A Voyage of Glamour, 
Grandeur and Gastronomy

Once a genteel seaside retreat for the nobles of Victorian England, Torquay is the queen of the English Riviera, a bustling harbor where old-world grandeur meets coastal charm. Follow the palm-lined promenade past blooming gardens and pause at waterfront cafes serving Devonshire cream teas and English sparkling wines, or lace-up and explore hidden coves along the South-West Coast Path, looking out for guillemots and dolphins from Berry Head. Venture inland to discover quintessentially English thatched-roof villages and the 12th-century remains of Torre Abbey. For a true taste of South Devon, follow the Literary Trail to Agatha Christie's favorite locales that inspired her mystery novels, including her holiday home, Greenway, which she declared as 'the loveliest place on earth'. 

Home of French explorer Jacques Cartier and once a hub for corsairs and adventurers, history hums around Saint-Malo's granite walls. Soak it all in while strolling the ramparts around the Intra-Muros historic center or pause for Breton crêpes and traditional cider among the grand ship-owners' mansions of Place Chateaubriand. Named after a Welsh monk and nestled in a sheltered harbor near the fairytale abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, Saint-Malo and its surrounds are revered for their gastronomy, which finds its apogee at three-star Le Coquillage where chef Hugo Roellinger is a master of Breton culinary art. For a more down-to-earth experience, few pleasures beat a chilled glass of Muscadet and a dozen Cancale oysters served harborside as the sun sets over Saint-Malo. 

Esteemed worldwide for its prestigious appellations, Bordeaux is the undisputed capital of wine. From legendary Left Bank labels in Pauillac and Margaux to the regal Right Bank château of Saint Émilion and Pomerol, the region is an Eden for oenophiles. Beyond the vineyards, Bordeaux is a celebration of 18th-century grandeur, split in two by the Garonne. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed center is an urban masterpiece of neoclassical and baroque architecture. You'll marvel at the Place de la Bourse, admire Victor Louis' magnificent Grand Théâtre and wander through triumphant medieval gateways. Fine wine is always accompanied by generous dining and there is no shortage of prestigious menus at generations-old restaurants hidden among Bordeaux’s atmospheric alleyways.

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.