Lisbon, Portugal's capital, is a beautiful city of seven hills, fado, pastel houses and azulejo tiles. Wander Alfama's steep cobbled streets, visit the Azulejo Museum, then head to São Jorge Castle or Miradouro da Graça for sweeping views over red rooftops, the Tagus and the suspension bridge. See Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery, and take a trip to nearby Sintra and Pena Palace. Finish with ginjinha and a pastel de nata.

Madeira is a lush, colorful island of dramatic cliffs, fertile mountains and sunny beaches. In Funchal, the laid-back capital, cobblestone old-town streets, painted doors, whitewashed buildings and iron balconies echo Lisbon. Taste Madeira wine, see Corpo Santo Chapel, and enjoy Parque de Santa Catarina, Madeira Botanical Garden, Palheiro Garden, and the views from Cap Girão, where cliffs drop to the blue sea.

Madeira is a lush, colorful island of dramatic cliffs, fertile mountains and sunny beaches. In Funchal, the laid-back capital, cobblestone old-town streets, painted doors, whitewashed buildings and iron balconies echo Lisbon. Taste Madeira wine, see Corpo Santo Chapel, and enjoy Parque de Santa Catarina, Madeira Botanical Garden, Palheiro Garden, and the views from Cap Girão, where cliffs drop to the blue sea.

Dakar, Senegal's capital and a major West African gateway, offers surf-fringed beaches, island-like urban shores, scuba diving, golf, and sights like pink Lake Retba. Explore lively markets, hear jazz, sambar and mbalax, and visit Gorée Island's House of Slaves or the Théodore Monod Museum. Sandaga Market buzzes with food and textiles; try fresh fish and dibi, Senegal's spiced mutton street food.

Ghana's fourth-largest city plays serene beaches against a bustling commercial centre. People from around the world visit the shore, both for its beauty and to enjoy the fresh seafood served right on the sands. Frantic city life awaits a short distance inland, where an economy fuelled by Ghana's oil industry is most apparent in the maze of vendors at Market Circle. Takoradi is also the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Elmina and Cape Coast Castle.

Walvis Bay, Namibia, is a scenic Atlantic coastal city known for its tidal lagoon, resident flamingos, and rich birdlife. Its deep-water harbour attracts marine life and supports fishing, while boat tours and Pelican Point offer close wildlife viewing. Offshore, whales and dolphins can be seen too. Nearby Dune 7, Namibia's highest sand dune, is ideal for picnics, sandboarding, and views across the desert, and Sandwich Harbour offers dramatic dunes meeting the sea.

Walvis Bay, Namibia, is a scenic Atlantic coastal city known for its tidal lagoon, resident flamingos, and rich birdlife. Its deep-water harbour attracts marine life and supports fishing, while boat tours and Pelican Point offer close wildlife viewing. Offshore, whales and dolphins can be seen too. Nearby Dune 7, Namibia's highest sand dune, is ideal for picnics, sandboarding, and views across the desert, and Sandwich Harbour offers dramatic dunes meeting the sea.

Luderitz sits amid scorched desert on Namibia's coast, making its German art nouveau buildings feel oddly placed but charming. Nearby, penguins, flamingos, and dolphins can be seen around Penguin Island and Seal Island. Shark Island has a darker history: a German concentration camp there killed 1,000-3,000 people from 1905 to 1907. Inland lies Kolmanskop, a famous diamond-mine ghost town.

Cape Town is one of the world's most beautiful cities, where Table Mountain, coastline, vineyards, urban culture, and relaxed ocean charm meet. Ride the cable car or hike Lion's Head for sweeping views. Visit Boulders Beach for African penguins, the Cape of Good Hope, and Robben Island, where Mandela's prison story brings the city's history to life.