Bremen

Bustling Bremen straddles the Weser River in northern Germany, and has 2 distinct sides to it. There's the new, an innovative science hub, and the old, a 1,200 year-old Hanseatic city, featuring a pretty old town with twisting lanes, medieval buildings, quaint shops and old cafes.

Of course, both have their attractions: you can get your thinking cap on at the interactive Universum Bremen science center, gawp at the ornate Gothic town hall, or explore St Peter's Cathedral, with its skyline-piercing twin spires and spooky mummy chamber. And don't forget to eat and drink lots too – Bremen's a foodie and beer enthusiast's paradise.