The countryside has many interesting spots and villages worth a visit, such as Elne and its 2,700-year-old citadel, Riversaltes, renowned for its vineyards, or Saint Estève with its beautiful landscape at the edge of the Pyrenees chain. The coast has also some best-kept secrets, like the typical Catalan village of Saint-André.

The area where Expo 98 was held has been successfully transformed into a centre for exhibitions, leisure and culture. The extensive amount of building since the Expo almost overshadows pearls such as Siza Vieira’s Portugal pavilion and Santiago Calatrava’s adjacent Oriente Station. Green park spaces with public art link landmark contemporary buildings like the Camões Theatre and the Lisbon Oceanarium. Trendy waterfront restaurants, the glass-roofed Centro Vasco da Gama mall with shops and cinemas — everything you need for a fun weekend. Kid-friendly exhibits attract families to the Knowledge Pavilion, while the Telecabine Lisboa cable car offers sweeping views with a touch of adventure.

A relic from the 18th-century British rule, Xoriguer produces perhaps the oldest gin in the Mediterranean, crafted using a 1700s recipe and copper stills that are over 250 years old. Their showroom in Menorca offers an array of flavours to taste — don't miss the traditional pomada. Their unique process has earned them the 'Gin de Mahón' Geographical Indication recognition. Drop by and find your perfect Menorcan memento.

Located on the northern part of the island, the San Gervasio ruins are an archaeological site of the pre-Columbian Maya civilisation and a must-do excursion for history buffs. The site was originally dedicated to the deity of midwifery and medicine, Ix Chel, and was an important pilgrimage site for Mayan women. Today, the ruins are Cozumel's only preserved Mayan ruins and a noteworthy location to learn more about the fascinating Mayan civilisation.