West of Lisbon the land runs out of road and meets the Atlantic. This is Cascais: a string of bays, pine-shaded parks and long beach afternoons, where children cycle to the sand and come home with salt in their hair.
Is Cascais good for families?
Yes, especially for families who want sea, space and a choice of international schools in a small area. The coast has beaches in every direction and a train line into Lisbon. The trade-offs are summer traffic and higher costs near the water.
The best things for kids in Cascais
- The beaches, from sheltered Cascais bay to the big sands of Carcavelos and the windy dunes of Guincho, where kite and wind surfers play.
- The seafront cycle path, which runs along the coast and suits children on bikes.
- Cascais old town and the citadel, for ice cream, boats and sea walls.
- Boca do Inferno, a sea cave where the waves crash in.
- Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe, and Sintra’s fairy-tale palaces a short drive inland.
- Parks in the shade, for when the beach is too hot or too windy.
Who Cascais suits
- Families who want an outdoor life with school close to home.
- Parents who commute to Lisbon by train. On CP’s weekday timetable in force since 6 April 2026, trains from Cais do Sodré to Cascais take 40 minutes on all-stops services and 33 minutes on the faster peak trains.
- Families who want to compare many international schools without leaving the coast.
The towns
- Cascais and Estoril: the heart of the coast, with the old town, the bay and the end of the line.
- Carcavelos and São Domingos de Rana: a large beach and an everyday-neighbourhood feel.
- Oeiras: between Cascais and Lisbon, home to several schools.
- Sintra: inland and green, with schools away from the train line.
Things to weigh
- The train helps the coast, not the inland schools. Some schools sit inland, away from the line. Test the drive at 8:00.
- School buses matter. Many schools run their own. Ask which streets they cover before you rent.
Schools in Cascais
Our guide to where to live in Cascais, area by area matches each area to its schools. When you are ready, see the international and private schools in Cascais. Or compare with Lisbon, Ericeira and the Algarve, or browse all schools.
