Kashkaish

Restaurants in Qashqai

For centuries, Portugal was considered the point of departure and return to the West. Due to its special connection with other continents, the country's cuisine is characterized by local produce such as fresh fish, quality cheeses, satisfying meat dishes on the fire or in slow cooking in a pot, and all along with Asli seasoning courtesy of the Mediterranean basin, India and Arab countries. Portugal is known for its premium wines and especially for the local cherry liqueur Zinjinia, which you can order in any pub and restaurant in Cascais, ham and sausage sandwiches with creamed cheese called Francesina, a sweet pastry to be sipped with the coffee called Pastis di Nata and more.

In Kashkaish itself you can purchase a selection of delicacies from the local produce at the local market and at the many food stalls that are located in the central areas. The city's restaurants are considered high quality and some are considered prestigious chef restaurants.

Attractions in Kashkaish

Kashkaish used to be a fairly quiet fishing village. When the king of Portugal, Louis I, took a dip in its magnificent golden beaches in 1870, the sleepy city became a magical and beautiful vacation spot that invited the residents of Lisbon and later tourists from other places. The city offers a charming and beautiful environment to walk in, small and high-quality museums, a pastoral environment, lively pedestrian streets and boutique restaurants. 

Museu Condes de Castro Guimaraes

The Condes de Castro Guimaraes Museum brings tourists back to the authentic "shell city" from the past and you should not miss this magical journey. The museum is inside a special castle that was built in the 19th century and contains a facade that combines Gothic architectural style with authentic Arabic architecture. Inside the castle there is a private art collection by an Irish billionaire and next to it a wide variety of antique furniture created due to the maritime connection and inspiration between India and Portugal. In the exhibition you can also find tiles and silk carpets that are about 350 years old! 

Outside the museum is a large and well-kept park called Marshal Carmona And there you will find a petting zoo with farm animals, peacocks, ducks, a rose garden and garden areas ideal for a picnic. 

Cidadela de cascais

The impressive city citadel was originally designed to protect against naval attacks on the capital. Over time, it became a holiday home for the country's aristocracy at the request of the king, and today it houses one of the most impressive boutique hotels in Kaskayesh. 

Casa de Santa Maria

This is a mesmerizing residence that includes a special architecture that combines several styles. The gifted home of the Irish billionaire who built the Museo Condes de Castro Guimaraes was built in the 19th century and repurchased in 1934 by a prominent banking family. Over the years, the apartment hosted, among others, the Duke of Windsor, the King of Italy, the Duchess of Luxembourg and even former US President Richard Nixon. Inside the building there is a small museum that includes a collection of Portuguese tiles and paintings. 

Village Market

The city market of Qashqai is definitely not to be missed. A huge indoor market where you will find fresh goods from all around, delicate handicrafts, souvenirs, sweets and more. It is advisable to arrive early in the morning because in the afternoon most of the goods are already sold out. At the back of the building there are painted tiles showing the city's heritage. 

Cascais-Marina

The famous marina of Qashqai provides space for over 650 yachts and boats and over 50 thousand travelers who celebrate the leisure and beauty of the place at any given moment. Here you will find a wide variety of prestigious restaurants and bars, sailing on a selection of vessels, quality boutique shops and more. 

Centro Cultural de Cascais

The cultural center of the city is housed in a lovely pink building that used to be a monastery. Inside it you will find changing exhibitions and also quite a few performances. It is recommended to check what is happening here on the dates of your visit and purchase tickets. 

Bathing beaches in Kaskayesh

Befitting a developed and high-quality resort town, you will find here surfers' beaches, beaches that are suitable for spontaneous bathing, kit activities, many sunbathers and more. We will also note that due to the fact that it is the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the sea water is always cold (up to 21 degrees in the summer at the most). A wonderful reason to come here and break the July-August rush. The two main beaches of Cascais (Praia da Duquesa and Praia da Conceiçao) offer inflatable bananas, exciting water facilities, sap courses at all levels, restaurants and cafes. A small cliff separates the two beaches and on it stands a magnificent mansion. Piscina Oceânica Alberto Romano beach with shallow waters will suit families. Other selected beaches are Praia da Ribeira ("Fisherman's Beach" in the past) and Praia da Rainha ("Queen's Beach" which is considered small and busy). 

