Carcavelos

Carcavelos is a coastal suburb west of Lisbon on the Estoril Line, popular with expat families and surfers drawn by one of the largest and most accessible beaches near Lisbon. The area has transformed significantly over the past decade with the Nova School of Business campus anchoring a tech and startup community alongside the traditional beach resort character.

Carcavelos beach (Praia de Carcavelos) is the star attraction — over 1km of sand with consistent surf, beach volleyball, and a buzzing summer scene. Surf schools operate year-round. The coastal cycling and walking path connects Carcavelos to neighboring beaches.

Carcavelos is served by the Cascais Line (Linha de Cascais) train, connecting to Lisbon Cais do Sodre in about 30-35 minutes. Trains run frequently throughout the day. The A5 motorway provides fast car access to Lisbon in 20-25 minutes outside rush hour.

Carcavelos has a good range of local shops, supermarkets (Continente, Pingo Doce), and a lively beachfront restaurant and bar scene. The Cascais shopping center is nearby for comprehensive retail. Several international and bilingual schools serve the large expat family community in the Estoril Line corridor.

Carcavelos benefits from Lisbon Atlantic climate — mild and sunny year-round. Summers are warm and dry (26-30 degrees C) with virtually no rain from June to September, cooled by Atlantic sea breezes. Winters are mild (10-15 degrees C) with moderate rainfall mostly in November-February.