Estoril

* This review is of the Estoril coastline which includes Cascais.* I have decided to put the two places together in one review as Cascais is an extention of Estoril.* Estoril and its coastline has always been a favourite getaway for me especially when I worked in Lisbon and still to this day is somewhere I love to visit even though the area has changed a great deal with time. When I first visited Portugal's Cost do Sol over 20 years ago the area had what I can only describe as a 'Miss Faversham look.' It was run down and jaded around the edges. Beautiful villas had been left to decay when their owners fled during the Revolution. I remember walking through ...  Read the complete review

Often over looked for the more popular Algarve coast further south, the Estoril coast lies to the west of Lisbon. You can fly to Lisbon airport which is around 20-30 minutes away by car; there is also a rail link to Estoril. It can be quite difficult to find package deals to the Estoril coast and I have found more flexible deals to be had with Portuguese specialist travel firms such as Caravela. Estoril was once the chosen Summer destination of the Portuguese Royal family from the late 1800s and at the turn of the twentieth century it was a popular destination for many other European aristocrats and Hollywood stars. Due to this there are some very grand and ...  Read the complete review

I visited Estoril in Early June with my wife for a long weekend break, we flew into Lisbon from London Heathrow and made the 40 minute road journey by taxi into Estoril. The taxi was pre-booked and cost 7500 escudos (approx £30). Tip: When we returned we used a local taxi which only cost 6000 escudos (approx £24). Estoril is nowhere near as large as I had expected, there is a train station which runs along the coast to Lisbon and in the other direction towards Cascais. The main feature of Estoril is the casino which they claim is the largest in Europe. It comprises many facets: Cabaret Bar with live shows,Gaming Tables, 2 slot machine rooms which are both huge and ...  Read the complete review