LISBON... plus the seaside

PART ONE The Portuguese capital is a little of everything in one parcel, stretched across seven hills in a haze of antique trams and fabulous food courts. Ride the Number 28 tram through Alfama to the ramparts of the Castelo Sao Jorge; stop for lunch at the Time Out Market (timeoutmarket.com/lisboa) in Cais do Sodre; pause for the city’s signature snack of custard tarts at Pasteis de Belem (pasteisdebelem.pt). It’s all good.

ESSENTIAL SIGHT Lisbon’s longest landmark has a secret: you can climb inside the 1.4-mile long Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge that crosses the Tagus and take a lift to a viewing platform for a panorama of the city (visitlisboa.com/ en/places/pilar-7-bridge-experience).

PART TWO Lisbon is closely connected by train to the surrounding region, so it is simple to take in the breezy seaside resort of Cascais and the former royal playground of Sintra, both about 18 miles out of town.

DON’T MISS The National Palace of Sintra (parquesdesintra.pt), the nest of chambers and chapels that was home to Portugal’s kings and queens from the 15th to 19th centuries.

DO IT Macs Adventure (0141 530 5452; macsadventure.com) ticks all the boxes with a four-night Lisbon & Sintra Short Break. From £435 a head, flights extra.