Taking in the view over Lisbon

Exuding a faded grandeur and a cosmopolitan buzz, Lisbon is one of the most vibrant and certainly the most affordable capital city in Western Europe - a barrage of noise, narrow streets, stately buildings, sweeping parks and brilliant sunshine bouncing off mosaic sidewalks. It is also an exhaustingly hilly city, but the trams and funiculars are only too keen to whisk you to the top of hills for superb views over the Tagus River. Start off your exploration in one of Lisbon's oldest districts - the former Moorish neighbourhood of Alfama. Now a working class stronghold, the maze of medieval

streets are a joy to get lost in. It is here that fado, Portugal's signature mournful music, is believed to have originated and the Casa do Fado museum has an impressive audiovisual display outlining fado's history. At night, fado can be heard coming from intimate tavernas.

The fairytale town of Sintra.

Photo: José Manuel

Further afield, Lisbon's Belém district was once the departure point for Portugal's massive maritime feats and the huge limestone Monument to Discoveries is a tribute to the country's famous explorers.

At night, bars and nightclubs are concentrated around the Alcantara and Bairro Alto districts, while the Doca de Alcântara area is an up and coming hangout for Lison's chic.

A day trip to the fairytale hilltop town of Sintra, an hour's train ride west of Lisbon, is an essential side excursion from Lisbon.