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.

Madang, perched on the edge of Astrolabe Bay, feels like a well-kept secret of Papua New Guinea that’s framed by lush jungles and dotted with volcanic isles. Every June, Madang pulses with energy at the annual Madang Festival. Villages from across the province gather for ceremonies where dancers don feathered costumes, shells, and body paint. The beat of kundu drums rises through the air and stories woven in movement.

Seven miles outside of historic Athens, the Greek coastal city of Piraeus lies upon the sparkling waters of the Aegean Sea and is the largest passenger port in Europe, servicing nearly 20 million passengers per year.

Mijas, perched on the hillside above the Costa del Sol, blends centuries of Andalusian tradition with views that stretch across the Mediterranean. The whitewashed buildings of Mijas Pueblo reflect sunlight from narrow cobbled streets that wind through small plazas, each with its own fountain, chapel, or overlook. The town’s layout still follows Moorish-era planning, and remnants of the old wall (La Muralla) offer shaded walks lined with native plants and panoramic views over the coast.

Tongariro National Park, on New Zealand’s North Island, holds deep cultural meaning as well as striking geological presence. It was the country’s first national park, gifted to the nation by Ngāti Tūwharetoa chiefs in the 19th century, establishing a model that tied conservation to Māori guardianship. The volcanic peaks of Tongariro, Ngāuruhoe, and Ruapehu are considered ancestors, giving the landscape a living cultural identity rather than a purely scenic one.