Located on the north coast of Morocco near the Strait of Gibraltar, Tangier is a cultural capital replete with historic sites, colorful architecture, and splendid beaches. An essential stop is the Ancien Medina, a walled collection of winding streets and alleys filled with cafes and shops leading to the Kasbah, a former palace and mosque that also houses a museum.

The Port of Stavanger is a popular stop on the route to the Norwegian Fjords, and boasts a first-rate assortment of museums and cultural events. Old Stavanger has Europe’s best preserved wooden house settlement.

Lake Maggiore, straddling the border of northern Italy and southern Switzerland, is the second-largest lake in Italy and one of the most scenically diverse. Surrounded by Alpine peaks and dotted with elegant towns, the lake has attracted visitors for centuries, including literary figures like Stendhal and Ernest Hemingway. The western shore is home to the Borromean Islands, a group of three small islands known for palaces, terraced gardens, and white peacocks that roam freely across the lawns.

This city in the Rhine Gorge is known for its winemaking, dramatic landscapes and 15-minute cable car ride to the Niederwald Monument (celebrating the German victory over France in 1871).

Villahermosa, the capital of Tabasco, is a city where ancient civilizations, tropical landscapes, and modern life intersect. Known as the “gateway to the Mayan world,” the city sits on the banks of the Grijalva River and serves as a cultural hub for southeastern Mexico. One of its most unique attractions is Parque-Museo La Venta, an open-air museum that blends archaeology with a jungle setting.