Lisbon, Portugal

Portugal's capital is a cosmopolitan city offering a combination of history, cultural arts, modern life, and great beauty, with some areas bringing to mind Paris and others hilly San Francisco. But mostly Lisbon just looks like Lisbon. It's inimitable.

The city was probably founded by the Phoenicians and was later inhabited by Romans and Moors. In 1755, a great earthquake killed some 40,000 people, destroying much of the city but sparing parts of the Alfama (the city's labyrinthine Moorish section), Belém (a neighborhood on the banks of the Tagus River, toward the west), and other old sections. The rebuilding of the rest of the city was carefully planned based on a neoclassical grid, and today the old buildings and gorgeous mosaic-tiled sidewalks evince a passionate, melancholy grandeur that matches the country's beautiful fado music -- the city's most perfect soundtrack.

Note: Though Lisbon sits on the Atlantic, not the Med, it's included on many Mediterranean itineraries, including most of those that sail from the UK.

Coming Ashore in Lisbon:

Cruise ships dock at the Port of Lisbon, about 15 minutes by taxi from the city center and approximately equidistant to Belém, in the opposite direction.

Getting Around in Lisbon:

Lisbon is a walking city and is easy to get around, although the hills may prove challenging to some. Taxis are generally available outside the terminal building. The fare to the central sightseeing and shopping districts is likely to be 12€ to 19€ ($16-$25). Most lines also provide a free shuttle to the Praco do Comercio. There's a funicular (elevator) connecting the Baixa shopping area with the Bairro Alto, the city's old upper reaches, full of restaurants, bars, antiques shops, and fado clubs.