Living in Cascais: An Unmatched Quality of Life
Year-Round Sunshine
All our articles about Portugal start with this, but isn’t sunshine one of the most important criteria when deciding to change your life? Cascais, like Lisbon, enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with hot summers refreshed by a pleasant ocean breeze and mild, sunny winters. This perfect climate allows for outdoor living all year round, enjoying terraces, hiking, and even the beach from January to December!
Direct Access to the Most Beautiful Beaches
Cascais boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the country (and even in Europe!). Here, you’ll find fine golden sand beaches, perfect for swimming, surfing, and other water sports. Portugal takes great pride in offering clean and safe beaches, all equipped with showers, toilets, lifeguards, and restaurants. Despite a higher number of visitors in the summer, you can always find a quiet spot to relax!
An Ideal Location
Cascais couldn’t have a more ideal location, so it’s no wonder it’s the favorite destination for expatriates!
First, the city is just about thirty minutes from Lisbon. There are numerous transportation options to get to the capital, such as trains, buses, and taxis, which are fast, efficient, and affordable.
Cascais is close to the international airport, making the city very accessible from all over Europe and beyond! Even faster than for Lisbon itself, the airport is just 25 minutes from the city.
Finally, Cascais is surrounded by superb nature, whether it’s the beach, the forest, or the famous hills bordering the north and west of the capital. It’s an ideal starting point for excursions, hiking, or cycling!
One of the Safest Cities in Europe
Here again, Cascais strikes a sensitive chord: year after year, the city’s residents have worked hard to offer a clean and safe space, so much so that today Cascais is considered one of the safest cities in Europe!
A Rich Cultural Scene
No need to always go to Lisbon to enjoy a good cultural scene. Cascais has numerous museums, as well as art galleries, cinemas, and even theaters! Not to mention its famous Jazz festival, which attracts great artists from around the world every year.
A Very Affordable Cost of Living
Although the cost of living in Portugal has increased in recent years, it remains lower than in many European cities, even here, in one of the most upscale cities in the country!
To give you an idea, here are some average prices found in Cascais:
- Dinner: €20/person
- A pint of beer: €2
- A liter of milk: €0.90
- A kilo of rice: €1.50
- A kilo of tomatoes: €2
- A bus ticket: €2.40
- A transportation subscription: €40/month
- A liter of gasoline: €1.70
- Cinema ticket: €7
An international Community
As mentioned earlier, Cascais represents the largest expatriate center in Portugal: between 2011 and 2021, the international population increased by 53%, and today, foreigners make up about 16% of the city’s population!
Integrating here is particularly easy, especially thanks to the many support groups and communities on-site. For example, consider:
- The Cascais International Club: offers events, Portuguese classes, and cultural activities for locals and foreigners. A great way to meet people and get answers to all your questions!
- Many facebook groups like the International Mums & Dads Cascais / Estoril / Sintra, Expats living in Cascais, Cascaisiennes, etc.
A Luxurious Real Estate Market
The real estate market in Cascais is quite high-end, with old apartments in the city center and very luxurious recent developments, from high-end residences to villas with sea views.
Check out our article on the real estate market in Cascais here.
Conclusion
Cascais is the ideal destination for those who wish to live close to the capital without its drawbacks, while being by the sea, close to nature, in a safe and welcoming city!
