Portugal

Before one sets out to discover the riches of Portugal, it’s imperative that one … eats! Tables here overflow with the most sumptuous homemade bread, juicy olives, aged cheese, smoked meats, and seafood stew—all washed down with red wine or refreshing vinho verde. Once satiated, work it off with hikes in the Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês, a stroll through sleepy Beiras, surfing off golden beaches, tracking dolphins in the Sado Estuary, kayaking along the Rio Guadiana, and more. Go back in time at the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Tomar, Belém, Alcobaça and Batalha. Not tired yet? There’s a festival going on practically year-round—join the celebration at Lisbon’s Festa de Santo António or Porto’s Festa de São João.