The European city break with £1.66 beers – and it’s just a few hours from the UK

SPANNING seven hills on the edge of the River Tagus and with a thriving foodie scene, the Portuguese capital Lisbon offers a fantastic city break for anyone on a budget – and those who aren’t.

Whether you are in the mood to take in its history or buzzing nightlife, or just enjoy the sun with a glass of port and a custard tart, there are delights ancient and modern.

WHY SHOULD I GO?

LISBON is older than London, Rome and Paris. You feel the past all around you, especially walking the cobbled streets in the Alfama district, but the city still hums with youthful energy.

You’re as likely to find a stylish boutique or world-class restaurant as a magnificent museum hidden amid the pastel-coloured buildings.

What’s truly wonderful about this city, though, is its value for money. Expect to pay just three euro (£2.50) for a glass of wine or 2 euro (£1.66) for a beer.

ARE THESE STREETS MADE FOR WALKING?

PLEASINGLY compact, Lisbon really is best explored by foot — but bring comfy shoes, as those famous hills are steep.

Climb to the Miradouro das Portas do Sol viewpoint and be rewarded with views across red roof tops down to the sparkling blue of the Tagus river.

Away from the city centre, one of the best strolls is water-front district Belem, as you take in the Jeronimos Monastry cloisters and admire the Padrão dos Descobrimento monument, which celebrates Portugal’s proud history of exploration.

ANYTHING FOR BUCKET LIST?

YOU must try the famous pastel de nata — pastry tarts filled with eggy custard.

They’re in most cafes, but it’s worth queuing at Pasteis de Belem where the recipe is so secret it’s never been written down.

When tired of walking, hop a traditional wooden tram. Route E28 takes in the Se Cathedral, Sao Jorge Castle and National Pantheon, but can get crowded. Your best chance of getting on is where it starts, at Campo Ourique – and go early.

WHERE SHOULD I EAT?

AT the more rustic end of the scale, try Cervejaria Ramiro for the freshest seafood, served in unpretentious surroundings.

Think clams drenched in garlic butter, sizzling tiger prawns and delicately dressed crab, all washed down with a cold beer.

For something more out there, A Cervicheria is a sleek spot offering a Portuguese twist on the Peruvian classic ceviche, underneath a distinctive octopus chandelier. Everything we ate looked like a work of art.

Or, if you want to try a little bit of everything, hit the Time Out Market in Cais do Sodre, which houses 40 food stalls representing some of Portugal’s top chefs and restaurants.

I FANCY A DRINK…

LISBON’S signature tipple is ginjinha – a sweet liqueur made from sour cherries – but you might be happier with a keenly priced glass of wine or beer.

By day, we loved the views from cocktail bar Park, on the top of a multi-storey car park in Bairro Alto.

At night, seek out a bar with live fado – the haunting traditional music of Portugal usually performed by a female singer and guitarists.

WHERE SHOULD I STAY?

BUILT on the site of a 100-year-old bakery, on the classy Rua das Janelas Verdes, Emerald House is a brand new hotel in the Hilton Curio collection.

You can enjoy impeccable Hilton standards, but with the intimate, quirky feel of a boutique hotel. The place is decorated with antiques, and curiosities scavenged from Lisbon junk shops.

There’s also a 24-hour gym, an elegant bar and a reliable restaurant — that serves up an incredibly varied breakfast buffet.

We loved the river views from our balcony, a stone’s throw from the National Museum of Ancient Art and a short walk from nightlife hub of Cais Do Sodre – a.k.a. “Pink Street” because of the colour of its pavement.