Nestled on the beautiful Sicilian coast, Taormina is most famous for the 3rd-century Teatro Antico di Taormina, the world's most dramatically situated Greek theater. Nearby cliffs drop to the sea forming coves with sandy beaches. The city center is filled with 15th-century stone palaces and churches, and pedestrian-only Corso Umberto is the spot for people watching, shopping, fine dining or a gelato. Strung along the bay below Taormina is Giardini Naxos, a picturesque seaside resort on the site of the most ancient Greek colony in Sicily.

Choral music rings out from old Lutheran churches in this magnificently restored Baltic city. Built by German merchants who grew rich on the flourishing Hanseatic trade, Tallinn is one of the best-preserved capitals in Europe. Its magnificent Town Hall is the oldest city hall in Northern Europe and the only one preserved in Gothic style. But two centuries of czarist rule and nearly half a century of Soviet domination added a distinct Russian flavor to its Germanic heritage.

Founded in 1600 when the first European fur-trading post was established in North America, Tadoussac lies at the confluence of the Saguenay and St. Lawrence rivers, where cold fresh water and warmer salt water mix to create rich marine life. An abundance of krill makes the area very attractive to whales, and boat excursions to view the massive mammals are one of the town’s biggest attractions. Still surrounded by relative wilderness, Tadoussac Bay is stunning. Sea kayaking in the Saguenay–St.

This small town of well-preserved, 150-year-old wooden warehouses, shops and homes clustered around a deep natural harbor is the jumping off point for touring and hiking the picturesque peninsula of Snæfellsnes. The town seems frozen in time, as it is home to few people and has no traffic or pollution. Visit the Volcano Museum, a tribute to native son and volcanologist Haraldur Sigurdsson, who studied volcanoes around the world for forty years. The unique Library of Water Museum features melted glaciers from the island’s five largest icecaps.

The approach to Sweden’s capital city of Stockholm, through the untouched nature of the archipelago, is breathtaking. Spread over 14 islands, Stockholm is called “The City That Floats on Water.” Not surprisingly, 57 bridges traverse the city. Start your tour at Djurgården, an island that was once the hunting grounds of the king and is now home to the fascinating Vasa Museum, housing the world’s only preserved 17th-century warship. Stockholm has 70 museums, including the world’s oldest open-air museum, the Skansen.

A jetsetter haven, St. Tropez is best known for its designer shopping, drink-and-dance-‘til-dawn nightlife, and ritzy beach clubs like Le Club 55 and Nikki Beach. After all, this is where French screen goddess Brigitte Bardot popularized the bikini in the 1950s, and to this day Bardot makes her home here. But another side of this once humble fishing village can be found in the hills far above the beachfront. Walk the narrow cobblestone streets and visit the 17th-century citadel for stunning views of the port.

Guernsey is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, and one of the Channel Islands in the English Channel close to the French coast. The handsome town of Regency-style buildings is a short walk up from the pier and a delight to explore. Visit Castle Cornet, a fortress that has guarded the harbor for eight centuries. After visiting the five museums housed within, you’ll become an expert on Guernsey history. Another popular attraction is Hauteville House, the former home of the exiled 19th-century French literary giant and author of Les Miserables, Victor Hugo.