Lisbon to New York

A glorious mosaic of beauty, freedom and authenticity, Portugal’s capital is a stirring artwork of a city. Known for the seven hills it spreads across, and its stirring fado music, Lisbon is a pastel-coloured blend of houses and beautiful tile artworks - and this creative city strikes a perfect harmony between natural and manmade beauty. Stroll along Alfama's steep, cobbled streets as you explore one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods - where each house and door could be its own photograph. Look for the decorative tiles, with the distinctive blues and whites of Azulejo ceramics, and visit the dedicated museum to learn more. Afterwards, wind up to São Jorge Castle, where views out across Lisbon’s red rooftops unravel. Just one of many majestic viewpoints, you can also seek out Miradouro da Graça for perhaps Lisbon's finest panorama, with the copper-coloured suspension bridge stretching over sparkling water beyond the sea of buildings. The elegant Tower of Belém rises in the Tagus estuary and is a historic defender of these shores. The grand, carved cloisters of Jerónimos Monastery spread out close by, and there's another UNESCO recognised location close by at Sintra, where a colourful town is set amid thick gardens and towering mountains - capped by the royal Pena Palace. Later, relax and take a quick break to drink Ginjinha, a cherry liqueur made from chocolate cups instead of coffee. Lisboetas have a sweet tooth, and the famous Pastel de Nata's crumbling pastry and caramelised-custard topping is the essential accompaniment to any coffee stop.

Providing a gorgeous green welcome to sailors venturing on the long journey across the Atlantic, Ponta Delgada’s shoreline is a reassuring sight, as it emerges into view. Sat on Sao Miguel Island, the largest of Portugal’s Azores islands - which wait on an outpost of western Europe, some 1,100 miles from the mainland. Ponta Delgada is the island’s largest city, and a place of spectacular volcanic vistas, steaming hot springs and impressive landscaped gardens. The city’s signature trio of arches welcomes you to Ponta Delgada, and its island of verdant volcanic contrasts. Wander between monochrome churches like the Gothic Church of St. Sebastian, and up to the Convent and Chapel of Our Lady of Hope – which houses the revered icon of Christ that is paraded through the streets annually, and believed to have miraculous powers by locals. Or, head for beaches offering sanctuary on charcoal-coloured sands, or the tropical António Borges Botanical Gardens, where tropical plants add extra shades to the Green Island's scenery. Now extinct, the mighty Caldeira das Sete Cidades is a truly awe-inspiring sight - and the colossal collapsed volcanic caldera blooms with lush greenery and scattered wildflowers. The vast crater has been taken over by a glowing, picturesque lake, which reflects the blue sky above. A full three miles wide - and with a circumference of eight miles - it’s a vast panorama to take in. The Lagoa de Fogo – or Lake of Fire – is another of the island’s calderas – rise up to see the crumpled scenery encasing a beautiful lake. São Miguel Island’s geothermal activity has practical uses too, and you can harness the powers to unwind any tired muscles after a long day, by sinking into the hot springs of Poca Da Dona.

Set on the east of is the seventh island in the Azores (if you’re starting from the west) Praia da Vitoria often gets overlooked on your way to reach the mainland after days at sea. While many assume the Azores archipelago only offer hardy respite – not to mention terra firma – for travellers who have been enjoying a transatlantic crossing, the archipelago is beginning to gain global recognition as destinations that are well worth visiting in their own right. Praia da Vitoria literally translates as “the beach of victory” yet with such an auspicious name, one would be wrong to assume that it is only fun in the sun on the island. Laden with history dating back to the 15th century, Gaspar Frutuoso (the celebrated Azorean historian and priest), wrote about Praia in the 16th century calling it “noble and sumptuous”. The adjectives certainly ring true even today, with its jumble of narrow streets, recently modernised marina promenade and architectural marvels (the old town dates from 1480), Paria da Vitoria has lost nothing of its past grandeur. A stroll to the main square and its market place - unchanged since 1670, or down to the small 16th century fort south of the beach is proof of that! An interesting quirk to note about the town is that due to the two orders Santo Cristo and Misericórdia in the 18th century and in order to please everyone, everything was built in double. This means that the lovely Igreja do Senhor Santo Cristo church (also known as da Misericórdia) has two high alters and two choirs. The church dates from 1521 and was partially destroyed in a fire in 1921.

Far adrift, in the Atlantic's vast sweep, Horta serves as a welcoming island respite for some truly epic ocean voyages. One of the most westerly parts of Europe, these Portuguese islands lie a full 1,100 miles from the coast of the mainland. The bustling marina here serves as the perfect stopover and a welcome respite for tired sailors and yachts embarking on transatlantic crossings. The colourful harbour is decorated with a multicoloured patchwork of their stories and flags, and adding to this massive, ever-growing mural is said to offer sailors protection while out on the seas. While Horta's clientele may come and go with the waves, there's nothing transient about the stunning volcanic cones and soaring wildflower-splashed hills that make up this beautiful Atlantic island pit-stop. Horta is the main city, and a charming welcome to dry land, as you step onto the pentagon-shaped island of Faial. On the frontier of continents, the violent meeting of the European and North American tectonic plates forged this beautiful archipelago - and the rich volcanic scenery here is ripe for exploration and adventure. The busy harbour lies before the dramatic backdrop of the neighbouring Pico Island's cloud-wisped peak - head up to Espalamaca Lookout for the best view of Horta's busy harbour and islands emerging nearby. Horta has a grand volcanic caldera of its own, and you can journey up through threads of cloud, to look down into the island's immense, bowl-shaped crater. The Lighthouse of Ponta dos Capelinhos is an island icon, having survived 1957's dramatic eruption. It now occupies a scenic location on a headland, surrounded by vast swathes of charred new land, which were churned out from the depths.

New York, is a cultural powerhouse like no other. Liberally scattered with familiar landmarks, world-leading museums, and with an atmosphere and infectious energy found nowhere else, any visit to this one-of-a-kind cinematic city is a frantic, fascinating feast for the senses. Where New York leads, others follow and this city is a proud trailblazer. On the cusp of trends, but with plenty of traditions, New York is a world to itself, and endless opportunities and experiences await between its audacious skyscrapers.Whether it's cycling through the leafy oasis of Central Park, rising to the iconic cityscape views atop the Empire State Building or walking to Brooklyn's hipster appeal across the Brooklyn Bridge's chained expanse, New York City feels at once familiar and fantastical. Leading museums and galleries like the MET, the Guggenheim and Museum of Modern Art add cultural intrigue matched by few others, while the flashing lights of Broadway mark the pinnacle of careers and provide world-class entertainment. Also scarred by tragedy, New York City responded to its darkest day with thoughtful memorials of loss, and by boldly reaching higher - the glassy new One World Trade Center building is the northern hemisphere's tallest skyscraper. Drop in on Wall Street's excesses, before sailing out from the financial district's reaching towers to the waves below Lady Liberty's gaze. At night the city lights up with shows, and roof-top restaurants serve up innovative dishes above the glowing, buzzing streets below.