Things to See and Do in Cascais and Lisbon

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....Sightseeing Tips

You’ve come to Cascais, Portugal for NamesCon Europe, but there are many reasons to extend your stay. You won’t be alone: Portugal welcomed nearly 13 million tourists in 2018, and tourism injected an estimated €35.2 billion into the country’s economy. (On a related note, the vowel sound “oão” is pronounced like “wow”.)

All these visitors are coming for a reason—well, for many reasons. Whether you’re staying in Cascais or diving into Lisbon, you will definitely not be bored. Consider these tips as a point of departure for your own explorations.

Oh, Those Beaches

You’ll definitely be checking out Praia do Guincho during NamesCon Europe Beach Day, but there are others as well: we’d put the coast around Cascais right up there with Highway 1 in California and the Great Ocean Road in Australia.

Boca do Inferno (Cascais)

Sure, it’s called The Mouth of Hell, but it’s quite a beautiful and relaxing spot during the summer! Explore an open-air cave pounded out over the eons by the mighty Atlantic Ocean, and take in stunning views of the Portuguese coastline. This is a very easy walk from the Cascais waterfront.

Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour (Lisbon and Cascais)

Catch an all-day (or two-day) tour of Lisbon, which can be extended to include Cascais. You can cover a lot of ground this way without having to worry about parking. It’s affordable as well, starting at €15 per person.

Boat Tour (Lisbon)

Portugal is historically a seafaring nation, so why not explore Lisbon by boat? A two-hour tour aboard a luxury catamaran, complete with a glass of wine, starts at €30 per person.

Old Centre of Cascais

Get lost in the twisty streets of Cascais—enjoy the beautiful architecture and lush greenery in this little city by the sea.

Casa das Histórias Paula Rego

This stunning building offers a contemporary echo of the region’s historical architecture. Located around the corner from the Pestana Citadela Cascais, the focal point of NamesCon Europe 2019.

Santa Marta Lighthouse and Museum

This 17th-Century structure began its life as a fort. Now it’s a key feature of Cascais’ coastline—and it’s a two-minute walk from our venue.

Mercado da Vila de Cascais

This town market runs Tuesdays-Sundays up the hill from Cascais train station. Besides restaurants and bars, you’ll find a fruit market and vintage-goods market on this site.

Golf

Gorgeous courses such as Quinta da Marinha and the Oitavos Dunes are nestled in the parklands just north of Cascais. Book an early tee time, since the weather warms up quickly.

Kitesurfing, Stand-Up Paddleboarding, Fishing

When you’re by the sea, take advantage of it! Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie or just looking to chill, there’s plenty to do in the water once you get to Cascais.

Tips from a Top Domainer

Oh, and there’s much more. Our friend Andrew Rosener of Media Options is now a Lisbon local—he put together a superb list of things to do in this amazing country… and naturally he scored the perfect domain name for it: PortugalTravel.com!

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