If you want to get away from big city Lisbon for awhile, take the train from the Cais do Sodre station and head out to Cascais.
Cascais was a small fishing village in the 14th century but became a cosmopolitan seaside resort late in the 19th century and has remained popular ever since.
Cascais and its "sister", Estoril are the closest resort areas to Lisbon. Estoril has a casino whereas Cascais is known more for its large hotels and packaged tour accommodations. You'll have no trouble finding restaurants that serve fresh seafood.
Palm trees line the main road and look out over the small boats bobbing in the harbour. You can walk along the sandy beach or on the higher
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If you want to get away from big city Lisbon for awhile, take the train from the Cais do Sodre station and head out to Cascais.
Cascais was a small fishing village in the 14th century but became a cosmopolitan seaside resort late in the 19th century and has remained popular ever since.
Cascais and its "sister", Estoril are the closest resort areas to Lisbon. Estoril has a casino whereas Cascais is known more for its large hotels and packaged tour accommodations. You'll have no trouble finding restaurants that serve fresh seafood.
Palm trees line the main road and look out over the small boats bobbing in the harbour. You can walk along the sandy beach or on the higher mosaic, tiled promenade at street level. Further up the hill, there is an old Fort with remnants of walls that used to encircle and protect the town in earlier times.
Although Cascais is a tourist town, you can still walk a few blocks from the main section and be in an area of narrow lanes lined with older homes, clotheslines and cautiously friendly dogs who are hoping you'll have a treat for them. Tucked among the homes are small grocery stores that offer canned goods, fresh produce, some butcher items and freshly baked Portugese buns. English might still be spoken but not as frequently as the tourist areas near the beach.
Not far from the train station, I came upon an accommodation gem - Pergola House B&B. I wasn't the only one who stopped to admire the colourful garden and stunning architecture. I already had accommodation in Lisbon but would definitely consider this place for my next visit. It is located at 13 Av. de Valbom, phone 01 484 0040.
Cascais has a Sea Museum with models of boats, nautical archaeology, exhibits on fish, etc. but is was closed when I was there.
Just west of Cascais, Boca do Inferno or Hell's Mouth is an area where the sea pounds the craggy rocks along the coast. If you're into surfing or windsurfing, beaches in the Guincho area, just a bit further west are supposed to be excellent.
Cascais makes a great day trip or even a pleasant few hour break from heavy duty sightseeing in Lisbon. The train from Lisbon costs 210$ esc. (approx. $1.00) each way, takes about 25 minutes and runs several times each hour.
Cascais also has direct bus transportation to Sintra so you could do a Lisbon-Sintra-Cascais-Lisbon day trip if you are pressed for time.
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