Germany

Berlin is Europe's capital of reinvention — a city shaped by its turbulent history and defined by its creative present. The Wall may be gone but its legacy is everywhere, from the East Side Gallery to the vibrant neighborhoods that grew up in its shadow. Cheap by Western European standards, with legendary nightlife and a thriving art scene.

Bavaria's capital — Oktoberfest, beer gardens, twin-towered Frauenkirche, and the starting line for the German Alps. Marienplatz's Glockenspiel rings at 11am, surfers ride a standing wave on the Eisbach in Englischer Garten, and Salzburg is 90 minutes east by train. BMW, Nymphenburg, Dachau Memorial, and 400 Bavarian breweries round out longer visits.