Lisbon, at Europe's edge and the Atlantic's brink, evokes the Age of Discovery, when Portuguese sailors opened routes to India, West Africa, the Caribbean, and Brazil. Today it's a living museum of that seafaring past and a perfect start to your transatlantic voyage. See azulejo-lined streets and Manueline landmarks like Jerónimos Monastery, hear fado in Alfama, ride the 1902 Santa Justa Lift for sweeping views, and savor plenty of pastéis de Belém.

Creativity runs deep in historic Porto, on the Atlantic edge and near the Douro Valley. See it in the blue azulejo tiles of Igreja do Carmo and Capela das Almas, and in Porto Cathedral's cloisters. Visit Livraria Lello, one of Europe's oldest bookstores, and the riverside Ribeira district. Cross Dom Luís I Bridge, then explore the city's old cellars, where ruby Port ages in oak barrels and is tasted in centuries-old rooms or on terraces at sunset.

Halfway between San Sebastián and Santander, Bilbao is the heart of Spain's Basque Country, where language, culture, and identity are proudly unique. Once a gritty shipbuilding and steel city, it is now a powerhouse of art and culture, defined by Gehry's Guggenheim Museum. Beyond its titanium façade, Bilbao shines in markets, pintxos bars in Casco Viejo, grilled octopus at Plaza Nueva, txakoli, txuleton, Rioja, and sweeping views from Mount Artxanda over the Nervión estuary.

Bordeaux, famed worldwide for its prestigious appellations, is the undisputed capital of wine. From Pauillac and Margaux on the Left Bank to Saint-Émilion and Pomerol on the Right, it's a paradise for wine lovers. Beyond the vineyards, the city-split by the Garonne-shines with 18th-century grandeur, a UNESCO-listed center of neoclassical and baroque architecture, plus the Place de la Bourse, the Grand Théâtre, medieval gates, and excellent historic dining.

Bordeaux, famed worldwide for its prestigious appellations, is the undisputed capital of wine. From Pauillac and Margaux on the Left Bank to Saint-Émilion and Pomerol on the Right, it's a paradise for wine lovers. Beyond the vineyards, the city-split by the Garonne-shines with 18th-century grandeur, a UNESCO-listed center of neoclassical and baroque architecture, plus the Place de la Bourse, the Grand Théâtre, medieval gates, and excellent historic dining.