In his first trip to the stupendous region, Christopher Columbus noted the silver-tipped appearance of the area’s prominent mountain. As “plata” is Spanish for “silver”, Columbus christened it “Monte de Plata”, and the city became known as Puerto de Plata. Luring vacationers much as it had Columbus, Puerto Plata is one of the Dominican Republic’s most renowned cities. Lending to a bright culture of friendly people and recreational activities, Puerto Plata will exceed even your wildest and greatest of expectations.

Patras is a city of compelling layers. Its history spans four millennia, from ancient Mycenaean roots to a 19th-century golden age, all visible in sites like the hilltop Medieval Castle and the reconstructed Roman Odeon. Today, as a major university town and economic hub, it thrums with youthful energy, evident in its dynamic cultural scene and the legendary Carnival week. It’s a gateway to the Peloponnese peninsula, just a short ferry ride away from Italy and only three hours away from Athens. Choose your adventure!

The old health resort tradition in Varberg has been refined over the years, and is nowadays a way of life for both residents and visitors. All the essentials for a good quality of life are available here to tailor the treatments that make you feel good. These treatments consist of a massage therapy, a visit to the cold bath house or seaweed baths. Others prefer a windsurfing board, a stroll along the beach promenade around Varberg Fortress or a forest excursion to Åkulla Beech Forests.

Moscow is a city of contrasts where the bohemian and the glamorous merge in an idiosyncratic fusion – do not be surprised to find a golden-domed 16th-century church next to an ultra-modern glass skyscraper or a Soviet blockhouse. Here, salty fish eggs (caviar) are washed down with bubbly champagne, and worn-out commuters travel by the elaborately decorated, elegant metro, one of the city's main attractions.

In northeastern Småland, expansive forests meet Tjust archipelago's rugged cliffs and at the same time, its lush islands. Västervik is a destination of contrasts, where the possibilities for diverse experiences and activities are vast.