Holiday Homes & Rentals in Cascais

Cascais is a fishing village as well as a town of royal families and the wealthy elite, making it an eclectic mix between rustic fisherman’s houses and majestic old castles and palaces. It is also a beach destination as well as a great base from which to explore Lisbon. Holiday homes are available in abundance in the core of the pretty historical centre. Consider also the homes to the east of the town around Monte Estoril, which will put you within spitting distance of the town’s best beaches.

The majority of the homes in Cascais are modern properties, many offering sea views and some coming with their own swimming pool. There are also a wide range of houses that tend to be 2-3 kilometres from the town centre and beaches that are great for big groups and are simply spectacular!

Cascais is located just 40 minutes from Lisbon by a regular and well-priced train service, making it a great place to stay not just for its own appeal but if you are keen on visiting Lisbon. Despite being so close to the city, Cascais is a world away from the commotion of the busy capital and has retained the allure of its fishing heritage with its daily catch still sold at the harbour from the colourful boats that have come in following a hard night’s work.

Cascais has a compact, pedestrianised town centre and a beautiful harbour area that can be explore within a couple of days. It is also home to a number of well-presented beaches, mainly to the east of the centre, which offer golden sands calm sea waters, and excellent tourist facilities (shops, restaurants, bars). The prettiest of the beaches is Praia da Rainha, but it is a little small and perhaps better to look at and admire rather than for a family day out. For the latter, the beaches of Praia da Conceição and Praia do Tamariz are within easy walking distance of the town centre and offer everything you need for a lovely day of beach-time fun.

Cascais is a prime surf location that hosts a main World Surf League event and the QS Championship, which attract the best surfers from all over the world to the town. If you are a surfer yourself, there is always a beach that is more protected than others, so when the winter months arrive and the bigger swells come in, you can find beaches that offer great conditions for both highly experienced surfers and learners. This combined with the warm temperatures year around makes winter an excellent time for your surf holiday.

Cascais is one of many beach towns in Portugal, but it stands out from the rest for how genuinely pretty it is. The town is a photographer’s dream, overflowing with charm with its patchwork floor patterns that create artistic passageways, and it's lovely buildings painted in warm pastel colours. It is a fabulous place just to wander the winding streets, admire the architecture and soak in the old-but-modern essence of this part of the world.

The museum contains a diverse collection of unexpected items such as 17th century Oriental art and Indo-Portuguese furniture. It is housed in one of the most interesting buildings in the town – an elaborate mixture of mock gothic, classical Portuguese elements and Arabian stone work.

Cabo da Roca is a wind-blasted landscape of huge cliffs and tempestuous seas. Take a hike along the cliff tops and experience the raw beauty of nature at its wildest!

Museu do Mar is a petite but highly informative museum detailing the fishing heritage of the town and Portugal as a whole. It is housed in the former royal residence of King Carlos.

Rent a bike in town and take the 8 kilometre cycle path to Guincho beach passing by the dramatic and rugged coastline of the area. The trail will take you past lighthouses, fortifications and, of course, the raging Atlantic sea. The ride is flat and suitable for all.

The Boca do Inferno is a one-of-a-kind sea-arch and cliff formation just outside Cascais. It means ‘Mouth of Hell’, and when the full fury of an Atlantic storm is thrown this way the display can be awe-inspiring!