Nuremberg

From the 11th century to the beginnings of Nazi Germany, Nuremberg has a fascinating history, and much of it can be revisited in the city's many museums. Today, the northern Bavarian sprawl is best known for its spirited nightlife, hearty restaurants, and its biggest draw: the annual Christmas market.

With its stone towers, fortifications, and quaint Bavarian abodes, Altstadt is where you'll find the city's star attractions. Most of them are centered around the Hauptmarkt, the city's central square, and include an opulent gilded fountain known as the Schoner Brunnen, and the Frauenkirche – a brooding, 14th-century Gothic church.