Lisbon Holidays

Portugal’s capital takes silver for being the second oldest city in Europe – the history books on this place are thicker than an elephant’s thighs. Plus, it’s got a cracker of a climate – there are almost 300 days of sunshine per year and the mercury rarely dips below 15°C. The centre of the city‘s marked by Rossio Square – it’s one of the liveliest spots in town and its surrounding streets are a runway for buzzing bars and restaurants. Lisbon is the loving parent to over 20 neighbourhoods, and each one brings something different to the table. You can make your bed in Chiado – it’s the city’s high-end spot and home to a roof-less church. Or, you can head to loud and lively Bairro Alto where the sleepy streets come alive after sunset.

Lisbon is penned in by four different cuts of coastline, which makes it a doddle to take your city break to the beach. And, thanks to a nifty network of trains and buses, getting coast-side is easy. One of the stars of the show is Praia de Carcavelos – it’s got a sandy shoreline that stretches for almost a mile, and takes the crown for the biggest beach in Lisbon. Plus, a trip from the centre of town will only take you around 30 minutes. And if this shore doesn’t hit the spot – you’ve got half a dozen others that are less than 40 minutes away by train.

Lisbon’s sightseeing to-do list packs a real punch. Basilica de Estrela – a church that took over a decade to complete – and Sao Jorge Castle – a hilltop castle with 11 towers and a widescreen view of the city – are a couple of the faves. The handy tram line lets you pack a catalogue of the city’s highlights into one route, too. The famous yellow trams have been on their tracks since the 1930s, and are still complete with their original features – think wooden interiors and brass dials. And, because they’re much smaller than the city’s modern trams, they have no problem squeezing through the backstreets with ease.