Neolithic souvenirs of Lisbon’s earliest inhabitants remain on the city’s periphery. More recently, the imposing bastions of Castelo de São Jorge that overshadow the city mark its time under Islamic rule in the 8th century. But it’s the scattering of obscenely decorative palaces that mark Lisbon’s historic role at the affluent core of the Portuguese Empire.

The city’s distinctive barrios -districts- form a variegated patchwork of unique flavours and cultures. One of the capital’s oldest areas is Alfama. Nudged up against the slow slide of the Tagus River, it’s where you’ll find Lisbon’s heart. Wander through its gracefully aged streets, eavesdropping on the soulful plucks of local Fado bands, for a real sense of old-world Portugal. For something more contemporary and upbeat, Barrio Alta’s lively wine bars and al-fresco restaurants march to a quicker drum.

Baixa’s broad boulevards and sweeping plazas pay tribute to Portugal’s faded glory as the largest and longest-lived empire in the world. Find a perch at the Praça do Comércio and gaze out across the harbour over a cup of dark-roasted bica and a cinnamon-dusted pastel de nata.

If it’s quick access to a beach you’re after, you’ll find a surfer’s paradise within a 30-minute drive west along the coast from Lisbon. Cascais is an indulgent stretch of sandy shores spooling out from a bustling marina that fronts a charming medieval Old Town.

Head a little further along the coast and you’ll discover scenic walking trails through the pristine wilderness of Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. The pretty historic hill top-perched town of Sintra within the park offers some respite from the sizzling temperatures on the coast.

It’s a pretty three-hour drive from Lisbon to the bustling city of Porto set demurely on the banks of the River Douro in the north, and the route takes you through some of Portugal’s finest wine country. JK Rowling lived and taught English here for a while - head to the neo-Gothic Lello Bookshop for some fascinating literary inspiration. But Porto’s unequivocal star attraction is its signature tipple - don’t leave without a snifter of port. For generous helpings of the country’s prime coastline, reach the glimmering Algarve along the south coast in under three hours from Lisbon.

Hire a car with Avis in Lisbon for the ultimate freedom to explore Portugal’s sprawling beaches, charming villages and rolling vineyards.