Eilidh on the roof of the UNESCO-listed Cathedral of \u00c9vora.<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Why I went to Lisbon
\n<\/strong>I had been to Lisbon briefly a few years ago, but as I was working I didn’t have the time to explore properly. Going back was always a matter of when, not if. Lisbon\u2019s beautiful tiled buildings, bubbling creative energy and almost guaranteed good weather were all appealing, but my partner and I were keen to explore outside the city too. We found an apartment that would make a perfect base, in the historic Alfama neighbourhood, so booked our flights.<\/p>\n

My highlight of the trip
\n<\/strong>The trip was full of highlights, but among the brightest were our two visits to the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology, known as MAAT. Yes, we liked it so much we went twice. Located in the Bel\u00e9m neighbourhood, the main MAAT building is a pristine white structure that curves upwards from the edge of the Rio Tejo, its cliff-like shape meaning you can walk right over the roof. Next door, the industrial labyrinth that is the former Tejo Power Station offers art and science exhibits in a drastically different environment. The riverside cycle path that runs all the way from the Pra\u00e7a do Com\u00e9rcio (Lisbon\u2019s enormous main square, and the largest in Europe) to Bel\u00e9m meant getting to the museum was a pleasure. And of course, we made time to stop for obligatory custard tarts en route.<\/p>\n

What else I love about Lisbon
\n<\/strong>Lisbon is an amazing city to explore on foot. It might seem like a strange comparison, as it’s less compact, more colourful and an awful lot warmer, but Lisbon reminds me of another old European capital: Edinburgh. In Lisbon, too, the unpredictable topography,\u00a0narrow\u00a0lanes and inviting staircases make just walking around an adventure.<\/p>\n

There were too many promising museums for us to visit them all. However, the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, an art museum set in a beautiful garden, and the weirdly compelling Puppet Museum were among my favourites.<\/p>\n

Lisbon is also well-placed for day trips, and we went on several great ones. We visited Sintra, best known for the multicoloured Pena Palace, but also filled with a remarkably high density of historic sites besides; quieter \u00c9vora, where attractions included a cathedral with a view and a 16th-century chapel decorated with human bones; and the coastal town of Cascais, where a\u00a0heavy mist made our bike ride to Guincho Beach feel especially mysterious.<\/p>\n

After close to two weeks in Lisbon, I still felt I\u2019d only skimmed the surface. It\u2019s a city that demands repeat visits.<\/p>\n