Lisbon, Portugal's Atlantic capital, is spread across seven hills. Start in Alfama, with its medieval streets leading to Castelo de São Jorge and sweeping city views. Head to Baixa for shopping, restaurants, and neoclassical architecture. In Belém, see two UNESCO sites: Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery. If time allows, visit nearby Sintra and Cascais, or continue to Fátima, where Virgin Mary apparitions were reported in 1917.

Porto, a compact UNESCO city on both sides of the Douro, is easy to explore on foot. Its Ribeira quarter has cobblestone streets and squares tracing 2,000 years of history. Highlights include the 12th-century Romanesque cathedral, Palácio da Bolsa, and the Beaux-Arts railway station. Cross the Dom Luís I Bridge to taste port wine in nearby cellars, and visit Guimarães, Portugal's first capital, for medieval castles and 15th-century palaces.

On Spain's northwest coast, A Coruña is known for the Tower of Hercules, the world's only functioning Roman lighthouse and a UNESCO site with sea views. The city has over a mile of beaches, a charming Old Town around Plaza de María Pita, and great Galician seafood, especially octopus. It's also a gateway to Santiago de Compostela, whose iconic cathedral marks the traditional end of the medieval pilgrimage route and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Bordeaux, in southwestern France, is an elegant 18th-century city of stately buildings, broad avenues and historic squares. Highlights include Porte de Bourgogne, Bordeaux Cathedral's stained glass, the 12th-century Romanesque basilica, and Hôtel de Ville. But a visit isn't complete without wine: this region is known worldwide for appellations like Pauillac, St. Emilion, Margaux and Sauternes. Tour a wine chateau to see grapes grown, aged in oak barrels and processed.

Bordeaux, in southwestern France, is an elegant 18th-century city of stately buildings, broad avenues and historic squares. Highlights include Porte de Bourgogne, Bordeaux Cathedral's stained glass, the 12th-century Romanesque basilica, and Hôtel de Ville. But a visit isn't complete without wine: this region is known worldwide for appellations like Pauillac, St. Emilion, Margaux and Sauternes. Tour a wine chateau to see grapes grown, aged in oak barrels and processed.

Plymouth, on England's south coast, is a historic naval port shaped by its maritime heritage and sweeping waterfront views. Explore the Barbican's cobbled lanes and Elizabethan buildings, stroll the Hoe for panoramas across Plymouth Sound, or enjoy local pubs, seafood, and a lively harbour atmosphere before heading inland to Devon's green countryside.

Cobh is one of Ireland's prettiest secrets: a historic seaside port with colorful hillside houses and St. Colman's Cathedral above one of the world's largest natural harbors. Nearby Cork is lively and full of highlights, including St. Fin Barre's Cathedral and the centuries-old English Market, where you can shop and eat local foods. Just outside Cork, Blarney Castle draws visitors for the Blarney Stone, said to give the "gift of the gab."

Dublin blends literary heritage, Georgian elegance and a lively pub culture on the banks of the River Liffey. Explore historic streets around Trinity College and St. Patrick's Cathedral, stroll through leafy squares and along the waterfront, or sample local flavors in traditional cafés and markets. Beyond the city, coastal villages and scenic countryside offer an easy taste of Ireland's charm.