Cascais, Portugal vs Nerja, Spain

[Sturmundcalm]

Possibly unlikely but has anyone done both and got any views/recommendations??

Due my DH's job and flight availability our choices are a bit limited. We want Europe, sunshine, beach/coast, overall relaxing but with some stuff to do - cultural/city day trips rather than watersports. Just the two of us going.

I prefer the look of Cascais but the flight times are more awkward so we'd probably do 5 nights there and 2 in Lisbon on the way back. Nerja is more straightforward and we'd get a package deal including half board and transfers for less money (both hotels adults only and v good reviews overall although Cascais one is more boutique-y).

Cascais every time!

It is a very short transfer time to the airport and there’s a brilliant private transfer firm, so you don’t need to do a two centre in conjunction with Lisbon, unless you really want to. We prefer to stay at Cascais and train it into Lisbon when we want to. It’s glorious too.

We go regularly and are just about to book for half term. Nerja was a one off visit for us. Quaint but dominated by overwintering Brits, which is fine in itself but did tend to dominate the vibe of the place.

yeah, you're saying what i think will end up being my view... think my DH is leaning towards convenience but this is supposed to be a "proper" holiday (silver anniversary) and I think Nerja, even if nicer than rest of costa del sol, just won't be enough.

reason for Lisbon would be partly due to v early flight back but could even just do 1 day

Ive only been to Nerja and whilst beautiful not much to do there without going further afield than the town itself. Perfect for a long weekend but not a weeks holiday

What time of year will you be going? Nerja will be warmer and more reliably sunny outside of high summer.

Both are lovely choices. There is excellent public transport between Cascais and Lisbon and the coastline around there is stunning. It would be very easy to potter about, visit Sintra on a day trip etc.

I’m besotted by Granada and the Alhambra, which is doable from Nerja so that is a pull in that direction although you should book a guided tour of the Alhambra well in advance.

Nerja is charming, very pretty, and includes the full gamut of tourists; lots of Germans and Brits, including families and also a small Full English and on the beers by 11.00 crew, p the posh old boys in their Panamas who’ve had a place there since 1976.

Cascais is possibly more uniformly smart but perhaps less pretty, pretty. A lot of the big multinationals and consequently best international schools are there so there is a year round supply of well-heeled Portuguese and international consumers for the bars and restaurants. There is incredible seafood everywhere.

won't be going till October so plenty of time to plan anything specific but am feeling the need to make a decision/book ASAP as we will need to do major house improvements at some point this year and don't want to lose the one "window" we have to fit in a holiday!

Which hotel are you looking at for Cascais?

We’ve sampled a huge variety over the years and have always had the best holidays where we are close enough to walk to the bars/restaurants/marina etc. it’s such a lovely town to walk about in, it’s a shame to be taxi-ing on a regular basis.

We were there for our silver anniversary too! Fabulous memories!

I’ve been to both. Cascais is beautiful and a short train ride to Lisbon which is great. However, Nerja is better for the beach and the temp of the water (Med not cold Atlantic). Malaga Old Town is beautiful too and a train ride away. Have a fab time x

There is loads to do in Nerja for a week. Frigiliana and Competa just a short trip inland. Small cove beaches, and Burriana Beach which has watersports, sunbeds, bars and restaurants. Day trip to either Granada or Malaga, you can't get to Malaga by train though, only by road, walking up the river Chillar, the caves, and loads of small tapas bars. Easy to get to from Malaga with a newish fast road, and in recent years. Having said that Cascais is on our to visit list and looks lovely.

I would go to Portugal; easier to get around by public transport and more things to do and see: Lisbon, Cascais, Porto, Douro Valley, etc.

Not a lot to do in Nerja, more like a beach holiday; but for October it may be a bit cold to swim.

edited: read your post again and it seems you just want relaxation and beach holiday with a few things to do so Nerja may be better for that and will be a bit warmer in October; not necessarily hot enough to swim.

Cascais will be colder that time of the year; sunny enough yo walk around but not hot enough for the lie in the beach in my opinion. Nerja more guarantee sunny weather as it is quite far south and the water will definitely be warmer

Cascais is essentially a well heeled suburb of Lisbon with easy access to the city by train. There’s a lot to do in the area as pp have mentioned. It’s bigger and has more of a town and less of a resort feel than Nerja.

