It's a place of refuge that one never wants to leave: Portugal's famed Estoril. Located on the outskirts of greater Lisbon, where the Tagus River opens to the deep waters of the Atlantic, this beachfront community has long been a gathering place associated with both wealth and romance. This is because the same sheltered, sandy coves that protected Phoenician and Roman merchants on their way around Iberia thousands of years ago later served as a gathering spot for innumerable royal and aristocratic families during the wars and revolutions of the 20th Century. Atop the seagoing culture that has always characterized the coast of Cascais, these elites developed a recreational society that mixed the natural pleasures that are an inherent part of boating culture with the fine dining, high art, fashionable culture, and refined manners of the rarefied classes. Today's Estoril, which draws successful business people and celebrities from around the world, remains committed to providing all the reclusive, yet polished, charm expected of a beautiful royal retreat. Though sites like the Beach of Tamariz, with its soft sands and heroically-proportioned castle, are emblematic of the Estoril in general, the interior of this civil parish of 29,769 offers many enticing excursions for even the most dedicated yachtsman or diver. These include numerous casinos that cater to the wealthy, the oft-hiked Estoril Massif, and a vibrant motorsport circuit that has attracted top drivers for generations. Within a short drive or train ride to Lisbon's historic districts, Estoril can also provide any resident with easy access to one of Europe's most important financial centers.