Lisbon, Portugal

Seven hills, a wide river and some of the best coffee in western Europe. Lisbon works for a long weekend or a slow fortnight. Most of what you want is reachable by tram or on foot, and the beaches at Cascais are 40 minutes by train.

Alfama and Mouraria keep the old lanes and the fado houses, Chiado and Principe Real the shops and gardens. Book river-view rooms and Sintra day trips ahead in summer.