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Sicily sits at the center of the Mediterranean, seemingly kicked by the boot of Italy. The southeastern city of Siracusa at one time rivaled Athens in power, and still retains the slight aloofness that greatness brings. The exception to this is in December, when the whole island lets its hair down for the biggest religious holiday of the year: Santa Lucia day is for prayer, parties, and making best friends with strangers.

Antwerp is a city full of history; after all, it was founded in Roman times. The area is also known for the many artists who have been born and bred here. Since the city embraces artistic expression, and since it’s so old, the city boasts unparalleled access to cultural wonders.

Brussels is the capital of Belgium, the tiny country that is bordered by France, Germany and the Netherlands. Brussels is the powerhouse of political control in Europe and widely considered the unofficial capital of the European Union. It is also the capital of the world's chocolate-making industry.

Unlike its slightly friendlier sister city St Petersburg, Moscow is still very much the stronghold of political and military Russia. The most impressive sight in the city is Red Square. The name is not as many think, a reference to communism, but is instead a more poetic play on the double meaning of the Russian word for red, which can also mean 'beautiful'.

One of the first things you will notice when you arrive in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, is the smog. The air is so thick with fumes on a hot summer day that you can literally taste it. Perhaps this is why the locals love their ice cream so much.

The capital of Ireland is one of those rare places that has come into its own as a modern, thriving, European city without losing its old Irish charm. Home to Guinness Beer, the trendy Temple Bar district, a twelfth century castle, there are too many things to do and see in Dublin for just one trip.

Visitors to today's Bucharest will miss out on the chaotic, and expensive, entertainment of figuring out the 'foreigners prices' and the 'locals prices.' This was a time when visitors were cheerfully fleeced for every possible penny – to the point where a foreign-born spouse of a Romanian was charged double for the same bed in the same hotel on the same night. Welcome to Bucharest, a city of contrasts.

Manchester is a broad mix of styles, some of them pretty contradictory. From the working-class, brawling city of soccer to the dance music revolution that created the modern version of the Summer of Love in 1989's warehouses to today's eclectic mix of arts, culture, dirty alleyways and soccer, Manchester is a place you simply have to visit once in a lifetime.

Essen has – like so many German cities – seen an almost revolutionary turnaround from a grey, industrial blandness to a thriving commercial and cultural center. There are an abundance of attractions here, including casually mentioned works by Van Gogh at the Folkwang Museum, but one of the simplest, and most fun stops on the itinerary is to take a whirl around the yearly Essen On Ice public rink.

Edinburgh is the castle and comedy capital of Scotland, the land that is technically a part of the United Kingdom but in almost all ways retains its independent spirit and unique culture.

Kiev is the capital of beleaguered Ukraine. Unlike post-reunification Germany, Ukraine has not done so well after winning independence from the communist Soviet Union. This is still a hard country to live in, and despite the warm welcome given to visitors. Toughened travelers might find some fascinating spots though.

Porto is the off-the-beaten-path answer to it's more popular cousin of Lisbon, in Portugal. The entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the sheer ancient beauty of it's sleepy charms have bewitched more than a few vacationers into becoming expatriates.