Santa Cruz is one of the Canary Islands’ biggest hitters. It shares its capital city title with Las Palmas, on the neighbouring island of Gran Canaria, and more than lives up to the role. In the space of just a few streets, the bustling port area melts into an inviting old town. A century-spanning mix of church towers and hotels peeks above the rooftops, and the whole town’s backed by the silhouette of a mountain range. You’ll find one of the Canary Islands’ most futuristic buildings by the harbour – the Auditorio de Tenerife, which looks like an edgier version of the Sydney Opera House. At the more historic end of the scale is the Basilica of Candelaria, which is dedicated to the patron saint of the Canary Islands. Further afield, you’ll find beaches hugging the south coast and the mighty Mount Teide rising up in the island’s centre.

• You’ll have to travel to Hawaii to see a volcano that’s taller than Mount Teide. Tenerife’s snow-capped giant is the third highest in the world, when you measure from the ocean floor. Head to the national park that surrounds it, and you can explore the wildlife-lined walking trails.
• Take a drive through the Orotava Valley, stopping at the Humboldt viewpoint. There’s a bronze statue of the naturalist it’s named after – look over his shoulder, and you’ll be treated to panoramic views of the island’s vineyards and banana plantations.

Arrives at 8AM

Golden dunes drenched in year-round sunshine. Rugged mountains hiding pretty whitewashed villages. Bays and coves linked together like a magnificent sandy necklace. Nature’s been kind to Gran Canaria so little surprise it lures sun-worshippers back year after year.

• Take a trip to the Bandama crater. Standing over 3,000ft high, it’s one of the few inhabited volcanic craters in the world.
• Discover the island’s cosmopolitan capital, Las Palmas, where chic boutiques and tempting tapas bars are tucked in among some breathtaking architecture. In the old town, or Veguetta district, you’ll come across the Christopher Columbus Museum, which is well worth a visit, too.
• Feast your eyes on the incredible wind-sculpted sand dunes of Maspalomas. Then pick a patch of sand and soak up the sun.

Departs at 11PM

Arrives at 7AM

Affectionately known as Gib or The Rock, Gibraltar is a little slice of Britain in the Mediterranean. And, just like the motherland, it’s a small stretch of land with a lot to offer. The history here is largely military-related – you’ll find Nelson’s anchorage where the body of Nelson was brought back to land after the Battle of Trafalgar, and the Parson’s Lodge Battery that dates back to 1875. Elsewhere, wildlife steals the show. Check out the cheeky Barbary apes or go whale-watching in the Strait.

• Explore the Rock’s famous attractions like the Moorish Castle and the fascinating Gibraltar Museum, where you can learn about the island’s role in the World Wars as well as its prehistory.
• Inside the Rock, you’ll find more miles of road than on the outside. Check out the Great Siege Tunnels and St Michael’s Cave.

Departs at 7PM

Arrives at 8AM

Departs at 6PM

Arrives at 9AM

Barcelona is up there with the most famous cities in the world, and for good reason. Sandwiched between the Mediterranean Sea and the Serra de Collserola hills, this Spanish titan promises cutting-edge architecture, trend-setting fashion and art that breaks the mould. It’s a place where boutique-lined boulevards and intimate espresso bars give way to authentic tapas joints and narrow cobbled streets.

• Stroll down the iconic promenade of Las Ramblas, stopping for coffee at a pavement café or pausing to throw a couple of euros in the street entertainers’ upturned hats.
• Wander down the winding streets of the Gothic quarter, taking your pick of traditional tapas bars. Among them is Els Quatre Gats, Picasso’s old hangout.
• Call in at the world-famous Nou Camp, home of Barcelona Football Club since 1957.

Departs at 6PM

Arrives at 9AM

Fusing French Riviera glam with the feel of a traditional old town, Toulon is your gorgeous gateway to the Côte d’Azur.

• Follow the sound of popping corks and clinking champagne flutes to über-stylish St-Tropez, a long-time glitterati favourite.
• Venture into Aix en Provence and find out about its dual identity. This place is known as the Town of Water thanks to its fountains and the Town of Art because of its many museums.
• See for yourself if there’s any truth in French poet Frédéric Mistral’s famous words ‘He who has seen Paris and not Cassis has seen nothing!’. Little changed by time, Cassis is still much the same little fishing port that first attracted artists like Signac and Derain, eager to capture its serene charm.
• Venture into the breathtaking Provence countryside and stumble upon sleepy French villages. This enchanting region has inspired many a great master, including Van Gogh and Cézanne.

