12 Nights Europe

This English borough, located on an inlet of the English Channel, is the country's busiest deep-water port. Southampton is a vibrant city known for its rich maritime history and its meandering Old Town walls. The city's Westgate is where the Pilgrims set sail for America aboard the Mayflower.

Saint-Malo, originally built as a walled citadel guarding the mouth of the Rance river, was for centuries home to feared pirates. They've all gone to Davy Jones' Locker, though, and now it's Brittany's most-visited city. Walk the bustling streets of the reconstructed old city and the vast beaches, making sure to stop at the Grande Porte, Porte St-Vincent, the town's castle with its Musée de la Ville and the Grand Aquarium

Bordeaux, hub of the famed wine-growing region, is a port city on the Garonne River in southwestern France. It's known for its Gothic Cathedrale Saint-Andre, 18th- to 19th-century mansions and notable art museums. The grand Place de la Bourse, centered on the Three Graces fountain, overlooks the Miroir d'Eau reflecting pool.

Bordeaux, hub of the famed wine-growing region, is a port city on the Garonne River in southwestern France. It's known for its Gothic Cathedrale Saint-Andre, 18th- to 19th-century mansions and notable art museums. The grand Place de la Bourse, centered on the Three Graces fountain, overlooks the Miroir d'Eau reflecting pool.

Travelers generally come to Bilbao to see the Guggenheim?some for the art inside, but many for the amazing building itself. The Fine Arts Museum and the Basque Museum may not have been designed by Frank Gehry, but are worth a visit, and you can catch international opera stars at the Palacio Euskalduna.

Perched on a rocky peninsula in Spains northwest, La Coruna is brimming with ancient Roman heritage and maritime history. Head to the Crystal City, located right near the harbor, and check out the galerias

The Port of Leixoes is one of Portugal's major seaports, located 4 km north of the mouth of the Douro River, in Matosinhos municipality, near the city of Porto

The small capital of Portugal is older than Rome - older, in fact, than any other western European capital. Pastel-colour houses line tiny, stepped alleys in old parts of town, while wide boulevards and mosaic cobblestone sidewalks highlight its grand 18th-century centre. The Alfama, an old Moorish quarter, retains its intricate, Arab-influenced layout.

The Gateway to Morocco overlooks the Straits of Gibraltar and provides a magnificent view of Spain's southern coast. The Grand Socco is known for its makeshift shops, snake charmers, musicians and storytellers, while the Kasbah features a Moroccan fountain, fragrant herbs and shrubs, and orange and lemon trees.

Its exceptional coastline borders the Cabo de Gata Nijar Nature Reserve, with long sandy beaches and secluded coves bathed by the warm waters of the Mediterranean. The traditional festivities of the Moors and the Christians will transform your trip to Almeria into a wonderful adventure.

Alicante's exceptional location between the mountains and the sea provides the city with a special kind of enrapturing beauty. Located in Spain's Valencia region, it is a lively town guarded by a 16th century fortress.

The capital of Catalonia boasts the bustle of the world's busiest seaport, the medieval romance of its Gothic Quarter, and a feast of Catalan Art Nouveau buildings - including the great creations of Antonio Gaudí. The "Great Enchantress" remains one of the most exhilarating cities in Europe, decorated with the grandeur of Picasso, Miró and Dalí.