The best hotels in Cascais

At the end of the 19th century, King Carlos chose Cascais as his holiday destination - and the town was never the same again. Across the bay and around the Cidadela fortress, the king's aristocratic friends built mansions and palaces to keep him company in the warm months. This was the case with Francisco Trindade Baptista, a member of the court, who couldn't have imagined that, more than a hundred years later, his romantic-style house with its rococo balconies, windows and doors would become a modern, luxurious boutique hotel with a façade by Portuguese urban artist Vhils (Alexandre Farto): Artsy.

The charm of the late 19th century remains, but a new wing has been added, with contemporary and minimalist features, connected by a glass structure where you can sleep inside an urban art installation that embraces the windows outside the rooms, letting in light through small holes.

In addition to the Artist Rooms, there are Cosy Rooms, Superior Rooms, Signature Suites and the Attic Suite (on the top floor, ideal for three people), totalling 19 rooms spread over three floors. At the top, an unexpected rooftop exclusively for guests with a small heated pool, comfortable sun loungers, honesty bar and service until 20.00.

Inside, scattered throughout the rooms, corridors and common areas - such as the Pink Room, for meetings, private dinners, exhibitions and workshops, or the irreverent Library Bar at the entrance, where guests are welcomed when they check in and where they can work, read, have a bite to eat or a drink throughout the day - there is always art.

The 19th-century mansion of the Counts of Cabral is now a luxury hotel owned by the international Design Hotels group, which has had the building refurbished recently. Overlooking the Atlantic, the Farol has one of the most beautiful swimming pools anywhere along the Cascais Line, in addition to its pleasant terrace, On The Rocks, where you can enjoy a drink at the end of the day, and Sushi Design, which is one of the best sushi restaurants around. These are three good reasons for visiting the hotel without staying there. If you’re plan is to stay, then enter the classic building to which has been added a modern extension, then choose from the imposing penthouse, four suites or any one of the rooms decorated by different fashion designers: Ana Salazar, Augustus, Fátima Lopes and João Rôlo. There are also traditional rooms, which are less extraordinary, but which all come with views of the sea or of the gardens.

Behind the Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, the Chalet Ficalho always stood out with its never-before-seen architectural style. Since it was first built in the late 19th century, its round grey-green roofs, salmon-coloured stone walls, red shutters on the tall windows and botanical garden with exotic species (the father of the Countess of Ficalho was one of the founders of the Lisbon Botanical Garden and designed this one in its image) captivate passers-by. From now on they will be able to enter: the fourth and fifth generations of the family have transformed Maria Josefa de Mello's holiday home into a guest house that evokes the golden years of Portuguese high society.

The grand entrance hall and the museum-worthy dining room, adorned with painted canvases depicting fruit trees, are where the restoration is at its most impressive; however, “the round room” (which is not actually round) and the “small room” (a mini-library with direct access to the exterior), which are on the same ground floor on which guests are received, also house relics of bygone times.

The nine bedrooms are spread across the first floor and the attic, which can be reached by either the wooden staircase or the new lift that is adorned with a photograph from 1900 showing Francisco’s great-great-grandmother and grandmother with friends and a water dog, similar to the one accompanying us on the visit a few days before the opening. “The attic was in the worst condition. It had no roof and was open to the sky. My cousins and I would come here to play and explore the trunks, filled with fear,” recalls the first owner’s great-great-grandson. 

In addition to now having all the necessary modern comforts (air conditioning, heating, lift, internet), and making the most of the original materials (for example, the bed headboards are made from leftover wood from the restoration), the biggest novelty is the delightful swimming pool in the garden where a semicircle of palm trees once stood. If desired, breakfast can also be served there. Or, indeed, in any other part of the house. 

The slogan of the guesthouse is “Make Chalet Ficalho your home”. A summer residence, reminiscent of the time of kings and queens. And if you can’t stay overnight, there are plans to soon serve afternoon teas and cocktails. 

