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Cascais Seen by many tourists as the ideal vacation destination. After all, who doesn't want to vacation in an Atlantic beach resort town, full of In luxury resorts As well as in hotels at more accessible prices, with crazy sunsets and a standard of living that most of us could only dream of? If you want to feel on top of the world, Qashqai is probably the place for you. Want proof? Even the Portuguese royal family chose Cascais as their summer vacation destination. noble Lisbon Head to this coastal town, located about thirty kilometers west of the Portuguese capital, in order to enjoy all the same things that today are also within your reach.
In Qashqai you will find a lot to do, as well as the conditions to do nothing. In many of the countries bordering the Mediterranean, there is a saying "the art of doing nothing", and you can perfect it in Qashqish. Whether you are energetic tourists who research in depth every destination you arrive at, or whether you are looking for backpacking vacations where the only route you will take is between the hotel and the beach, Qashqai is the place for you.
With its rich history and the high-class population that used to spend time there, it's no wonder that Qashqai is full of fascinating architecture, museums where you can spend hours and simply magical alleys that eventually lead you to the marina or the beach. Qashqai is full of covetable treasures and sites worth visiting, and here we will review only a few of them. You can definitely walk around the alleys, and find other places that are worth a long visit.
This beautiful lighthouse, whose blue and white colors are more reminiscent of Greece than Portugal, has been at the mouth of the Tagus River to the Atlantic Ocean since 1868. It was built close to the fortress of Santa Maria, and to this day warns ships with a sharp siren when visibility is low. The museum adjacent to the lighthouse was inaugurated in 2007.
The museum is divided into two separate wings, each of which focuses on a different theme. One section deals with lighthouses in general, and the significant part they played and play in Portugal's maritime infrastructure. When you remember that half of Portugal's border is with the Atlantic Ocean, where sailors seek any guidance they can to better cope with its wild nature, it's no wonder that lighthouses are an important aspect of Portuguese culture. Here you will find a variety of exhibits and explanations about the multitude of lighthouses from around the country.
In the second wing of the museum, you will find exhibits and relevant explanations describing life in the nearby fort named after Santa Maria, and the roles it played over the years. Since this part of the museum is more focused on the site itself, here you can also find the explanations about the management of the specific lighthouse of Santa Maria, for example through the diary of the lighthouse keeper documenting its daily operation. In the auditorium of the museum you can watch a documentary about the lighthouses of Portugal. The fifteen-minute film describes five hundred years of Portugal's history, through the eyes and testimonies of the lighthouse keepers.
Probably just walking for an hour or two in the streets of Qashqai will make it clear to you how much this place was, and still is, aimed at the elite of society. For example, this is still the favorite place of the President of Portugal to spend his summer vacation. The ancient center of Kashkaish cries out for the establishment of the residents there, as the houses are well designed, the boutiques fill the streets (even today) and the restaurants are varied and full of customers.
At the same time, this is a small and exclusive place. With a brisk walk you can cover most of the town in an hour, so it's well suited for a leisurely stroll on a holiday morning. In addition, most of the streets are adapted for pedestrians, and the unique pavement of Qashqai will be especially good for your feet.
The ancient center is the place to be in the evening, and is where all visitors to Kaskhaish go. The wide variety of restaurants and bars, the international atmosphere and the street stalls, all infuse the place with a relaxed and fun atmosphere. This description is particularly true of the Praca 5 de Outubro area.
This palace (and the museum) is built in a very special structure, from 1900. This palace was built by his command, and was enriched by the estate of Count Manuel Ignacio nee Castro Guimaraes. You will find a wide variety of paintings, archaeological finds from the Qashqai area, porcelain vessels from the East and a host of other items that you would expect to find under the ownership of a Portuguese count in a prestigious resort town. This is a particularly fascinating place for book lovers and bibliophiles of all kinds, as they will be able to find over twenty-five thousand titles here. You can even find a special title in the museum, written in 1505.
In addition, the eclectic collection of architectural styles in the place is a feast for the eyes. Here you will find a baroque church, gothic arches and tower, a wall that will remind you of a medieval castle, and more. The park adjacent to the palace, Marshal Carmona Park, is also definitely worth a visit of at least a few hours.
This is a unique building, most likely you won't see anything like it anywhere in the world. This art museum, which stands out from afar for its red color and the truncated pyramids on top, is entirely dedicated to the work of the Portuguese-British artist Paula Rego, who currently lives in London. She is considered one of the two most famous Portuguese artists, along with Maria Helena Vieira da Silva.
Inaugurated in 2009, this museum features rotating exhibitions of Rego's works. Her paintings are mainly characterized by women, and often show violent or humiliating experiences that they go through. The works are adapted to the various stages of the artist's life and work, and focus on different periods each time. You will find next to each painting an explanation in Portuguese and English. In addition, you can enjoy a cup of coffee from the local cafeteria, and admire the special style of the building in the garden adjacent to it.
