We would like to hear from fodorites who have visited Cascais from Lisbon. Is it worth a visit. We get the impression that Cascais is similar to Newport, RI. What does Cascais have? good shops? good restaurants? Any help on this subject would be appreciated. Thanks

I thought it was an enjoyable enough place. Cascais has a pretty scenic pedestrian area, a fishing harbor lined with a couple of simple but nice eateries and the acclaimed "gorge of hell" a bit further down the coast - that was very quiet when I visited, but which is said to be spectacular, when waves crash into the bluff under windy conditions.
Venture out there - it isn't far (probably 40 min. by train) and have a fun afternoon out followed by a sunset at the beach!

If you're looking to take a day trip from Lisbon and are only looking at one place to visit, than I'd say skip Cascais and visit Sintra.

However, if you're going to have a rental car and want to explore the coastal areas to the west of Lisbon, a drive up the coast to Cascais, with a stop in Estoril before going on to Sintra, will make for a nice day.

I should caveat that I didn't see much of Cascais, except for those areas right along the coastal road.

We really enjoyed Cascais. We split our time, staying in both Lisbon and Cascais, and then took a day trip to Lisbon. For us, and our time limit, it was the perfect match. We have spent a lot of time in Newport, and yes, you could say it is the European equivalent. We had several wonderful meals in Cascais, although I am terrible at remembering names of them, sorry. I found a store that had gorgeous handmade table linens. There were a lot of outdoor markets as well. I hope some of this helps.