The Estoril Coast For All Tastes…

Cascais calls to discover…
The Origins of James Bond in the
Portuguese Riviera
www.visitcascais.com.pt
THE REGION
During the World War II the region received many European celebrities, royal families and charismatic artists running away from an
Europe at war in search of a safe place.
The concentration of important people brought the countries at war to send their secret agents here. One of them was Ian Fleming,
working for the British secret services.
Indeed this area was the scenario for the creation of one of the most popular characters of the movie industry: James Bond.
During this visit you will discover the sceneries wandered by its creator, Ian Flemming, and the life of the famous spy Dusan Popov, the
character who inspired Ian Fleming to create the 007 agent in the novel “Casino Royale” in 1952.
www.estoril-portugal.com
Daily Itinerary: 1st day
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Arrival at Lisbon Airport. Departure to Estoril.
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Check-in in the Hotel Palácio*****.
Built in 1930, Hotel Palacio became known as the 'hotel of the whispers' because the British and German
spies were staying during World War II. This hotel has been In addition, the Palace Hotel has been since its
beginning not only the second residence of the Spanish royal families, Italian, French, Bulgarian and
Romanian (and continues to be the place chosen by his descendants) but also hotel of choice for the
French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, writer and British spy Ian Fleming, the future Prime Minister of
India Indira Nehru or the economist John Keynes and many others.
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Lunch at the hotel. Short conversation with the consierge fo the hotel who
participated in the James Bond Movie from 1969 – At Your Majesty Secret
Service, partly filmed here.
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Walking tour to the popular Tamariz Beach, last stop of the train “Sud-Express”,
connecting Estoril to Paris.
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Short sightseeing tour to the main spots connected to the Spies Activities in
Estoril that inspire Ian Fleming: Garrett Cake Shop, former Hotel do Parque,
Hotel Inglaterra, Hotel Paris and Hotel Atlântico (visited by Leslie Howard).
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Walk in the promenade that connects Estoril and Cascais (3kms). This promenade is
also one of the key points of that period as the encounters succeeded here among spies from
both sides. It has now become a peaceful and relaxing setting, embraced by the sea breeze,
which allows you to discover the beauty of the beaches of Cascais.
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Visit to the Estoril Casino, Ian Fleming inspiration spot to the book “Casino
Royale”. The Estoril Casino is the largest casino in Europe. It was also one of the locations of the filming
of the movie '007: At Your Majesty Secret Service' which starred Australian actor George Lazenby, made in
1969.
Daily Itinerary: 2nd day
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Visit to Cascais city centre.
Interior visit to the museum “Casa de Santa Maria”.
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Visit and lunch at the “English Bar”.
During the period of the Second
World War this house was the propertyof the portuguese family Espírito Santo who received here the
Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg and his family, the Counts of Barcelona, King Umberto II of Italy
and the Duke of Windsor who lived here temporalily after “Operation Willie”.
This restaurant was an important meeting point for the English spies, including Dusan Popov and Ian
Fleming. Its location reminds007 movies made during the 70’s: a narrow and cobbled street and a vintage
poster of that time that reads 'Inglés Bar'. It is currently one of the most famous restaurants of both Cascais
and Portugal, whose dining room gives fantastic views of the sea.
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Drive through the coast to the “Guincho Beach”.
This is one of the largest beaches in the region. It has some of the finest restaurants of the area, such as
Fortaleza do Guincho (awarded a Michelin star) and the "Porto Santa Maria" restaurant, which has
attracted celebrities like Bill Clinton.
Guincho Beach was another scenario of the James Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" of 1969, in
which James Bond is played by Australian actor George Lazenby. In this scene James Bond is overcome by a
woman in a car Mercury Cougar. On the beach sand the secret agent prevents this same woman to commit
suicide.
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Stop at the Roca Cape, the westernmost point of continental Europe.
From the viewpoint you can read the inscription from the famous Portuguese poet Luis de Camoes:
"Where the land ends and the sea begins" to describe the Cabo da Roca, also known as the Promontory da
Lua (Moon Promontory). Do not leave without a certificate proving your way through the westernmost
point of continental Europe.