Cascais. Where charm meets the coast

Cascais is a charming Portuguese town within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, boasting a population of 64,310 within its urban confines. It serves as the administrative center for the Cascais municipality, which spans an area of 97.4 km² and houses 214,158 residents across four parishes. The municipality shares its northern border with Sintra, is bounded to the east by Oeiras, and is embraced by the Atlantic Ocean to the south and west.

The town’s emergence as an independent entity traces back to the Royal Charter of June 7, 1364, when King Pedro I of Portugal distinguished it from Sintra, recognizing its economic growth. It achieved administrative independence in 1514 when it was granted its own charter.

Renowned for its natural beauty and scenic landscapes, both the town and municipality of Cascais experienced a surge in popularity, becoming a favored destination for both Portuguese and foreign elites from the 19th century onward. The arrival and electrification of the railway played pivotal roles in the area’s development, catalyzing its urbanization from 1930 onwards.

From then on, Cascais blossomed into one of Lisbon’s premier suburbs and a leading tourist destination in Portugal.