Before you launch into weeks (or months) of responsibility-free fun in Europe, you’ll need to get some adult stuff out of the way first. Organise a pet (or plant) sitter, hand all your unfinished work over to your poor colleagues and, most importantly, sort out your payment plan. With an HSBC Everyday Global Account, you can have up to ten currencies (including EUR) preloaded so you can use your Visa Debit Card for all purchases and ATM withdrawals. The best part? You won’t be stung with international transaction fees.

As a coastal city, Lisbon is extremely hilly. You’ll want to do some exploring on foot to get a feel for the city, but when those legs start getting a little tired, public transport — particularly the metro — is a convenient and affordable alternative. And, of course, you can’t leave without taking a ride on the famous number 28 tram, which passes through some of the city’s thriving neighbourhoods. It’s extremely popular, so jump on early (or late) in the day.

Fado is a traditional music genre unique to Lisbon. It’s said to have originated in the ports — sailors lamenting a lonely life at sea. Nowadays, you can expect to hear the soulful, somewhat-haunting tunes — usually performed by a solo vocalist accompanied by a guitar — in the small bars and restaurants lining the cobblestone streets.

You may think you’ve had a Portuguese egg custard tart before, but you’ll stand corrected after just one bite of an authentic pastel de nata in Lisbon, served warm from the oven with a light dusting of cinnamon on top. Yep, the real deal is infinitely tastier, so expect that bite to be followed by many, many more — at just a couple of euros per tart, it’s impossible to stop at one. Pastéis de Belem, Fábrica da Nata and Manteigaria‘s tarts are all superb.