Travel expert Simon Calder has highlighted Cascais, a coastal town near Lisbon, Portugal, as one of his favourite winter destinations for British pensioners, with visitors describing it as a "slice of heaven." The town offers excellent value in the colder months, an average temperature of 18C in November, and direct flights from UK airports to the neighbouring Portuguese capital.
Why Cascais appeals to older visitors
Cascais is easy to explore on foot, making it an especially attractive spot for older travellers. Travel blogger Caroline, from Packthesuitcases, praised the town as "a nice walkable size, you don't need to worry about taxis and buses unless you're venturing further afield to things like Cabo da Roca - everything in the town itself is easily reached on foot."
Caroline also highlighted how simple it is to reach Cascais by train from Lisbon, explaining that "the train takes about 40 minutes from Cais do Sodré, and it's an enjoyable journey along the coast."
Simon Calder's description of the town
On his travel podcast, Simon Calder described Cascais as one of his "favourite Portuguese locations." He said: "Cascais is the port planted elegantly on the shoreline west of the capital, Lisbon, on what's known as the Portuguese Riviera. It was settled in turn by Romans, Visigoths and Moors, and today the centre of Cascais is an intriguing combination of sun-worn houses, cafés, shops and smart hotels."
He also noted that there are "excellent beaches within easy reach of Cascais," offering another reason to consider the town for a getaway.
Visitor reactions
One visitor on Tripadvisor described the town as "a little slice of heaven," adding: "Cascais is amazing, beautiful coastline, stunning, immaculate beaches and a really charming town. The people are lovely, and the food is out of this world!"
