12 September

Belgium: Zeebrugge (Bruges)

Zeebrugge’s main attraction is its proximity to Bruges. This beautifully preserved old town is a magical maze of winding cobbled lanes, narrow canals and gorgeous gabled houses, and it’s no wonder so many visitors throng the streets in summer.

13 September

Netherlands: Rotterdam

One of the great ports of Europe, Rotterdam’s impressive skyline can be seen from far and wide. With great architecture both ancient and modern, fantastic exhibition and concert halls, theatres, pretty galleries and numerous museums, there is so much to do when you stay here.

14 September

Netherlands: Ijmuiden

IJmuiden's proximity to capital Amsterdam means many guests use this port town as a stopping off point, but look further afield and you'll find vast beaches with a plethora of wind and water sports on offer, as well as walking and cycling in the lovely National Park Zuid-Kennemerland. You can visit Old-IJmuiden to explore country estates and ancient ruins, with remnants of fortifications and underground bunkers, and see the largest sea lock in the world! Alternatively, Haarlem's lovely cafés, canals, cobbled streets and bars are only a 30-minute train journey away.

15 September

United Kingdom: Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Renowned for its boisterous nightlife, passionate football fans and shipbuilding heritage, Newcastle has been reinvented in recent years as a forward-looking cultural hub. Key to this has been the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, the centrepiece of the rejuvenated Gateshead Quays.

16 September

United Kingdom: Newhaven (Edinburgh)

Cosmopolitan Edinburgh, Scotland’s lovely capital, is located in spectacular countryside, always visible from the city centre. Striking architecture, lots to see and do, and great food mean that your time here will be very busy. And if your visit coincides with the Festival, you have a treat in store.

17 September - At sea

18 September

Germany: Hamburg

Known locally as ‘the gateway to the world’, the port of Hamburg has a rich maritime history. Of course the city has its seedy side, as characterised by the old red light district around the Reeperbahn, but it’s also a vibrant, progressive city with some excellent museums, galleries and theatres.

19 September

Germany: Bremerhaven

Bremerhaven is the seaport for nearby Bremen, and was heavily damaged during the Second World War, though the modern city has some worthwhile attractions, including the excellent German Emigration Museum. As a former Hanseatic League city, Bremen has more historic charm, with an appealing Altstadt (old town).

20 September - At sea

21 September

France: Le Havre

Le Havre was more or less flattened during World War II, which makes the city’s UNESCO World Heritage status all the more remarkable. Rebuilt by the Belgian architect Auguste Perret, Le Havre is now characterised by a striking modernist style; don’t miss the towering, concrete Église St-Joseph.

22 September - At sea

23 September

France: La Rochelle

La Rochelle is an attractive seaside town of elegant limestone facades and agreeable weather, known as La Ville Blanche (the ‘White City’). The heart of the city is the atmospheric Vieux Port, guarded by three imposing towers which offer excellent views of the harbour and nearby islands.

24 September

France: Bordeaux

Bordeaux sits at the centre of the world's most famous wine region, and is home to a beguiling blend of beautiful buildings, sophisticated gastronomy and high culture. It's a marvellous place to spend some time, whether it's a day sampling wines, an evening at the opera or a night on the tiles.

25 September

Spain: Bilbao

It’s not so long ago that Bilbao was a grim and unappealing place, scarred by heavy industry, but the Basque Country’s biggest city has reinvented itself as a cultural hub since the opening of the shimmering Guggenheim Museum in 1997.

26 September

Spain: La Coruña

La Coruña is the largest city in Galicia, a beautiful region of lush green countryside and wild, windswept beaches. Historical sights of note include the Tower of Hercules, a UNESCO-listed Roman lighthouse, and the city is also home to some great seafood restaurants.

