Southampton is the largest city and port on the south coast of England. Tour the historic byways of Old Town with its Medieval walls and Tudor architecture. Spend an hour or two meandering along the pathways of Royal Victoria Country Park, picturesquely set along the waterfront on the grounds of a former military hospital where Florence Nightingale once worked. Southampton's maritime past can be explored by strolling along the Town Quay with its marina and lively bars and restaurants. It was here that the Titanic departed on its fateful journey and where the Mayflower sailed for the New World.

Portland is located just five miles south of the resort of Weymouth, forming the southernmost point of the county of Dorset, United Kingdom. Portland's harbor is one of the deepest man-made harbors in the world at 39 to 66 feet. The large, deep artificial harbor was a Royal Navy base during World War I and World War II; the Navy and NATO trained in its waters until the 1990s. It was the host to the sailing events for the 2012 Olympic Games.

La Rochelle is known for its white limestone cliffs and lively harbor, Quai Duperré, with views of the Tour Saint-Nicolas and Tour de la Chaîne, painted by artists like Corot, Signac, and Vernet. Enjoy seafood at waterfront restaurants while watching sailboats, and see the medieval towers that once protected the port. The Four Sergeants Tower was a former prison with corsair graffiti. Don't miss the aquarium and the pedestrian-friendly old center, lined with 17th- and 18th-century buildings.

Bordeaux is located near the European Atlantic coast, in the north of the Aquitaine region in France. The city is built on a bend of the river Garonne, with the city literally divided into two parts. The world's wine capital, Bordeaux has about 60 appellations, 9,000 wine-producing châteaux, and 13,000 grape growers. With an annual production of over 700 million bottles, Bordeaux produces large quantities of everyday wine as well as the most expensive ones.

Bordeaux is located near the European Atlantic coast, in the north of the Aquitaine region in France. The city is built on a bend of the river Garonne, with the city literally divided into two parts. The world's wine capital, Bordeaux has about 60 appellations, 9,000 wine-producing châteaux, and 13,000 grape growers. With an annual production of over 700 million bottles, Bordeaux produces large quantities of everyday wine as well as the most expensive ones.

Bilbao straddles the Bilbao or Nervión River some 15 miles from the Cantabrian Seacoast. An industrial city, the metropolitan area ranks among Spain's most important commercial and financial centers. Proximity to the sea and early discovery of vast mineral deposits led to the development of the port. The modern city center is El Ensanche (literally "the expansion"). Possibly the newest source of great local pride is the remarkable Guggenheim Museum-Bilbao.

La Coruna is a busy port on the Atlantic Ocean that provides a distribution point for agricultural goods from the region. It was the arrival of democracy in Spain after the death of Francisco Franco that caused a major growth in the city. The city is the site of the Roman Tower of Hercules, a lighthouse that has been in continuous operation for nearly 2,000 years. The city is also well-known for its characteristic glazed window balconies, called galerías.

The very definition of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Old Town of Santiago de Compostela Santiago contains Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassicist buildings, as well as a cathedral with an iconic element - the Pórtico de la Gloria - that's considered a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture. Choose from a variety of museums before stopping at one of a bevy of restaurants serving the Galician specialty known as pulpo (cooked octopus), local cheeses and Albariño wine.

Explore historic Oporto and Vila Nova de Gaia, home to the port wine industry, or the scenic countryside with Guimaraes' medieval castle and Braga's Bom Jesus shrine and cathedral. Shop for filigree jewelry, azulejos, porcelain, leather goods, needlepoint carpets, and Madeiran lace. Try caldo verde, sheep's cheese, olives, smoked ham, fish, pork, and port wine.

Lisbon, said to have been founded by Ulysses as Olisipo, is one of Europe's most fascinating cities. A devastating 1755 earthquake destroyed much of it, and the Baixa was rebuilt in neo-classical style, now the city's heart. Overlooking the Tagus, the "City of Explorers" offers districts like Alfama, with Moorish lanes, and Bairro Alto, where you can hear Fado. Nearby are the palaces of Queluz and Sintra.