10 reasons to visit the Portuguese Riviera from legendary gelato bars to clifftop restaurants
DUBBED The Town of Kings and Fishermen, Cascais is the Portuguese Riviera’s glittering seaside jewel.
Once a sleepy fishing hub, it was transformed into a summer retreat for king-in-exile Umberto II of Italy and attracted European aristocracy in the 19th century.
Just a 35-minute train ride from Lisbon, it charms sun-seekers with golden beaches, grand mansions, cobbled streets and fresh seafood that won’t break the bank.
CLASSIC SIGHT: The fairytale Castro Guimarães museum boasts bright yellow walls and a stone bridge overlooking a sea inlet.
Built in 1900 by aristocrat Jorge O’Neill, he celebrated his Irish heritage in the Shamrock Room that features a hand-painted ceiling.
The museum itself features a host of 17th to 19th century aristocratic treasures, from art and furniture to porcelain collected by Portuguese nobility.
There’s also a fabulous 16th-century illuminated manuscript showcasing early Lisbon.
NATURAL ATTRACTION: Boca do Inferno, or the Devil’s Mouth, is a dramatic cavern carved into the limestone cliffs of Cascais.
Head here at high tide when Atlantic swells smash through the rock arch with a deafening roar, blasting sea spray into the air.
Legend has it a local sorcerer created the chasm to save his love from a giant, but today it is simply one of the coast’s most awe-inspiring photo spots.
FUN NEIGHBOURHOOD: Rua Amarela, also known as Yellow Street, is the buzzing, culinary hub of the old town.
Draped in fairy lights with lots of al-fresco dining, the pedestrian alley is packed with lively tapas joints and cocktail bars.
Kick back with a cold Super Bock beer or glass of Vinho Verde and dig into a juicy steak or grilled chorizo at local’s favourite, José Ignácio.
THE GRAND HOTEL: Tucked away between the Sintra mountains and the sea, the renovated Kimpton Quinta da Marinha Cascais sits on a championship 18-hole Robert Trent Jones golf course and delivers relaxed 5* luxury.
The resort has chic rooms, an outdoor pool, an onsite lake for open water swims and the serene Natur Spa for cooler months.
Foodies will love charcoal-grilled Portuguese seafood at restaurant Ao Ponto, while every evening, guests can enjoy the signature Kimpton Social Hour — featuring free-flowing wine, cocktails and nibbles in the courtyard.
THE WOW MOMENT: Mar do Inferno is a family-run seafood restaurant on the cliffs of Boca do Inferno and THE place for the ultimate dinner with a view.
It serves sweet Algarve shrimp, spider crab and sea bass baked in a thick crust of Atlantic salt.
Meals cost around £35 — or more if you want market-priced fish. Request a table on the terrace to watch the sun set.
FESTIVAL TIME: The Ageas Cool Jazz festival rocks the open-air Hipódromo Manuel Possolo every July, turning this royal town into a party hotspot.
Set across ten hectares of lush parkland, the intimate festival blends world-class music with a relaxed summer picnic vibe.
Past heavyweights include Franz Ferdinand and Scissor Sisters, alongside international jazz legends and local artists.
CULTURAL FIX: The Cidadela Art District is a creative hub inside a massive 16th century fortress.
Once built to fend off pirates — and later used as a summer getaway for Portuguese kings — the historic stone courtyard is now packed with open-air art galleries, pop-up studios and striking outdoor sculptures.
You can wander through artists’ workshops, grab a craft coffee and soak up the unique mix of medieval history and modern culture.
TOP TOUR: If there’s a crowd of you, charter a boat with Palma Yachts from Cascais Marina for an unforgettable day at sea.
You’ll glide past grand coastal fortresses toward Cabo da Roca — the westernmost point of mainland Europe — where dramatic 300ft cliffs drop into the Atlantic.
Drop anchor in secluded bays for a plunge in the cool waters, and keep your eyes peeled for wild pods of bottlenose dolphins jumping alongside the hull. Prices are from £385 for up to 14 people.
If there’s just two of you, Sailing Cascais and Cascais Routes offer two-hour small-group sailing trips from the marina with prices from £35 to £50.
BEST BEACH: Praia da Conceição and Praia da Duquesa offer calm, shallow waters that are ideal for lazy family swims right next to the town centre’s cafes.
GO: CASCAIS
GETTING THERE: TAP Air Portugal flies directly from Heathrow to Lisbon six times per day, with fares starting from £70. See flytap.com.
STAYING THERE: Rooms at the newly renovated Kimpton Quinta da Marinha Cascais start from £140per night. See ihg.com.
Adrenaline junkies should head four miles north to the windswept Praia do Guincho.
Framed by wild sand dunes and the Sintra mountains, its rolling Atlantic swells make it a playground for surfers, windsurfers and kiteboarders.
ONE MORE TREAT: Santini is Portugal’s most legendary gelato parlour and it has been serving ices to royals, celebrities and tourists for more than 75 years.
Its stylish new spot by the historic Cidadela Fortress turns up the heat with boozy ice cream sangrias — a refreshing cocktail made with crisp white wine, fruit and sorbet you can drink straight from a glass.
