Hidden gems

Bremen is a picturesque city which is happily situated along both sides of the river Weser. With over 1200 years of history to explore, amble through the twisting lanes filled with quaint shops and cafes, making sure to stop at the Dom St Petri and the UNESCO World Heritage listed Rathaus, or Town Hall, hailed as the finest in Europe. The world famous Beck's Beer is brewed here, and guided tours are offered to visitors year round. With so much to do, see, eat and drink, explore this guide to make the most of your trip to Bremen..

Welcome to Bristol! The unofficial Capital of the South West has an independent spirit and a great sense of fun. You’ll find lots to make you smile here, from street art tours and music festivals to night markets and boat bars. Then of course there’s the city’s iconic attractions - engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s ss Great Britain and the Clifton Suspension Bridge – and world-famous events – the International Balloon Fiesta and Bristol Harbour Festival. Oh, and have you met Pirate Pete?

Welcome to the “People’s Republic of Cork” - Ireland’s southernmost city. It’s a spirited, independent place, cosmopolitan and creative too. Cork is an ancient maritime port that’s spent centuries trading with – and being influenced by – the wider world. Whatever time of the year you visit you are guaranteed fun and craic.

In the Alpine foothills, just 50 km from Milan, Bergamo is the most striking city in Lombardy. Structured in two levels, the lower city is more modern and dynamic, whilst the famous ‘upper city’ boasts a stunning historic centre full of monuments and works of art. In the area around the city the Iseo Lake is well worth a visit, as is the sanctuary at Caravaggio and Crespi d’Adda – the most important company town in Italy, listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO.

Bratislava - the little big city. With fewer than half a million people, Bratislava ranks among Europe's most relaxed capitals, because everything is in close vicinity, reachable within a few minutes walking distance. It even has two capital cities nearby - Vienna (80km) and Budapest (200km) - reachable also by a boat on the river Danube. The city itself has its old-town charm, sophisticated restaurants, traditional pubs, good music ranging from jazz to opera, stylish people, and a human scale which means that as a visitor you will not spend half your day trekking in and out of underground stations or getting from the airport into town. All this with Central Europe's greatest river as a backdrop.

Crete, the largest Greek island, is washed by the waters of the eastern Mediterranean, and so enjoys a mild climate. An island where Myth meets History, where the age-old Cretan culture has its roots in the long-ago, where the sea meets the mountains and unspoiled nature coexists with modern tourist infrastructure. Crete has a thousand faces: one for each and every sort of traveller: the nature-lover, the explorer, the cosmopolitan, the lover of history and culture.

If you fancy a hand of cards, Altenburg is the place for you: playing cards has been practised here for over 500 years, and the national card game ’skat’ was first played here. The town has a history of 1000 years, and boasts an impressive castle set on a rocky outcrop. Buy collapsible top hats on Rossplan Square, and baptise your cards at the Skat fountain: it brings good luck!