This small museum is adjacent to Paula Rego's House of Stories, and is entirely dedicated to the story of the Earth's oceans. It was named after King Carlos I, who was King of Portugal in the year the museum was built (1992) and was an avid oceanographer.
The museum's permanent display tells the history of our planet's oceans, their ecology and the human history associated with them. It also focuses on the long-standing science of ocean exploration, so you can find information on ocean research methods throughout history, as well as props from shipwrecks that found their unfortunate way to the Tagus River. These include ancient Roman transport jars, and centuries-old weapons.
On top of that, you will find a room dedicated to Qashqai's heritage as a fishing town. Traditional clothes, various tools and more are displayed in the room.
Qashqai was designed over the years to fulfill the whims of its vacationers, who did not lack budgets. Therefore, you can definitely find a variety of options for entertainment here even if museums are not exactly what you want. From extreme water sports (we're by the ocean, remember?), to a game of aristocratic golf, to a tour of the lively Qashqai market, you'll find plenty to do here for people of all ages.
In the town of Estoril next to Qashqai, next to Tamariz beach, you will find the casino of Estoril. If you are looking to spend a few shekels during your vacation on the excitement of gambling, it is recommended to come here. However, even if gambling isn't your thing, Estoril's casino is definitely worth a visit.
Estoril's casino has the glitz and atmosphere you'd expect from a casino, as if it had just been taken out of a movie. It was built at the beginning of the twentieth century, and underwent extensive renovation during it. Ian Fleming, the well-known British writer who also created the James Bond series, spent a lot of time there. This casino was the inspiration (and also the setting) for Ian Fleming's first book in the James Bond series, Casino Royale (published in 1953). In addition, it also claims the crown of the largest casino in Europe. Indeed, a casino with style and an impressive historical record.
For those interested in games of chance and gambling, the casino offers the entire range known from other casinos. From roulette, to card games and blackjack to thousands of token-operated slot machines, you'll find all the ways to spend your money (and maybe, with a bit of luck, win a little) here.
If you are interested in bathing and swimming in calm beaches, stay in Kaskayesh and enjoy the Queen's Beach and the neighboring beaches. On the other hand, if you are interested in experiencing extremes and feeling the real waves of the Atlantic Ocean wet you, you will have to leave the town and reach the more western coast in the adjacent national park.
For those who want to stay in the relatively calm sector, bDuquesa Beach (Praia da Duquesa) and Tamariz Beach You can rent a kayak for a leisurely ride or a pedal boat for the kids. However, for true extreme seekers, this is not the place.
Surfers, wind and kite surfers will be able to find their place on the western beaches of the Qashqaish region, such as Praia do Guincho (see above) and Praia da Cremina. In addition, you will find plenty of surfing schools in the Qashqai area, where you can rent a surfboard and a teacher for every level of surfer. Whether you have never touched a surfboard or whether you want to rub yourself on the waves of the Atlantic Ocean, you can find someone here to guide you.
You can find this lively market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, under a huge shed that also serves, on days when the market is not working, as a center for live music. This is the place to be if you are looking for an authentic experience of a country market, one that will shock you with smells, sounds and tastes. Here you will find locally grown and produced products of all types and species, including a variety of vegetables, meat, fish, flowers, oils and more. In the less central part you can also buy clothes, kitchen utensils and other products sold in the markets.
On the Qashqai Council website you can find information about special markets, which are held twice every month. In these markets you can find more unique products, such as locally produced chocolates, works of art and more.
After all the talk about Cascais being a resort town for the rich of Portugal in general and Lisbon in particular, it's no wonder you can find here a well-equipped infrastructure for playing golf. You will find five golf courses maintained at the highest level, within a radius of less than ten kilometers around Qashqai. The most famous of the golf courses of Qashqai is that of the Penha Longa Resort, which hosts the golf competition of Portugal and is ranked in the list of the thirty best golf courses in Europe.
Another course, almost as good but less expensive, is the Estoril golf course. Similar to the casino mentioned above, the golf course is also designed to enjoy the time of the vacationers from Lisbon's high society, who have been visiting Estoril since the beginning of the twentieth century.
Qashqai has something to offer even for those who don't want to get dirty with sea sand, but still want to smell the waves, watch the sunsets and taste the salt. The marina, which underwent a massive renovation in the early XNUMXs, is considered one of the best maintained in Europe. It is home to the yachts of many of the richest people in Europe in general and Portugal in particular, and hosts international sailing competitions. Among other things, Qashqai's marina hosted the World Cup in sailing, and other large-scale competitions.
At less busy times, you can really enjoy the marina and the luxurious atmosphere it creates. You will find many cafes and restaurants there, as well as many skippers who will rent you their services and their yacht for a relaxing and romantic cruise in Qashqai Bay. There is nothing like a colorful sunset from the deck of a yacht operated by a skilled Portuguese skipper, to close your day full of experiences in this prestigious resort town.
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