Situated amidst the 74 Whitsunday Islands of the Great Barrier Reef, Hamilton Island offers an experience like no other: glorious weather, azure waters, brilliant beaches, wondrous coral reefs, unique flora and fauna, divine food and wines, and a buzzing calendar of special events. With its laid-back luxury and activities almost too numerous to mention, Hamilton is the next island in the Great Barrier Reef you should visit.

Drop anchor in Karlskrona, the city founded in 1680, when Charles XI decided to build the country's new naval base here! 340 years later, the naval base remains, the well-preserved architecture and city plan impressed Unesco, which gave the city World Heritage status in 1998. Wherever you go, you can see; magnificent churches and squares, parade streets and fortifications that attract visitors from all over the world. All this on a number of islands, in an archipelago that Unesco has designated as one of seven biosphere reserves in Sweden.

Luxembourg's modest 1000 square miles harbour an unlikely many treasures, from UNESCO-listed Medieval fortifications to prised wines of the Moselle, an animated arts scene, cutting-edge architectural creations, seats of prominent EU institutions and abundant natural pursuits, including skiing on the excellent slopes of northern Ardennes, hiking the Valley of Seven Castes or along the trails of Mullerthal that cut through peculiar sandstone rock formations, and soaking the hours away in the sparkling thermal pools of Mondorf-les-Bains.

One of Europe's Ancient capitals, Athens has undergone significant change in recent years. A modern metropolis with an old town feel, this is where antiquity meets futurism, and ancient monuments fuse with a trendy, cosmopolitan scene. Plaka neighbourhood is the heart of its historical centre, with labyrinthine streets leading to all manner of ancient wonders.

A gateway between the two nations of the Iberian peninsula, Badajoz lies as close to Lisbon as it does to Madrid or Seville, and the city draws on influences from both sides of the border, as well as from centuries of tumultuous history, to form its distinctive character. Winding medieval alleys and a skyline dotted with palace towers make the historic town a sight to behold, while the remnants of the majestic Alcazaba watch over the city as they have for centuries, once an impenetrable fortress that protected the area from countless invasions.