Estoril Tourism Information
Just sixteen miles west of Lisbon, Estoril is a cosmopolitan city with a famous promenade that lines three sandy beaches and is packed with luxurious hotels, a championship golf course and some of the finest cuisine in Portugal at the many excellent restaurants. The prime attractions for this upmarket resort are both the beaches and the casino.
Beaches on the Estoril Coast face south in a continuous line from the Tagus estuary and are known for their calm waters and fine sand. Carcavelos is a wide, long beach, next to the imposing fortress St. Julian of Barra, very popular and ideal for surfing. Parede climate is exceptionally rich in iodine, ideal for bone disorders. Guincho is lying at the foot of the Sintra hills and facing the Atlantic, the sand dunes blend subtly with the pine trees. It is another popular watersports destination, particularly among windsurfers with large breaks in the waves. The sea rushes here and there into majestic caverns such as the famous Boca do Inferno (Hell's Mouth).
The Estoril Casino is the largest in Europe. There is a great deal of entertainment here, including different types of gambling and nightly cabaret and music hall shows in a sophisticated atmosphere. Apart from the main activities of the casino, there is also an art gallery where a variety of art exhibitions are held, particularly of modern painting and sculpture.
There are seven golf courses in the area including Estoril golf course, which has a superb view of the sea and the nine-hole course at Estoril Sol, which will test even the most skilful players.
The centre of Estoril has many sights of architectural beauty including the Town Hall, which is noted for its old tiles and sits near the Praia dos Pescadores (Fisherman's beach), the Citadel, Fort of Cascais, built in the 16th century to protect the Bay of Cascais and Lisbon from invasion, and the Parish Church.
Shopping in the area is limited however, with just a handful of mini-markets though the shopping centre as Cascais is within easy reach.