27 September

Spain: Vigo

Vigo is the biggest city in Galicia, Spain’s verdant northwest corner. The city itself is a busy fishing port with limited tourist appeal, but it’s a great base for striking out into the countryside, visiting the lovely Cíes Islands just offshore or joining the pilgrims in Santiago de Compostela, 60 miles to the north.

28 September

Portugal: Porto

Blessed with a dramatic setting on the steep banks of the river Douro, Portugal’s second city is currently enjoying something of a renaissance, and is best known as the home of the country’s most famous export, port wine.

29 September

Portugal: Lisbon

Spread across steep hillsides that overlook the Rio Tejo, Lisbon’s colourful cityscape includes Gothic cathedrals, majestic monasteries and quaint museums. But for many the best times will be had wandering the narrow lanes of Lisbon’s lovely backstreets, with their great local food, wine and music.

30 September - At sea

1 October

Morocco: Agadir

Rebuilt after a terrible earthquake in 1960, Agadir is Morocco’s most popular beach resort, and there is a relaxed European feel that sets it apart from other Moroccan cities. The beachfront promenade is lovely and the waters are clean and clear, making this a popular winter sun destination.

2 October

Morocco: Casablanca

Bustling and modern, fizzing with industry and commerce, Casablanca is often overlooked in favour of Morocco’s better known tourist draws. But then this is part of its appeal: it’s an authentic and unvarnished city, and it’s also home to the spectacular modernist architecture of the Hassan II Mosque.

3 October

Spain: Algeciras

4 October

Spain: Málaga

Málaga boasts plenty of chic restaurants and bars where you can ease into the rhythms of life in southern Spain, before exploring sights including the intriguing, unfinished Gothic cathedral, and a museum devoted to the city's most famous son, Pablo Picasso.

5 October

Spain: Cartagena

Cartagena was founded by the Carthaginians around 227 BC, who named it after their home city in North Africa. These days the city is best known for its well-preserved Roman theatre, which was remarkably only discovered in 1987, in spite of its location in the centre of town.

6 October

Spain: Ibiza

Although Ibiza is best known as a hedonistic party island, it’s easy to give the clubbers a swerve and discover the White Isle’s mellower side. The island boasts some spectacularly beautiful coastline, and the fortified Old Town (Dalt Vila) is UNESCO listed.

7 October

Spain: Mahón

Smaller than Mallorca and mellower than Ibiza, Menorca is rightly feted for its beautiful, unspoilt beaches. The laid back capital, Mahón, is set on the Mediterranean’s largest natural harbour, and the city’s striking Georgian architecture is a reminder of the 18th century British occupation of the island.

8 October

Spain: Barcelona

From the warren-like medieval streets of the Barri Gòtic to the fantastical modernist architecture of Antoni Gaudí, from the dizzy heights of Mount Tibidabo to the golden sands of Barceloneta, there’s never a dull moment in Barcelona.

9 October

Spain: Valencia

Spain’s third city is a dazzling destination that combines historic architecture, cutting edge design and an inviting stretch of beach. Don’t miss the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, designed by local architect Santiago Calatrava, or the old riverbed, now a delightful park.

10 October

Spain: Palma de Mallorca

Mallorca is renowned for its beaches, ranging from big, bustling resorts to small, secluded coves. The island interior offers ruggedly beautiful scenery and quaint little towns, while the charming capital, Palma, boasts an attractive old quarter dominated by the imposing Gothic cathedral.

11 October

Spain: Alicante

Much more than just a gateway to the Costa Blanca, Alicante is an attractive and atmospheric city with plenty to recommend it. Founded by the Romans, then ruled by the Arabs for 500 years, the city has a rich history and a lovely old town, along with superb beaches and an excellent modern art museum.

12 October - At sea

13 October

France: Marseille

The rumbustious port of Marseille often gets a bad press, but the city has been transformed in recent years, with a host of new cultural attractions. The vibrant Vieux Port remains at the heart of life in Marseille, however, and is the best place to begin your exploration of the city’s many historic sights.

