Having spent many months living and working in the Algarve and Madeira during the '90's one of my greatest wishes was to re-visit the wonderful city of Lisbon. This opportunity arose when I was selected as one of the Travel Counsellors to attend a four day educational as part of a group on behalf of the Lisbon Tourist Board with agents from all over the world.

I arrived in Lisbon where the weather was 18 degrees. I was really looking forward to a wonderful 3 days of touring. The taxi journey took only 15 minutes to the fantastically located Hotel Fenix, situated at the top of the most posh street in Lisbon the Praca Marques de Pombal. What a location and only minutes from the town centres shopping district and some of the most expensive restaurants in Lisbon.

Next day we headed off to the newly regenerated area by the canal side of the Parque das Nacoes for a fun day at Europe’s largest indoor sea life aquarium - a wonderful experience watching the sharks being fed and plant and sea life from the four oceans of the world. A trip on the cable car gave us chance to see this area overlooking the promenade by the river side and a great view of the Vasco da Gama bridge, over 17 kilometres of genius engineering and the immense River Tagus. This area is also known for some excellent restaurants and bars and a great nightlife.

We headed off back to the town centre and the Baixa District for lunch in the trendy Terreiro do Paco Restaurant. Highlights of this area are the squares at either end, with their statues and (in particular) the triumphal Arco da Victória facing the river. The Baixa is really for wandering, shopping and people watching and geared up for the tourists. After lunch we had the opportunity to drive one of the popular Red Car tours. What a brilliant way to see the back streets and central districts of Lisbon. Taking tram 28 from the main square we headed off up to Castelo S. Jorge.Castelo is dominated by the Castle, and has winding narrow streets which eventually lead through to Graca and its beautiful lookouts - along with Amoreiras the highest spots in the city. Here you have magnificent views overlooking the residential areas of Lisbon and the port. The castle looms over the city and the area is well worth exploring, particularly the Panteão Nacional which is a beautiful building housing the tombs of Portugal's best and brightest. The evening was spent in a local traditional restaurant "Tromba Rija" in Lisbon dockside area.

Saturday saw a wonderful full day in the Belem district of Lisbon visiting Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, the Torre de Belem, a wonderful museum of antiquities and the best custard tarts in the world at Casa Pastéis de Belém. Leaving Lisbon on the coastal road towards Sintra we pass through the seaside resorts of Estoril and Cascais. Cascais was once a small fishing village, but its idyllic scenery attracted the attention of artists, writers and expelled European nobility in the 20th century. Today, it still attracts high society, but all Lisboans generally come to enjoy the gorgeous beaches, sailing and surfing.

Driving further north we reach Cabo do Roca the most western point of Europe and Sintra now a world heritage site by UNESCO. Lunch and a tour around the beautiful Palace of Pena and its museum gave me a real insight into the wealth of Portugal's royal family. The architecture is outstanding.
The evening entertainment was long awaited - a live performance of the sad, beautiful traditional Fado music in the district of Chiado. With beautiful acoustic guitars and songs about love lost singing in my ears we head off for our final meal at the famous “Kais" restaurant down by the riverside.

A wonderful finish to a short weekend away. Well recommended for couples wanting a new city break, families for the great choice of activities and sightseeing and groups wanting a good value weekend away. With low cost flights and schedule airlines daily and great choice of accommodations to suit all budgets.