Barcelona blends vibrant energy with Catalan tradition: explore the Gothic Quarter and Gaudí's architecture, enjoy tapas and cava in plazas and cafés, relax at the beach, shop along Passeig de Gràcia, and end the night in bohemian bars on La Rambla. A stylish city full of character.

Discover Valletta, Malta's tiny capital and master of restoration, behind honey-hued fortifications. Step back through hand-carved shelters, subterranean tombs and stone-age temples; uncover war secrets beneath limestone streets; skim Grand Harbour in a dghajsa; and explore museums of art and the "Fat Lady." Beyond history, enjoy lively bars, Michelin-starred Maltese cuisine, and diving on wrecks.

Explore Crete, the Isle of the Gods: a lively capital, classical heritage, steep landscapes, and beautiful beaches. See Rethymnon's rich past and Chania's Venetian architecture. Tour the Palace of Knossos, a must for Minotaur and labyrinth fans. Walk the Venetian walls and visit the archaeological museum, Loggia, and Agios Titos church. Hike Mount Ida, follow village and battlefield paths, scuba dive, and visit nearby Greek isles. Enjoy museums, raki, and local cuisine.

Rhodes rises from the sea like a jewel, a gift from Zeus to Helios. Sun-kissed and steeped in history, it echoes with Cicero and Caesar in the UNESCO-listed Old Town and stone lanes. Follow the Knights of St. John and Turkish conquerors past monuments, fountains, and squares. Visit Suleiman Mosque, Byzantine churches, hilltop white houses, and Mandraki Harbour, where bronze deer stand in place of the legendary Colossus.

Limassol's marina of tall masts and sleek yachts opens to beaches, Greek and Roman sites, and Troodos foothills famed for wine. In Old Town, cobbled streets lead to Limassol Castle and tavernas. Nearby Kourion offers mosaics and ruins, while olive groves, citrus farms, Omodos vineyards, and pine-forest adventures lie beyond.

A land of myth and legend, blending romance, adventure, pharaohs and pyramids. Explore ancient chambers, hieroglyphics and the Great Sphinx, or relax in a health spa and drift in a hot air balloon. Learn from Egyptologists about the pharaohs and from experts about the Suez Canal. In the evening, enjoy Eastern cuisine in Port Fouad. A remarkable global crossroads worth seeing and experiencing.

Explore Saudi Arabia's oldest city: pilgrimage to holy towns, wander UNESCO-listed Al-Balad's backstreets, see ruins and floating mosques, and relax on the Corniche. Take in Edge of the World views, shop busy souks, and head to Moon Mountain. Fish, quad bike, dive, ride camels, climb, or ride Arabian horses through the desert. From the world's largest dome to the world's tallest fountain, watch this captivating city rise.

Explore Saudi Arabia's oldest city: pilgrimage to holy towns, wander UNESCO-listed Al-Balad's backstreets, see ruins and floating mosques, and relax on the Corniche. Take in Edge of the World views, shop busy souks, and head to Moon Mountain. Fish, quad bike, dive, ride camels, climb, or ride Arabian horses through the desert. From the world's largest dome to the world's tallest fountain, watch this captivating city rise.