Краткое описание: Laid out over a series of volcanic hills and with its jagged skyline topped by the craggy castle, few European cities can boast Edinburgh’s dramatic impact. The cobbled medieval closes, steep stairways and hidden courtyards of the labyrinthine Old Town, along with the wide thoroughfares and grand Neoclassical facades of the eighteenth-century New Town, together constitute a World Heritage Site - a historic treasure that’s also the heart of the living, working city.

Краткое описание: Although a compact city, more than a quarter of the Republic of Ireland’s population of almost four million lives within Dublin’s boundaries, a figure swelled by more than a million tourist arrivals each year. While it was for centuries the fulcrum of Ireland’s fight for independence from Britain, today celebrated in the numerous memorials that pay homage to the revolutionary struggle, the city has developed into a thriving modern metropolis, which embraced the European ideal far more readily than anyone ever expected.

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The lush, sun-speckled Dominican Republic is the most popular tourist destination in the Caribbean. Prime beachfront stretches along the coast of the verdant island it shares with Haiti, some of it lined with megaresorts and other facilities to handle the crowds, but much of it still remote and unspoiled. Short, inexpensive flights from the US coupled with cheap all-inclusive packages from Europe - added to the low cost of living in the country - make it an easy choice for a carefree, tropical holiday.

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The most unfairly maligned stretch of coast in Europe, the Costa Brava has long been derided as a package holiday, chips-and-sangria destination, an image based solely on two or three towns at its southernmost tip. The truth is that this diverse region matches extraordinary natural beauty with a rich cultural heritage, an accumulated legacy of centuries of invading armies that shows itself in a tapestry of walled towns, fortified farmhouses and ancient hilltop villages.

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In 1896 the novelist and playwright Arnold Bennett complained, “The difference between Bruges and other cities is that in the latter you look about for the picturesque, while in Bruges, assailed on every side by the picturesque, you look curiously for the unpicturesque, and don’t find it easily.”

Perhaps so, but for the modern palate, battered by postwar development, Bruges’ blend of antique architectural styles, from tiny brick cottages to gracious Georgian mansions, is a welcome relief - and retreat.

Краткое описание: Pulling in Caribbean first-timers and experienced travellers in equal measure, Barbados is justifiably one of the most popular islands in the region. Certain pleasures are quite obvious – the delightful climate, the gorgeous blue sea and brilliant white sandy beaches – but an engaging blend of cultures and a balanced approach to development help set it apart from similar sun-drenched destinations.

Краткое описание: In most minds, Athens is a city that happened two-and-a-half thousand years ago, and it’s true that even now that past looms large – literally, in the shape of the mighty Acropolis that dominates almost every view, as well as in every visitor’s itinerary. Yet Athens is also home to over four million people, more than a third of the Greek population and is very much a city for the twenty-first century, one that has transformed itself for the 2004 Olympics.

Краткое описание: Little known just a generation ago, tiny Antigua has established itself as one of the Caribbean’s more popular destinations. The island is dotted with superb stretches of white sand, many of which – despite the upswing in tourism and development that has given birth to dozens of excellent restaurants and hotels, and a handful of all-inclusives – remain relatively uncrowded. If you’re looking for a place to crash out on a beach for a week or two, you’ll find this laidback, welcoming place hard to beat.

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Amsterdam is the perfect city for a short visit or a weekend break. It’s easy on the eye, with plenty (but not too much) to see; it’s compact enough to explore mainly on foot; just about everyone speaks good-to-fluent English, and more often than not more than a smattering of French and German as well; and, last but not least, it’s a city that likes to party.

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With some of Europe’s best sandy beaches, idyllic rocky coves, fresh seafood and picturesque fishing villages, the Algarve is justifiably the most popular region in Portugal for both overseas visitors and the Portuguese themselves. It’s a year-round destination, with bright, mild winters and long, balmy summers; it’s rare for the sun not to make an appearance even in midwinter, and a local Algarve saying maintains that “Saturday without sun is like Sunday without a church service”.