Cascais Neighbourhoods

📍 Location:  Inland, northwest of Cascais town and close to the Sintra Mountains

🏖 Beaches:  Not directly on the coast, but a short drive to Guincho Beach. 

🌟 Charm: Traditional Portuguese village with a rural feel and local charm.   If you prefer the countryside over the coastline, Alcabideche offers a completely different experience. Nestled in the foothills of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, it has a distinctly local and traditional feel, where whitewashed houses and family-run cafés still dominate the landscape. While it lacks the ocean, it makes up for it with breathtaking nature, making it a haven for hikers, cyclists, and those who love a quiet, rural atmosphere.

🏡 Residential or Commercial:  Primarily residential with a mix of older homes and modern developments.

🌳 Parks/Nature:  Close to Sintra-Cascais Natural Park.

🏄 Surfing:   None, but close to Guincho Beach.

⛳ Golf:  A five minute drive to Clube to Estoril and a ten minute drive to Quinta da Marinha Golf Clube. 

🍽 Food Scene: Traditional Portuguese eateries and local markets.

💡 Fun Fact:  Alcabideche is home to the oldest church in the Cascais area, the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição! ⛪️✨ Built in the 16th century, it has a rich history and was originally part of a monastery. The church still stands today, and its architecture reflects the early Renaissance style! 🌿🕊️

🏫 Schools:

• International: Tasis Portugal (IB), Carlucci American International School of Lisbon (IB), International Preparatory School (IPS Cascais) (Cambridge), Aprendizes (Cambridge), International Christian School
• Private Portuguese: Salesianos de Manique.
• Public:  Several public schools. 

📍 Location:  In the foothills of the Sintra mountains, north of Guincho Beach. 

🏖 Beaches:  A short drive to Guincho Beach, a famous windsurfing spot.

🌟 Charm: A rural, nature-filled escape, ideal for outdoor lovers. 

🏡 Residential or Commercial: Primarily residential, with a mix of locals and a growing expat base.

🌳 Parks/Nature: Right next to the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, which is great for hiking.

🏄 Surfing: Guincho Beach is great for windsurfing and kitesurfing.

⛳ Golf: Both Quinta da Marinha Golf Course and Oitavos Dunes Golf Club are a ten minute short drive away. 

🍽 Food Scene:  Local restaurants and taverns.

💡 Fun Fact: Malveira da Serra is famous for its breathtaking viewpoints! 🏞️🌄 Due to its location within the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, it offers stunning panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, Sintra mountains, and the surrounding lush greenery. It’s a popular spot for hiking and nature walks, where visitors can enjoy both peaceful nature and incredible vistas! 🌿👀

🏫 Schools:

• International:  None, but a lot within a 10/15 minute drive.  
• Private Portuguese: None, but like above, many within a 10/15 minute drive. 
• Public:  It has a public national school, but all secondary public schools are a 10/15 minute drive. 

📍 Location: A quiet residential area, between Cascais and Guincho Beach.

🏖 Beaches:  A short drive to Guincho BEach and to the Cascais Beaches.

🌟 Charm: A quiet, family-friendly area. 

🏡 Residential or Commercial:   Mostly high end residential.

🌳 Parks/Nature: Close to Sintra-Cascais Natural Park.

🏄 Surfing: Guincho Beach is a 5 minute drive away.

⛳ Golf:  Both Quinta da Marinha Golf Course and Oitavos Dunes Golf Club a short drive away. 

🍽 Food Scene:  A few local cafés, restaurants in the locality. 

🏫 Schools:   

• International:  Aprendizes (Cambridge), Kings College (Cambridge/ a Bilingual curriculum), St George's School (Cambridge)
  Private Portuguese:  Yes, close by.
  Public:  Yes, close by.

📍 Location:  A quiet residential area just next to Guincho Beach.

🏖 Beaches: Guincho Beach is within walking distance, famous for surfing and windsurfing.

🌟 Charm: A small, rural village with a laid-back feel and countryside-oriented.

🏡 Residential or Commercial:  Mostly residential with some charming restaurants.

🌳 Parks/Nature: Near Sintra-Cascais Natural Park.

🏄 Surfing:  Close to Guincho Beach. 

⛳ Golf: Both Quinta da Marinha Golf Course and Oitavos Dunes Golf Club are a short drive away. 

🍽 Food Scene: Traditional seafood and Portuguese cuisine.

💡 Fun Fact: The village's name, "Areia," derives from the Portuguese word for "sand," likely referencing its proximity to Guincho Beach and the sandy nature of its soil. 

🏫 Schools:   

• International: Aprendizes (Cambridge), Kings College (Cambridge/ a Bilingual curriculum), St George's School (Cambridge), Kairros Montessori. 
• Private Portuguese: None.
• Public:  Areia-Guincho Elementary School. 

📍 Location: The heart of Cascais, by the marina.

🏖 Beaches: Praia da Rainha, Praia da Ribeira, and Praia da Duquesa.

🌟 Charm: Historic, vibrant, and cosmopolitan. 

🏡 Residential or Commercial:  A mix of boutique hotels, restaurants, and apartments.

