London

Six great reasons to go to Portugal

Lisbon
Since it spruced up its act for Euro 2004, the capital’s been enjoying a new Golden Age. It’s a beguiling mix of labyrinthine Moorish heart, grid-like downtown and modern waterfront – and as it’s built on seven hills, there are plenty of jaw-dropping views. To the west, check out Belem, from where Vasco da Gama and Henry the Navigator set sail. Don’t miss the Parque das Nações by the river, with the Oceanarium, the new Lisbon Casino and a host of trendy bars. Parque das Nações, +351 218 919 898, www.parquedasnacoes.pt.

Bica do Sapato
Part owned by actor John Malkovich, Bica do Sapato has to be the hippest restaurant in town. Rub shoulders with Lisbon’s movers and shakers and dine on fine modern Portuguese cuisine in this waterfront eaterie, divided into three parts – a sushi bar, a laid-back café and the chic restaurant itself. Expect a new take on cod, which may appear in salads served with chick pea ice cream. The views across the waterfront are reason enough to visit.
Av. Infante Don Henrique, +351 218 810 320, www.bicadosapato.com.

Fado
Wallow in Lisbon’s melancholic spirit with fado, the traditional Portuguese folk music. There are plenty of fado houses around town, especially in the Bairro Alto and Alfama districts, where singers weave tales of passion and doom, accompanied by guitar melodies with a distinct Arabic weave. Try the atmospheric Clube de Fado, 94 Rua S. João da Praça, +351 218 852 704, www.clube-de-fado.com.

Ria Formosa Nature Reserve
Stretching along 60km of coast from Tavira to Ancao, this natural playground has huge empty beaches, deserted islands and quaint seafood restaurants (the clams are a must). Inland,the lagoons, mud flats, woodlands and marshes are fantastic for birdwatching, hiking or cycling. The education centre tells you all about the reserve’s rare flora and fauna. Centro de Educação Ambiental de Marim, Quelfes, +351 28 970 4134, www.icn.pt.

Faro
The gateway to the Algarve, Faro is a lively university city with great shopping, restaurants and nightlife, and a 16th-century old town. The most unusual attraction is the chapel of the Igreja do Carmo church, lined with the bones of over 1,200 monks. After dark, head to Rua do Prior, it’s packed with lively nightspots like Upa Upa Café & Bar, 51 Rua Conselheiro Bivar, +351 28 980 78 32.

Fly to Portugal
•London Gatwick to Faro £36.99
•NEW London Gatwick to Lisbon £24.99
•London Luton to Faro £40.99
•London Luton to Lisbon £31.99
•London Stansted to Faro £40.99
•NEW London Stansted to Madeira £24.99
•All fares are single and include tax

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