Built over 2,000 years, London is one of Europe's most dynamic, cosmopolitan cities. Walk the Thames past the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, St. Paul's, and the Tower of London; watch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace; visit Westminster Cathedral or Hampton Court Palace; dine in Mayfair or Soho, where heritage meets Michelin-starred cuisine; and explore South Kensington's Museum Quarter, the Tate Modern, British Museum, and National Gallery.

Once a genteel seaside retreat for Victorian nobles, Torquay is the queen of the English Riviera: a bustling harbor where old-world grandeur meets coastal charm. Stroll the palm-lined promenade, stop for Devonshire cream teas and sparkling wine, hike the South-West Coast Path to hidden coves, and watch for guillemots and dolphins from Berry Head. Inland, see thatched villages and Torre Abbey, then follow the Literary Trail to Agatha Christie's Greenway, her "loveliest place on earth."

Saint-Malo, home of Jacques Cartier and once a corsair hub, is wrapped in granite walls and rich history. Walk the ramparts around Intra-Muros, or stop for Breton crêpes and cider in Place Chateaubriand's grand mansions. Named after a Welsh monk and set near Mont-Saint-Michel, the area is famed for its cuisine, from three-star Le Coquillage and chef Hugo Roellinger to simpler pleasures: Muscadet and a dozen Cancale oysters by the harbor at sunset.

Saint-Malo, home of Jacques Cartier and once a corsair hub, is wrapped in granite walls and rich history. Walk the ramparts around Intra-Muros, or stop for Breton crêpes and cider in Place Chateaubriand's grand mansions. Named after a Welsh monk and set near Mont-Saint-Michel, the area is famed for its cuisine, from three-star Le Coquillage and chef Hugo Roellinger to simpler pleasures: Muscadet and a dozen Cancale oysters by the harbor at sunset.

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.

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.

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.

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.