Just down the coast from Dune de Pilar, Arcachon’s golden beaches and 1950s villas make it a choice destination for sophisticated holidaymakers. The sweeping ocean views are best enjoyed alongside regional delicacies such as Arcachon oysters and Bordeaux wine.

Nestled at the foot of the Black Forest in South Germany, Baden-Baden is a chic destination for those who fancy a dip in its famous salt- and radon-rich thermal hot springs. The town has been a popular destination for so long that it's starting to show its age, but not to worry. It's still very classy, picturesque and well-maintained. (The Dame Julie Andrews of German spa towns, if you will.) Sporty types will find an abundance of opportunities to enjoy golf, tennis, horseback riding and skiing nearby in winter.

The storybook city of Bydgoszcz is a stunning mélange of Gothic and Art Nouveau architecture, 18th-century granaries, cobblestone streets and outdoor cafes. Cruise the scenic Brda River, wander the charming streets of historic Old Town, or picnic and people-watch at Mill’s Island. Thoughtful public art, a thriving jazz scene, an opera house and an extraordinary concert hall add cultural dimension to Bydgoszcz’s beauty.

Designated the capital city of Kazakhstan in the late 1990s, Nur-Sultan boasts a landscape glittering with new architecture and construction projects as the government infrastructure continues to be built. Old and new quarters of the city are divided by the Ishim River, with older, Soviet era structures on the north side while the governmental quarter and monuments like the monolithic Bayterek Tower spread out to the south. The central Avenue of the Republic is a hub of entertainment and business.