Iceland’s biggest city, Reykjavik bears the distinction of being the world’s northernmost capital, and for virtually every Icelandic visitor it serves as a gateway, just to the city itself or to the rugged adventure options beyond. Founded in the country’s southwest at the end of the 18th century, Reykjavik has been Iceland’s cultural hub ever since. These days, that culture includes a hip and internationally recognised music and arts scene, not to mention a notoriously wild nightlife.

Eindhoven is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, but you’d never know it from the high-tech industry and cutting-edge design it’s currently known for. If you have kids obsessed by all things wheeled, they will love the trucks at the DAF Museum.

北萊茵威斯特伐利亞 (North Rhine-Westphalia) 的首都杜塞爾道夫 (Dusseldorf) 橫跨萊茵河兩岸，是該區的經濟龍頭。古城 (Altstadt) 不僅是杜塞爾道夫迷人的古老城鎮，也是這座城市夜生活的大本營，到處都能夠喝到老啤酒 (Altbier)，也就是當地原產的黑啤酒。杜塞爾道夫人可是相當重視他們的啤酒。國王大道 (Königsallee，當地人稱之為 KO) 是杜塞爾道夫知名的購物街，高級商店林立。藝術皇宮美術館則有著萊茵地區最出色的藝術收藏。

Elegantly perched on the border between France and Switzerland, Evian’s internationally renowned healing waters lure health-conscious visitors from around the world. It is France’s most celebrated spa resort, famed for its hydrotherapy treatments that benefit digestive and metabolic conditions.

With a comfortable climate that varies little throughout the year, Sanremo has been a favored tourist destination since the mid-1700s, attracting visitors from all over Europe, including heavy contingents of Russian and British aristocracy. For many, the long stretch of beach is the main attraction, but don’t miss the impressive casino or the hillside medieval section of town called La Pigna. Every year since 1951, the city has hosted Italy’s popular Sanremo Music Festival.

Cairo’s an ancient city that also happens to be a modern metropolis—it’s one of the biggest cities in the Middle East and has the traffic and noise issues to prove it. But as long as you’re not looking for solitude, Cairo—the City of the Thousand Minarets—is a splendid place to explore Egyptian history and culture. (Editor's note: Our list was compiled before political unrest prompted many countries to issue travel warnings for Egypt. If you're currently planning a trip to Egypt, please consider the risks and monitor your government's travel alerts.)