The best way to spend 48 hours in Cascais

The big wall (“paredão”) connects Cascais and São João do Estoril along the ocean; we suggest you begin in Estoril and walk all the way to the Conceição beach.

Set the map aside to roam the historic streets of Cascais, covered in Portuguese “calçada” pavement, and admire the traditional houses and local shops.

Open for business since 2017, it became one of the coolest restaurants in town to have dinner and drinks. It offers Portuguese and international cuisine with a chef’s touch.

Located in one of the town’s busiest streets, it is an indoors bar, despite its name (“rua” means street). However, on warm and busy nights, plenty of patrons step outside to hang out.

The locals’ favourite beach, despite the winds, that on occasion may require you to seek shelter. But that’s good news for wind - and kitesurfers, who make themselves at home here before taking off.

If you’re bringing children with you, this is the right place to let them wander freely, in between a couple of bites of  steak sandwiches and fries. If you’re by yourself, you will also enjoy this restaurant and its selection of Portuguese delicacies and great steaks.

Time for some culture in a museum that pays homage to one of the finest local artists, painter Paula Rego. The permanent collection is astonishing, and there are always temporary exhibitions to catch.

Cascais has a museum district, with all of its museums located near each other, mixed in with some old houses and a park. Go eeny-meeny-miny-moe and pick two or three of them for a visit.

The best memento you can take from Cascais is a view from the ocean in the late afternoon. I you can’t board a ship, get a SUP board, which you can rent at the beaches near the Paredão.