Credited as being the first planned city in the United States, Georgia’s sultry city of Savannah is positioned on a bluff above the Savannah River, a few miles upstream from the Atlantic Ocean state coastline. This Southern belle is full of charm, and her old-fashioned hospitality and small-town atmosphere invite visitors to stroll back in time, right to 1733 when the city was first founded by British General James Oglethorpe with the permission of native Yamacraw Indian chief Tomo-chi-chi.

With one of the country’s largest preserved historical urban areas, one can’t help but experience a sense of this city’s colourful past, as you stroll past grandiose mansions and Spanish moss-covered oaks, sipping mint juleps. The city’s legacy as a major player in the cotton industry is still evident in the Savannah Cotton Exchange, and the Pink House, dating back to 1789 and home to Georgia’s first bank also bears testimony to the economic prosperity of the region. Apart from hundreds of architecturally significant buildings Savannah is also not lacking in restaurants, shops (particularly fine antique stores), Civil War forts, museums, galleries, quaint squares and lovely beaches, all earning it the nickname, ‘the Hostess City of the South’.

Strategically positioned on the north of the Georgia coastline, Savannah serves as an excellent starting point for exploring the scenic barrier islands, resort towns and inlets found along the coast. Of course it is also imperative one try the region’s world-famous shrimp that is caught and cooked in a variety of ways.

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Greece’s second largest city was once the realm of Alexander the Great and was named after his sister, Thessaloniki, when it was founded in 316 BC. The capital of Macedonia in the north, the city sits in a bowl framed by low hills, facing a bay on the Gulf Thermaikos. Despite being one of the oldest cities in Europe, today Thessaloniki is lively and modern, and with its wide avenues, parks and squares, is thought to be much more attractive than Athens.

The main squares are Platia Elefterias and Platia Aristotelous, both on the waterfront and alive with cafes and restaurants, children playing or people strolling. Thessaloniki, having been under Ottoman rule for long periods in its history, has been left a legacy of numerous Byzantine churches, and museums housing Byzantine art and artefacts. The city also has a heritage of early Christian communities, particularly the renowned monasteries of nearby Mount Athos; and a rich Jewish tradition, evident in the synagogues and Jewish Museum.

In 1917, most of the city was destroyed in a massive fire, and rebuilt later. This is not a high-rise city, though, because the area is prone to earthquakes and regulations have been imposed preventing the building of skyscrapers. This means that residents and visitors alike can enjoy the seaside situation of Thessaloniki, with views aplenty from the city streets.

There is a lot to see and do in Thessaloniki besides exploring the ruins, including visits to the Turkish Baths, central market, and cafes and restaurants of Aristotelous Square. Thessaloniki also has a vibrant nightlife, with a number of lively bars and clubs.

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Frankfurt Travel Guide

Known as Germany’s financial powerhouse, Frankfurt is nevertheless packed with cultural and historical attractions and has a lively nightlife and restaurant scene; Frankfurt is a bustling transport hub which visitors can use as a springboard for the rest of Germany, but this vibrant city may well persuade travellers to linger:

Although millions travel through Frankfurt’s international airport, and many foreigners visit frequently on business, the city is often neglected as a tourist destination. A holiday in Frankfurt can be a very rewarding experience for those who take the time to explore. In this proud, well-organised city visitors will find some superb shopping, marvellous museums, interesting historic sites, world-class opera and jazz and a few really charming neighbourhoods, like Nordend and Bockenheim. For foodies there is plenty of great cuisine to sample in Frankfurt’s celebrated restaurants and for those who enjoy historical sightseeing there are gems like the Eschenheimer Turm, a 15th-century tower once part of the city’s fortifications. Frankfurt is also a surprisingly good city to explore if you’re travelling with kids as there are lots of fun attractions, like the Frankfurt Zoo, to keep young minds amused.

Best time to visit Frankfurt

Those planning to travel to Frankfurt for pleasure should check the events calendar and perhaps avoid coinciding with one of the many large international trade fairs and expos that are held in the city, for this makes affordable hotel rooms and restaurant bookings hard to find. Weather-wise, summer (June to August) is the best time to holiday in Frankfurt, when the weather is sunny and warm, with the occasional wet day. Read more on Frankfurt’s Climate and Weather.

