Immerse yourself in the vitality of this delightful capital city of the world’s oldest kingdom as you explore its expansive parks and plazas and a treasure trove of historic galleries and buildings. Discover its exquisite combination of Scandinavian elegance and European joie de vivre. Visitors traveling outside the city enter an altogether different world; one where stately castles are found nestled in the gentle, emerald-green Danish countryside.

Kristiansand is a city in southern Norway. Its old town, Posebyen, features traditional wooden houses. In the center, neo-Gothic Kristiansand Cathedral is near the Sørlandets Museum, which displays Norwegian art from 1800 to today. The southeastern shoreline includes the Bystranda city beach, the 17th-century Christiansholm Fortress rotunda and Fiskebrygga quay, lined with fishmongers selling their catch.

This former fishing village along the North Sea is well off the beaten path, creating a lovely atmosphere of secluded bliss among the fjords. Its modern charms, cafés and shops mingle with its Viking history, all set against a perfect backdrop for outdoor adventures. Venture to nearby Avaldsnes or Skudenshavn, or the lovely Karmøy Island for classic Norwegian landscapes.

AUNESCO World Heritage City treasure and a European Capital of Culture, beguiling Bergen is surrounded by mountains and fjords, including Sognefjord, Norway’s longest and deepest. In its heyday, Norwegian Kings resided here, and there were no less than 27 churches and abbeys. An immaculate city, locals take great pride in their rich seafaring history and hold firm to traditional values.

Located at the northern tip of the British Isles, nearly 50 miles northeast of the Orkneys, the Shetland Islands are a mosaic of more than a 100 islands. Craggy cliffs sculpted by turbulent seas are in stark contrast to the tranquil, sandy bays and flower-strewn meadows found here.

Aplace of contrasts and balance, Kirkwall offers the high points of a large Scottish city – stellar local shopping and impressive historical sites like the St. Magnus Cathedral and ruins of the Bishop’s Palace and Earl’s Palace – as well as the charms of a small village. It is a relatively quiet ferry landing town that is also an excellent example of an ancient Norse settlement, making Kirkwall itself a living museum.

Delightful Stornoway is the capital of the Western Isles with a population of only 8,000. Beautifully situated on the seafront, overlooking a magnificent harbor, Stornoway is considered by many to be in one of the most picturesque regions in Scotland. The town's friendly inhabitants are revered for their seafaring traditions and they enjoy a level of self-sufficiency that is normally only seen in larger towns on the mainland.

Derry, also known as Londonderry, is a city on the River Foyle in Northern Ireland. It’s known for the intact 17th-century Derry’s Walls with 7 gates. Within the walls, spired St. Columb’s Cathedral displays artefacts from the 1688–9 Siege of Derry. Near the Peace Bridge, the Tower Museum has city views and historical exhibits. Huge stained-glass windows adorn the neo-Gothic red sandstone Guildhall.

Liverpool grew to greatness in the 18th century, as the riches of the Americas and the West Indies flowed through its docks and marketplaces. (At one point it even had more dock space than London.) More recently, the town’s fame grew along with its most famous sons: the Beatles. Visit Town Hall, the Walker Art Gallery, and the delights of the restored Albert Dock, with its classy shops and maritime museum.

AViking kingdom more than a thousand years ago, Douglas is today the capital of the Isle of Man. The shopping high street, filled with some of Europe’s biggest retailers as well as local shops, leads to the magnificent sea front lined with restaurants, theaters and museums. The Douglas Horse Trams also run along the harbor, and nighttime illuminations along the shore light up landmarks such as the stately Tower of Refuge, creating an unforgettable after-dark vista.

Once considered a major port for Great Britain, Dún Laoghaire (or Dunleary), has successfully maintained its quaint country charm despite the recent tourism boom. Now a popular cruise stop in Ireland, conveniently located just outside of Dublin, the city still boasts an intimate country feel with its offering of local retail shops, bistros and a scenic pier promenade.

Cobh is a town in Ireland, on an island in Cork city’s harbour. It’s known as the Titanic’s last port of call in 1912. Titanic Experience Cobh is a themed attraction in the former White Star Line ticket office. More displays on the liner are in the Cobh Heritage Centre, which also explores how Cobh became an embarkation point during Ireland’s mass emigrations. North of town, huge Fota Wildlife Park is on Fota Island.

