Estoril Coast holidays

Holidays to the Estoril Coast let you pick from the likes of quaint fishing towns and Portugal’s time-stamped capital.

The Portuguese Riviera

You might’ve heard about the Portuguese Riviera, but this part of the country’s actually called the Estoril Coast. It stretches all the way from the fishing town of Cascais in the west to the capital, Lisbon, in the east. And it’s a favourite holiday spot for jet-setters – the coastal hills are dotted with villas owned by celebs, and even the king built a summer home here back in the 19th century.

Little or large

The biggest player on the Estoril Coast is Lisbon. Here, you can uncover thousands of years of history in its cathedrals, temples and monasteries, swan around huge shopping centres, or fill up on local fare at a food market. Cascais, on the other hand, is perfect if you’re looking for somewhere a little more low key. And its coastline’s just as impressive – pint-sized beaches sit shoulder-to-shoulder with a palace, a fortress, and a marina full of yachts.

Sights and surf

It’s not just the south coast that shines here – turn your attention inland, and you’ll find even more to explore. Sintra’s biggest calling card is its bright yellow palace. And if you’re more of a hiker than a culture vulture, you can ramp up your step count on one of its forest trails. Further north, Ericiera’s been dubbed the surf capital of Portugal, and its village centre’s all ice-cream parlours, bakeries and seafood restaurants.