Olive groves, orange trees, stretches of golden sand and sapphire sea… a Greek island paradise? Close. Parga is on the northwest mainland of Greece and is beloved for its gorgeous beaches and laid-back atmosphere. Explore ancient fortress ruins, visit the hilltop Ali Pasha castle and chat up some friendly locals at one of Parga’s seaside taverns.

Dubrovnik, in the extreme south of Croatia, is known as the Pearl of the Adriatic. A rich and powerful city state until 1806, the proud city once known as Ragusa has a population of over 120,000. Structural damage suffered during the siege of 1991 and 1992, at the hands of the Yugoslav People's Army, has been repaired and visitors once again flock to this tranquil city, nestled between the Adriatic and Dinaric Alps. A wealth of sites lies within the walls of the pedestrian-only Old Town.

Much of the old town district of Chania was developed around its harbor, which was built by the Venetians during the 14th century. Its lighthouse still proudly overlooks the Mediterranean. Here you’ll find several cinemas and historical attractions like the Archaeological Museum, a collection of Minoan and Roman artifacts that’s housed in the former Monastery of Saint Francis. Word nerds will especially enjoy the Museum of Typography.

Best known to most Germans as the locale of Georg-August University, Gottingen has about 130,000 residents, about a quarter of whom are students. Gänseliesel (Goose Girl) is the city's most famous resident, a 1901 fountain built in front of the 14th century Rathaus (Town Hall), which today houses the city's tourist office. But even Goose Girl can't escape the college students, who by tradition upon receiving their PhDs must climb and kiss her, making her "the most kissed girl in the world."

Home to both the midnight sun (with constant daylight from April to July) and the northern lights, North Norway is a rugged land of steep mountains, deep fjords and scenic coastline, making it a great place for outdoor adventures like dog sledding, snowmobiling and wildlife safaris. It's also the ancient home of the Sami people, 3,000 of whom live (along with 100,000 reindeer) at Kautokeino, Norway's largest municipality at over 3,700 square miles.