Bridgetown, Barbados' UNESCO-listed capital, blends colonial history, rich culture, and white-sand beauty. At The Careenage, pastel buildings overlook the Constitution River, with a plaque marking the city's role in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Nearby Carlisle Bay offers turquoise water, soft sand, and shipwreck dives with turtles and tropical fish. Explore street food, Broad Street shopping, rum bars on Roebuck Street, and Nidhe Israel Synagogue and museum.

Cape Verde, 300 miles off West Africa, has ten islands and five islets, mostly volcanic, divided into windward and leeward groups. Colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century, they first settled Santiago and founded Cidade Velha, a center of the slave trade. Praia, on Santiago, is the capital; Mindelo is the prettiest town and has the deep-water port Porto Grande. Official language: Portuguese; national language: Crioulo.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain's ninth-largest city, offers urban beaches, lively tapas bars, and a mild climate. Las Canteras, protected by a lava barrier, is one of the Canaries' calmest beaches, ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing on soft sand. In old Vegueta, cobbled 15th-century streets, colonial houses, and the Columbus museum evoke the past. Nearby, the volcanic Caldera de Bandama, whitewashed fishing villages, gardens, and vineyards showcase the island's diverse landscapes.

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.

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.