What to see in Frankfurt

-Explore the impressive Historical Museum to learn about Frankfurt’s cultural history.

-Visit the charmingly restored Goethe-Haus, the Baroque home of world-famous author Goethe.

-Marvel at the Gothic splendour of St Bartholomew Cathedral.

-See the Stadel Gallery, Frankfurt’s most celebrated art gallery.

What to do in Frankfurt

-Wander through the different plant kingdoms of the beautiful Frankfurt Botanical Gardens.

-Take the kids to the enormous Senckenberg Museum of Natural History to admire the dinosaurs.

-Stroll through the halls of the Liebieghaus, Frankfurt’s castle-like Museum of Sculpture.

-Take an excursion to Wiesbaden, Germany’s most popular spa resort.

Beyond Frankfurt

Frankfurt is well-situated and well-equipped to be a doorway to the rest of Germany. There are some picturesque villages very nearby which make for fun daytrips – possibly the most popular of these is the historic university town of Heidelberg. Frankfurt is also a gateway to the Fairy Tale Road, the path of the much-loved storytellers the Brothers Grimm, and the Romantic Road which winds through some of Germany’s most charming landmarks. Mainz, the 2,000-year old capital of the Rhineland, is also close by.

Getting there

The enormous Frankfurt International Airport serves more than 50 million passengers annually and is one of Europe’s busiest airports. It is situated eight miles (13km) southwest of the city centre. Alternatively, there is a small commercial airport, Frankfurt Hahn Airport, located 75 miles (120km) from the city, which is convenient for those travelling to Mainz, Heidelburg or Koblenz (although there is easy public transport into Frankfurt). Get more information on Airports in Frankfurt.

Did you know?

-Frankfurt is said to spend more money on the arts than any other city in Europe.

-About one in every four inhabitants of the city is a foreigner.

-Frankfurt is celebrated as the jazz capital of Europe.

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Hamburg Travel Guide

Hamburg is a watery city, geographically, historically and atmospherically. It is Germany’s second largest city and lies on the Elbe River, for centuries a major port and trading centre for central Europe. The city has a network of canals that rival those of Venice (it is said to have more bridges than Venice) and is centred on two artificial lakes that take up about eight percent of its total area. Probably because of all the water, Hamburg is also known as Germany’s ‘green city’, sporting something like 1,400 parks and gardens. Modern buildings sit cheek by jowl with historic Baroque and Renaissance architecture, and by night the neon lights dazzle all-night revellers, particularly in the city’s notorious red light district, the Reeperbahn.

Hamburg was founded in 810 by Charlemagne and earned its place in history by becoming the most strategic port in the Hanseatic League of North German cities, which controlled trade in the Baltic and North Seas between the 13th and 15th centuries. A great fire destroyed much of the city in 1842, and a century later World War II bombing raids again laid it waste, but Hamburg bounced back with style, thanks to the wealth garnered from its position as a trading centre. The city’s tourist board claims that Hamburg is now home to more millionaires per capita than any other city in Europe.

Most of the sights of interest to tourists in the city are centred on its maritime traditions, particularly in the harbour area, where the Warehouse District (Alster Arkaden) has been transformed into an entertaining destination offering a variety of shops, cafes and restaurants. Hamburg also has a number of lovely gardens and pretty churches and cathedrals, though there is little genuinely old architecture left in the old town. There are also a number of museums dedicated to history, art, communications, ethnology, and even spices. Further afield, Hamburg is the gateway to the seaside and spa resorts of the Baltic and North Sea coastline.

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Munich Travel Guide

Munich is a city unlike any other in Germany and is the heart of Bavarian Gemutlichkeit, the joy to be found in companionship. This beguiling city is also home to enough cultural and historical attractions to captivate even the most experienced travellers:

‘We’re here for the beer!’ could well be the motto of those who holiday in Munich, a perennial favourite with tourists, which hosts the world-famous Oktoberfest beer festival every year. There are many more reasons to travel to Munich, however, besides sampling its renowned brews and enjoying its friendly beer halls, oompah bands and buxom barmaids. The nightlife in Munich will delight year-round but it isn’t all this historic city has going for it.

