Last year, Portuguese music was victorious for the first time at Eurovision thanks to Salvador Sobral and his song, "Amar pelos dois". So this year the song contest will be held in the capital of Portugal and the entire city is already getting ready for such an important event. So whether you've got a ticket to the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest or not, we would like to invite you to discover Lisbon.

• When is Eurovision?

We're sure you've already put it in your diary, but just in case... the semifinals will take place on 8 and 10 May, and the final will be on Saturday, 12 May.

• Where will it take place?

The final will take place at the Altice Arena, in the neighbourhood of Parque das Nações, in the east of Lisbon. This venue has also held other events like the Expo '98 and the 1999 Under-19 Basketball World Cup, as well as many concerts.

• How do you get to the Altice Arena?

You just need to get the red metro line and get off at Oriente Station, which is just a few yards from the venue. If you want to get around easily and cheaply using public transport, the best thing is to buy the Viva Viagem card. It's a personal card that costs €0.50, which you can top up at the ticket machines or at the metro and train ticket offices.

• Where to stay

Lisbon has enjoyed a tourism boom in recent years and the number of hotels has soared. Some of the most popular spots with travellers are usually Chiado, Barrio Alto and Avenida Libertade, but Alfama and Lapa are also very interesting districts with many places to stay.

• Interesting places for Eurovision fans

The Eurovillage, which will be situated in the central Praça do Comércio, will be the meeting point for all Eurovision fans. The semifinals and final will be shown live here, and many representatives from each country will appear on stage in the run-up to the festival.

Another spot not to be missed will be the Euroclub, situated in the interesting neighbourhood of Cais do Sodré, which is 30 minutes by train from Altice Arena. This club is the place where the delegations, press and accredited fans gather every night to chill out, spend some time together and forget about the competition between countries for a while!

• Beyond Lisbon

If, as well as attending Eurovision, you fancy exploring other parts of the country, Lisbon is a great place to start. You can travel to many parts of the country from here. Sintra is a good place for day trips as it is close to the capital, and other interesting towns are Cascais and Estoril. And if you love nature, don't miss the chance to discover the westernmost point of continental Europe: Cabo da Roca, which is in Sintra-Cascais Nature Reserve.

If you haven't booked your flight to Lisbon yet, what are you waiting for?