PORTUGAL WITH KIDS: SUMMER IN CASCAIS

As soon as you arrive in Cascais ( a mere 20 minutes drive from Lisbon’s airport) you understand why it provides visitors with unforgettable experiences. Surrounded by the hills of Sintra and the blue Atlantic Ocean, Cascais is considered one of the most charming places on the Atlantic coast of Europe. It is also one of the most sustainable tourist destinations in Europe, and a great place to visit with kids.

Here are my recommendations for a great summer in Cascais:

Accommodation:   Hotel Quinta da Marina Resort.

Located in a quiet countryside and surrounded by the most prestigious golf courses in the region, it is a great family-friendly hotel, ideal for a surf experience in the nearby beach of Guincho.

During August the hotel’s restaurant Five Pines offers a wide variety of themed buffets (we loved the Mexican buffet with live mariachi music!) and in the pool terrace, you can enjoy different dishes with live music entertainment.

Activities for families in the summer: 

Visit the traditional craft fair in Estoril (from 25th June to 6th September) with more than 300 artisans from all over Portugal that show their work and techniques.  Also, from 21st to 30th August you can enjoy “Festas do Mar”, a sea Festival hosted in downtown with lots of concerts and animations.

Of course, you cannot miss the opportunity to surf at the legendary Guincho Beach (here is a link to the full post about this experience).

One of our favorite visits was Parque Marechal Carmona. This park, created in the 1940s contains spacious lawns, beautiful sculptures, large trees, and a great playground.

The park is completely adapted for families and offers all kinds of facilities for small children, including their own restrooms.

I would suggest that you walk through downtown Cascais (Cidadela) and enjoy its beautiful beaches, port, great architecture, and the fascinating art district.

Where to eat:

My first recommendation would be the ice-cream shop Santini (Gelados Santini). Simply delicious!

 

Another must-stop would be Bar do Guincho, with stunning sunset views and the most amazing terrace atmosphere you can imagine after a long beach day (link her to the full post):

And for a great breakfast or coffée:  Sacolinha.

(Just one small advice: we were surprised that we could not pay with our credit card at Sacolinha and in many other places. It seems it is quite common in Portugal to pay always in cash).

And at last, enjoy a great pizza at Master Pizza. I dedicated a complete post to this pizzeria as kids are offered to cook their own pizza!

For further information for your trip: Visit Cascais!