Acclaimed for their medical benefits since 1522, 200 spa houses had sprung up in this picturesque valley by the end of the 16th century. Its curative springs have won fame as the answer to a slew of metabolic and gastric difficulties. Today’s treatments range from aquatherapy to drinking the mineral-rich water.

On the banks of the lovely Elbe River, the German city of Dresden is lush and green, filled with forests and gardens and parks. The city is rich with cultural and artistic history; the great operatic composer Wilhelm Wagner debuted a number of works here in the 1800s and, today, an independent light opera company keeps the classical art form modern and fresh. Culture vultures will love the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister and Grünes Gewölbe museums, and architecture buffs will salivate over the mélange of styles reflected in the cityscape.