🌳 Parks/Nature: Marechal Carmona Park, close to the marina. 

🏄 Surfing:   No surf, but close to Carcavelos and Guincho.

⛳ Golf:  Both Quinta da Marinha Golf Course and Oitavos Dunes Golf Club are a ten minute drive away. 

🍽 Food Scene:  Top-tier restaurants and one of the best food scenes in Portugal, seafood, international cuisine, and trendy cafés.

💡 Fun Fact: Cascais, once a modest fishing village, transformed into a royal retreat in the late 19th century. In 1878, it became the first town in Portugal to have electric street lighting, a testament to its modernizing spirit.  The town's name is believed to derive from "cascal," meaning "shell," reflecting its coastal heritage.

🏫 Schools:   

• International:  Brave Generation Academy (A hybrid education and personal development model). 
• Private Portuguese: Colégio Amor de Deus. 
• Public:  Several public schools. 

📍 Location:  North of Cascais town center.

🏖 Beaches:  Very close to central Cascais beaches.

🌟 Charm:  Family-friendly and peaceful.

🏡 Residential or Commercial:  Mostly residential with shops and cafés.

🌳 Parks/Nature:  Close to Marechal Carmona Park.

🏄 Surfing:  None, but Guincho Beach a short drive away. 

⛳ Golf:  Both Quinta da Marinha Golf Course and Oitavos Dunes Golf Club are a ten minute drive away. 

🍽 Food Scene:  Local restaurants and bakeries.

🏫 Schools:

• International: None but several within a short driving distance. 
• Private Portuguese: Several private schools in the locality.
• Public:  Several public schools. 

📍 Location: Set inland, a 12-minute drive north of Cascais town center, near the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park.  It also has easy access to the A5 highway.

🏖 Beaches: While not directly on the coast, it’s a short drive to Praia do Guincho and Praia da Cresmina.

🌟 Charm: Quiet, rustic, and tranquil, Aldeia da Juzo offers a rural atmosphere with easy access to both nature and urban life.

🏡 Residential or Commercial: Primarily residential with a peaceful village feel.

🌳 Parks/Nature: Surrounded by the beautiful Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, ideal for hiking and nature lovers.

🏄 Surfing: Not in Aldeia da Juzo, but Guincho Beach, a popular surfing destination, is nearby.

⛳ Golf: A short drive to Quinta da Marinha Golf Course, Oitavos Dunes, and the Estoril Golf Club.

🍽 Food Scene: Limited local dining options within the village, but a variety of restaurants can be found nearby.

💡 Fun Fact: This quaint village is home to the archaeological site of the Roman Villa of Casais Velhos. This ancient villa, situated on a hill overlooking the Cresmina Dune, offers a glimpse into the region's rich history.

🏫 Schools:

• International: Aprendizes (Cambridge), St. George's (Cambridge), and Kings College (Cambridge, a Bilingual curriculum)
• Private Portuguese: None, but many in Cascais.
• Public: Básica Aldeia do Juso (primary).

📍 Location: Just north of Cascais town center, offering easy access to the A5 highway.

🏖 Beaches: A short drive to Cascais’ central beaches and Guincho Beach.

🌟 Charm: A peaceful, family-friendly neighbourhood with a mix of modern and traditional homes.

🏡 Residential or Commercial: Primarily residential, with local shops, cafés, and essential services.

🌳 Parks/Nature: Close to nature trails and green spaces, with easy access to Sintra-Cascais Natural Park.

🏄 Surfing: No direct surf spots, but Guincho Beach is just a short drive away.

📍 Location:  Quinta da Marinha is located 5km west of Cascais town centre. It's an upscale area known for its tranquillity and natural beauty.

🏖 Beaches: Close to several beautiful beaches, including Praia do Guincho (famous for its wild beauty and strong winds), and Praia da Cresmina, both popular for their stunning landscapes.

🌟 Charm: This area is known for its peaceful atmosphere and is surrounded by lush green nature, elegant villas, and golf resorts. 

🏡 Residential or Commercial: Residential, Quinta da Marinha is home to upscale villas and apartments.

🌳 Parks/Nature:  Close to the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, offering lush green spaces, walking trails, and scenic views of the mountains and coastline. It's a perfect area for nature lovers.

🏄 Surfing:  Close to Praia do Guincho, which is famous for its surfing conditions all year round.

⛳ Golf: Quinta da Marinha is home to the Quinta da Marinha Golf Course, and the Oitavos Dunes Golf Course. 

🍽 Food Scene:   This small area offers traditional Portuguese cuisine with a few other charming restaurants and cafés.

💡 Fun Fact:  In the 1920s, Carlos Montez Champalimaud, a Portuguese military doctor with French aristocratic roots, acquired the estate from the Count of Moser. Recognizing the need to combat sand dune erosion, he initiated the planting of extensive pine forests and commissioned architects Cocket and Burns to design the area's first urban plan.   The estate's transformation continued over the decades, with significant developments in the latter half of the 20th century. 

🏫 Schools:

• International:   Brave Generation Academy (A hybrid education and personal development model),  Kairros Montessori (Cambridge). 
• Private Portuguese: None
• Public:  Guincho Primary close by.