7:The Azores, Portugal

Nine emerald islands floating in the Atlantic—yes, please. I chased waterfalls, sipped tea in crater-lakeside cafés, and reveled in hydrangea-lined lanes. With fewer crowds than mainland Portugal, this archipelago feels like nature’s best-kept secret…

If you’re island-hopping the Azores Portugal, I always kick off in the city—snag one of the top hotels in Lisbon Portugal for a night or two before your flight.
Once you’re back on the mainland, treat yourself to a cliffside stay at Tivoli Carvoeiro or a marina-view suite at Tivoli Marina Vilamoura to extend that ocean breeze feeling.
In the Azores themselves, I love cozy guesthouses on São Miguel where breakfast overlooks crater lakes. mixing a bit of Lisbon glamour with island-life serenity makes for one epic Portuguese adventure!