Chilling out in Portugal
My husband and I are thinking of going to Portugal this August. Cascais has been recommended to us; should we book there for the week or would you recommend spending a few days there and a night or two in Lisbon?
Can you give us some information on nice places to stay in both places -- are there any deals to be had? We are in our 30s, so looking for a fairly chilled-out holiday with good food and wine. Catriona Nash
Tom replies:
Cascais is a lovely seaside town with great beaches and a youthful air, and is popular with weekenders from Lisbon. A week here is enough to really relax and see the town as well as Lisbon, the hill-top town of Sintra and the remarkable palace at Mafra. Which of Cascais and Lisbon you stay in depends on whether you're keen on city or beach -- I'd probably split my time between the two so that you can experience Lisbon's superb nightlife, which is centred, among other places, in the narrow streets of the Barrio Alto.
In Cascais, you'll find plenty of outdoor restaurants around the pedestrianised street of Rua Frederico Arouca. For lunch, try the courtyard of the Centro Cultural de Cascais. The best sea views in town are at Furnas do Guincho, 1km along the road to the town of Guincho, which is the perfect place for a first or last night treat.
See www.visit-portugal.com.
- Tom Hall
