Cascais
Portugal, Portugal
  • Cascais This former fishing village that now caters to vacationers and retirees remains closely associated with the sea. Credit: Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez [CC-BY-SA-2.5-es, via Wikimedia Commons Cascais
    This former fishing village that now caters to vacationers and retirees remains closely associated with the sea.

Cascais is a former fishing village turned tony suburb of Lisbon with about 35,000 residents. A cosmopolitan village, Cascais is a popular vacation spot for the Portuguese and foreigners from jet-setters to regular tourists. The community, easy to reach by car from Lisbon, features a large yacht harbor and several sand beaches. It has castle ruins, an art and sea museum, and charming cobbled streets in its historic center. Its casino, Estoril Casino, is one of Europe's largest.

Climate

  • Mediterranean

Physical Environment

  • Resort community
  • Town under 75,000 with vibrant main street
  • Beaches within 25 miles

Culture

  • Fine art museum
  • Local community theatre
  • Active club/bar/music scene

Politics

  • Moderate

Economy

  • $$$ -- Prices seem reasonable

Recreation

  • Nearby surfing
  • Public golf course
  • Casino gaming within 25 miles
  • Biking, hiking, running trails
  • Year-round fitness swimming center
  • Downtown yoga studio

Infrastructure

  • Vibrant public transportation system
  • International airport
  • Safe bike corridors
  • Working farms within 25 miles

Health

  • Community swimming pool
  • Public-assisted (govt.) health insurance
  • Community hospital only