With over 2000 years of history, dozens of monuments, impressive medieval streets, and beautiful boulevards, Poitiers boasts a rich and fascinating heritage. But the city has more to offer than just memories: its trendy cafes and cool bars, as well as its lively student population, keep the city young and vibrant.

Dresden was known as both the 'Florence of the North' and the 'Venice of the River Elbe' before World War II destroyed most of this once-magnificent Baroque city. But Dresden has managed to restore much of its former glory. The views from the banks of the Elbe and plentiful architectural delights, such as the rebuilt Frauenkirche or the famous Semper Opera, provide glimpses of what today’s vibrant Dresden once looked like. With 63 percent of its area devoted to woods and green spaces, Dresden is also one of the greenest cities in Europe.

Olbia is the gateway to the pearly white beaches of Sardinia's northeast coast and the sparkling Costa Smeralda. This is where jet-setters, film stars and the ‘glitterati’ arrive to indulge in 'la dolce vita' Sardinian-style. With a Greek name meaning ‘happy’, Olbia used to be a little fishing village but has now grown to become Sardinia’s busiest ferry port, complete with an international airport and tourist amenities. The countryside is cloaked in aromatic wild herbs, the macchia, and the surrounding sea glows in every hue of electric blue, in a little known and exclusive place waiting to be discovered.

With its stunning natural setting, culturally diverse - and, at times, turbulent - history, and modern vibrancy, Sarajevo is a busy city which now actively welcomes visitors to its eclectic streets. The Islamic, Orthodox, Catholic and Judaic influences and religious traditions live on side by side here, in the formerly contested capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina set against the misty backdrop of the Dinaric Alps.