If you currently think your neighbourhood coffee shop is nice, you might want to stay out of Vienna’s coffeehouses. After you’ve gotten used to these palatial, yet welcoming cafes—and their delicious coffee and Sacher torte—your local café will pale in comparison. Between coffee breaks, visitors can explore Vienna’s Schonbrunn Palace and Imperial Palace. And if you have a chance, catch a performance at the State Opera House—it’s not to be missed.

Staré Mesto, the Old Town of Slovakia's capital, whisks visitors back a few centuries as they wander through cobbled streets, admire the Baroque architecture, enjoy summer and Christmas concerts at Old Town Hall and while away time at cafés and restaurants. Venture beyond for more sites, including the 15th-century hrad (castle) with its treasury and museums of history and music, the Slovak National Theatre and the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Slovak National Gallery, housed in an 18th-century palace.

Bordering both Austria and Hungary and couched between the Danube and the Little Carpathian Mountains, Bratislava is a picturesque city whose natural surroundings are rivaled only by its own historic architecture. Dating back centuries, the Old Town is home to numerous historic churches, castles, galleries and museums, including the Museum of Jewish Culture and Bratislava City Museum. The surviving fortifications at Michael's Gate provide a glimpse into the medieval history of the city.

Europe's largest thermal lake is reputed to work wonders on various medical conditions. The lake’s healing waters and therapeutic mud have provoked a healthy stream of health tourists. Visitors can experience its beneficial effects in spas and hotels or for the authentic Heviz experience, bathe in the lake itself.

A bevy of universities give Austria's second-largest city its lively pace. Baroque palaces are a pleasant contrast with 16th-century courtyards and provocative modern buildings. The Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, teems with fine architecture, including the Burg castle complex, with its Gothic double staircase, and the graceful Uhrturm clock tower. A funicular takes visitors up the dramatic bluff. The River Mur dashes through the city, and thermal springs dot the surrounding countryside.

Austria's lush heartland, is awash with verdant grass and rich vineyards. Trout fishing, hiking and mountain climbing are popular lures to stunning Styria. The region is also renowned as a culinary hotspot, as well as for its Reisling and Traminer. An emerging ski destination, dozens of ski schools have sprouted on its snowy flanks. State capital Graz is a university town, with a UNESCO-designated Old Town. Thermal resort town Bad Gleichenberg is another top area attraction.

Surrounded by country estates, Groningen pairs the old-world spirit of north Holland with the youthful energy of a university town. From the cafes of Grote Markt to the abstract architecture of Groninger Museum, the city is a hip mashup of contemporary Dutch culture.

Once one of the great Roman cities, Nimes’ storied past takes centre stage in the modern city, with ancient ruins, medieval monuments, and archaeological museums all presided over by a remarkably preserved Roman amphitheater.

Over the centuries, many cultures have added their mark to this prized piece of land. Today, you can experience those influences firsthand by exploring Istanbul’s mahalles (neighbourhoods). From the holy sites of Sultanahmet and the 19th-century European elegance of Beyoğlu to the high fashion of Nişantaşı, the vibrant café society of Kadıköy and the football-loving streets of Beşiktaş, it’s easy to see why travellers say that Istanbul isn’t just one city, but many cities within one.

Stroll Las Ramblas and enjoy Barcelona's unique blend of Catalan culture, distinctive architecture, lively nightlife and trendy, stylish hotels. You'll find Europe's best-preserved Gothic Quarter here, as well as amazing architectural works by Gaudi. La Sagrada Familia, considered Gaudi's masterpiece, is still under construction (your entrance fee helps to fund the project). Feel like a picnic? Look no further than the rambunctious La Boqueria market, where you can stock up on local delicacies.

Lovely as it is, this little country town of less than 8,000 about 75 miles north of Lisbon wouldn’t be on the radar if it weren’t for its most famous citizens: the three shepherd children who, in 1917, saw monthly visions of the Virgin Mary in the Cova da Iria pasture. Today, the site is marked by the Basílica de Fátima, where pilgrims come on the 13th of every month to honor the Virgin and her young visionaries, especially in May and October, when the apparitions originally began and ended.

The first time you go to New York, go ahead and be a sight-seer—everyone should visit the Statue of Liberty, the Met, Times Square, etc. But on a return trip, pick a neighbourhood and go deep. You’ll find hole-in-the-wall bars, great delis, quirky shops… exploring the non-touristy side of New York is an incredibly rewarding experience for a traveller.