Man can't live on sea views alone and that's why the Onyria Marinha Boutique Hotel could well feature on a list of the best hotels on the Cascais coastline. Not least because the view here is nothing to shy away from either: green that never ends, or we wouldn't be right in the middle of the Quinta da Marinha golf course. Thinking of those travelling to Cascais with children in tow, the hotel is a children's family hotel, with activities for the little ones to entertain themselves while their parents relax in the spa, sunbathe by the pool or make out on the super king size bed.

While it has been making waves with the opening of Bougain, the new restaurant that occupies part of the beautiful garden, it is no stranger to the town. Indeed, everyone in Cascais knows the iconic Casa da Pérgola, a century-old mansion with a beautiful façade that is adorned with hand-painted tiles. It only has 15 rooms, where the natural light enhances the colourful headboards. Located in the heart of Cascais, it is a surprising oasis of peace and tranquillity, despite being within walking distance of beaches, restaurants, bars, shops and just about everything else you might need.

Much more than a journey through the glorious past of the Cascais Line, this classic hotel has retained its charm right up to the present day. The gardens, the romantic rooms and the impressive common areas – decorated with framed photos of royalty, chandeliers and even a grand piano – continue to impress even those who have converted to the Scandinavian minimalism that is in vogue in the new luxury hotels. The breakfast is a worthy rival to the one served a few doors down at the famous Pastelaria Garrett (some even say the hotel’s pasteis da nata are on a par with the Pasteis de Belém), and the pool, where the cast of 007: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service relaxed, is tempting even for those who planned to spend their days stretched out on the beaches at Estoril. And this is without mentioning the Banyan Tree spa, which offers Asian-inspired treatments.

Have you ever slept in the home of a king? Here’s your chance. The Cascais home of the last king of Italy, Humberto II, has been transformed into a luxury hotel with sea views that are so spectacular that they even overshadow Graça Viterbo’s exquisite decor. It has just over 100 rooms, with the least interesting offering garden views. If you want to live like a monarch, then pick a Seaview Retreat standard room, a suite or even a penthouse. You will find Portuguese Castelbel amenities in every room. The common areas are also worthy of a royal family. The highlights are the outdoor swimming pool, the thalassotherapy spa (inspired by Roman spas, covering more than 1,000 m2, with ten treatment rooms, a pool, sauna, jacuzzi and gym) and the Belvedere Italian restaurant and its specialities such as risoto de espargos verdes com vieiras coradas (green asparagus risotto with cored scallops) and cannelloni de pato (duck cannelloni). Weekend brunch and summer barbecues are open to non-guests, so they too can be part of this royal family.

A Portuguese, an Australian and an Austrian opened a paradise for yogis and surfers in Cascais. The Salty Pelican Beach Hostel & Surf Camp, just 600 meters from the beach, opened in Cascais in 2015 – today it also has addresses in Ericeira, Nazaré and Sri Lanka. The hostel accommodates up to 45 people in deluxe shared rooms or superior double rooms, that can enjoy a cosy lounge, social BBQ terrace, peaceful multi-tiered garden and sun loungers to kick-up your feet after a long day at the beach. The stay packages can include meditation, yoga, surf and SUP classes plus massages. 

Known as the Caixinha da Amêndoas (Almond Box), the Dukes of Loulé Palace on Conceição beach – yes, where the President likes to go for a swim every morning when it is too windy at Guincho – has been transformed into a small 1960s inn. It had little more than ten rooms, but it has grown to gain an upmarket reputation: From the terrace of The Albatroz Hotel, life becomes much easier for any mortal. It has retained its old features and charm, but the rooms (there are three types) are more luxurious than ever, decorated in shades of green, blue and beige – they were recently refurbished by the interior designer Gracinha Viterbo. It wins the prize for the best balcony in town, with a swimming pool and comfortable sun loungers, and a small terrace where you can take tea at five or enjoy a drink at the end of the day.