The Bavarian city epitomises traditional charm, in some respects to excess, and there is a lot of old-fashioned hospitality going around. But there is also a sophisticated side to Munich, which has numerous impressive museums and art galleries as well as designer stores and world-class restaurants. The city boasts some breath-taking historic architecture and has no shortage of delights for culture vultures and those who enjoy traditional sightseeing. Those who like to buy their way through new cities will also be very happy with the shopping in Munich.

Best time to visit Munich

The busiest time for travel to Munich is during late September for the beer festival, which attracts about six million people every year, but weather-wise the peak tourist season is summer (June to August), when temperatures are warm and mild, though there are frequent thunderstorms. Winters are cold and snowy. The city’s proximity to the Alps makes the weather rather unpredictable. Read more on Munich’s Climate and Weather.

What to see in Munich

-Visit the impressive Alte Pinakothek Gallery to see the work of the old masters.

-See the Hall of Beauties and stroll the lovely grounds of the Nymphenburg Palace.

-Test your knowledge of science and technology at the Deutsches Museum.

-Admire the historic buildings of Marienplatz.

What to do in Munich

-Enjoy a meal in the revolving restaurant at Munich’s Olympic Park.

-Take a sobering tour of the Dachau Memorial Site, the first Nazi ‘death camp’.

-Arrange an excursion to the charming alpine village of Berchtesgaden.

-Explore the beautiful scenery and picturesque towns of the Romantic Road.

Beyond Munich

Munich is a great base for exploring the Bavarian Alps, a paradise for hikers, climbers and skiers. Resorts like Garmisch-Partenkirchen are extremely popular with winter sports enthusiasts, and the striking scenery of lake-side villages like Chiemsee attracts many visitors. Munich is also a natural doorway to the Romantic Road, which winds past fairy-tale villages and castles up to Frankfurt. Stuttgart, which has numerous attractions of its own, is also close to Munich.

Getting there

The Munich International Airport is situated 18 miles (29km) northeast of the centre of Munich, and frequent commuter trains service the airport. Get more information on Airports in Munich.

Did you know?

-80 percent of Munich’s old town centre was destroyed during the war, but much of it has been lovingly restored.

-Munich was founded in 1158 on the lucrative trade route for salt.

-Munich consistently tops opinion polls on the best places to live in Germany.

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Stuttgart Travel Guide

Situated among the rolling hills of Germany’s premiere wine-growing region, Stuttgart is capital of the state of Baden-Wurttemberg in southwestern Germany. Dotted with beautiful buildings, impressive parks, and fantastic art museums, this modern city is a good touristic stopover due to its undulating wine estates, annual beer festival, mineral spa culture and acclaimed ballet, opera and philharmonic companies.

Charming olde worlde quarters like the Bohnenviertel (Bean District), with its sidewalk cafés and cobbled streets, meet the modern pedestrianised precincts of contemporary Stuttgart, boasting the latest in European trends, such as Königstrasse, one of the longest shopping streets in Germany. A big city with a small-town atmosphere, visitors will find the bustling art nouveau Market Hall transports them to former, countrified years. Nowadays, this is where organic fruit and vegetables, aromatic cheeses and fresh fish from the North Sea can be found. Another must for any visitor to this city is a trip to one of Stuttgart’s reputed mineral baths, be it the modern and luxurious Mineralbad Cannstatt or the Mineral Bath Berg, which exudes a wistful fifties charm.

In beautiful weather, view the city from atop the Fernsehturm (Television Tower), a 712ft (217m) tower with an observation deck and restaurant at the pinnacle, where on a clear day you can see the Black Forest; head to Schlossplatz, a famous landmark and meeting place for locals and visitors, its green lawns littered with youths soaking up the summer sunshine; or find your own sanctuary in the dappled shade of the ‘Green U’ park, a five mile (8km) natural haven in the city centre.

These features sometimes come as a surprise to the first time visitor to Stuttgart, as people tend to associate the city with its reputation as the ‘cradle of the automobile’. Both the motorbike and four-wheel car were invented in Stuttgart and one of its most famous attractions is the enormous Mercedes-Benz Museum, with scores of immaculate vehicles on permanent display, including their new luxury models, racing cars and reputed antiques. If that doesn’t whet your appetite, head across town to the Porsche Museum, also a delight for petrol heads.

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