Cascais

From CruisersWiki

Cascais, Portugal (Port of Entry)

Once a small fishing village, Cascais is now a smart resort town, packed with elegant boutiques and restaurants. It is situated on the north side of the mouth of the River Tejo which flows through the capital of Portugal, Lisbon. Cascais’ popularity dates from 1870, when King Luís I decided to convert the 17th century Citadela here into his summer residence. Other aristocratic palaces and mansions soon followed and in 1926 the resort’s status was confirmed when the railway line from Lisbon to Cascais was the first in Portugal to be electrified. In view of Portugal’s neutrality during World War II, the heads of state of a number of European countries found refuge in Cascais and the nearby resort of Estoril. Among them were the Duke of Windsor, King Umberto of Italy, King Carol II of Romania, Prince Juan of Spain, Count Henri of France and Regent Horthy of Hungary. The town now boasts a smart 650-berth marina, Marina de Cascais to receive a new influx of celebrities - the world’s cruising yachtsmen and women - who are attracted by its convenience for visiting the attractions of Lisbon or Sintra.

Local Weather

Give local weather conditions or refer to another page (a region or island group) that covers these conditions.

Sources for Weather forecasts:

• See also Portugal.

Charts

British Admiralty

3635

3263

Portuguese

23203

24203

24204

26406

26303

Radio Nets

Also see World Cruiser's Nets

Approach and Navigation

Cascais is situated nine miles SE of Cabo da Roca and four miles W of the entrance to Lisbon. If approaching from the north, stay one mile off Cabo da Roca and Cabo Rasa. Leave the three S cardinal buoys and a further red can buoy to port as you pass along the southern breakwater. If approaching from the south, pass Cabo Espichel then steer a course of 331º, leaving a red pillar buoy one mile to port. The marina is entered from the NE. Keep clear of the end of the breakwater, leaving an unlit small red buoy to port. The reception quay is immediately to starboard on entering.

Check-in facilities (for Customs and Immigration)

Cascais is a port of entry/exit to Portugal.

Please submit details about facilities for checking-in, location of immigration & customs, etc.

Berthing Options

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

Marina de Cascais is a smart, full service marina offering a total of 650 berths for vessels up to 35 metres in minimum depths of 6.0 metres. Click on link for separate Wiki entry.

Anchorages

There is an anchorage just NE of the marina, which is sheltered from all directions except SE. Some occasional gusts in the afternoon seabreezes. Anchor wherever you can clear of the many moorings.

Yacht Repairs and Services

Marine Stores

Submit addresses and contact details of marine related businesses that are of interest to cruisers.

Repairs/Yards

Boatyard in the marina with most electrical, electronic and sail repairs.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel berth in the marina and water and electricity on all pontoons.

Things to do Ashore

Tourism

Although there is little left of the fishing village which gave rise to Cascais, the town is not unattractive and repays at least a morning’s exploration. The Museu do Conde de Castro Guimarães is a remarkable structure in itself and has an excellent collection of 18th and 19th century artifacts, including some fine Indo-Portuguese furniture and an outstanding library. The church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção is also worth a visit for its 16th century altar, 18th century hand-painted tiles and several paintings by Josefa d’Óbidos, a celebrated female 17th century artist who achieved a status rare for women at the time. Finally, the Grutas de Alapraia in the north of the town are an unusual attraction, a series of underground caves dating back to the Neolithic period and only discovered in the late 19th Century. If venturing further afield, Cascais is a handy base for exploring the charms of Sintra ten miles to the north, with its overblown ‘Neuschwanstein’-style royal castle, Palacio de Pena, on a dizzy peak overlooking the town and 9th century Moorish castle Castelo dos Mouros, built on an equally inaccessible crag to the north.

Cascais from the marina

Museu do Conde de Castro Guimarães

The town of Sintra

Grocery & Supply Stores

• Excellent Pingo Doce supermarket in the marina.
• Other shops 10 minutes away in the town.

Eateries

A total of eight cafes, bars and restaurants around the marina. Numerous others in the town.

Internet/WiFi

In the marina.

Laundry

In the marina.

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Several outlets in the town.

Garbage Disposal

Bins in the marina.

Transportation

• Regular trains into Lisbon
• Bus service to Sintra

Routes/Passages To/From Cascais

See Portugal.

Cruiser's Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

External Links

• Cascais at the Wikipedia

References & Publications

See Portugal.

Personal Notes

Personal experiences?

• With our Lagoon 380, called Mobilae, we stayed two nights in Cascais. One in the Marina and the other anchored just outside the marina. The marina was surprisingly cheap for a catamaran, 23 Euro (March 2012). Very friendly welcome and because it was our first time in this marina, we were welcomed with a basket with a bottle of wine and some Cascais brochures --Mobilae

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:

• April 2001 --Athene of Lymington 18:59, 22 March 2010 (UTC)
• March 2012 --Mobilae

This is a usable page of the cruising guide. However, please contribute if you can to help it grow further. Click on Comments to add your personal notes on this page or to discuss its contents. Alternatively, if you feel confident to edit the page, click on the edit tab at the top and enter your changes directly.

Contributors to this page
Names: Lighthouse, Athene of Lymington, Mobilae