With its gondolas, canals, amazing restaurants, and unforgettable romantic ambiance, Venice is definitely a city for one's bucket list. Waterfront palazzos, palaces, and churches make drifting down the Grand Canal feel like cruising through a painting. To really experience Venice you must go to the opera or to a classical music performance, nibble fresh pasta and pastries, and linger in the exhibit halls of an art gallery. Label lovers will drool over the high-end shopping in Piazza San Marco.

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.

Believe it or not, Nietzsche went on holiday—to this pretty town on Italy’s Lake Garda. Today, travellers can explore mediaeval fortresses and the town’s historic centre. Or, just take relaxing walks along the lakeshore and wonder what in the world it would be like to holiday with Nietzsche.

Surrounded by one of Germany's largest wine-growing regions, Stuttgart beckons cultural junkies with its acclaimed ballet, opera and philharmonic, while car fans get revved up over the Mercedes Benz Museum. There's more green space than urban sprawl in the festival-friendly city, home to Europe's largest combined zoo and botanic garden, the Wilhelma. The Württembergisches Landesmuseum, in one of the city's oldest structures, traces the area's history from the Stone Age. Buses or metro provide handy transport.

In 1715, margrave Karl III Wilhelm decided he needed more space than he had in Durlach, so he moved his capital to Karlsruhe and had it designed in circular spokes around his new palace. Because of its unique radial shape, Karlsruhe is sometimes called the “fan city.” Home to Germany’s most important federal courts, the city accordingly teems with civil servants. Karlsruhe Schloss (castle) was badly damaged in World War II, but was rebuilt and is now home to the Badisches Landesmuseum.

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.

A smorgasbord of flavors come from this lofty land in the hilly southeast of Belgium: game, wild boar, venison, smoked ham, the region's famous paté and world-renowned Trappist beers. Primarily located in Belgium, the Ardennes mountains also nudge into France and Luxembourg. Dense forests flank the steep hillsides, and market towns and villages perch on river banks. Spring and summer show this lush area at its best, but cross country skiing opportunities make a good case for winter visits.

This region is home to 700 miles of coastline and 90 islands, including Fyn, the third largest island in Denmark. Also known as "Funen," this attractive island of thatched farmhouses, myriad beaches, forests, beaches and grassland offers gorgeous Kattegat and Baltic views. The most popular spot is quirky Odense, birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen, but don't miss Ladby's Viking ship grave, where the remains of a 72-foot longship, burial site of a 10th-century Viking chieftain, have been excavated.

From Shoreditch’s swaggering style to Camden’s punky vibe and chic Portobello Road, London is many worlds in one. The city’s energy means that no two days are the same. Explore royal or historic sites, tick off landmarks from your bucket list, eat and drink in exclusive Michelin-starred restaurants, enjoy a pint in a traditional pub, or get lost down winding cobbled streets and see what you stumble across – when it comes to London, the possibilities are endless.

With world-class trails, bouldering in the park and more, Sheffield is known as The Outdoor City — but the adventure doesn’t end when you’ve finished exploring its climbs and rides. With brilliant street food markets, independent microbreweries, a vibrant arts and events scene, and plenty of live music, it has everything travellers need to turn an exhilarating day in the sun into a legendary night out.

Buffalo is being reborn as a mecca for art, architecture, history, culture, dining and entertainment. Experience Frank Lloyd Wright’s stunning Darwin Martin House Complex and world-class modern art at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Relive part of the city’s incredible history at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site. Explore the emerging Canalside waterfront district, hip Elmwood Village, more than 400 independently owned restaurants (serving our famous chicken wings and more) and nearby Niagara Falls.