Estoril Coast

With a mild climate, deep azure waters and an annual average of 260 rainless days a year, Estoril has long been a leisure hot spot — some call it the Portuguese Riviera. King Luis I chose the bay for his summer residence in the late 19th century, and ever since people have come here to swan around on the beaches and win big in the casinos.

Stick or Twist?

Bewitched by the red-and-black blur of the roulette wheel? In possession of a practiced poker face? Then go and raise the stakes at the Estoril casino, where dreams are puffed up and popped, often in the same night. Once you’ve collected your winnings, there are numerous restaurants where you can fritter them away. The main restaurant, Preto e Prata, holds a floor show every evening, and there’s an excellent Chinese restaurant too.

Den of Espionage

During the Second World War, Estoril became a hotbed of spies and diplomatic secrets, lending it the atmosphere of risk and sophistication which proved so inspiring for the British spy Ian Fleming: it was here that Ian Fleming conceived the idea for Casino Royale as he spied on Yugoslav double agent Dusko Popov.