Located on an island between Trieste and Venice, the beachy town of Grado is popular among holiday-goers. Celebrated for its medieval centre, Grado is also known as a spa resort, and its sand is said to have curative properties.

The most northerly of the Western Fjord counties, More og Romsdal is a land of rich and rugged terrain, including steep mountains, rolling valleys, many islands, some of the country’s longest waterfalls and, of course, the deep fjords that make the area so famous. Geirangerfjord, one of Norway’s most visited fjords, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and home to the spectacular Brudesløret (Bride’s Veil) and De Syv Søstrene (The Seven Sisters) waterfalls. Picturesque Alesund is the county capital.

The Latvian capital, the largest city in the Baltics, is a fascinating mixture of proud Latvian tradition and influences of the various countries that have occupied it. Independent once again since 1991, Riga's Art Nouveau center has won it UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. Opened up to mass tourism with the advent of budget air travel, Riga's Old City and its abundance of bars and restaurants can be explored on foot. The New Town is easily reached by an efficient and modern bus and tram network.

Over the centuries, many cultures have added their mark to this prized piece of land. Today, you can experience those influences firsthand by exploring Istanbul’s mahalles (neighbourhoods). From the holy sites of Sultanahmet and the 19th-century European elegance of Beyoğlu to the high fashion of Nişantaşı, the vibrant café society of Kadıköy and the football-loving streets of Beşiktaş, it’s easy to see why travellers say that Istanbul isn’t just one city, but many cities within one.