The capital of Portugal has experienced a renaissance in recent years and has reclaimed its rightful place as the 'golden city' of southern Europe. After slumbering for decades, the city's modern, vibrant and cosmopolitan identity is today much similar to that which it enjoyed in the 15th and 16th centuries during the age of the great discoverers, when Lisbon was the centre of trade with the East and the starting point for maritime exploration of the globe.

The city fathers of Lisbon elected to invest in some rejuvenation in the 1990s, and this ongoing focus on the future has made the most of the city's attributes and attractions, both old and new. Infrastructure has also been improved, with additions like the impressive Vasco da Gama Bridge across the River Tagus, which links the city's airport to a network of national motorways and has facilitated access to other parts of Portugal. There is also a new showcase railway hub, the Gare de Oriente, which is the pride of a new modern suburb on the east bank of the Tagus, creating an even better link between Lisbon and the rest of Europe.

While much is new, there is plenty of the old left to charm visitors, giving the metropolis a slightly provincial air. The delightful, picturesque medieval section of Alfama skirts the city's Sao Jorge castle, and historic wooden trams ply noisily up and down steep hills past art deco cafes and mosaic-decorated pavements. Many of the relics of the city's golden age were destroyed in an earthquake in 1755, but some survived and are popular tourist attractions, complemented now by modern sights, like the futuristic Oceanarium.

Within easy reach of the city are the sandy beaches of several coastal resorts, such as Costa da Caparica, Estoril and Cascais, as well as the forested areas of Sintra and attractions like the extraordinary Mafra monastery. The mood of Lisbon is light and bright, confident, fresh and avante garde, ready to welcome the world to the doorstep as one of the great capitals of Europe.

Castelo de Sao Jorge

Address: Lisbon

Admission: EUR7, concessions available Daily, 9am to 6pm (November to February) and 9am to 9pm (March to October)

Telephone: 218 800 620

Alfama

Address: Lisbon

Sé de Lisboa

Address: Lisbon

Admission: Free Daily, 10am to 7pm.

Telephone: 21 886 6752

Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

Address: Avenue de Berna 45A Lisbon

Admission: EUR4, concessions available. Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5.45pm

Telephone: 21 782 3000

Bairro Alto

Address: Lisbon

Monument to the Discoveries

Address: Lisbon

Admission: Tuesday to Sunday, 9.30am to 6pm.

Telephone: 21 303 1950

Tower of Belem

Address: Avenida de Brasilia Lisbon

Admission: EUR7 (adults), free for children under 14. Concessions available Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm (October to April), 10am to 6.30pm (May to September)

Telephone: 21 362 0034

Parque das Nacoes

Address: Avenue D. João II, Lote Lisbon

Admission: Oceanarium: daily 10am to 8pm (until 7pm in winter)

Telephone: 218 919 333

Fatima

Address: Lisbon

Setúbal

Address: Lisbon

Telephone: 265 539 120 (Setúbal Tourist Office)

Cristo Rei

Address: Lisbon

Admission: EUR5 for the elevator to the top. 9am-6pm daily

Oceanario de Lisboa (Lisbon Oceanarium)

Address: Esplanada d. Carlos I Lisbon

Admission: EUR12 (adults) and EUR6 (children under 12). Concessions available. Daily, 10am to 8pm (summer) and 10am to 7pm (winter)

Telephone: 21 891 7002

Museu de Marinha (Maritime Museum)

Address: Praça do Império Lisbon

Admission: EUR4 (adult) and EUR2 (6 - 18 years), free for children under 6. Concessions available. 10am to 5pm (October to April) and 10am to 6pm (May to September); closed Mondays.

Telephone: 21 362 0019

Colombo Amusement Park

Address: Centro Colombo, Lusíada Avenue. Lisbon

Telephone: 217 11 36 36

Vasco da Gama Aquarium

Address: Rua Direita do Dafundo Lisbon

Admission: EUR3 (adult), EUR1.50 (6-17), free for children under 6 Daily 10am to 6pm

Telephone: 214 196 337

Calouste Gulbenkian Planetarium

Address: Praça do Império, Belém Lisbon

Admission: EUR4 (adults), EUR2 (10-18s), free for children 6-9. Children under 6 only admitted on Sunday mornings. Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm

Telephone: 213 620 002

Evora

Address: Lisbon

Fado Bars

Address: Lisbon

Jeronimos Monastery

Address: Lisbon

Admission: Open daily from 10am to 5.30pm (October to May); and from 10am to 6.30pm (May to September)

Lisbon Marathon

Where: ,Lisbon

When: 4 December 2011

Carnival

Where: Parque Nações,Lisbon

When: 3 - 13 March 2012

Great Orchestras of the World

Where: Coliseu dos Recreios,Lisbon

When: November to April annually

Estoril Open

Where: Estadio Nacional,Lisbon

When: April 2012 TBA

Lisbon Village Festival

Where: Various,Lisbon

When: June 2012 TBA

Lisbon Book Fair

Where: Edward VII Park,Lisbon

When: April to May 2012 TBA

Casa Nostra

Address: Travessa do Poço da Cidade 60, Bairro Alto Lisbon

Food Type: Italian

Kais

Address: Rua da Cintura-Santos, City Centre Lisbon

Food Type: International

Gambrinus

Address: Rua das Portas de Santo Antão 23 Lisbon

Food Type: International

Comida de Santo

Address: Calçado Engenheiro Miguel Pais 39 Lisbon

Food Type: Brazilian

Espalha Brasas

Address: Armazém 9 Lisbon

Food Type: Portuguese

Doca Peixe

Address: Armazém 14 Lisbon

Food Type: Seafood

Nood

Address: Largo Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro 20, Chiado Lisbon

Food Type: Asian

Via Graça

Address: Rua Damasceno Monteiro 9B Lisbon

Food Type: Portuguese

Cafe de Sao Bento

Address: Rua de São Bento 212, Príncipe Real Lisbon

Food Type: Steakhouse