Villa Lygiana

Hugely popular with visitors, Cascais is around 35 minutes’ drive from Lisbon, just outside the expansive Sintra-Cascais Natural Park which runs down Portugal’s most westerly fringe.

Once a small fishing village, it’s now a major resort with the facilities to match, but it hasn’t lost its charm or a sense of its history – you can still see why it was the place to be for the Portuguese nobility of the 1800s.

With none of the silliness of the capital, a day spent in Cascais is an easy-going affair. One of its key attractions is the opulent Castro Guimares Museum, featuring artefacts of Portuguese history dating back many centuries. The museum sits in the pretty Jardim Marechal Carmona gardens, and its brightly coloured, decorative facade means you are unlikely to miss it.

The Praia da Ribeira is just one of many excellent beaches in the area and centrally located. The walk to the impressive Boca do Inferno cliffs is a popular one and scenic too, while the marina area provides another pleasant spot to while away some time with a drink or two.

Around 4km north of Cascais, Estoril is a sophisticated spot famed for both its motorsport racetrack and its centrepiece casino – said to have provided Ian Fleming with the inspiration for a sure James Bond, no less. It lacks the heritage of Cascais, but if you fancy a night at the roulette wheel, or a day at the steering wheel, it’s the place to go.

Sintra, on the other hand, is not lacking in history and punches above its weight when it comes to impressive architecture. From the romantic Palacio da Pena with its whimsical details to the arabesque Palacio de Monserrate and gothic Palacio Nacional, it’s worth arranging an organised tour to learn about these sights in more detail.

You certainly won’t run out of things to see in a hurry – and if you need a break from it all, the beautiful Guincho beach or landmark Cabo da Roca provide excellent chill-out locations.

Please be aware that the location tab shown on the website is not based on the property's exact location; therefore, all location amenities are an approx of facilities, restaurants, and villages/towns you might find around the property. The property's exact location will be provided to you before arrival and might come along with some recommendations about the area and what to visit.

THE REGION

A coastal town just 20 miles west of Lisbon, Cascais was once a small fishing village, but its idyllic scenery attracted the attention of artists, writers and expelled European nobility in the 20th century. Today, it still attracts high society, but all society comes into force to enjoy the gorgeous beaches and adventure options like sailing and surfing.

Cascais also sits just west of Lisbon and right on the edge of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, meaning there are ample opportunities for exciting day trips. When you’re not off an excursion up the coast, you’ll find Cascais has plenty of its own allures. Take your pick of gorgeous sandy coves, wander around culture-packed art centres, book a surfing lesson or sit down to dine on some of the best food in the region.

ABOUT THE LISBON COAST

The Lisbon Coast is a sensational stretch of golden beaches, wave-lashed cliffs and vibrant seaside towns – but there's more to the Atlantic coastline than that. Delve beneath the surface to discover hidden coves, family-owned seafood restaurants and pristine natural parks.

The coast around Lisbon provides an easy, breezy escape from the capital, whose proximity has made it the stomping ground of kings for the last 1,000 years. In summer, Lisboistas stream into elegant Comporta and Cascais to escape the heat of the city; year-round, surfers hang loose on the coast, waiting for the rollers to crash down on the sand.

But while you're enjoying one of our fantastic villas in Lisbon Coast, you may well want to take some time out from all that sun worship to explore everything else the region has to offer – so we've put together this handy travel guide to give you a little help and inspiration!

Check out our Lisbon Coast Travel Guide >>