Portugal spent decades as Western Europe's best-kept secret and is now receiving the attention it deserved all along. Lisbon is one of the continent's most atmospheric capitals — hilly, tiled, threaded with trams, and filled with restaurants serving exceptional food at prices that would be considered cheap in most European cities. Porto is equally compelling: a granite city stacked above the Douro River, with port wine cellars, Art Nouveau cafés, and a contemporary art scene that punches above its weight.

Beyond the cities, Portugal's coastline is among Europe's finest. The Algarve delivers Mediterranean-grade beaches with Atlantic wildness; the Alentejo offers cork forests, medieval towns, and some of Portugal's best wine. The country is small enough to drive across in a day, which makes it uniquely suited to multi-destination trips.