The best things to do in Cascais in November

Every month, there are plenty of reasons to visit Quinta do Pisão in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. In November, one of the highlights is the Magusto Market, taking place on the 16th and 17th. The event features local sweets, gourmet spices, customisable scented candles, and a Mushroom House. Throughout the month, Quinta do Pisão also hosts a sensory autumn walk, a ceramics workshop, activities for International Day of Indigenous Forests, Nature Bingo, and an introduction to mushroom cultivation.

We already knew the lights, the Ferris wheel, the tree, and the parade would return to Cascais on 23rd of November – but Christmas truly begins with the opening of the popular Cascais Xmas Village. And that’s exactly when Marechal Carmona Park transforms into an enchanted village, where families can visit Santa’s House, the wizard’s tower, the elf workshops, real reindeer, and a live nativity scene (camels included) until 5th of January 2025.

The attractions don’t stop there: there’s also an ice rink and ramp, a carousel, a mini Ferris wheel, a train, a Nazareth village, a Roman camp, and, of course, a massive Christmas tree. The donkeys from Pisão join the festivities, offering rides for little ones, who can also head into the sweet house for some face painting.

The Showcooking at Vila returns to Mercado da Vila in the heart of Cascais, with more sessions focused on exploring the potential of specific ingredients. In November, the spotlight is on broccoli (6th), pistachios (13th), heart of rump steak (20th), and razor clams (27th). These events take place every Wednesday, during Mercado Saloio, from 12.00 to 13.00, and are free to attend.

The Casa das Histórias Paula Rego in Cascais celebrates its 15th anniversary with the most extensive exhibition of the Portuguese artist’s collection ever held. 'The CHPR Collection in Dialogue' opened on 31st of October and arranges the artist’s work around the key themes she explored over six decades of creation.

The exhibition features paintings, drawings, a large textile piece, part of her archival collection, and a painting donated by her family in 2023. In addition to the new exhibition, Casa das Histórias Paula Rego is hosting the fourth edition of the Printmaking Workshop, with a programme that includes various ateliers, workshops, technical courses, and free experimentation days.

Autumn is one of the best times of the year for a stroll - as long as you bring a cosy jacket. This walk, focusing on the Costa do Guincho, starts near Malveira da Serra Primary School. Participants will wander through some village streets before reaching trails with sea views. The route also passes by the Peninha Sanctuary, offering some of the best views in the area, as well as Cabo Raso and the beaches of Guincho and Abano. Registration costs €8 and can be done on the Caminhando website.

Maria Guedes’ Christmas market is back! For two days, Fiartil transforms into a festive Christmas village. Alongside around a hundred stalls – nearly all Portuguese brands spanning fashion, kids’ items, and home decor – the event also features a food and drink area, perfect for a family morning or afternoon out. Maria Guedes even promises photo ops with Santa himself.

Céline Dion’s work is celebrated at Casino Estoril on 17th of  November with the tribute show Céline I’m Alive. Sébastien Costic, known for his spot-on imitation of the Canadian icon’s voice, leads this 90-minute 'immersive experience,' taking audiences through her career with classics like My Heart Will Go On and Pour Que Tu M’aimes Encore. Tickets are on sale from €25 to €65.

From 7th to 10th of November, Mercado da Vila in the heart of Cascais transforms into a São Martinho Market. Expect everything from cheeses and sweets to smoked meats, fried dough, mulled wine, chestnuts, água-pé, and ginja, promising plenty of festive fun. There will even be giveaways between 16.00 and 18.00 each day, along with animals like ponies and donkeys. To top it off, live music performances are scheduled for Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoon.

Sociedade Musical União Paredense (SMUP) in Parede has become a must-visit venue thanks to its well-curated programming. This November, two events stand out. On 2nd of November, Super Nova brings 800 Gondomar, Them Flying Monkeys, and Krypto to the Cascais area. Then, on 9th of  November, SMUP hosts a concert by singer and rapper NBC. Tickets are available online.

A new exhibition tells the story of how the Estoril we know today was built. The Invention of Estoril is on display at the Municipal Historical Archive of Cascais – Casa Sommer for nearly a year, until 19th October 2025.

Through photographs, visitors can discover how a pine forest transformed into Portugal’s chicest tourist destination of the time—a luxury development that brought together residences, the casino, commercial galleries with iconic arcades, gardens, thermal baths, the train station, and, of course, the Palácio Estoril Hotel, where spies, royalty, and aristocrats from around the world once crossed paths.

The popular Carcavelos Boot Fair has a bit of everything, from antiques to second-hand treasures - clothing, decor, records, books, toys, and even furniture pieces. The next edition is set for 3rd of November.

If heading to central Cascais is easier, Mercado da Vila is hosting its own boot fair on the same day, 3rd of November, offering plenty of second-hand items to discover.

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol comes to life as a musical, debuting at Casino Estoril on 16th of November and running until January. The grumpy, miserly Ebenezer Scrooge takes centre stage in this tale of finding love and the Christmas spirit. Directed by Henrique Feist, tickets for the performance are available for €15.