Nerja has a pretty historic centre and a low rise more ‘typical’ holiday vibe feel to the restaurant and bar area. I think it’s a nice version of a resort. There’s also lots to do as mentioned above but trickier without hiring a car.

October weather might sway me towards Nerja in this case.

Other Spanish resort towns that have a similar vibe for me are Estepona (western Costa del Sol) and Altea (Costa Blanca).

I don't know Nerja but Cascais is lovely and loads to do around there with Lisbon being so close and Sinatra is wonderful too.
However, you can't really have a beach holiday in October. Yes it will be warmer than here but unlikely to be beach weather. Even in the height of summer the sea there is freezing - Atlantic sea. If you dont mind sightseeing instead then Cascais is a great base for a holiday.

Sintra not Sinatra!

I love Nerja and agree with @Lincslady53's list of things to do. We've been several times and are never bored . We've always hired a car . We also always book an apartment or villa which I find more relaxing than a hotel and perhaps means we are less likely to want to be on the go all the time as we have an alternative to a hotel room .

Cascais - I went as a teenager so can't really remember . Have thought of doing Lisbon as a city break - but maybe it's better to visit from a resort ?

I've visited Nerja in Oct many times and it's definitely warm enough to swim. What hotel are you looking at OP? I wouldn't do half board, too many lovely places to eat and lots to do as previous posters have said.

Weather wise, Nerja will be a safer bet in October. October is normally lovely here in the Algarve but it can be a lot cooler and wetter up north. And yes, the Atlantic is COLD!

Thanks so much everyone - really helpful to get the different perspectives!

The problem is that I'm not TOTALLY sure what we do want... Our approaches to holiday only really overlap on a city break but we're both going to have had a v stressful year and this will be our first sunshine holiday in 5 years (have done family-related trips the last 3 years and nothing in 2020 obvs) so I def don't want to do an actual city break.

It's the Albatroz and the Riu Monica we're looking at - upgrading to a full sea view balcony room with both. The Albatroz is definitely "nicer" but that actually puts me off slightly as I'm worried it will be too boutique-y feeling. We both like clean, functional and anonymous accomodation!

Malaga is actually a nice city, so you could combine a city break with a few days in Nerja. Will definitely be warmer.

@Sturmundcalm the Riu Monica is lovely but full of oldies....and I don't think they do B&B. It's honestly a complete waste going half board in Nerja there are LOADS of fantastic restaurants. I'd be included to look at B&B at the Balcon Hotel or the Parador if I were you. Both have sea view rooms.

Get what people are saying about the weather. Can be hit and miss but I’ve generally found it much better than the uk and I have usually worn lighter clothing and seen sun in the autumn.

Albatroz is lovely and very traditional. I’d check the room you might book - some are fabulous but some a bit old fashioned. The pool is minuscule but there is a really nice sun terrace with loungers which we have sat on in October.

An alternative is the Villa Italia which we have used since the children were small. It’s luxurious and larger but not overrun with families, so you can have a ‘grown up’ holiday. It has a fabulous spa with a really nice indoor pool too.

The only central hotel we don’t like is the Citadel. It’s very elegant and housed within the old fort. Stunning to look at but with thick, thick walls; it was freezing in the converted rooms, even on a warm day. The suite we had was not comfortable and really failed as a conversion of an ancient building.

Just make sure your expectations aren't too high re the weather. I've lived in both Spain and Portugal and spend a lot of time there still (in laws live there). Yes sometimes in October it can be very warm (high 20s) but this certainly isn't guaranteed. We've been in October and had ten days of rain and 13 degrees. You mention a sunshine holiday and beaches - you might or might not get that in October. You'd need to go further south like north Africa, canaries, Madeira for more predictable warm weather

I agree with the pp re the weather if you’re looking for that kind of holiday. How about Valletta in Malta? Historic and hopefully warmer.

You could possibly look for a city which is beside the sea and stay on the sea front ? Malaga has a beach. We also stayed in a nice hotel with a sea view in Palma, Majorca.

I think Valetta is less predictable than southern Spain! (Have been following a few forecasts of places I'm considering going to).

went to malta in october and it had the shitiest weather of any holiday we have ever been on including the uk....well maybe equivalent to scotland one awful holiday.