JUST 16 miles from the bustling city of Lisbon is a hidden gem town with stunning architecture and a royal past.
Cascais sits on the and is known for its scenic beaches.
Cascais in Portugal is just a 40-minute train ride from LisbonCredit: Alamy
The town has a long history of being a glamorous destination, especially with royaltyCredit: Getty
The town itself has a Museum Quarter and lots of cobbled streets with quaint shops like Santini – a famous gelato ice cream storeCredit: Alamy
The town started out as a fishing village before becoming a popular retreat for the Portuguese royal family.
For example, in the 1870s, King Luis I of had a summer home in Cascais and as a result, the destination was viewed by others as a glamorous place to go.
Many wealthy families then started to visit, resulting in a number of grand mansions being built.
Later, during the the town became a safe haven for exiled European royalty.
And a number of spies also resided in the region – which ultimately inspired Ian Fleming’s first novel, Casino Royale, set in Estoril nearby.
Today, the rich and famous still enjoy the town with new £22million house – which is rumoured to be Portugal’s most expensive residence – located in Quinta da Marinha, in Cascais.
For those heading to the town there is plenty to do.
Rather uniquely, Cascais has a ‘Museum Quarter’ where visitors can explore the Condes de Castro Guimaraes Museum inside the Palace of the Counts of Castro Guimaraes.
The mock-Gothic building features the in the town.
Alternatively, travellers can head to the Sea Museum that includes exhibits on underwater archeology and the original fishing community that lived in the town.
Then in the historic centre, there are a number of charming with traditional mosaic pavements, pretty squares and quaint shops.
Of course, the town has sprawling beaches too.
One spot is Praia da Conceicao – a golden sand beach near the centre of the town where you can head to Estoril along a coastal path.
The path stretches over 1.5 miles long and offers beautiful sea views from several beaches.
One recent visitor said: “This is a beautiful beach in the Cascais area near the
“I’d say it’s a small beach with calm, clean, but cool waters.
“The beach also has good facilities: restrooms, showers, a beach bar, a restaurant, and umbrella rentals.
“I loved the caves and rocks, and Rua Frederico Arouca near the beach is lined with bars, , and souvenir shops.”
Many of the streets in the town’s historic centre feature intricate mosaicsCredit: Getty
If you enjoy , you should head to Praia do Guincho, which boasts large, crashing waves.
There is also the Santa Marta Lighthouse to explore, which has a blue and white exterior and also has a museum about the country’s
If you fancy a longer hike, with forests and sights of head to the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park.
Depending on what time of the year you visit, the town also hosts a number of events such as jazz festivals, sailing championships and a
When it comes to the food scene, there is a lot of choice as well.
Linking back to its fishing village past, the destination has lots of top seafood spots with fresh dishes such as lobster stew and grilled fish.
One well-rated spot is Residente, which features a cream and green interior, with a tiled bar and lots of plants hanging from the ceiling.
You could opt for traditional Portuguese octopus rice with garlic and coriander for €22 (£19.13) or traditional cod fish with egg, onion and potato for €18 (£15.65).
There are many sprawling beaches in the town, as well as a 1.5 mile coastal pathCredit: Getty
For something sweeter, make sure to head to Santini – a historicthat has been a part of Cascais for over 50 years.
The town also has a lot of to choose from depending on your budget.
You could stay at the Grande Real Villa Itália Hotel & Spa, which used to be the home of exiled Italian kings.
The hotel faces the ocean and has a swimming pool, spa, gym and is close to a number of golf courses.
It costs from £179.05 a night, for two adults.
Or you could head to Legacy Hotel Cascais, Curio Collection By Hilton from £137 per night.
The hotel is just a five-minute walk to the town centre and a 10-minute walk to the beach.
Flights to Lisbon cost as little as £51 return from the UKCredit: Getty
In addition to modern rooms and a breakfast buffet, the hotel also has a indoor swimming pool, spa and wellness centre, sauna, sun terrace and sprawling garden.
The best way to get to the town is by flying to Lisbon, which costs from £41 if flying from , from £42 if flying from and from £57 if flying from .
Once in hop on the train to Cascais, which takes around 40 minutes and costs from as little as €2.30 (£2) per way.
Make sure to grab a seat on the left side of the train, as the entire journey runs along the to Cascais, so you will be able to see lots of pretty towns, beaches and monuments.
Cascais is then also the last stop on the journey so you don’t need to worry about missing your stop.
If you are looking for other places to travel to in Portugal, here are including Algarve-alternative beaches where you can stay from £19 a night.
Plus, has sand, sea and sensible prices for all budgets.
And then the train to Cascais costs just £2 per wayCredit: Getty 
