
Party stamina —
Think they stay out late in Madrid? In nightlife areas such as Bairro Alto, Lisbonites stay out until dawn -- then keep going.

World at your feet —
Lisbon has some of the world's most fascinating cobbles, a "street art" obsession shown off here in the city's giant mapa mundi.

Expert with the irony —
Portuguese writer Fernando Pessoa eloquently summed up the prevailing national outlook: "I'd woken up early, and took a long time getting ready to exist."

Delicious tarts —
Portuguese custard tarts have conquered the world. You can try the original version (pictured) at the Antiga Confeitaria de Belem café.

Beaches —
Few European capitals have such easy access to great beaches, like this one at Sintra.

Style city —
Lisbonites have a sharp eye for design, fashion and architecture, such as the Gare do Oriente station.

Art full —
The city is bursting with world-class galleries, including the Oriental and Western collections of the Gulbenkian Foundation.