Lisbon, the atmosphere and savour of centuries ago

Lisbon is the perfect city to spend a few days in. It's compact, reasonably priced, offers a wealth of culture and enjoys a pleasant climate almost all year round.

Lisbon lies on the Tagus river and has a huge amount to offer in terms of culture. The city has beautiful squares, stately buildings and a fascinating history. As you stroll through the old quarters in the city, it seems as though time has stood still for the past hundred years.

Another advantage of the city is its relatively small historical heart. Everything is readily accessible on foot, although you need to be reasonably fit to take on the city's many hills. If you're not terribly fit you can still move around with ease, thanks to the ancient trams, which sometimes ascend the hills almost vertically. Don't forget to take one of the funiculars which link the upper and lower parts of town either.

Lisbon isn't just about culture, you can eat very well here too. Enjoy all the delicious things that Portuguese cuisine has to offer. Lisbon has numerous excellent little restaurants which are also very reasonably priced. During the summer you can sit out on one of the many pleasant terraces until late at night.

Don't be misled into thinking that you're about to encounter some crazy person when you hear loud singing in the street. What you're hearing is fado, a traditional Portuguese style of singing that's full of passionate grief and emotion. Fado can still be heard in various cafes.

In short: Lisbon is an experience. It's a European city, but one that's just that little bit different from most of its fellow European cities.