A Puglia port town that’s equal parts historic and functional, Monopoli makes a splash with medieval churches and castles jutting above the Adriatic. It’s also a painter’s dream, with bright blue fishing boats adding a pop of colour against whitewashed harbour walls.

Many people travel through Frankfurt for business, as it's a major transportation hub and an industrial and financial metropolis. Of course we know that business travellers hate to have any fun on the road (wink), but it's worth lingering in Frankfurt if you can. The 2,000-year-old city has much to offer: skyscrapers, the Main River, a famous opera house, thriving theatre district, zoo, pedestrian shopping street, parks, scores of bars and dance clubs, and more than 50 museums.

Namibia's largest coastal town is a huge draw for merrymakers and vacationers from all over the globe. This seaside resort showcases its German origins in its European-style colonial architecture, creating a jarring juxtaposition against the landscape of the Namib desert. Sandboard or motorbike the dunes, dine and imbibe in a picturesque restaurant on the waterfront, or just marvel at the unusual birds and plants that populate the region.