Cascais: Glamour and Decay by The Lisbon Coastline - Private Tour
Description
Cascais is a seaside town 30 km west of Lisbon with a sunny and relaxed climate, always combined with a certain hedonism and a hint of sophistication. Would you call it "hippie chic"? You can go to the beach half of the year, run, bike or surf all year round. Or get involved in a gastronomic marathon eating grilled fish, caught right there in the sea, But you can simply take the train to enjoy an ice cream at Santini, one of the best delicacies in Cascais. That said, the capital of the Sun Coast is also a perfect place to do nothing all day… except to contemplate the sea while you exercise your right to see and be seen. All that glitter and glamour, it is also important to remember, were not always there, quite the opposite. 150 years ago, Cascais was an abandoned and ghost town, which by an extraordinary turn - almost like a magic trick - became a noble haven. The purpose of this tour is to shed some light on these amazing and still remarkable changes in the Portuguese Riviera.
Tour Options
Itinerary
One of the most photogenic beaches in Cascais, the perfect place for an introduction on the town's incredible location and amazing story
The fishing village, the citadel, the beach, the memories that still linger and the actual attractions
Where we explain and illustrate the incredible move of Cascais from a small fishing harbour to a glamorous Court Town
We explore the citadel and it's historical landmarks, but also the contemporary art developments
We explore The Sommer House and the Cultural Center of Cascais, the architecture, the stories and the recent revamping
The fabulous legacy of the Count of Arnoso and the more recent story of the Marina that grew in the outskirts of his property
Probably the most amazing house by the sea in the hole Cascais coast. The genius of architect Raul Lino explained.
The Lighthouse is dramatic, but the recent revamping is no less amazing
A dream house somewhere between a castle and a manor house, mixing several languages, including Romanesque, Gothic, Manuelino, and Moorish Revival.
A Romantic garden and the most popular green space in Cascais, where cocks, chicken and poultry are now free to roam.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- A maximum of 12 people per booking
Reviews(59)
Luis was wonderful to do a tour with! He has a lot of knowledge about the history of Cascais. I would definitely recommend him for this tour and likely others. He was easy to communicate with him and on time for our meeting.
Rare and admirable thing: a family of three generations in which each and everyone has style, opinions and works perfectly on the road.
Luis was very knowledgeable & gave us a great tour of Cascais. We learnt a lot about history, architecture & culture which we would not have on our own. Highly reccomrnd.
Thank you so much for this kind and encouraging review. I'll be glad to offer your next tour in Lisbon.
Luis was a great tour guide. He is very knowledgeable and knew the answer to every question we asked. He made sure we had enough rest and that we were comfortable with the itinerary. I would highly recommend this tour of Cascais if you are visiting the area!
I am the one who must thank you for your interest and almost instant ability to understand the history and spirit of Cascais. I sincerely hope to see you again in Lisbon.
Luis was very knowledgeable, but seemed very set in his routine and was not particularly accommodating even though this was a private tour. He frequently stopped for long stretches in the sun even though there was shade very nearby. He also seemed quite distracted by our children, and commented at every stop that he would rush through for the children even though we told him we (and they) were fine. It seemed more for his comfort than for the kids. Ultimately he ended our tour early, and various of the stops described were simply pointed out rather than included on the tour (e.g., pointed out the park, told us about animals roaming, but didn’t actually take us there—this is something the kids would have very much enjoyed). It was a very good price, however, so would recommend for adults looking to learn about the history of Cascais.
Thank you for the recommendation, but I must admit that I am quite surprised by some of these remarks. How is it possible to complain of a lack of flexibility when I waited about half an hour for you to arrive, not at the designated place, but at the second location of the program (with all the changes it implied). Then the tour ended early, no doubt, because your daughter asked and you agreed to stay at the beach of Santa Marta, instead of continuing to the Carmona garden (with the animals) where we were supposed to end the tour. If you preferred to continue to the garden, you just had to say so. If I didn’t understand, I apologize.
Highly recommend this tour. Luis was knowledgeable and informative.
Thank you for choosing my tour and for your kind words!
Our guide, Luis Maio, was excellent. He's knowledgeable, nice, conversational, and has a great sense of humor. He also takes pains to ask if he's giving the kind of info we are interested in, have questions, or are doing okay with the walking conditions. Very flexible and gave us a beverage break so we could cool down, rest a bit.
These ladies immediately won my preference. They are part of a reading group, have strong opinions and enjoy art. They’re definitely my type!
Luis is an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable and personable. We learned a lot about Cascais and its history while walking throughout the town.
With visitors so open and interested in understanding Cascais, being a guide is not a job - it’s a pleasure. Thank you so much, Luis
Louis was an excellent guide, informative and fun. The walk was interesting and opened up a different view of the city for us. Louis was able to tailor the walking tour to us. He made excellent recommendations for other activities and brought the history alive with his stories. Highly recommend.
If all Aussies are like you and your husband I want to go and explore your country right away!!! What I mean is: Thank so much for your kind review. Best wishes, Luis
Lus was informative and obviously proud of the heritage and architecture of Cascais. However, he was not particularly engaging Iit felt like more of a lecture than a conversation. Would recommend, but set your expectations accordingly.
Thank you very much Sarah for your honest and insightful review. Of course, a walking tour should always be informative and as such a little like a lecture. Even so we certainly had the opportunity to dodge "the script" and talk informally about trekking, dogs and houses in the Bahamas and Newfoundland. Best regards, Luis
This was one of the best tours we've had. Louis was excellent, very knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating. It's so nice to get a tour from someone who really knows and appreciates the area's history and architecture. I highly recommend this tour!
Is there anything better than spending a spring morning in Cascais bay in the company of two charming scientists and university professors (and still being paid for it...)?
