Schools near Estoril & Cascais — the complete family guide
The Portuguese Riviera is one of Europe's richest areas for education — within a short radius of Estoril you'll find British, American, IB, French, German, Spanish, bilingual and Montessori schools, as well as respected Portuguese schools and top universities.
If you're visiting for an admissions interview, an entrance exam, an open day or planning a move, Monte Estoril is an ideal base: central to every school below, directly on the Cascais train line, and a short walk from the beach and the town. Below, the schools are organised by approximate distance from Monte Estoril.
In & around Estoril
Walking distance – 5 minutes
International & bilingual
- SAIS — Santo António International School — British international Catholic school in the heart of Estoril, Cambridge curriculum ~2–18, small classes. Estoril
- Boa Ventura Montessori School — bilingual Montessori (PT–EN), ages ~2–6, small classes, Rua Nunes dos Santos. Estoril
- NYsKOOL — Estoril Hub — flexible, project-based learning with an international/British orientation. Estoril
Portuguese (national curriculum)
- Salesianos do Estoril — Catholic Portuguese private school, one of the strongest national-curriculum options in the Cascais municipality. Estoril
- Colégio da Bafureira — Portuguese private school on the coast just west of Estoril. São Pedro do Estoril
Cascais & Alcabideche
5–15 minutes from Estoril
International & bilingual
- King's College School, Cascais — premium international (Inspired group), Cambridge curriculum and bilingual early years, expanding into IB; ages ~1–18. Cascais
- IPS Cascais — International / British International School — National Curriculum of England, iGCSE & A-Levels, primary & secondary. Bicesse, Alcabideche
- International Christian School of Cascais (ICSC) — American-style Christian school for international families. Cascais
- PaRK International School — Cascais — bilingual Cambridge/IB, PT & EN, early years through secondary. Cascais
- Lisbon Montessori School — Montessori for early years, R. de Sant'Ana near Estoril. Cascais
- Kairos Montessori — Montessori philosophy with Cambridge curriculum, ages ~3–15. Cascais (Eira)
- St George School — Portuguese & Cambridge dual-track, small classes. Cascais
- Brave Generation Academy — Cascais hub — micro-academy with British curriculum (IGCSE/A-Levels) and online platform; ages 12–18. Cascais
Portuguese private
- Colégio Amor de Deus — established Catholic private school, one of the strongest Portuguese options in the area. Cascais / Carcavelos
- Externato Nossa Senhora do Rosário — respected national-curriculum private school in central Cascais. Cascais
Carcavelos, Oeiras & Sintra
15–30 minutes from Estoril · much of it on the Cascais train line
International schools
- St Julian's School — large, highly sought-after British/IB school (English curriculum + IB Diploma), ages 3–18, on the Cascais train line. Quinta Nova, Carcavelos
- St Dominic's International School — full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, Diploma), ages 3–18. São Domingos de Rana
- Oeiras International School — IB PYP/MYP/Diploma, ages 5–18, reachable via A5/A9. Barcarena
- Carlucci American International School of Lisbon (CAISL) — American diploma with IB option, ages 3–18. Linhó, Sintra
- TASIS Portugal — Core Knowledge, IGCSE and IB Diploma on a modern campus. Beloura, Sintra
Portuguese private
- Colégio Marista de Carcavelos — Marist Catholic school, popular between Oeiras and Cascais. Carcavelos
Lisbon
25–40 minutes — a realistic commute by car or train
International schools
- United Lisbon International School — American / NEASC-accredited with IB Diploma, ages 3–18. Lisbon
- Redbridge School — bilingual French–English or Portuguese–English with Cambridge/IB, ages 3–18. Lisbon
- Lycée Français Charles Lepierre — French Ministry of Education curriculum, ages 3–18. Lisbon
- Deutsche Schule Lissabon — German curriculum leading to the Abitur, ages 3–18. Lisbon
- Instituto Español Giner de los Ríos — Spanish curriculum, bilingual ES–PT plus English. Lisbon
- Prime School Lisbon — Cambridge curriculum, preschool to A-Levels (3–18). Lisbon
Portuguese private
- Colégio de S. Tomás — Catholic Portuguese school, two Lisbon campuses (Sete Rios & Quinta das Conchas); ~25–35 min from Estoril. Lisbon
Universities & higher education
From 10 minutes (Carcavelos) to central Lisbon
- Nova School of Business and Economics (Nova SBE) — top-ranked business/economics faculty with a flagship waterfront campus, ~10 min by train. Carcavelos
- Nova SBE Executive Education — MBAs, executive and corporate programmes on the same campus. Carcavelos
- School of Health Sciences of Alcoitão (ESSA) — physiotherapy, occupational therapy and health sciences. Alcoitão
- Iscte-Sintra — Sintra campus of ISCTE-IUL, social sciences, via the A16. Sintra
- Universidade NOVA de Lisboa — multi-faculty public university (Nova SBE is its Carcavelos campus). Lisbon
- University of Lisbon — Portugal's largest public university, ~30–40 min away. Lisbon
Why stay in Monte Estoril during a school visit
- Central to every school — most are a 5–30 minute drive, so you can visit several in a single trip.
- On the train line — the Cascais line connects Estoril to Carcavelos (St Julian's, Nova SBE) and Lisbon without a car.
- Family-friendly — a fully equipped 2-bedroom apartment that sleeps up to 4, with a kitchen, washer and a baby high chair.
- A real neighbourhood — steps from the beach, cafés and a supermarket, so the children can unwind between visits.
Practical tips for visiting families
- Book school tours and open days in advance — popular schools fill quickly, especially in spring.
- Allow buffer time between visits; coastal traffic peaks at drop-off and pick-up hours.
- Consider a longer stay (a week or more) to experience the area as a resident would before deciding.
- If you'll rely on the train, base yourself near the Cascais line — Monte Estoril is a 10-minute walk from the station.
Frequently asked questions
Are there international schools in Estoril itself?
Yes — SAIS (Santo António International School) is a British international Cambridge school in the heart of Estoril, alongside Boa Ventura Montessori and the Portuguese school Salesianos do Estoril, all within walking distance or minutes of Monte Estoril.
Which are the main international schools near Cascais?
King's College Cascais, IPS Cascais, PaRK International, St Dominic's, Oeiras International, St Julian's (Carcavelos), CAISL and TASIS (Sintra side) — covering British, American and IB pathways.
How far is St. Julian's from Monte Estoril?
About 8 km — roughly 12–15 minutes by car, and also reachable on the Cascais train line.
Are there good universities near Estoril?
Yes — Nova SBE in Carcavelos is about 10 minutes by train, plus ESSA (Alcoitão), Iscte-Sintra and the Lisbon universities within a realistic commute.
Where should we stay when visiting schools in Cascais?
Monte Estoril is a convenient, central base on the Riviera. The Monte Estoril 93 apartment is well suited to families, sleeping up to 4 with a full kitchen.