What to see in Estoril ?

Estoril is a coastal town 25 km from Lisbon that long played a discreet yet singular role in European history: during the Second World War, it served as a refuge for exiled royals and spies of all sides. This troubled past coexists today with an ordered seafront, the Casino Estoril — the largest in western Europe — and the atmosphere of a seaside resort that has aged without too much decay.

Two days are ample, ideally in spring or September to avoid summer saturation. The Cascais train from Cais do Sodré in Lisbon is the most logical way to get there, quick and cheap. Don't concentrate your stay around Tamariz beach on an August weekend: it becomes unmanageable. Instead plan a walk through to Cascais, twenty minutes on foot along the coast.