorway.
Luxurious hotels, golf and sporting facilities and a famous promenade make Estoril a playground for adult travellers and couples...
Business travellers will be hooked on Estoril thanks to the superb range of golf courses, tennis courts, first class hotels and the casino. It is less suitable for children or party animals as the nightlife is limited and not welcoming to families. Nevertheless, with more family friendly towns in close reach this can still be a good starting point for many. It is better suited however, for adult travellers and couples, particularly those who want to soak up the sun on the delightful beaches. Anyone who is drawn to a more sophisticated scene and enjoys mixing with the rich and famous, will find plenty to keep them amused.
The prime attractions for this upmarket resort are both the casino and the beaches. The seaside resorts face south along the Tagus estuary and are famed for clear waters and fine sands. All of the beaches have many modern facilities including changing rooms, shades and beach tents, along with a host of restaurants and bars that line the waterfront.
Carcavelos is probably the most popular beach and as such can become very overcrowded during the summer. It lies next to the fortress of St Julian of Barra and is a particularly popular surfing destination. A pleasant stroll will introduce you to a number of beach bars and there is good parking and transport access.
There are many small town beaches in Cascais, which are often filled with yachts bobbing on the water, typical of the wealth associated with the area. Cascais is less exclusive than its neighbour and has lots of seafood restaurants and lively cafes. It is very popular with younger people, with a spirited nightlife, including bullfighting in the summer, and a colourful market that takes place every Wednesday.
There are a number of other beaches that are well worth visiting too, including Parede, which is famously popular with disabled travellers due to the high iodine content in the water that is said to assist bone disorders. Guincho sits at the foot of the Sintra hills and should be part of everyone's trip thanks to its pine trees and crystal clear sea, which is rich in marine life. Guincho is another popular watersports destination, particularly among windsurfers with large breaks in the waves.
There are seven golf courses in the area including Estoril golf course, which has a superb view of the sea and the nine-hole course at Estoril Sol, which will test even the most skilful players. The city is the home of the Portuguese Grand Prix although it has not hosted an official Formula One race since 1996. It's also well worth doing some sightseeing while you're around, with many boat excursions and a music museum to discover. The centre of Estoril has many sights of architectural beauty including the Town Hall, which sits near the Fisherman's beach of Praia dos Pescadores, the Citadel, built to protect Lisbon from invasion, and the Parish Church. Shopping in the area is limited however, with just a handful of mini-markets though the shopping centre as Cascais is within easy reach.
Day trips to the borough of Sintra are popular with the area full of ancient manor houses and quaint villages. The National Palace has three sections - the Palacio de Vila, Palacio de Pena and Palacio de Queluz and there are many municipal museums within the area.
After dark you simply have to experience the Estoril casino, which caters for just about every form of gambling, and has many flashy cabaret shows. Also look out for Fort Velho, the most exciting club in the area, set inside a fort.
