The Innumerable Culinary Charms 
of Bordeaux and Iberia

Halfway between San Sebastien and Santander, Bilbao is the heart of Spain’s Basque Country, where language, culture and identity are proudly unique. Once a gritty tangle of shipyards and steelworks, now a powerhouse of art and culture, Bilbao’s evolution is embodied in Frank Gehry’s iconic Guggenheim Museum. Its twisted titanium façade will grab your attention, but Bilbao’s soul is found in bustling markets and creative kitchens, from Michelin-starred dining to casual pintxos bars in Casco Viejo, the storied old quarter. Gorge on grilled octopus under the colonnades of Plaza Nueva with a chilled glass of sparkling txakoli wine, or a thick cut txuleton steak with a full-bodied Rioja, before riding the funicular to Mount Artxanda’s summit to take in sweeping views of the Nervión estuary. 

Creativity runs deep in historic Porto, perched on the edge of the Atlantic and the emerald vineyards of Portugal’s Douro Valley. You’ll see it in the distinctive blue azuleo tiles that decorate the walls of Igreja do Carmo and Capela das Almas and bring vibrancy to the neo-gothic cloisters of Porto Cathedral. You’ll find it in the carved wooden interior of Livraria Lello, one of the oldest bookstores in Europe (hint: it may have been inspiration for Hogwarts in Harry Potter novels), and the architecture of the riverside Ribeira neighborhood. Amble across the Dom Luís I Bridge, and alchemy is found in Porto’s historic cellars, where ruby red Port wine is aged in oak barrels and uncorked in centuries-old tasting rooms, or served alongside river-view terraces at sunset over the Douro River.

Perched where Europe ends and the open Atlantic begins, Lisbon practically begs travelers to set out for whatever's to be found on the other side of all that water. During the Age of Discovery, Portuguese explorers did exactly that—pioneering ocean routes to India, West Africa, the Caribbean, and Brazil. Today's Lisbon remains a living museum to that seagoing legacy—while also offering countless modern discoveries to be enjoyed ahead of your upcoming Transatlantic sail. Be swept away by the beauty of buildings clad in azulejo tilework and Manueline masterworks like the Jeronimos Monastery. Be swept off your feet by passion at a fado bar in Alfama. Ascend to stupendous city views on the 1902 cast-iron Santa Justa Lift. And nibble on more creamily delicious Pasteis de Belém than you ought to.