Cascais is a city where the pace of life is slow, and the weather is great round the year. Here are a few things you can enjoy doing during your time in Cascais-
Visit Museums
The Museu Condes de Castro Guimarães is filled with paintings, Indo-Portuguese furniture, jewelry, prehistoric archaeology from local caves, oriental porcelain. There is a huge library too. Casa das Histórias Paula Rego has red pyramid-like towers. This art museum is a dedication to the Portuguese-British artist Dame Paula Rego. Santa Marta Lighthouse and Museum reveals the story of Santa Marta’s 17th-century fort and the day-to-day running of the lighthouse back when it was staffed. Museu do Mar Rei D. Carlos has permanent exhibitions that study the ocean’s ecology and natural history. You can poke around the history of oceanography and navigation, find out how life first evolved in earth’s oceans, and discover artifacts from shipwrecks in the Tagus Estuary.
Enjoy Beaches
Cascais has beaches in abundance. Praia da Rainha is a sandy beach lapped by crystalline seas. There are hardly any currents, and therefore the beach is suitable for chilling around and getting some pictures clicked. Praia do Guincho is a beach situated in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. If you like to do some activities while your time on the beach, then this one will be your favorite. Here you can do kite surfing and windsurfing. Praia do Tamariz has only light waves and is further protected by a pier on its eastern fringe. There are other beaches as well, like the Praia das Moitas, Praia da Conceição, and the Ribeira beach.
Explore Hell’s Mouth
Boca do Inferno (Hell’s Mouth) is a short walk from the marina. It is a chasm in limestone cliffs. Make sure to be here where the surf is storm-tossed to see the ocean gushing through the hole and hear it echoing up the chamber. Don’t miss sitting on the promontory beside it and watching the sunset.
Do Some Watersports
It’s not just sightseeing you can do in Cascais. There are plenty of watersports you can indulge yourself in. On beaches like Praia da Duquesa and Praia do Tamariz, you can hire a kayak or paddleboard for a self-guided voyage. You can also do windsurfing and kite surfing on beaches like Praia da Cremina, and Praia do Guincho. There are also ample surf schools and camps open all year round, and you can book week-long courses, one-day sessions, or single lessons, whatever suits you.
Having a car of your own is one of the best ways to explore a region to its fullest. Renting a car in Portugal is much better when you plan to visit more than one city. That way, you will be able to explore more with minimum usage of public transport. Look out for the “blue zone” parking while parking your rental car. It is advised to book ahead if you want an automatic transmission as most cars in Portugal are manual. You can choose your car from a plethora of options from many local companies as well as online websites. Rent a compact car to skirt those nooks and corners of Cascais. Don’t forget to have a GPS while you’re exploring. Trust us; it will prove to be a life saver in smaller towns. So rent a car, drive around and enjoy Cascais!