Best of Both Worlds in Lovely Lisbon

As dilemmas go, it can be a tough one. For couples with opposing opinions on what a relaxing holiday should entail, choosing between a city break or a beach break is a tricky question. In the end our destination turned out to be the perfect compromise between culture and sun, activity and relaxation. Lisbon offers all the delights you’d expect of Portugal’s star attraction and strikes the perfect balance.

Like other cities, Lisbon is a hive of activity. The city is a flurry of activity and commotion and ensures that there is something for everyone. The city is easily accessible on foot but can also be explored through the cities affordable public transport system. The Lisbon Sightseeing hop on/hop off bus tour is a must do for anyone interested in capturing all the city’s most popular attractions in one open bus ride. The tour offers brief, but excellent, audio guide of the capital as it roams through different parts of the city.

We start our tour right in the heart of Lisbon at the Marques de Pombal Square where we first take in the modern side of Lisbon and the Baixa district, before delving back in time to some of the oldest most historical attractions such as the Se Cathedral and the Castelo de Sao Jorge, which overlooks the Portuguese capital from one of its highest points.

Included in the hop on/hop off bus tour is the option to explore the city in a totally different way; the GoCar. Voted one of the coolest inventions by Time magazine in 2004, the GoCar is a funky, yellow, mini convertible that takes you on a tour around the city while you drive. The GPS guided storytelling car takes you on an unforgettable journey around the city, through narrow alleyways and winding backroads, all the way into the heart of Lisbon and the hustle and bustle of city life. Renting out one of these cars allows you to see Lisbon as you want to and how you want to. You’re free to stop and start whenever and wherever you want. Although it was slightly stressful, it was also one of the funniest and exciting experiences I had while in the capital.

Once the sightseeing is done and dusted and you’re craving some tan time on the beach then the popular resorts of Estoril and Cascais are for you. The Mediterranean climate guarantees warm and blue skies for most of the year. The hottest summer months can reach blistering temperatures of 30 degrees and over, while even the winter months remain relatively mild compared to our harsh winters here. The average low winter temperature in Lisbon stands at 9.3 degrees making it a year round destination.

The Cais de Sodre train from Lisbon’s city centre will take you all the way to Estoril, in just over 20 minutes, where you can then hop off and walk the rest of the way to Cascais. The two beach towns are joined together by a promenade and so it’s just a quick walk from one area to the next. Both resorts look like a picture off a postcard with their warm sandy beaches that extend for miles and the glistening turquoise seawater. Estoril remains the quieter of the two while Cascais has more of a buzz about it with water sports activities taking place throughout the day and a range of small bars, restaurants and shops to choose from.

For the foody in you the Portuguese cuisine scene is largely dominated by seafood, although if that’s not your thing then there’s still plenty to choose from on the menu. One word of advice; in every restaurant we visited we were given a plate of bread and olives with our starter without us asking for it. This is added to the bill at the end of the meal so if you don’t like olives or simply don’t want it then just ask them to take it back. Sunday is also a bad restaurant day as a lot of places are closed so just make sure to plan accordingly.

So, if it’s beach time you’re hankering after, but your other half is craving a city break then Lisbon is the answer to all of your problems. The capital city strikes the perfect balance between the relaxation of suburban beach life and the rush of city life. Everyone wins.

Glasgow: Scotland's second city has just as much to offer

Scotland’s second city was given a welcome boost at the beginning of the year when it was named one of the top tourism destinations on the planet for 2014. Now preparations are well underway as the city of Glasgow gears up to host one of the world’s biggest sporting celebrations, as well as one of the most anticipated music events in the industry later on this year.  

According to Rough Guides, one of the world’s leading travel guidebooks, Glasgow is rated as one of the must-see cities of 2014. This may be partly due to the fact that the renowned Commonwealth Games will take place within the city this summer. The Games will run from 23^rd July until 3^rd August and, according to the official website of the Commonwealth Games, the event has been described as “A Cultural Celebration for all of Scotland”. The Games will highlight the city’s extensive sporting and events infrastructure and it is hoped that they will provide a boost to the city’s tourism industry and, in doing so, pave the way for more cultural events throughout the year. 

As well as the Commonwealth Games, the arrival of the £125 million SSE Hydro arena in Glasgow last year has helped accelerate the city’s growing status as a “cultural powerhouse”, as stated in Rough Guides. This year will see the arena host the opening gala for the Ryder Cup golf tournament in September, as well as the 20^th annual MTV Europe Music Awards in November.   

If sporting or music events aren’t really your thing then don’t dismiss Glasgow just yet. This modern European city has an abundance of attractions sure to entice any visitor including its arts and culture, vast array of restaurants and bars, excellent shopping facilities and must-do bus tours. 

If art and culture rouse your interest then the outstanding Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, located in the Bohemian West-End of the city, offers visitors the chance to view some of the finest art exhibits in Europe for free. During its refurbishment between 2003 and 2006, £28 million was pumped into the museum and it has since become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Glasgow.  

As well as the Kelvingrove Museum, the Riverside Museum, Glasgow’s Museum of Transport, is another must see. Since its opening in June 2011 the museum has gone from strength to strength. It now features over 3,000 exhibits and last year was named the winner of the 2013 European Museum of the Year Award.  

Speaking of transport, Glasgow is one of the most accessible cities and their public transport system is very reliable and easy to use.  Unfortunately the weather is very similar to Ireland and so, open top bus tours are not always a good idea. However, if you get a chance to ride on the hop on/hop off bus tour around the city then take it and embrace it. The tour gives a brief, but excellent, audio guide of the city and some of its main attractions including; George Square, Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow Science Centre, Botanic Gardens, Kelvingrove, The Royal Concert Hall and many others.     

 

Once all the obligatory sightseeing has been done some retail therapy is most definitely in order, and where better to do it than Glasgow City Centre? The city boasts it’s very own ‘Style Mile’; a square mile in the centre of the city that is home to over 200 shops. Glasgow is home to every fashion style, from designer to vintage and niche to mainstream. The city also boasts top of the range shopping centres including the Buchanan Galleries, St. Enoch’s Centre, House of Fraser and Princes Square. 

Once the shopping and sight-seeing has been done and your belly is beginning to rumble then don’t fear. Like most cities, Glasgow is overflowing with fantastic restaurants, traditional bars, cafes and nightclubs to suit the taste and budget of every visitor. 

So if you're bored of the usual beach holidays or you’re just craving a night or two away, then make the trip across the water as this sassy Scottish city is an ideal destination.