Whether you see it from the hills above, the water below or the narrow tangle of streets that wind within, the town of Fowey is simply charming. This quaint Cornish town boasts a 14th century parish church, with a traditional bell tower that peeks out from behind the colorful buildings that gather around it. Situated at the mouth of the river Fowey, this fishing town has a picturesque waterfront and the remains of a small castle sitting above Readymoney Beach.

Closer to France but staunchly British, charming Guernsey boasts a diverse culture reflecting the best of both worlds. Pastel-colored houses rise layer upon layer behind St. Peter Port, the island's picturesque main town. Beyond, you’ll discover a wealth of activities centering around goldsmiths, silversmiths, wood carvers and clockmakers.

This picturesque port easily inspired some of the greats – from its Vieux Bassin (Old Harbour) to the bare vertical cliffs of Etretat and Yport. Boudin, Courbet and Monet all discovered the inherent artistic qualities of Honfleur, still apparent along its storied shores that evoke a feeling of Normandy in centuries past. While it boasts historical clout for centuries, some of the most intriguing sites in town played pivotal roles in the epic events of D-Day.

Amsterdam

Everyone has an image of Amsterdam. For some, it’s small boats gliding on the canals and locals two-wheeling on bikes to work and, as frequently, to meet friends for drinks. For others, it’s gabled buildings leaning, seemingly precariously, over cobbled streets and cozy taverns illuminated by candles. Still others imagine tulips in bloom and the paintings Vermeer, Van Gogh and Rembrandt. Each vision is even more beguiling when experienced in person.

Within its fortified walls, this city of bustling shops, cafés and bars is home to the highest concentration of seafood restaurants in Europe. Heavily bombed during World War II, it was lovingly restored to its original splendor. The city's top destination is the citadel, from where Corsairs would raid enemy ships in the name of the King. Be sure to take a stroll atop the ramparts for magical views, and save time for a journey to the medieval Mont St-Michel abbey.

Brest is a port city in the Finistère département in Brittany. Located in a sheltered bay not far from the western tip of the peninsula, and the western extremity .

This seaside gem in the south of Brittany’s Riviera holds abundant maritime heritage, from an indestructible – and explorable – World War II Nazi submarine to the latest high-tech developments in yacht racing at the Cité de la Voile. Throughout the lovely town, you’ll find vestiges of conquests of India and the East Indies, as the French East India Company was based here, where peaceful beaches and sun-soaked promenades rule the landscape.

Home to Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum, this bustling city epitomizes the merger of modernity and history. Gateway to the Cantabrico Sea from the plateau of Castilla, Bilbao has flourished from the middle ages as a busy port. Today, the city is renowned for its vital exuberance, as modern architects erect new buildings next to 19th-century structures.

Home to Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum, this bustling city epitomizes the merger of modernity and history. Gateway to the Cantabrico Sea from the plateau of Castilla, Bilbao has flourished from the middle ages as a busy port. Today, the city is renowned for its vital exuberance, as modern architects erect new buildings next to 19th-century structures.

Legend holds that Hercules founded this city of Romanesque squares and medieval churches, and indeed, its Tower of Hercules is one of La Coruña's most enduring symbols. Steeped in beauty, the city is renowned for its gardens, including the Jardines de Méndez Núñez, located in the center of the Pescaderia, and the Jardine de San Carlos in the Old City. Visit the Museo Arqueologico e Historico for exceptional views, and see the elaborately carved door on the church of Calle de Santa Maria.

Oporto brings together the best of Portugal: warm sunshine, a relaxed riverside setting, grand churches, winding medieval streets, and courtyards filled with geraniums. Perhaps what Oporto is most famous for, however, is its port wine. Crafted in the neighboring Vila Nova da Gaia district, ports from all over the region can be sampled in the lodges just across the river. Wander through historic Ribeira, the recently restored riverside district and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Discover the world’s last colonial empire, turned bustling cosmopolitan city. Lisbon has dozens of Moorish castles, pastel buildings, and white sand beaches to explore. This Atlantic-coast city perfectly encapsulates Mediterranean charm with its wine, food, and architecture.