Set along China’s southern coast in Fujian Province, Xiamen offers an intriguing mix of history, trade, and island life. Much of the city unfolds on a separate island, where centuries of maritime commerce shaped its character. European and Chinese traders once passed through its bustling ports, leaving traces in the architecture and cuisine. Today, Xiamen feels both dynamic and laid-back, with its lively markets, tree-lined streets, and calming seaside — perfect for exploring at your own pace.

A well preserved, colonnaded medieaval old town with its world renowned Golden Roof. Right next to this there's a brightly coloured, sparkling imperial palace, the Hofburg - baroque and monumental. A stone’s throw away is the Hofkirche, a court church containing larger-than-life bronze statues, the Schwarze Mander, standing guard around the (empty) tomb of Emperor Maximilian I., a truly breath-taking sight and unique in Europe. High above this superb architecture towers the Nordkette, a magnificent mountain range between 2300 and 2500 m.

Hectic, bustling, chaotic — Dhaka is an enormous city of endless possibilities with energy to spare. Though it can seem a bit overwhelming at first, visitors who take the time to explore will find the experience most rewarding. Delicious food, bustling markets, serene parks and gardens, lazy river cruises and death-defying rickshaw rides, fascinating museums, temples and mosques to ease the soul, and tantalising musical and dance performances; all this and more awaits the adventurous traveller who dares to venture into this unique city.

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, and the well-preserved architecture and city plan impressed Unesco, which gave Karlskrona 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 several islands in an archipelago that Unesco has designated as one of seven biosphere reserves in Sweden.

Few cities match the iconic status that Paris holds in the imagination of travellers. In fashion, gastronomy, and the arts, she is queen. As you wander through the different quartiers of the City of Light, her moods shift from gritty to sophisticated, from haute couture to underground. There is always something new to discover here beyond the legendary sights and museums. Paris has a way of getting under your skin, feeling instantly familiar as you lose yourself in her hypnotic streets and linger at her cafés.