Iberian Peninsula: Bilbao to Lisbon

Bilbao has always been an important port and industrial city. In 1993, Bilbao was a pilgrimage destination for lovers of modern art and avant-garde architecture. The Guggenheim Museum, with its idiosyncratic and unique design by famous architect Frank O Gehry, showcases everything that is important within its 11,000 square meters (118,403 feet). Steel used to be manufactured in Bilbao and it now plays a major role here, since other renowned architects have also been inspired to give Bilbao an attractive, distinctive look. Cross the futuristic Calatrava Bridge to reach the old town, where you can take a delightful stroll around the lanes and enjoy the art of Basque cuisine.

The old city of La Coruña is set picturesquely on a peninsula and its landmark is the Tower of Hercules, over 2,000 years old, set on the headland in front of the city. Culture, history, and art come face to face with traditional Galician lifestyle. Santiago de Compostela, one of the world's most famous pilgrimage sites, is the goal and climax of the Camino de Santiago, a path that has existed since the 11th century. The beautiful cathedral, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Christendom next to Rome and Jerusalem, also dates back to this time. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as is the old city. A special ritual takes place here - the Botafumeiro, where a huge thurible is swung through the magnificent transept.

On the seventh day, when God had created the world, he took a rest from his work on Galicia's Cíes Islands. And you can well understand why. Today the Galician National Park encompasses large parts of the sea and three uninhabited islands which form the archipelago of the Cíes Islands. Walking along beautiful footpaths along impressive cliffs, through dune landscapes and small forests, you can discover the rich array of flora and fauna. Its beautiful beaches are still almost a secret - the Playa de Rodas was even selected by a British newspaper as the world's most beautiful beach.

Porto considers itself the country's secret capital. The narrow lanes of the historic old town "Ribeira", a UNESCO World Heritage Site, extend in terraces up the slope overlooking the Douro. The former working class district has blossomed into a beautifully restored trendy neighborhood. A student of Gustave Eiffel created the bold design for the bridge, which stretches over the river in a wide arc and links the Ribeira with Vila Nova da Geia and its 50 port wineries that lie on the other side. The best way to reach the incredible Douro Valley and the countryside of the Alto Douro wine region, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is by river.

The most beautiful approach to the Portuguese capital is to travel up the River Tagus. One of the city's most famous landmarks has been greeting visitors right on the estuary since 1521 - the Torre de Belém. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and transports you back to the glory days when Portugal was a naval power. There are many landmarks, such as the facades of the houses decorated with azulejos tilework and the ancient trams that rattle through the city. But Lisbon has many different sides. Joie de vivre comes face to face with the melancholy of Fado music, winding lanes in the old city meet wide boulevards, while magnificent churches and austere monasteries show the two sides of former religious faith.

Disembark after breakfast and return home.