The rise of ‘skillcations’: Why Cascais is the place to learn something new

A recent survey from Mastercard found that 48% of travellers plan to learn a new skill during their summer holiday. More than half of respondents said skill-based trips feel more meaningful than traditional holidays, while 37% have already booked a trip this year specifically to learn something new.

As more holidaymakers centre their escapes around activities, learning and developing new skills, Cascais in Portugal, located on the coast only 30 minutes away from Lisbon, offers a range of activities for visitors to connect with its landscapes, food and culture. 

From Portuguese cooking classes and surfing lessons to traditional tile painting, these activities allow travellers to immerse themselves in the coastal lifestyle of the Portuguese Riviera.

Learn to surf on Portugal’s Atlantic coast

Cascais’ location on the Atlantic gives visitors access to numerous beaches offering surfing lessons throughout the year for people of all experience levels.

Local surf schools offer classes throughout the day at different beaches such as Carcavelos, Guincho and Praia Grande, depending on the sea conditions. With both group and private lessons available, travellers can learn how to surf at their own pace. 

Surf schools can also provide boards, wetsuits and guidance from experienced instructors, meaning visitors do not need to travel with their own equipment.

Find your balance with stand-up paddleboarding

Travellers looking for a gentler introduction to the water can learn stand-up paddleboarding along the Cascais coastline with providers such as Main SUP Cascais.

The calmer waters around Cascais Bay offer an accessible setting for first-time paddleboarders to practise balancing, paddling and turning while taking in views of the town from the sea. Private and group outdoor sessions are available for a range of ages and skill levels, with equipment provided as part of the experience.

Once visitors have mastered the basics, paddleboarding also provides a different way to explore Cascais’ sheltered bays and coastline, or for those wanting to achieve ultimate relaxtion on the water, Main SUP Cascais also offers SUP yoga classes.

Learn how to cook Portuguese dishes

Travellers looking to improve their culinary skills and bring a local dish back home, are invited to learn how to cook some iconic Portuguese dishes at Cascais Food Lab.

Located inside Mercado da Vila, the town’s traditional market, the Food Lab hosts gastronomic experiences, workshops and tastings centred around local ingredients and culinary traditions.

Classes range from introductory cooking classes for kitchen beginners to workshops exploring traditional recipes influenced by the region’s mountains, coastline and fresh produce. Some of the dishes that visitors can learn how to make include Lagareiro-style grilled codfish, codfish cake, BBQ sardines and traditional custard tarts (pastel de nata). Travellers can also learn more about Carcavelos wine, a historic fortified wine produced in Cascais. 

Create your own keepsake

Travellers looking to learn a more creative hobby can try their hand at painting traditional Portuguese tiles, known as azulejos, at Ceramica Cafe. 

These decorative tiles have been an important part of Portugal’s visual identity for centuries, appearing across historic buildings, churches and public spaces. Tile-painting workshops in Cascais introduce participants to ceramic-painting methods, traditional patterns and the process of creating their own individual design, whilst bringing home a memorable keepsake from the trip.