Steeped in history but packed with clubs, bars and serious nightlife, Lisbon is fast gaining a reputation as one of Europe’s hippest cities. It’s built one of the seven hills of the River Tagus, and stunning views of the city hit you at every turn. It’s seductive rather than imposing – on a human scale, and easy to explore on foot or by traditional funiculars, with mazes of cobbled streets and tiled buildings inviting romantic wandering. The voyages of discovery established Lisbon as one of the great ports of the world, the hub of an empire that stretched from Brazil in the West to India in the East. The Mosteiro dos Jerónimos in the district of Belém is a hymn in stone to Portugal’s maritime heritage, while the Torre de Belém is a potent symbol of Portugal’s great age of expansion. Even contemporary architecture takes on a maritime theme – the amazing new Vasco da Gama bridge is in the shape of a giant sail. After the devastating earthquake of 1755, Baixa Pombalina (the centre of Lisbon) was rebuilt in a classic style, but many of the winding medieval barrios remain, crammed with fascinating shops, restaurants and cafés. At night they come into their own, offering everything from African to Latin American music – and of course the bluesy melody of fado. The rest of the Lisbon region is equally enchanting.

Estoril is full of cosmopolitan glamour, while the palaces of Sintra, the summer retreat of the kings of Portugal, bowled Lord Byron over: ‘To see the world and leave out Sintra is to go blind about’, he enthused. Meanwhile those in search of spiritual sustenance flock in their millions to Fátima, the religious shire where the Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children in 1957. In cultural overland sets in, the countryside beckons.

The coast of Estremadura, former haunt of the Knights Templar, is strung with fishing villages, charming beaches, and up-and-coming golf centers. To the east of Lisboa, Ribatejo is a fertile area of lagoons and mudflats, rich in bird life pasture for black fighting bulls and horses.

South of the Tagus lie the mountains of the Parque Natural da Arrábida, inhabited by polecats, wildcats, and eagles, while further beyond, a boat-trip into the Sado Estuary offers the chance to watch bottle-nosed dolphins at play.

Highlights

Lisbon is Portugal’s capital city and site of the Expo’98. This thriving metropolis offers everything businessmen and tourists expect from a sophisticated city: shopping, museums, fine dining and, of course, lots of nightlife, especially along Avenida 24 de Julho, the riverside street dotted with nightclubs, discos, and pubs. Other highlights of the Lisbon region include the resort town of Cascais, the casino of Estoril, and the castles and palaces of Palmela, Queluz, Sintra and Sesimbra.