In addition, you should go to Praia do Guincho, which is located north of the city and is considered the most successful local surfing beach. There is an excellent and flat bike path in the place, which passes small markets, lighthouses, cafes and scenic overlooks. 

Boca do Inferno

The Hell's Mouth is considered one of the most interesting attractions in Qashqai. This is a coastal area that includes a powerful and torrential wave crash, which created unique rocks and numerous systems. Just come to take pictures and experience. 

Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assunçao

A special and prominent church that was damaged in the 18th century by a powerful earthquake and has been restored. Magnificent decorations and tiles were incorporated into it, to the point of creating a heavenly appearance. It is not for nothing that it is called the "Church of Our Lady of the Ascension". 

Paula Rego's House of Stories

The "House of Stories" is considered a special museum that presents changing exhibitions and a permanent exhibition by Paula Rego, born in Portugal, who bases her paintings on well-known stories. This time, too, it is a beautiful pink building, reminiscent in appearance of the classic fairy-tale castles of the city of Sintra. 

Museum of the Sea

In the Sea and Fishing Heritage Museum you will find a variety of models of boats, clothing items, fishing nets, traditional and contemporary fishing tools and many other treasures from the sea.

Car rental in Qashqai

In Qashqish you will find several car rental companies, but like any other city, you will not be allowed to enter central areas with your car. Find public parking lots and park only in them or leave the car in the hotel parking lot (if there is private parking for guests). In both cases, it is a cost of 2-4 euros per day (depending on the parking lot) and this must be taken into account as part of the trip budget. 

In general, dealing with a car in Qashqai may be more cumbersome than a stick: you have to park in a relatively far place and move on foot into the central areas or the beach and marina strips. Therefore, it is recommended to leave the vehicle for excursions outside the city, or in favor of continuing the trip in other cities such as Lisbon or Sinatra. The travel time between Qashqai and Lisbon is 40-50 minutes and includes passing through paid toll roads.

Flights to Qashqai

Cascais itself has its own airport (Aeroporto Municipal de Cascais) but it does not receive direct flights from Israel. That's why you have to fly to the capital Lisbon and from there continue to Qashqai by public transport (there is an organized and very convenient train system. You can also choose a taxi or bus) or a rented car. 

There is a set of direct flights between Israel and Lisbon, but it is mostly operated during the tourist season and there are about 3 daily flights. During the rest of the year you can find several weekly flights. The airlines that arrive by direct flight (about 5 hours flight) to Lisbon are: El Al (mainly through the Sandor subsidiary), Arkia and the international airline of Portugal TAP. We will also note that the flight rates in the season are 200-300 dollars for a single one-way ticket. 

In order to reduce the flight costs and increase the enjoyment in Qashqai itself, you can choose a flight to Lisbon with the low cost companies Wise Air, EasyJet and from time to time also Pegasus. With the popularity of Portugal as a tourist destination attracting Israelis recently (especially with the intensification of the issue of Portuguese passports), it is likely that in the coming years more and more companies from the country will join providing discounted and attractive flight routes. 

For those of you who want to extend the road to Lisbon and keep the lowest costs, there is an option for connecting flights through the following companies: Iberia, Lufthansa, Air Berlin, Air France and more. These companies include an intermediate stop in their capital city and from there continue to Lisbon. In addition, you can make a connecting flight through them to Qashqai itself.

When should you fly to Qashqai?

Portugal is considered a warm and comfortable country all year round, with little snow on its high peaks in winter. Due to the fact that Qashqai is at sea level, it remains comfortable and sunny most of the year, although in winter there are strong winds on its shores that can make the trip along the coastline very difficult. Also, stalls, markets and businesses that operate on the beaches are partly closed, therefore canceling a substantial part of the city's attractions. 

That's why Qashqaish is recommended mainly in the summer months, when it enjoys high temperatures similar to Israel. However, remember that it is also extremely humid and has a respectable amount of tourists from all over the world. That is why it is recommended to arrive at the ends of the hot season: starting in May or around September.