Costa De Estoril
The sophisticated resort town of Estoril is situated just sixteen miles from Lisbon and offers a cosmopolitan holiday experience, with threes sandy beaches, an array of luxurious hotels, a championship golf course and some chic restaurants. During World War II exiled royalty from all over Europe took refuge here and whiled away their time gambling in the town's casino, which is one of the largest in Europe. The town is also known for its summer handicraft fair, and the nearby Estoril Autodrome, which draws motor racing enthusiasts.
Estoril contains a few shops, including a mini market, some craft shops and a variety of beach vendors for holiday essentials. Souvenirs are available, but for a real shopping spree visitors have to head for the large Cascais Shopping Centre a few miles away.
Quality not quantity is the best description for restaurants in Estoril, due to the small number of restaurants in the resort, all offering high quality gourmet cuisine and set in chic and sophisticated environments, offering both local and international menus. There are some laid back cafes around the casino, and casual eateries along the promenade. For a superb dining experience one cannot beat the Four Seasons in the Palácio Hotel, Rua do Parque, where the gourmet menu extends from sole meneure to wild boar cutlets. An excellent fish restaurant, next to the casino, is the Costa do Estoril, a good place to indulge in the Portuguese favourite codfish.
Estoril offers luxury and chic throughout it's holiday experience, so the nightlife is best spent at the famous casino, where in addition to trying their luck at the tables, visitors can also take in one of the flamboyant cabarets. When it comes to clubs and pubs, the options are better in nearby Cascais, but there is usually some youthful action going on at the Forte Velho, a club set inside an historic fort.
Estoril offers luxurious beaches with a range of water sports and many different types of daytime entertainment. It is particularly well equipped for golfers, and therefore draws plenty of same, who enjoy the old, established championship golf course. Tennis has also put Estoril on the map, its annual Tennis Open in April having ensured that the local tennis club offers plenty of state of the art courts, which guests can enjoy. There is a music museum to browse through in the town, and boat excursions on offer. When Estoril's attractions start to pall visitors can enjoy a walk along the esplanade to Cascais to see what is happening in this lively neighbouring resort.
Estoril is a tranquil and luxury holiday resort, which does not cater well to children or young party animals and offers for the main part a relaxing escape to visitors who wish to escape from the madding crowds.
