Enjoy Lisbon's rich buzz and strong architectural, cultural, and historical ties. Wander cobbled streets, colourful buildings, the river Sado, and nature. Visit Fatima, hill villages, learn Portuguese cooking, and hear Lisbon blues. Escape to Cascais for quiet beaches. Soak up the light and enjoy petiscos and fado.

The Portuguese know their port. Quinta do Infantado was the first estate to bottle fortified wine. Beyond churches, arts, restaurants, music, and neoclassical structures, explore historic wonders, rolling hillsides, terracotta rooftops, granite buildings, and more wineries. With bars and restaurants on every piazza corner, try rich pastéis de nata. Savour this port in the light coastal breeze and share stories by the shimmering ocean.

On Galicia's scalloped coast, this under-the-radar city pairs emerald seas with golden beaches, lively markets, and a strong food scene. UNESCO highlights the Roman Tower of Hercules, standing for 2,000 years. Wander the Ciudad Vieja and Plaza de Maria Pita, then head to Pescadería for grilled octopus, cockles, and tapas with Albariño. Finish with the Paseo Marítimo, San Antón Castle, and Praia de Riazor.

Bilbao blends avant-garde style with medieval charm. See the Guggenheim Museum's titanium curves and granite angles, then explore the Old Town: Siete Calles, Plaza Nueva, Santiago Cathedral, and pintxos bars with txakoli wine. Cross the Nervión on the red-arched La Salve Bridge, the pedestrian Zubizuri to Campo de Volantín, and the UNESCO-listed black-iron Vizcaya Bridge.

Pauillac, the jewel of Bordeaux's Médoc, is a renowned commune and appellation famed for First Growth wines such as Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Latour, and Château Mouton Rothschild. Follow the Médoc Wine Route for guided tours, tastings, and lessons on terroir, then visit Plaza La Fayette and the Church of Saint-Martin. Taste chocolates, cheeses, and canelé pastry.

Visit the Basque Country for rich culture, opulent energy, great food, and natural beauty. Explore churches, theatres, markets, village squares, Ainhoa, Espelette, and San Sebastian. Enjoy private food and wine tastings, walking tours, cider houses, and a pilgrimage to Lourdes. See Eduardo Chillida's museum and the Rhune mountain train, or wander wild coastlines, sandy beaches, and rocky peninsulas.

A vibrant coastal quay with enough shops and entertainment to feel like its own village. Modern and lively, this waterfront town offers restaurants, heritage charm, bars and cinemas, plus easy access to the South of England. From here, visit Stonehenge, Windsor, the Bombay Sapphire distillery, or London for British culture-then enjoy tea, traditions, cockney accents and England's green and pleasant lands.