Spring in Cascais: 10 ideas to be happy in the new season

If you haven't dedicated yourself properly to your New Year's resolution to exercise more, here's the season that will push you once and for all. Put on your workout gear, lace up your sneakers, and hit the streets: a walk along the promenade that connects Conceição Beach to Azarujinha Beach or on the cycle path, along Boca do Inferno and the Guinho road, always with a view of the sea, can be the starting point to get in shape just in time for summer. And there are plenty of other options: wherever you look, there are opportunities to work out. The golf courses have international fame; the waves for surfing too, with a number of schools available, along with various championships organized in the area. There are farms with riding schools; the first tennis matches in Portugal were played in Cascais; and boxing... well, in 2024, everyone needs to let off steam in some way.

The tropical climate is in the air: it crossed the Atlantic and arrived in Cascais with force to liven up this Spring. Two of the most exciting gastronomic novelties in the village are well known in Rio de Janeiro – Guimas, a historic carioca with over 40 years, serves typical specialties such as fish, shrimp, and squid moqueca and shrimp or brie cheese pastries; and the brand-new Sult brought the award-winning chef Nelson Soares and his Italian cuisine with touches of Nordic minimalism close to the Bay.

As for Palaphita (in the photo), which has been bringing a bit of the Amazon to Casa da Guia for a few years now, has just presented the season's novelties. Do you know what "pavulagem" is? Have you ever heard of "emperiquitada"? "Chibata," "pai d'égua" – does any of this ring a bell? The typical expressions from northern Brazil fill the new menu and give names to dishes made from cassava, açaí, cashew, or cupuaçu.

You can't see a ray of sunshine without Cascais residents rushing straight to the beach. But the coastline is not just about sand and sea: Marechal Carmona Park is also a great destination for sunnier days. It features extensive lawns, lakes, romantic pathways, a forest with large trees, and a playground divided into three sections (one for each age group). Ducks, roosters, and peacocks roam around shamelessly, waiting for food that the guards don't allow anyone to give them. Located in the museum district, between the Casa das Histórias Paula Rego and the Cascais Cultural Centre, this garden created in the 1940s hosts a small organic market every Saturday, offering fruits, vegetables, preserves, bread, and regional cakes.

Marechal Carmona is the most popular and visited, but there are other green areas worth exploring in Cascais: the tranquil Palmela Park, with a tree climbing circuit and a maintenance trail; the Ribeira dos Mochos Park, which houses the Cascais Nurseries (where species are grown and later replanted in different green areas of the municipality); or the Urban Bosque dos Gaios Park, with bike paths, picnic areas, a viewpoint, and a maintenance circuit.

Less than an hour away from Lisbon – and just a beautiful train ride along the river and then by the seaside – there is no shortage of beaches to spread your towel on the sand and take a dip in Cascais. From Carcavelos to Guincho, we share several beach suggestions: you just have to choose where to sunbathe and dip your body. And when hunger strikes, don't settle for the classic Berliner pastry: there are plenty of restaurants and bars open along the entire promenade, as well as in the vicinity of the best beaches.

Wasting the extra hour of daylight at home isn't worth it. Even if Cascais' famous breeze makes an appearance or if you still need a sweater by the end of the day, indulge in that sunset drink overlooking the sea that you haven't had since last summer.

In the bay, one of the best places to do so is at Hífen, with a great atmosphere all year round and a cocktail menu that suits every season. Among the hotels inviting guests and non-guests to enjoy their bars on balconies overlooking the ocean are the classic Albatroz, above Conceição Beach, and the more modern Intercontinental Cascais-Estoril, right on the Promenade. With the longing we've already had for these end-of-day drinks, the toasts will taste even better.

In Greater Lisbon, the countryside is never far from the city, and Quinta do Pisão is a prime example of this. It's part of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park and is always open for visits. In addition to its ecological heritage, you can explore facilities restored by the Cascais City Council, such as stables, threshing floors, wells, or even the kilns that helped produce lime in this area during the 19th century. The resident animals roam freely, from horses and donkeys to sheep and lambs. Discover this paradise teeming with life and don't miss the new environmental art installation "A Seed Creates a Forest" by Roger Rigorth.

The new season calls for stashing away the warmer sweaters and heavy coats in exchange for lighter, more colorful outfits. To get inspired, why not stroll past some shop windows in Cascais?

The Hipódromo Manuel Possolo, usually the epicenter of Cooljazz in Cascais, hosts the first national edition of the Brazilian music festival Coala, in a Lusophone version, which "connects the points of the triangle Africa, Portugal, and Brazil." Just a few days before the arrival of summer, you can listen to Gilberto Gil, Jorge Ben Jor, Pongo, EU.CLIDES, Mayra Andrade, Carminho, Pongo, or Rubel.

Now that the season of binge-watching series on the sofa over the weekends has passed, it's time to embrace brunch once again. In Cascais, there are numerous restaurants and cafes that have embraced the concept of the late, leisurely breakfast – many offering sea views for picturesque backdrops and a generous spread.

From hotel breakfasts where you're treated to everything (including a show-cooking spectacle) to smaller cafes with minimalist or Nordic options, as well as healthy cuisine and spaces for kids to run around and play freely, click on Read more to find a list full of brunch options in Cascais.