Stays in Cascais

I would pick Health Village Apartments for a family that wants a calm base with space for the children to play. Each apartment has a private bathroom, air conditioning and a balcony, and the grounds offer a year-round outdoor pool, spa facilities, a garden and a children's playground. A coffee shop with outdoor seating is on site. It is rated 9.4 from 57 reviews, which suggests the family-friendly setup works in practice.

I would suggest The Albatroz to families who want a historic cliff-top hotel over Cascais Bay. The five-star beachfront property sits on the cliffs of the Estoril Coast with a sea-view swimming pool, a spa and a rooftop area. Rooms are individually themed, some with balconies over the bay, and pets are welcome. Guests rate it 9.3 across 789 reviews, one of the strongest scores in Cascais.

Grande Real Villa Itália is a former royal residence facing the Atlantic, and its appeal for families is calm and space rather than children's facilities, which the listing does not mention. Rooms are palatial, with classical furnishings and Italian marble bathrooms, and the thalasso spa gives parents a proper break. Golf courses are close by for a parent who plays. I would choose it for a family with older children who enjoy an elegant setting by the sea.

I would suggest the Fortaleza do Guincho to families who want a dramatic setting and a serious dinner. The boutique hotel stands on the site of a 17th-century fortress, with panoramic views of the Atlantic and Guincho Beach, a Michelin-starred restaurant and a second dining option. Guests get preferential rates at a nearby spa, and pets are welcome. Guests rate it 9.3 across 855 reviews.

Artsy Cascais sits on the shore next to Ribeira Beach, so families can go from the hotel to the sand in a short stroll. The rooftop pool and sun terrace look over the sea, a good place for children to swim when the Atlantic is too cool. Rooms are air-conditioned with balconies, many facing the water. Parents can use the spa, and the restaurant serves international dishes for easy evenings. Cascais' sights are close by. Guests rate this five-star hotel 9.2 out of 10 across 452 reviews.

Two pools are the first thing I would mention to families: a rooftop pool for sunny afternoons and an indoor pool for cooler days. Rooms at Legacy Hotel Cascais are air-conditioned, with sea views and balconies, and the lush garden and sun terrace give children room outdoors. The modern restaurant serves Italian cuisine, an easy choice with young eaters, and there is a bar for parents. The spa and wellness centre suits a quiet hour while the other parent watches the kids.

Onyria Marinha Cascais sits among gardens and pine trees in Quinta da Marinha, a calm setting a short drive from central Cascais. Families get a large pool area and family-friendly facilities, while the surrounding estate is pleasant to explore on foot or by bike. Parents can book the spa, and golfers have the Robert Trent Jones Sr. course right next door, with views towards the Atlantic and the Sintra hills. Guests rate this five-star hotel 9.1 out of 10 across 449 reviews.

I would choose Villa Galé Cascais for a couple or a small family that wants a self-catering base with sea views. The one-bedroom apartments have air conditioning, a private balcony, a kitchenette, a private bathroom and free Wi-Fi. The property adds a sauna, a hot tub, a year-round outdoor pool, a garden and a bar, and parking on site is free. Only three reviews are listed so far, so I would treat the 9.0 rating as an early sign.

Longevity Senses is adults-only, so I would not suggest it for a stay with children. For parents taking a break without the kids, it is a strong option: rooms have balconies, the saltwater pool sits in a pine garden, and the spa is at the centre of the stay. The hotel lies between Cascais and Guincho Beach, which makes both the town and the coast easy to reach. Families with children will find better-suited addresses elsewhere in Cascais.

I would choose the Cascais Miragem for a family that wants a five-star beachfront hotel with an infinity pool. The outdoor infinity pool looks over the Atlantic, and a full-service spa and health club are on site. Marble bathrooms are standard, and some rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and furnished terraces over Cascais Bay. Guests rate it 8.9 across 780 reviews, a strong score.

I recommend Farol to couples, and to families with older children, who want Cascais at its most polished. The sundeck looks straight out over the Atlantic, the saltwater pool is a calm alternative to the beaches, and the spa and sushi bar make an evening in easy. Rooms come with bathrobes, minibars and massage showers, and the marina and the town are a short walk away.

Pestana Cidadela Cascais is a five-star pousada within a renovated 16th-century citadel complex, blending history and contemporary art. It has indoor and outdoor pools with marina views and a spa, and room types include apartments, in a beachfront location overlooking the sea and Cascais Marina. The hotel is family-friendly and pet-friendly. Guests rate it 8.7 across more than 200 reviews, and it suits romantic getaways.

I would choose the Onyria Quinta da Marinha for a family that wants a golf and spa resort in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. The luxury resort has an 18-hole golf course, two restaurants and a spa, with pool facilities. Rooms have spacious balconies looking over the golf course or the Sintra mountains, and Molton Brown amenities. Organic dining options are available. Guests rate it 8.7 across 683 reviews.

Vila Galé Cascais is a four-star hotel overlooking the sea, near Cascais Marina and the town centre. It has an outdoor swimming pool for adults and children, free Wi-Fi, and spacious air-conditioned rooms and suites, many with sea views. The hotel is family-friendly and offers golf facilities. Guests rate it 8.5 across more than 2,600 reviews, a solid score for a seafront hotel.

Space is what I would point out to families at Sheraton Cascais Resort: suites as well as rooms, outdoor pools and an extensive garden where children can run. The Atlantic is about a four-minute drive away, close enough for a beach morning and back for a nap. Parents can take turns at the spa, and golfers have quality courses right around the resort. The on-site restaurant saves a drive at dinner. Families wanting to walk to shops and cafés should plan on the car.

Pestana Cascais Ocean & Conference Aparthotel is a four-star aparthotel on the Estoril Coast. It has indoor and outdoor pools, a spa with a sauna, and family-friendly apartments with spacious balconies and kitchenettes. Atlantic Ocean views open from the palm gardens and the outdoor pool, and the restaurants serve Portuguese and Mediterranean cuisine. Guests rate it 8 across more than 3,000 reviews. The kitchenettes make longer family stays easier.

I would suggest the Cascais Hotel to families who want a modern base 300 metres from the beach. It stands in central Cascais, with spacious air-conditioned rooms and en-suite bathrooms. A daily breakfast buffet is served, and evening drinks are available at the hotel bar. Lisbon is 20 km away, so it works as a base for the wider region. Guests rate it 8.0 across 837 reviews.

Kavia Hotel do Largo puts families about a three-minute walk from Ribeira Beach, so a morning swim needs no planning. Rooms are air-conditioned and come with sea views, and the on-site restaurant serves Mexican dishes, a change from the usual hotel menu. Bicycle rental makes it easy to ride along the Cascais seafront, and the 24-hour front desk helps with late arrivals. The listing mentions no pool or kids' club, so the beach does the entertaining.

I would pick the Muchaxo for a family that wants the Atlantic at the door. It sits on Guincho Beach, with an oceanfront restaurant looking out over the water and an outdoor saltwater pool built into the ruins of a 17th-century fortress. Surfing and windsurfing lessons are on offer, and Sintra-Cascais Natural Park is close. Rooms come in rustic or modern styles. Guests give it 7.6 from 1,021 reviews.