You can make your way to Sweden’s 3rd largest city by train from anywhere in the country, even from Copenhagen airport in Denmark (by taking a train across the Øresund Bridge). You'll likely need a whole weekend here to see sights like the Turning Torso, Malmö Castle and Konsthall, the Malmö City Library, Lomma Beach, Gamla Väster, Möllevången, Steinstrand, and Lilla torg (among others!).

The Swedish University town of Lund is a favorite among students. Its close proximity to Malmö (and Copenhagen) make it a very accessible city that still possesses a charming, small town feel. Be sure to check out Lund University, Kulturen, Stadsparken, Lundagård, the All Saints Church, and Lund Cathedral on your visit to this city in Skåne county in the South of Sweden.

You can’t go see Kalmar without seeing the island of Öland next to it. Origins of this island date back to 8000 BC so the amount of history here is enormous. Rent a car and see places like Borgholm Castle, Solliden Palace, Långe Erik, Långe Jan, Lerkaka, Ismantorp Fortress, Eketorps Borg, Mysinge Hög, Köpingsvik Beach, and countless Rune stones (Runsten) from old Swedish lore.

This small Swedish town on the Southeast Coast is perfect for a weekend getaway. Take the train or rent a car to see Kalmar Castle, Kalmar Konstmuseum, Tripp Trapp Trull, Klapphuset, Laboritorieholmen, Svinö, and Kalmar Domkyrka. If you have even more time, take a day trip to the island of Öland just nearby.

Malta as a destination is the perfect combination of plentiful sunny beaches and lagoons, mixed with countless historical entities and gorgeous natural features. Take a few days and check out awesome places like the capital Valletta, Blue Grotto, Selmun Palace, Red Tower, Fort Manoel, Fort St. Angelo, Golden Bay, Mdina, Rabat, Marsamxett and Grand Harbours, the Dingli Cliffs and Fisherman's Cave.

Graz is the capital city of Styria, the heavy forest region on the Eastern edge of the Alps in Austria. A weekend break here was perfect to walk around the old town, and see places like the Kunsthaus, Eggenberg Palace, Schlossberg, the Graz Cathedral, and the Glockenspiel. I found Austrians to also be very warm and friendly during my stay and because of that, I would LOVE to return.

The Slovenian capital of Ljubljana is small with a population of just above a quarter million. But the city boasts a plethora of sights which include Ljubljana Castle and Cathedral, Triple Bridge, Metelkova Art Center, Republic and Congress Square, Cerkev Marijinega Oznanjenja, and Saints Cyril and Methodius Church, as well as plentiful green spaces like Tivoli Park!

Vilnius is rich in historical and cultural entities that serves as the capital of the Baltic State of Lithuania. My trip here took me to great places like St. Anne's Church, Vilnius Cathedral, the Three Crosses, Gediminas Castle Tower, Bastion Hill, Cathedral and Town Hall Squares, Pilies and Literatai Streets, and Missionary Gardens, just to name a few. This was my FAVORITE Baltic Capital!

The German capital of Berlin is great every time of year, but not time is better than during Christmas. Aside from some of the great landmarks of the city like Berliner Dom, Brandenburg, Gate, the Reichstag, East Side Gallery and Checkpoint Charlie, the many Christmas Markets (Christkindlmarkt) are in full swing during the month of December. Pack a coat and enjoy this great German city!

Kiev (or Kyiv), Ukraine surprised me in many ways. So many churches to see: St. Andrew's Church, St. Michael's Gold-domed Monastery, St. Sophia's Cathedral, and Kiev Pechersk Lavra. Great historical monuments like the Motherland Monument. And awesome neighborhoods like Vozdvyzhenka Barrio, Andriivs'kyi descent, and Park Landscape Alley. If you have the time, a day trip to Chernobyl is a must!

As the global center of banking and finance, it is quite fitting how Zürich has come to be known as one of the most expensive cities in the world. Despite that, you can manage to have a wonderful city break here without breaking the bank. The gorgeous churches of Fraumünster and Grossmünster sit just opposite one another across the Limmat River. Other notable attractions include Kirche Enge, the Swiss National Museum, the Botanical Garden, St. Peter’s Church, and Bahnhofstrasse (especially during Christmas time).

Sometimes when you plan a trip, you have to deal with a longer than normal layover in a different city. This can be a blessing! I have highlighted five such layovers you can build into your trip itinerary to get the most from your trip (KLM - Amsterdam, Emirates - Dubai, British Airways - London, Turkish Airlines - Istanbul, IcelandAir - Reykjavik).

This is London. It's huge and it's full of energy. There are so many things to see in this city. Whatever you decide to do, don't forget to see iconic places like St. Paul's Cathedral, the Shard, Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, Soho, Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Parliament, The Tate, Carnaby Street, Tower Bridge, the London Eye, and Westminster Abbey, just to name a few!

Head on over to Holland come see what makes Amsterdam such a special city. Get lost in the labyrinth of canals, lined by architecturally stunning buildings. Better yet, rent yourself a bike and head on over to great places like the Rijksmuseum, Vondelpark, Anne Frank Huis, Rembrandt Huis, the Red Light District, and the Heineken Brewery.

They say there are more than 10,000 waterfalls in Iceland. Though you won't have time to see all of them, here is a list of a few worth seeing: Hundafoss, Svartifoss, Svöðufoss, Hjalparfoss, Seljalandsfoss, Hengifoss, Öxarárfoss, Bruarfoss, Kirkjufellsfoss, Faxifoss, Haifoss, Goðafoss, Selfoss, Hraunfossar, Dettifoss, Klifbrekkufossar, Litlanessfoss, Skógafoss, Kolufoss, and Urriðafoss.

This road trip through the south coast of Iceland will take your breath away. Hire a car and set out from Reykjavik and stop at waterfalls like Seljalandfoss and Skógafoss, see glaciers at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon (near Vatnajökull National Park), discover ice caves at Hofn and Skaftafell, and marvel at the rock formations at Reynisdranger at Reynisfjara Beach, just outside of Vík í Mýrdal.

Start off your trip in this quaint Northern Polish city by walking along Dluga Targ, the main street and pass sights like Neptune's Fountain, St. Mary's Church, The Great Mill, and the Old Crane. Don't forget about the World War II Museum as well. If time permits, venture your way to the cities of Sopot and Gdnyia to complete your tour of the Tri-City Metropolitan Area.

There is more to Helsinki than it's gorgeous emerald-domed cathedral. This Scandinavia capital is replete with a ton of fantastic cafes that give great views of the capital countryside. The fortress of Suomenlinna is also just a ferry ride away and its solitude and quietness stands in great contrast to the city sounds just across the water.