Estoril holidays

Away from the water, Estoril is a great place to improve your handicap, with half a dozen top golf courses within easy reach. Tee off at the prestigious Estoril Golf Course and don’t miss Oitavos Dunes, an Arthur Hills-designed links course regularly touted as one of Portugal's best. Motor-racing fans, meanwhile, should make a pilgrimage to the old Formula One track, with its short but superb 13-race history.

Foodies are in for a treat, too. Dine on freshly grilled fish and specialities such as caldeirada (seafood stew) and bacalhau (salted cod), paired with incredibly drinkable Portuguese wines. Afterwards, stroll along the boardwalk to Cascais for an ice-cream at Gelados Santini – a local institution – or retire for a sesta (Portuguese siesta). Whatever you fancy, a holiday to Estoril delivers.

The sweet spot is May or September, when the weather is warm, the beaches are quieter and holiday accommodation is cheaper. The Atlantic Ocean is pretty chilly all year round, but the water is warmer in autumn than spring.

Backed by the promenade and overlooked by a 17th-century fort, this crescent-shaped swathe of sand is the most popular beach in Estoril. Gently lapping waves and rock pools make it a family-friendly spot, while the saltwater pool at the eastern end is ideal for swimming laps. With umbrellas to rent and plenty of beachside cafés, you can happily spend the whole day here.

Tamariz is close to the train station, so weekends are particularly busy with day-trippers from Lisbon.

Casino Estoril

Fancy a flutter? Head to this upscale casino for table games and slot machines. Not for you? Dine, drink and dance in the establishment’s swanky restaurants, bars, nightclubs. It hosts regular stage shows, too.

There’s even something for history fans and film buffs – the casino’s colourful World War II history is said to have inspired author Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel, Casino Royale, although the modern building is somewhat lacking in charm.

Hotel Palacio

Built in 1930, this glamorous grande dame was the preferred haunt of European royals and British spies during World War II – so it’s no surprise to learn that the 1969 Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service was shot here.

Even if you’re not staying at this five-star hotel, you can still book an Asian-inspired treatment in the Banyan Tree Spa, play a round at the 18-hole golf course and order a ‘007 Martini’ in the very bar where Ian Fleming, then a Royal Navy intelligence officer, used to hang out.

Cascais

Estoril’s sister resort is bigger, busier and just 3km (1.8 miles) away. Walk or cycle along the seafront promenade that connects the two resorts, and go swimming and paddleboarding in Cascais’ trio of golden bays.

In the car-free old town, you’ll find restaurants serving the catch of the day, as well as independent boutiques selling unique clothes, homewares and jewellery. Feeling active? Continue along the boardwalk to the wild and windswept Guincho Beach.

Sintra

Hire a car or catch the bus to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed town of Sintra, less than 15km (9 miles) north of Estoril. Once the summer retreat of Portuguese royalty, the hillside town is peppered with fairytale castles and lush gardens.

Make a beeline for Palácio Nacional da Pena (Pena Palace), a flamboyant mix of Neo-Gothic, Islamic and Renaissance architectural styles. Then, hike over to the nearby ruins of the ninth-century Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish Castle) for sweeping views.