GERMANY
Berlin is where the cool kids go, but Germany as a whole has become one of Europe’s best destinations for culture with some of the hippest historic environs around. The fact that tourism has increased dramatically in recent years, however, shouldn’t put you off. This is a big country with lots of room to roam, from the natural beauty and baroque palaces of Bavaria to ultrachic HafenCity in Hamburg and the coastal towns of the North Sea. One day you’ll see a medieval town, the next a cosmopolitan city — all easy to access by car or train in a few days. Berlin, of course, has it all: Hot new art galleries, history (note to self: the Brandenburg Gate), luxury hotels, and cutting-edge cuisine, fashion, design, and music. Young Germans are particularly friendly and eager to share their insider knowledge of what’s going on. Beyond the urban scene, smaller towns and cities are where you’ll find the most beautiful traditional German architecture, with cobble-stoned streets adding to the charm. The country’s temperate seasonal climate means everyone hits sidewalk cafes and music festivals (of which there are many) in the summer and hunkers down inside classic beerhalls with fireplaces by winter. Either way, it’s a win-win.