Best Of Spain & Portugal – From Lisbon, Portugal

See why this city stands out above all others as you stroll along elaborate mosaic sidewalks and pass by the Monument to the Discoveries. A quick trolley ride transports you to the cobblestone district of Baixa. Or be lured away and pampered in the resort cities of Cascais and Estoril.

El Sireno, a gilded sculpture depicting a figure that is half man, half sea creature, towers over the city’s lovely gardens and well-preserved historical buildings. The legendary black salts offshore on the Islas Cies are said to bring good health. Catholic pilgrims flock to the nearby sacred cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, built over the burial spot of St. James.

Porto hasn’t caught the attention of global travelers quite like the country’s capital—yet. One of Europe’s oldest cities, Porto is dotted with UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and its maze of Gothic architecture and historic wonders are sure to captivate any traveler. Rolling hillsides yield to terracotta rooftops, while the Douro River winds around the city, ushering in a light, coastal breeze. Nicknamed the “Granite City,” granite buildings dating back to the town’s Medieval period catch the afternoon light, plus its six bridges each offer up stunning views of the city from their vantage points.

During your Porto cruise, you’ll discover the stories and significance of the city’s top attractions as you tour Ribeira Square and Porto Cathedral. Explore Porto’s eclectic culinary scene, which fuses traditional Portuguese dishes with modern twists. Share tapas, try fresh-caught seafood from the harbor, and sample unique regional eats like meaty Francesinha sandwiches or tripas a moda do porto, a stew with origin stories in the 14th century. Sip and savor sweet port wine named for the region as you hop between wineries, or venture beyond the city to stroll the sands and splash in the Atlantic Ocean.

From Cádiz you can easily get to Seville, exploring the old town with its quaint Moorish feel as well as its impressive monuments, pretty parks and lovely architecture. Along the way, restore your energy at any of the mouth-watering tapas bars offering some of the country’s finest seafood and typical Andalusian cuisine.

Málaga is the gateway to the Andalusian countryside and the Costa del Sol, some of the region’s most impressive beaches. It also is home to a number of magnificent palaces, including the Moorish Alcabaza and Gibralfaro.

Best known as the birthplace of paella, Valencia has steadily moved onto the radar of savvy travelers. It’s a vibrant, friendly, mildly chaotic place with two outstanding fine-arts museums, an accessible old quarter, Europe’s newest cultural and scientific complex – and one of Spain’s most exciting nightlife scenes. Whole sections of the old city, for example the Carmen Quarter, have been extensively renovated. One of the best spots for exploring Valencia’s history is at the museum L’Almoina, which opened three years ago in the Carmen on the site where Valencia was founded by the Romans in 138 B.C. Here, you can walk over glass floors, looking down at a stunning assemblage of ruins excavated in the area. The exhibition includes Roman baths, tombs and a medieval Moorish ward for plague victims.

This island enclave is often described as a mini-Barcelona, with a Gothic feel that has overtaken centuries of Roman and Moorish culture. Visit El Baluard, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, which was built on the site of the remnants of the 16th century Bastio de Sant Pere, or shop for bargain pearls at the city’s many jewelers.

Formerly a sleepy Spanish city, Barcelona has recently been reborn as an eclectic fusion of the modern and medieval. Seek inspiration from the creations of its modernist architect, Antonio Gaudí, or the Picasso Museum. Or, take in the breathtaking cathedrals in the Gothic Quarter.