14 October

France: Saint Tropez

Ever since Brigitte Bardot put Saint Tropez on the map with the seminal ‘And God Created Woman’ in 1956, this diminutive fishing village on the French Riviera has been a magnet for the international glitterati.

15 October

Monaco: Monte Carlo

Renowned for its casino, its Grand Prix and its oligarch-friendly tax policies, Monte Carlo is glamour and hedonism personified, with a price tag to match. This little principality enjoys a lovely setting, the villas and penthouses tumbling down the hillside towards the sweeping blue expanse of the Mediterranean.

16 October

Italy: La Spezia

La Spezia is a busy port and Italy’s most important naval base, on the Ligurian coast to the south east of Genoa. The town itself has a certain authentic charm and an atmospheric old town, though you’ll most likely just be passing through en route to the beautiful villages of the nearby Cinque Terre.

17 October

Italy: Florence / Pisa (Livorno)

The faded port town of Livorno serves as a gateway to Tuscany’s star attractions. Wonderful Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, is resplendent with beautiful architecture and unrivalled artistic treasures, while nearby Pisa is of course famous for its precarious Leaning Tower.

18 October

Italy: Rome (Civitavecchia)

One of the world’s great cities, Rome continues to dazzle and delight visitors with a potent mix of architectural marvels, continent-defining history and buzzing nightlife. The Colosseum, the Vatican and the Forum are among the big ticket items, with the crowds to match, though in truth you will find history around almost every corner.

19 October

Italy: Sorrento

The lovely town of Sorrento, draped across rugged cliffs overlooking the Bay of Naples, has been charming visitors since the days of the Grand Tour. The Renaissance palaces and many craft shops make Sorrento an attractive destination in its own right, and it’s also a jumping off point for Capri, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.

20 October

Italy: Catania

Busy, noisy and a little bit scruffy, Catania is Sicily’s second city, poised perilously in the shadow of Mount Etna. In recent years gentrification has taken hold, and the city’s many beautiful palazzi and baroque churches have been restored to their former glory. Eating out here is also a real treat.

21 October

Malta: Valletta

Malta’s tiny capital, established by the Knights of St John, packs in an awful lot of history considering its diminutive size. The atmospheric old streets, bathed in Mediterranean sunshine, are full of attractive honey-golden buildings, along with an impressive selection of bars and restaurants.

22 October - At sea

23 October

Greece: Gythion

The little fishing town of Gythion was once the seaport for ancient Sparta, though these days it’s a pretty sleepy place. Take a stroll around the picturesque streets and soak up the atmosphere, with pastel-hued houses, balconies draped in bougainvillea and some great little seafood restaurants.

24 October

Greece: Milos

The volcanic island of Milos is ringed by pretty beaches and scattered with charming villages, famous as the place where the Venus de Milo was discovered by a local peasant in 1820. Milos is also known as the ‘island of colours’ thanks to its many-hued, mineral-rich cliffs and beaches.

25 October

Greece: Athens (Piraeus)

Athens is a city awash with historical and cultural significance, but it's much more than an open air museum; this is a dynamic, bustling metropolis, and a place where history is still very much unfolding.

26 October

Greece: Vólos

The bustling port of Volos sits on the site of the ancient city of Iolkos, the mythological home of Jason and the Argonauts. The modern city has plenty of interesting museums and churches, along with a pleasant waterfront lined with restaurants.

27 October

Turkey: Çanakkale

Çanakkale occupies a key strategic location guarding the Dardanelles, at the meeting point of the Aegean and the Sea of Marmara. This region of Turkey is full of historical interest, including the battlefields of the disastrous Gallipoli campaign and the ruins of ancient Troy.

28 October

Arriving in Istanbul

Istanbul is the place where East meets West, where Asia Minor reaches out across the Bosphorus and almost touches Europe, and the city remains a bristling, bustling cultural melting pot, the skyline dotted with magnificent minarets and domes.