Almost invisible from the Guincho road, The Oitavos is huge, with more than 100 rooms, and minimalist decor in shades of blue – the same blue as the sea that can be seen over the dunes, wherever you are, and which has become known in the area as Oitavos blue – that is interrupted only by the enormous vases of flowers and the paintings by José Anahory (who is also responsible for the female sculpture at the entrance and for the design of this glass-fronted, Y-shaped building). At the restaurant you can choose between petiscos (tapas), like squid and pork that you can eat with your fingers, or the ceviche with yuzu and ponzu, or prepared dishes like arroz de lavagante azul (blue lobster rice) or bife de lombo maturado à portuguesa (Portuguese-style matured loin steak). And there’s also a sushi bar. If you’re thinking of spending some days at the beach, the outdoor swimming pool will be enough to change your mind, while the heated indoor pool is perfect for those windy days typical of the region. Last but not least, the spa is always an excellent choice.

The old Fortaleza da Nossa Senhora da Luz in Cascais – a listed building – is now home to the Pousada de Cascais, Pousada Historic Hotel & Art District. With more than 100 rooms and more than ten luxury suites, almost all offering sea views, this Pestana Group hotel has two open-air patios, the Taberna da Praça restaurant with a terrace, and the wonderful Déjà Lu second-hand bookshop. A must-see for art lovers is the Citadel Art District, with its galleries, studios and project room with space for various artists to use. Art is evident throughout the complex, including the hotel’s corridors and rooms, some created by artists who have residences there and who can be visited with advance booking.

This hotel is 40 minutes from the centre of Lisbon and its location in the Guincho dunes, with the wild sea and the wind as the backdrop, add to that far-from-the-city sensation. The preserved old architecture forms a small nucleus between the road and the beach. In true 17th-century fortress fashion, there are no swimming pools or spas, just a great relationship with the sea. Gil Fernandes, the head chef at Fortaleza do Guincho’s Michelin-star restaurant, offers a menu replete with seafood and fresh fish dishes as well as three tasting menus. To offer an equally fine but less expensive dining option, in the summer of 2020 the hotel opened a new outdoor space, overlooking the raw beauty of Crismina beach, which offers light meals and a glass of wine.

Housed in an old family home on the seafront, the Estoril Vintage Hotel is a delightful journey into the past. The large house, which was built in 1917 for Alfredo da Silva, the visionary entrepreneur after whom the street is named, has reopened as a charming boutique hotel with 18 exquisite rooms, a swimming pool, a spa and personalised service available 24 hours a day. Guests can enjoy an exclusive spot at Moitas Beach, complete with bar service, a private driver and wine and olive oil tastings. The interior design was also by Graça Viterbo, who hails from Cascais.

Yet another large hotel in the Quinta da Marinha. This one has more than 150 rooms, ranging from suites to deluxe, to suit every taste (you can even book a 200 m2 suite). It also has a spa and health club, a Japanese-fusion restaurant with a menu created by chef Olivier da Costa - Yakuza - and an outdoor swimming pool (half heated) with views over the gardens. For families, the hotel has the Brave Kids space, which is inspired by indigenous villages and their traditional tents, and which offers a wide range of activities, from physical exercise and sport to cookery workshops. For the grown-ups there is the Flow Pool Bar, a cocktail concept that seeks to grab parents by the glass. It offers fruit juices, light meals and cool cocktails for around € 12. Flow is open to everyone from 10.30am to 7pm.

This family hotel, with its toes practically in the sea, has just over 100 rooms with views of Cascais Bay at the front and the town centre at the back. It is surrounded by sunny beaches, a seawall with a bike path and terraced restaurants. But it’s also close to the hustle and bustle in Cascais, so you never get bored. In the summer, the rooftop Blue Bar Baía offers gins, sparkling wines, whiskies and a view worth sharing on social media.

