Portugal

Portugal has the oldest fixed borders in Europe - they've been essentially the same since 1249. From this narrow strip of Atlantic coastline, Portuguese sailors launched the Age of Exploration and built an empire that stretched from Brazil to Macau, Mozambique to Timor. They were the first Europeans to reach India by sea, to trade with Japan, and to establish a global maritime network. The language they spread is now spoken by over 250 million people across four continents.

Modern Portugal is something of a quiet European success story. Lisbon has become one of the continent's coolest cities - hilly, colorful, and full of fado music echoing from tiny restaurants. Porto has the wine, the azulejo tiles, and a gritty charm that makes it many people's favorite European city. The Algarve has some of the best beaches in the world. And then there are the things Portugal invented or popularized: the tempura technique (exported to Japan), the pastel de nata (custard tart), cork production (they supply over half the world's cork), and a global habit of drinking fortified wine. The food is brilliant, the people are warm, and everything costs about 40% less than in Spain next door.