Apartments in Cascais -- Affordable Holiday Flats

Set just along the coast from the hustle and bustle of Lisbon, Cascais offers a seaside retreat perfect for a relaxing break. A former fishing village, it has shot to fame thanks to its endless supply of sandy beaches and winding old town filled with delicious fresh fish restaurants. It's the favourite haunt of Portuguese city-dwellers, and can get fairly busy on weekends and in summer, but there's enough space to go around. When you're not kicking back on the romantic shorelines or enjoying a glass of wine in one of the many authentic eateries, you can wander through the laneways and dip into quirky museums, boutique stores, and azulejo workshops. Cascais really comes to life after dark, when the bar landscape bursts into colour and breaks out into an unforgettable party. If you're looking for a relaxing break just a few minutes from one of Europe's most vibrant capitals, then check out our range of apartments in Cascais to find the perfect place to stay.

Natural Beauty and Breath-Taking Beaches - Things to do in Cascais

• Boca do Inferno -- This natural chasm boasts exquisite scenery, with lush green foliage decorating the ragged cliff face.
• Ribeira Beach -- One of Cascais' trio of popular beaches, Ribeira is the most central, providing a stretch of sand perfect for sunbathing, sandcastle making, and swimming.
• Santa Maria Lighthouse -- Perched on the edge of a headland, the lighthouse carves a picturesque silhouette against the Atlantic Ocean and the eternally blue skies.
• Cont Castro Guimaraes Museum -- Cascais' most popular building is set inside an impressive mock-Gothic exterior. It's located right by the sea and is thought to be Cascais' most beautiful piece of architecture.

Whether you're in Cascais for its selection of beaches or for its range of cultural attractions, be sure to check into one of our Cascais apartments so you have the perfect place to stay. All our accommodation is centrally located, so you'll be within easy walking distance of the museums, the restaurants, the beachfront, and the shops.

Covering Ground Between Lisbon and Cascais

Cascais is situated just along the coast from Lisbon, where the Tagus River meets the Atlantic Ocean. At just 30km away, it's quick and easy to get from Portugal's capital to this relaxed and friendly seaside resort.

The most recommended way to travel between the two places in by train, which takes around half an hour and is very cheap if you have a travel card (you can pick these up from stations and visitor information centres, as well as a newspaper stands by the side of the road). Trains leave from the Cais do Sodre train station in Lisbon every twenty minutes or so.

There are also bus services that connect up Lisbon and Cascais, though these usually take much longer than the trains and can be more expensive. You can also choose to drive to Cascais, but bear in mind that traffic on the coastal route can get bad during peak times.

The Colourful History of Cascais

Cascais began as a humble fishing village under the rule of Sintra in the 12th Century. It relied on the nearby town for administrative purposes and lived mainly from the products of the land and sea -- fishing was a hugely important part of Cascais' history, and it's still known today as an old fishing town. During the 13th Century it began selling its produce to Lisbon, which immediately elevated it status. Its new-found prosperity saw it break free from the rule of Sintra in 1364. From then up until the 1800s it remained heavily involved in fishing and trade with Lisbon. Unfortunately, in 1755, much of Cascais was destroyed in the great Lisbon earthquake, and it took many years to rebuild it to the prosperous city it had become.

In the 20th century, a combination of luxury development in nearby Estoril and Portugal's neutrality in World War II saw it flourish in popularity. The new luxury scene that took over the town thanks to an influx of casinos and a contemporary infrastructure made for luxury holidays made it an enviable choice for wealthy holiday makers, and during the war it became the home of many exiled European royal families. Today it remains a popular tourist destination, but it attracts more local families than royal circles.

Cascais Accommodation

The Portuguese seaside town of Cascais lies just down the coast from Lisbon, but offers a much more laidback atmosphere than the capital. Here, winding alleyways take tourists past vintage souvenir shops, tiny authentic restaurants, and hidden galleries, whilst Cascais accommodation has a little something for everyone. Near the water's edge, boutique hotels framed with purple bougainvillea offer an opulent stay, whilst cosy Portuguese guesthouses can be found in the small, old centre. Elsewhere, holiday apartments and beachfront studios offer spectacular views of the sea and the extensive coastline.

Take a Walking Tour of Cascais

One of the best ways to explore Cascais is by foot, and the close proximity of our Cascais apartments to the attractions means you can make the most of what the town has to offer. Start by strolling along the fishing harbour and soaking up the local lifestyle. Here, you can watch fishermen in action and gaze out at the colourful fishing boats that bob in the early morning sunshine.

Afterwards, you might want to grab a drink at one of Cascais' beaches before the crowds flock in for the day. Then head to the Parque Municipal da Gandarinha where you can cool off in the shade of the trees. There's also a small zoo here with a range of domesticated animals -- perfect for younger members of the family.

Next, delve into the winding streets of the centre of the town. There are plenty of quirky artisan shops to dip into, selling a fascinating range of souvenirs and the much-loved azulejos, or the painted tiles that are so famous in Lisbon. As well as shops, there are plenty of little museums and local galleries, as well as family-run cafes where you can grab a bite to eat to refuel.

In the afternoon, stay out of the sunshine in the Centro Cultural, which is located inside the Casa Cors de Rosa and hosts a regularly changing schedule of exhibitions. The building itself is worth a look around, too, as it was formerly a 16th Century convent. As evening sets in, make your way to the marina where you can grab a delicious cocktail and watch the sun go down. Then it's on to one of the authentic restaurants for a fresh fish supper before drinks and dancing into the small hours of the morning.