Something magnificent that you would not expect to find in Malveira da Serra: a complex of tall, dark, Scandinavian-style chalets that hide a single large building with very high ceilings and eight themed rooms named after literary classics. Is it a literary hotel? Not officially, but just to give you some idea, there are books lying around everywhere, even on the stairs leading up to the bedrooms. The ground floor of the main building is a huge open space with various ambiences, including a games table, reading corners, couches and televisions, and extends into a lounge with a kitchen that serves breakfast and dinner (when booked) and which is covered with lamps using open books as shades. It is impossible not to pick one up and start reading.

Best case scenario, it will take you just over half an hour to get from the centre of Lisbon to Penha Longa Resort in Sintra. But when you get there it’s as if you’ve arrived on a different planet. If you have the kids in tow, as we recommend you do, they will be in seventh heaven (and mum and dad in paradise). Attention to the kids starts right there in the spacious room, so that there can be no doubt that they are a priority. On request, they can have a welcome tent and toys, a kid-size robe and a tote bag with a rubber ducky, two nappies (one for the pool), a bib and toiletries. The challenge will be getting them to leave the room, but don’t worry, the pool is irresistible. Now that you’re here, you won’t need the car at all, as the hotel has eight restaurants, including Michelin-star LAB by Sergi Arola and Midori. This year there are new features: the Sintra and Cascais suites and four T3 apartments, in addition to painting the hotel's façade, which will return to its mythical original color – pink, the perfect match for the surrounding green.

We may seem to be repeating ourselves a lot, but it just proves that Cascais is a compulsory destination – time and time again. The Miragem, as it is affectionately called, is a magical place in a unique location, facing the sea, with a view from Cascais Bay to Lisbon. It’s a few minutes’ walk to the town centre, an invitation to explore the beaches and quaint streets. Feel free to tire yourself out as you have huge rooms, endless comfort, an outdoor rooftop pool surrounded by sunbeds (solarium style) and the Miragem Water Lounge, a place for relaxation, with a pool, hydro-massage circuit, a saltwater pool, Turkish bath and sauna, among others. Convinced yet?

This boutique hotel stands on a pretty road between the Cascais centre and Guincho Beach. There it is, with the sea on one side and tall pines on the other. The ambiance is intimate and comfortable. There is a pool sheltered from the wind and a beautiful balcony that serves as the restaurant terrace and the best place to enjoy the sunset. Senhora da Guia Boutique Hotel is the perfect choice for anyone wanting a luxury stay in a family-friendly setting. The bike path runs right past the door and will take you to Boca do Inferno, Guincho or Sintra-Cascais Nature Park.

Decisions, decisions… Where do you want to stay – Cascais, Estoril or Sintra? You’ll find one Vila Galé Hotel in each, all perfect for families, all with that magic all-inclusive you’ve been dreaming all year long. In Cascais, Vila Galé lives right in front of the marine, inviting to long seaside walks; in Estoril, you only have to cross the waterfront to spread your towel on the Tamariz beach; in Sintra, with a view to the Pena Palace, there's a strong wellness component. Decisions, decisions… Where do you want to stay?  

Cascais: Rua Frei Nicolau de Oliveira, 80, Parque da Gandarinha. Estoril: Av. Marginal 49. Sintra: Rua Fonte da Granja, nº 30

If hotels with hundreds of rooms are not your thing, don’t be fooled by the size of the building that once housed the iconic Hotel Atlântico. Today, only three floors of the Intercontinental have rooms and the rest are luxury apartments. Wherever you are – on your balcony, on a sunbed by the pool or in the Bago do Vin restaurant having breakfast, drinks or dinner– you have a view of the sea. Just a few steps will take you to the seawall or beaches like Moitas. But we’ll understand if you find it hard to leave the hotel, with the allure of the heated pool, the Ocean Spot Bar and relaxing massages in the spa. You won’t be able to resist the impressive wine and champagne list at Bago du Vin, to pair with cheese and Portuguese charcuterie or the dishes created by the talented Chef Pedro Lopes.  

