Popular in the late 18th and early 19th century with luminaries such as Strauss, Wagner, Kafke, Freud, Twain and Edward VII, this sprightly spa town is a charming spot. Delicately painted spa houses and hotels tiptoe up the lush, forested mountainsides. One hundred mineral springs with high carbon dioxide and iron content confetti the town and nearby hillsides, many with neat colonnades and stately pavilions. The most famed is the cupola-capped and colonnade-adorned Krizovy pramen.

Walk atop Rothenburg’s city walls or climb to the top of the town hall for great views. The Night Watchman tour is an unforgettable way to learn the city’s history. And our travelers also recommend the Medieval Crime Museum (Mittelalterliches Kriminalmuseum)—it’s gruesome but fascinating.

With its Gothic castle, ornate Renaissance buildings, and rows of gabled houses, strolling around Lubeck’s UNESCO-listed old town feels like stepping into a fairy tale. Architectural gems, winding passageways, and café-lined courtyards each reveal a new surprise about this charming city.

Everyone who visits Paris for the first time probably has the same punchlist of major attractions to hit: The Louvre, Notre Dame, The Eiffel Tower, etc. Just make sure you leave some time to wander the city’s grand boulevards and eat in as many cafes, bistros and brasseries as possible. And don’t forget the shopping—whether your tastes run to Louis Vuitton or Les Puces (the flea market), you can find it here.

Near the banks of Lake Victoria, Kampala, the capital of Uganda, is a lively city with a long history. Before the British, the city was the capital of the Buganda Kingdom, and remains so to this day. The city sits on several hills, each housing an important government or religious building. Kasubi Hill is the home of the Kasubi Tombs, a sacred burial ground of Buganda Kings. The Uganda Museum sits atop Kololo Hill, and features a hands-on collection of traditional musical instruments.