Dusseldorf

Here’s a recipe: Take a bit of Milan's booming fashion scene, part of Berlin's bohemian nightlife, a dash of pioneering industry, some Rhineland tradition, and top it all off with a mix of half-timbered buildings and uber-cool modern towers – you're getting close to Dusseldorf. From the centuries-old Altstadt and its cobbled lanes lined with beer bars, all the way to the vibrant riverside proms and the leafy streets of Baroque-themed Carlstadt, there's lots to get stuck into here.

Yep, Dusseldorf tour guides will welcome you to one of the most vibrant, creative, and cutting-edge cities in Germany – nay, Europe as a whole. Most journeys start around the Burgplatz square, from where a web of tight-knit medieval alleys lit by classic gaslights spreads out, wiggling and winding past churches and fountains. Soon, that all gives way to the tenements of Flingern, a district that's transforming itself into a beatnik mecca of vintage clothes stores and free-trade cafes. Or, you will happen upon the Media Harbor, with its crazy Gehry buildings and sleek-looking party spots. There are also the K20 and 21 for the art enthusaiasts, aflush with museums housing 20th century art.

Dusseldorf is also a fine base for exploring the Rhine. Meandering to the north and south, it's the anchor of a region that hosts treasures like the UNESCO-tagged Augustusburg Palace, elegant Bonn, and further south, winelands and castles.