Aarhus

Denmark's second city traces its roots all the way back to the era of the Vikings. It sits at the end of its own fjord with a large natural harbor and historical port laden with half-timbered homes. But it's no museum piece, because there are arty craft workshops and cutting-edge avant-garde galleries here, which couple with a big student population and bohemian feel to create somewhere truly unique.

See what we mean as you hop between the mind-boggling installations and the Technicolor Rainbow Panorama of the Aarhus Art Museum (just ARoS for short), or as you delve into the architectural masterworks of the Moesgaard Museum. That all sits in curious harmony with the cobbled lanes and 1500s homes of Den Gamle By – the Old Town. Head there to transport yourself back centuries, with immersive exhibits that range from old woodworkers to 1920s recreations of the city.

Dining and drinking are also high on the list of things to do. Ask any Aarhus tour guide and they will tell you how their city has been awarded official EU designations for cooking and food. What's more, whole districts of coffee roasters and bagel shops, artisan pizzerias and microbreweries exist, drawing locals, students, and travelers to their cellars and al fresco sitting areas through both summer and winter.