Estoril, Portugal

ESTORIL gained a postwar reputation as a haunt of exiled royalty and the idle rich, and it continues to maintain its pretensions towards being a "Portuguese Riviera", with grandiose villas and luxury hotels. It is little surprise then that the town's touristic life revolves around its golf courses and Casino. The latter sits at the far end of the Parque do Estoril, a lovely stretch of fountains and exotic trees, surrounded by Estoril's best-value bars and restaurants. The resort's fine sandy beach, Praia de Tamariz, is backed by a seafront promenade that stretches all the way to Cascais, a twenty-minute stroll. From July to mid-September, a free fireworks display takes place above Estoril's beach every Saturday night at midnight.