Lagos sits on the southern edge of Portugal’s Algarve where a lively old port town meets wide Atlantic skies. Just a short stroll from the heart of town, the coast drops away into a spectacle at Ponta da Piedade, where golden sandstone cliffs rise out of the Atlantic and have been shaped into stacks, natural arches and grottoes over millennia. At the top, the Ponta da Piedade Lighthouse watches over this dramatic shoreline and offers a great backdrop for photos as the sun sets into the ocean.

St Kilda is a remote volcanic archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, far west of Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. The group consists of Hirta, Dun, Soay, and Boreray, along with numerous sea stacks and smaller formations. Hirta is the largest island and contains the remains of the former settlement around Village Bay. No permanent civilian population lives on St Kilda today, although conservation workers, researchers, and Ministry of Defence personnel occupy Hirta at various times.

Half Moon Cay, also known as Little San Salvador Island, is a private island in the Bahamas that offers an escape into turquoise waters and soft, powdery sands. Surrounded by shallow lagoons and vibrant coral reefs, the island is framed by a sweeping crescent-shaped beach that stretches for miles, making it a striking destination for those arriving by cruise or private yacht. Its calm waters and gentle tides create ideal conditions for swimming, snorkeling, and exploring marine life.

Bamberg, located in northern Bavaria, stands out for its remarkably preserved medieval layout, which earned it a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Built on seven hills and often compared to Rome for that reason, the city’s architecture reflects over a thousand years of uninterrupted development. Bamberg is well known for its beer, and not just in the usual Bavarian sense. The city has more breweries per capita than any other town in Germany, and it’s the birthplace of rauchbier.

Roscommon is a county town in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, surrounded by the rural landscapes of central Ireland. The town is known for its collection of historic buildings and its position within a wider countryside of lakes, rivers, woodland, and farmland. Roscommon Castle, a substantial medieval fortress, stands beside Loughnaneane Park, while Roscommon Abbey and the former gaol add further layers to the town’s architectural heritage.