Cienfuegos, Cuba

Founded by the French in 1819, the lovely, lively city of Cienfuegos has plenty to discover. Walk around the city center, an exquisite UNESCO World Heritage Site where you’ll find the unique Arco de los Trabajadores dedicated to Cuban independence.

Spanish colonial buildings with a dash of French grace create an atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else, and the Punta Gorda, which juts out into the sea, houses incredibly ornate palaces, including the Palacio Azul with baby blue walls that blend in with the open sky.

Be sure to stroll along stretches of oceanfront promenades and mingle with locals under the palm trees swaying in the warm breeze.