Departs at 6PM

Arrives at 8AM

Sandwiched between Sardinia and the top of Italy’s boot, Propriano delivers a taste of the go-slow Mediterranean lifestyle. It’s a far cry from Corsica’s busiest coastal stop-offs, but the pretty marina and rolling green hills will have you reaching for your camera. There’s a tropical feel to the beaches, with white stretches of sand all around the turquoise bay. Stroll beyond the seafront promenade of cafes, and you’ll see baskets swinging from cast-iron balconies on the narrow streets.

• If you’re feeling active, head to the harbour to check out the water sports on offer. Scuba diving gets you up close to the marine life on the reef, or you can take a boat trip to explore the rocky headlands and hidden coves.
• Propriano might be on the small side, but its restaurant scene is up there with the best. The waterside promenade is overflowing with eateries, all a stone’s throw from the marina’s bobbing masts. Our top tip is to sample the fresh seafood. The jumbo prawns and lobster are worth the trip alone.
• The beaches here have a private feel – there are more than 10 of them dotted around the tucked-away cove. The biggest is about a kilometre in length, while the more intimate sunbathing spots only have space for a handful of people.

Departs at 5PM

Arrives at 7AM

Get ready to be impressed – this is your gateway to the dazzling riches of Florence and Pisa.

• A living monument to the Renaissance, Florence might be famous for its art galleries, but the entire city is like one gigantic piece of artwork. Beautiful buildings, picturesque piazzas and stunning sculptures are everywhere you look. Marvel at Michelangelo’s David in the Accademia. Clap eyes on Botticelli’s Birth of Venus in the Uffizi Gallery. Then head for the Ponte Vecchio bridge to browse the glittering jewellery shops that find a home here.
• Pisa’s another Tuscan treasure. Make a beeline for the Campo dei Miracoli, an exquisite square which harbours the city’s cathedral and, of course, the famous Leaning Tower. Quite how it manages to stay standing will baffle you for days afterwards. If you fancy a spot of shopping, head for the Borgo Stretto. It’s a paradise for jewellery, leather, clothes, homeware and pottery.
• Cruise along the royal canals of Livorno. Have your cameras ready as you sail through colourful ‘New Venice’, a labyrinth of canals, waterways and bridges.

Departs at 7PM

Arrives at 7AM

Few cities on earth have the power to bowl you over quite like Rome. Discover a city packed with historical wonder, artistic splendour and culinary temptation at every turn. Not to mention enough designer shops to keep you browsing for a year.

• Relive the days of the gladiators at the eye-popping Colosseum. Big enough to hold 50,000 bloodthirsty spectators, it’s stood the test of time and remains Rome’s most famous landmark.
• Head for the Vatican City, the heart of the Catholic Church. Feast your eyes on treasures like St Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo’s ceiling masterpiece awaits you.

Departs at 7PM

Arrives at 7AM

Naples is Italy’s most red-blooded city. This is the place where the pizza is so good people don’t wait for their slices at restaurant tables, they order it to-go from street side windows. And it’s the city where the soundtrack is the beeping of moped horns. For all its joy de vive, you wouldn’t know Naples is actually one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world. The city centre is actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it’s dripping with ancient architecture, cathedrals and churches.

• Visit the time-frozen cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, whose citizens were stopped in their tracks by the famous eruptions of 79 AD.
• Teeter on the brink of Mount Vesuvius, the only active volcano you can climb in Europe.

Departs at 6PM

Awash with colourful flowers, Corfu is big on beauty. It’s known as the Emerald Isle, and its golden beaches, lush green landscape and colourful villages will have you constantly reaching for your camera.

• Soak up the views at Bella Vista, Corfu’s most famous lookout point. From here, you can peer over sleepy seaside villages like Paleokastritsa, and the island’s entire west coast.
• In Corfu Town itself, stand in the shadow of two gigantic fortresses. See the 16th-century church of Ayios Spyridhon. And then wander round the interesting archaeological museum.
• Relax on the shimmering sands of Glyfada beach, one of the most popular sunning spots on the island. Top up your tan. Take a dip in the crystal waters. Or simply laze beneath a hot sun.