Known as Padova in Italian, Padua may be the oldest city in northern Italy, if you believe the claims of its 12th-century BC founding by Trojans. It certainly has history, including its famous university (one of Europe’s oldest, from 1222), the 13th-century Basilica di Sant'Antonio (resting place of St. Anthony), and Scrovegni Chapel, with Giotto’s famed 14th century frescos. The magnificent Prato della Valle, a 950,000-square-foot elliptical square, is thought to be Europe’s second-biggest.

An easy train stop in Emilia-Romagna, Ferrara shines with the former glory of its Renaissance past. A stroll or bike ride past remarkably intact castles and defensive walls makes it say to see how this northern Italian gem scored UNESCO World Heritage status.

Yet another lovely old town on Lake Garda, Malcesine is an elegant resort at the base of Castello Scaligero. Enjoy a leisurely day of shopping in town (making sure to stop at an outdoor café with a lake view), or if you’re getting restless, take a cable car to Monte Baldo for skiing in winter or challenging hiking in summer.

High in the Dolomites, Cortina d’Ampezzo boasts 140 ski runs and over 50 miles of cross-country pistes. Beloved for decades by society types for its après-ski scene, Cortina lies at the center of the Valle d’Ampezzo and has been featured in a number of films, including “Cliffhanger” and “For Your Eyes Only.”

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.

Charming Ystad is an important hub of the Swedish film industry. It’s home to the country’s oldest cinema (Biografteatern Scala), a production studio, and the Cineteket interactive film museum. Significant medieval features of Ystad include Greyfriars Abbey, the Church of the Virgin Mary, and the 16th-century Latin school. Visit an exotic animal part or pick up some artisan handicrafts at one of Ystad’s lovely galleries or boutiques.

Let the beautiful coastal town of Varkala melt your worries and tensions away. Varkala’s peaceful seaside cliffs adjoin the Arabian Sea, setting the scene for several water spouts and wellness spas. The waters lapping at Papanasam beach are considered to have holy, sin-cleansing properties, and the nearby Ayurveda treatment centre will cleanse what the ocean missed.