City & coast in LISBON

Get the best of both worlds- urban buzz and laid-back beach-on a cool weekend break

- NICK REDMAN

Why go?

Summer’s here, and an easy, breezy city break beckons. For our money, that means Lisbon. Sprawling beside the blue Tagus Estuary towards the Atlantic Ocean, the Portuguese capital is cosmopolitan, diverse and affordable. Best of all, it’s got gorgeous beaches nearby, for unwinding after you’ve explored the sights.

Lisbon city tips…

Lisbon is the capital of colour. See the signature jacaranda trees with their purple blossoms, lining the avenues that fringe Praça do Rossio square. Try the blood-red cherry liqueur Ginjinha – drunk as a cure for all ills – alongside the locals outside tiny bar A Ginjinha. And ride the historic yolk-yellow 28 tram. It’s essentially a leisurely tour of the city, including the oldest parts of Alfama and Graça.

Buy a €0.50 top-uppable Viva Viagem travel card so you can hop on and off the tram. Key attractions include the Museu do Aljube Resistência e Liberdade, a former secret-police centre that’s now an excellent museum to the peaceful Carnation revolution of 1974.