The name is Bond, James Bond, and he was born... in Estoril? Oh, yes. The inspiration for the most famous secret agent of all time came from this area of Cascais. During World War II, Portugal became a destination of exile for people from all over Europe – and a stage for espionage. It was the perfect home for royal families seeking a glamorous refuge and had the perfect atmosphere for spies from both sides of the conflict to move discreetly. Names like Juan Pujol García, Dusko Popov, Ian Fleming, Walter Schellenberg, and Graham Greene passed through here.

This route takes you on a journey back in time to that golden period and can be done in two parts: one in Estoril and the other in Monte Estoril. Starting at the Estoril Train Station, it passes the Post Office Station, opened in 1942, which served to connect families separated by the great war; the Hotel Inglaterra, where many British secret agents stayed; the Pastelaria Garrett, where locals delight in pastries, and more; the Estoril Casino, the greatest attraction of the time for high society, and the meeting point for spies exchanging information; and the Hotel Palácio, which maintains its original style: it hosted royalty, and here, spies would speak out loud to confuse their enemies. The scene familiar to you? If you saw 007: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, yes. The filming took place right here.

In Monte Estoril, be sure to pass by the Atlântico Hotel (now InterContinental) – the base of operations for German spies in Portugal, who took advantage of the privileged location facing the ocean to monitor maritime traffic – as well as the locations where the Grand Hotel and its neighboring Grand Hotel D’Italie (now a private condominium) once stood. The latter hosted spies from the Allies.

START: Estoril Train Station

END: Grand Hotel D’Italia

DISTANCE: 3.5 km

DURATION: 1.30/2 hours

DIFFICULTY: easy/medium