Amsterdam is the Netherlands’ capital, known for its artistic heritage, elaborate canal system and narrow houses with gabled facades, legacies of the city’s 17th-century Golden Age. Its Museum District houses the Van Gogh Museum, works by Rembrandt and Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum, and modern art at the Stedelijk. Cycling is key to the city’s character, and there are numerous bike paths.

Vondelpark has cafes and an open-air theater, and the nearby Royal Concertgebouw is a prominent classical-music venue. In the Jordaan district are shops and galleries, as well as the Anne Frank House, where the Jewish diarist hid during the Second World War. Dining ranges from casually decorated “living room” restaurants to traditional Dutch eateries and Indonesian rijsttafel (“rice table”) specialists. Coffee shops sell small amounts of marijuana. The neon-lit Red Light District is home to the Erotic Museum, exhibiting provocative paintings and prints. In spring, Amsterdam is a base for visits to the surrounding tulip attractions.

The Rhine Valley is storybook Germany, a fairy-tale world of legends and robber-baron castles. Cruise the most castle-studded stretch of the romantic Rhine as you listen for the song of the treacherous Loreley.

For hands-on thrills, climb through the Rhineland's greatest castle, Rheinfels, above the town of St. Goar.

Castle connoisseurs will also enjoy the fine interior of Marksburg Castle. Spend your nights in a castle-crowned village, either Bacharach or St. Goar.

You can cool your shopping fever in a number of modern shopping malls (Palladium, Nový Smíchov, Chodov, Arkády Pankrác, and more) or on Pařížská Street, Prague’s most exclusive shopping avenue, home to many of the world’s top luxury brands. If you want to take something valuable home from Prague, then try an antique shop. Jewellery and precious stones are the specialty of Prague's Uhlíř Antiques, and paintings and china, you can choose at the antique shop on Karmelitská Street.

 Galerie Petr Brandl focuses on old master canvases, and it’s worth checking out even if you don’t plan on buying anything. You can buy current and retro Czech design at Modernista in the Vinohrady Pavilion or in the DOX Centre for Contemporary Art's design shop.

Prague’s historic gardens and parks are truly some of Prague’s greatest treasures. There are over two hundred - the oldest of them was founded in the Middle Ages, and more often than not, they offer breathtaking views of the city. The first Prague gardens were monastic gardens; private gardens, adjacent to palaces or expensive town houses, came later during the Renaissance.

Each period introduced its own unique style, layout (which generally reflected contemporary philosophy) and understanding of space into garden design. Perhaps the most revolutionary changes in garden design came during the Baroque period, where the monumentality of the architecture was reflected in the external environment in the garden. Visiting the Palace Gardens below Prague Castle, the Petřín Hill gardens or Wallenstein Gardens are practically required of all visitors to Prague.

 Prague has undergone centuries of diverse cultural, social and economic development, which is reflected in its architecture. Among the most interesting witnesses to this dramatic transformation are technical monuments commemorating changes in the everyday life of our ancestors in comparison with the present day.

Prague is home to a number of interesting technical buildings and other structures. This journey back in time will take you to places such as the Prague underground spaces with its huge collector system;

 Prague’s views are breathtaking 365 days a year. Although the Czech capital is nicknamed “the city of a hundred spires”, in fact it is decorated with nearly a thousand towers and spires. You can admire the ancient heart of the city from the observation deck of the tower of Old Town Hall, and discover the charm of the Lesser Town roofs from the tower of St Vitus Cathedral. 

From majestic Art Nouveau thermal baths to trendy ruin bars, a whole host of new experiences await at Budapest’s must-visit attractions. To make the most of your trip to Budapest, skip the queue by booking Budapest’s top attractcafions online, whether it’s touring the spectacular Neo-Gothic parliament building, diving into the underground cave system or battling it out at the Pinball Museum.

Budapest is nicknamed the “City of Spas” for good reason. More than 118 natural thermal springs deliver 70 million litres (15.3 million gallons) of therapeutic waters to the city each day. Housed within the world-famous Gellért Hotel, the Gellért Baths is just one of a dozen spas where you can take advantage of spa water’s healing qualities. The sumptuous spa offers a steam room, sauna, sun terrace, thermal baths and massage rooms, all housed in a spectacular Art Nouveau-style building. Head there early in the morning to avoid the crowds, or book a guided tour to skip the queues.

Vienna

Austria's Imperial capital offers a unique blend of imperial traditions and stunning modern architecture. It is famous for its cultural events, imperial sights, coffee houses, cozy wine taverns, and the very special Viennese charm.

Vienna’s history dates back to the first post-Christian century when the Romans established the military camp Vindobona. Today’s cityscape is characterised by the abundance of Baroque buildings created mostly under the rule of Empress Maria Theresia and Emperor Franz Joseph, who was largely responsible for the monumental architecture round the Ringstraße. To experience Vienna at its fullest, we have created this guide on Vienna highlights.

Schloss Schönbrunn, the former imperial summer residence, is one of the most popular sights. The sumptuous palace with the beautifully tended formal gardens, the Gloriette monument, the Palm House, and the zoo attract hordes of visitors each year. The huge Hofburg (Imperial Palace) was the base of the Habsburgs for over six centuries, and is an impressive repository of culture and heritage.

Beautiful sunset in Vienna

Austrian National Tourist Office / Filmspektakel.at

Vienna, Austria

The splendid baroque Belvedere Palace today houses the Österreichische Galerie (Austrian Gallery) displaying the largest collection of works by Klimt and Kokoschka as well as famous paintings by Schiele. Vienna’s prime landmarks are the gothic Stephansdom (St. Stephen’s Cathedral), the Giant Ferris Wheel in the Prater, Vienna’s old recreational park, and the Spanish Riding School with their world-famous Lipizzaner horses.

Vienna has more museums and galleries of international reputation than you can shake a stick at: Kunsthistorisches Museum with the world’s largest collection of Bruegel paintings, MuseumsQuartier with the Leopold Museum (Schiele), Museum Moderner Kunst (Museum of Modern Art), Architekturzentrum (Architectural Centre) and Kunsthalle rank among the city's most important cultural venues. The Albertina is home to the world’s largest collection of graphic arts and prints (60,000 drawings, 1 million prints).

Vienna owes much of its international fame to the many celebrated composer who lived and worked here including Strauß, Mozart, Beethoven and Haydn. The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the world’s best, the Staatsoper one of the world’s leading opera houses, and the Vienna Boys’ Choir one the world’s most famous. Vienna has established itself as a great musical metropolis.

In Vienna, traditional coffee houses, rustic wine taverns, and the beloved sausage stand (Wuerstelstand) exist alongside top restaurants and shops. Time-honoured events alternate with internationally-acclaimed extravaganzas (Life Ball) to create a unique and very special ambiance. Another special feature of Vienna is its many green spaces and recreational areas such as the Wienerwald, the Prater, and the Donauinsel.