Portugal-Cascais

superhooper

Thinking of going to Cascais in July. Anyone been? Good bad reports??Tks

killbillvol2

Nice town, pretty upmarket. Some really top class restaurants, expensive by Portuguese standards but still good value compared to here. About half an hour from Lisbon by train (which run regularly).

I was there in October so no idea what it's like in summer.

Easy Rider

Going in June myself. Looking to stay in the Grande Real Villa Italia Hotel. KillBillVol2...where did you stay?

Going for 4 nights, using it as a base to go visit Lisbon too. Then heading down to the algarve for a week by train..

Reports of Cascais have been good, just the accomdation I would be wondering about.

puffmullett

I stayed in Cascais for a week last August/September. It's a really nice place, a little bit more expensive than the rest of Portugal but well worth it.

There are plenty of restaraunts & a few pubs in the town, a few small shops & a big shopping centre just outside the "old town". Some great seafood if you are into that sort of thing but my favourite is the piri piri chicken place (Frangos?).

The hotel Easy is staying in is fairly exclusive, I stayed across the road from it! It's about a 5/10 minute (max) walk into the town centre. You can also rent bikes for free (just produce your passport) but these get snapped up quickly so get up early if you want one.

We got the train into Lisbon which was great & also went to Estoril (a few Euro in a taxi) but didn't think much of it.

Would definitely recommend it & would love to go back

Easy Rider

Well, I have yet to book it...but there is a good deal for 4 days..where did you stay as I am still open to suggestions..so thought I would treat myself...as when I head down to the Algarve it is free accommodation for me for a week....

Sounds good, and yes, Piri Piri chicken is also a favourite of mine! Do you have any musts for visiting Lisbon...i.e. what should I definitely go to and what to avoid?

lubie76

I have family in Cascais so have been over a good few times. It is where the wealthier Portugese themeselves go on holiday but there is also a lot of Italians. There is a lovely area with restaurants near the harbour where you can eat outside. There is also a really good family run South African Restaurant that unfortunately I can't remember the name of but it is quite well known by the locals so you should have no problem finding it through the hotel.

Lisbon is a good city but by no means one of the best European cities. It is however very cheap as compared to most European cities and AFAIK it has the lowest cost of living in Europe. Cascais is more expensive though as it is aimed at a more upmarket population. I would avoid the Castle (St George's) in Lisbon like the plague as I don't think the journey up is worth it to see what is essentially just a ruins.

Unshelved

+1 with the chicken place - I think it's called Frangos too. Also there's an amazing ice-cream parlour - fantastic ice-cream there. There's a good choice of bars and restaurants - even a couple of Irish bars.

The beach towards Estoril is nicer than the beach in the town centre.

Totally disagree about the Castle area in Lisbon - worth it for the views alone. Be careful of your bag (mine was stolen) in Lisbon and ignore all those people trying to sell you hash (a stock cube apparently). Don't miss having a caipirnha in at least one of the little bars in the Barrio Alto area. There's an excellent train service between Caiscais and Lisbon which runs late into the night.

Definitely take the time to visit Sintra and Belem (and if you go to Belem, treat yourself to some of the famous custard tarts).

killbillvol2

Easy Rider wrote: »

Going in June myself. Looking to stay in the Grande Real Villa Italia Hotel. KillBillVol2...where did you stay?

Going for 4 nights, using it as a base to go visit Lisbon too. Then heading down to the algarve for a week by train..

Reports of Cascais have been good, just the accomdation I would be wondering about.

No idea - a typical Portuguese 4 star hotel about 10 mins walk from the town centre. Don't think there are any dives there tbh.

babaduck

Easy Rider wrote: »

Do you have any musts for visiting Lisbon...i.e. what should I definitely go to and what to avoid?

Get the metro out to Oriente - you'll recognise the cobbled area from a Vodafone ad. There's a lovely aquarium there and a cable car which runs the length of the prom - amazing views. Also a great shopping centre with some lovely rooftop restaurants there. Lisbon is incredibly pretty - the tourist office is in the main square and you can do a tourist tram tour which himself loved. A great restaurant is http://www.cervejariatrindade.pt/ - great value and fantastic atmosphere. Also try the incredible custard tarts called Pasteis de Nata. God, I'd love one right now...:p

Easy Rider

Thanks all for the responses, looking forward to it now..!

rawness

Easyrider, I'm thinking of going to Cascais on Monday. How did you enjoy it? Any tips on where to stay, restaurants?

We're thinking of going for 3 nights and then maybe heading somwhere else for 3 nights (not sure where yet) before heading back to Ireland. However if Caiscais is good then we'd just stay there for 6 nights.

Thanks!