Na avenida mais emblemática de Cascais, a D. Carlos I, em cima da baía e com vista até Lisboa, o Westling Cascais Chalet é o Airbnb dos sonhos. Praias, museus, restaurantes, bares, lojas: encontra de tudo a não mais de 5 minutos a pé. E com algumas comodidades que são mais comuns em hotéis do que em apartamentos – do pequeno-almoço servido na pérgola do pátio ao serviço de recepção. Os quartos ficam nas águas-furtadas de um chalet do século XIX, totalmente remodelado.    

Imagine waking up to the sound of waves, or having a drink under one of the most beautiful sunsets in Portugal. Inspired by the sea, the light and the landscapes of Cascais, the big Eurostars Cascais, in a spectacular location near Boca do Inferno and Casa da Guia, has 101 bedrooms, all with a balcony looking at the ocean. The pool and the comfort of the interior are very tempting, but make the most of your stay for a long walk along the cycle path that connects the Marina to the Guincho beach and, of course, for an unforgettable dip in the cold but delicious waters of Cascais.

It has recently been renovated, but the charm of the golden years of high society in Portugal is all there. The early 20th-century belle époque building has been joined by a contemporary wing – at the top of which is the irresistible pool and the pool bar that serves it. A few minutes' walk away, you can reach some of Estoril's best attractions: the Casino, Tamariz beach, Garrett's pastry shop, the promenade and the Handicraft Fair, which livens up the region every summer with stalls, restaurants and musical entertainment.

For flower lovers, here's a beautiful bouquet: the 188 flats in Cascais. Buganvília, Petúnia, Esterlícia and Lantana are not only the species that grow and give colour to the garden of this building in the quiet Rosário neighbourhood – they are also the names of the accommodation that the Gouveia family manage. The building where their grandparents spent their summer holidays in the past has been given a new lease of life and is now divided into four spacious and comfortable flats, perfect for families ou groups of friends and well served by transport to the town centre. For a dip before or after a walk, there's a pleasant communal pool.

Maria Saldanha Daun and António Monteiro have travelled the world together, but it was not until they started taking their two children with them that they realised the world was not ready for pressurised parents. Baby beds with no mattresses, kitchens with no cutlery, difficult showers and too many knick-knacks. You name it, they saw it. So they decided to do for others what they would have liked others to do for them, and created Sea Ya – Family Surf Houses in the centre of Charneca, just a 15-minute walk from Guincho. The bought an old house and split it into three separate apartments (from studio to 2-bed) ready to welcome families.

No. 5 Rua Nova da Alfarrobeira has been a family home, a doctor’s surgery and a hostel. Now it is a guesthouse that honours the sea. About a year ago, Francisco Garcia and Duarte Reis came up with the idea of restoring the 100-year-old house in the centre of the town and turn it into a meeting point for the local community and the new tribe of surfers who quickly move from place to place in search of that perfect wave.

It almost needs no introduction. The Onyria Quinta da Marinha Hotel, which has an incredible view of the green, was refurbished in 2020 to better integrate it with nature, which is understandable given its location in the heart of Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. It has a spa, a gym and spacious rooms; however, it is best known for its Robert Trent Jones-designed golf course. A 5,870-metre, 18-hole course. The 19th hole is the Trent Jones bar overlooking the lake, which serves drinks and light meals (including cream of tomato with poached egg, omelettes, pasta, grilled salmon and sandwiches). Now and again it has live music. You can create bespoke golf packages (with accommodation, lessons, unlimited access to the surrounding golf courses). And the hotel offers free transport for guests wanting to take a look around Cascais.

There is no turning back: whether you are just visiting or have made the move to Cascais, you need to run up that hill – cue the Kate Bush song – and get to know Sintra. The Arribas Sintra Hotel can be the perfect place for a getaway: on top of the beach Praia Grande, with an unbelievable sea view, it is the most western hotel in Europe. Their 100 metre ocean pool is capable of enticing even the biggest wave fan, and the Arribas Terrace and the Arribas Caffé are the perfect spots for a meal at all hours of the day.