Europe

Seamlessly fusing the old and the new, Belgium stays in tune with the times while not letting go of its Medieval poise. Hip cafes and design boutiques mingle with UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the cities (most notably in the iconic Bruges, once world’s most important commercial hub), the North Sea offers up attractive sandy beaches, while the country’s south remains idyllically rural. Beer flows ceaselessly here, paired with the Belgian national dish “moules-frites” (mussels and fries), followed by a dessert of celebrated Belgian chocolates.

The country arguably most affected by Europe’s bitter 20th century bloodshed, Poland has by no means let go of its past, but strides steadfastly into the future. Warsaw is the ever-evolving, young capital, while Kraków is the former royal center containing fine examples of Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture. Pursuits in nature abound (the country is interspersed with hiking trails across hills and forests), the food is hearty and cheap, and the people tremendously welcoming.