Cascais Resort Town

A day excursion to Cascais is a wonderful way to complementing any visit to Lisbon. Located on the Lisbon coast 30 km west of the city centre, the resort town is easily reached by direct train from Cais do Sodre rail terminal. A chic, upmarket destination with more than its fair share of visitor attractions, sightseeing options include anything from a leisurely promenade along the ocean-front esplanade to exploring the old town – a maze of narrow cobblestone streets and alleys fringed by cafes, restaurants and boutiques. Museums and art galleries abound, places such as the Casa das Histórias, an exhibition centre dedicated to Paula Rego, Portugal's greatest living contemporary artist. Several pocket-sized beaches and a splendid marina frame Cascais bay. Further west is the 16th-century cidadela, a historic sea fort that's been beautifully converted into a pousada, an upscale inn.