Cidadela de Cascais

We have been trying “like forever” to get a tour of the Citadel Palace. Either it was closed or there were no English-speaking guides available. You see, you take a risk if you simply show up to tour the Palace. If you are an English speaker, you must be accompanied by an English-speaking guide. Those are the rules. On this occasion our timing was perfect and we were fortunate to have Alexander as our English-speaking guide. He was friendly, informative, interesting and, at times, funny. We had a small group and everyone was very engaged. Apparently, our enthusiasm rubbed-off on Alexander who was even more excited and animated to share with us his thoughts and insights. A throughly enjoyable tour. Helpful Hint: Plan ahead and make a reservation. On Sundays the tours are free.

Nice city center with museums and cafe and hotel

Thought I was walking into a fort but instead found myself walking into a beautiful courtyard surrounded by art galleries, tavern, bookstore, sitting areas, and the most impressive sculptures both in the front and back. There's a modern 5-star hotel at one end with a very impressive lobby. Great place if you want to have some quiet time away from the crowded bustling streets of Cascais. I'm not sure if there was anything else inside the fortress but this area alone made it worthwhile.

10mins walk from the beach. Surrounding were cafes and restaurants. Beautiful setting

Beautiful citadel. They made it a place with galleries for artists. And have sculptures on the plaza. Several other stores like book shop and accessories. The place feels very relaxing.

Beautiful place to visit in Cascais, its located near the beach, just a few steps, walk around and feel the special atmosphere of this magical small town, there's nice restaurants all over the place, and you better taste the fresh fishes with a glass of port wine 🍷, the open blue ocean make the moment so special and unique. 😍 This area is fantastic for handling around in the evening and it is recommended.

Very well organised tour. You will get an in-depth travel through the Portuguese past, relationships with other countries that go waaaaay back, beautiful gifts from other rulers of old . Everything is kept pristine and functional and the place was even used as an official residence quite recently. Worth a visit.

The Citadel's origins date back to the early 16th century, when King John II ordered the construction of a defensive tower to protect the entrance to the Tagus River and the nearby coastal area from pirates and invaders. Over the centuries, the structure was expanded and fortified, particularly during the reign of King Philip I of Portugal (also known as Philip II of Spain),