10 Nights Europe

Boasting a historical dockyard housing Henry VIII's Mary Rose and Lord Nelson's HMS Victory, Portsmouth has maritime heritage written all over it. Museums aside, the city still lives and breathes the sea?best exemplified in its nautical spirit, cobbled historic district, and sail-shaped Spinnaker Tower viewpoint.

The capital and cultural centre of the Netherlands is dually considered a gracious, formal cultural centre and the most offbeat metropolis in the world. Some of the best art in the world, including that by Van Gogh, is showcased in over 40 fine museums. Its attractive canals and gabled houses are a popular subject for local burgeoning painters.

The capital and cultural centre of the Netherlands is dually considered a gracious, formal cultural centre and the most offbeat metropolis in the world. Some of the best art in the world, including that by Van Gogh, is showcased in over 40 fine museums. Its attractive canals and gabled houses are a popular subject for local burgeoning painters.

The capital of Scotland is a prosperous, sophisticated and cultured city that regularly tops the list as Britain's best place to live. The looming Edinburgh Castle, built stop of an ancient volcano, punctuates the medieval Old Town. Arthur's Seat, an 800-foot mountain of bright green and yellow furze, accentuates the Old Town.

Situated on Scotland's rugged east coast in the heart of the Highlands, Invergordon is one of the finest natural harbours in Britain. Ashore, tourists are fascinated by the infamous Loch Ness, the romantic castles of Cawdor, Dunrobin and Brodie, and the nostalgic Ord Distillery.

For a city of 18,000 residents, Akureyri packs a lively punch. Situated at the head of Eyjafjordur, Icelands longest fjord, the first thing youll notice is the backdrop of dramatic snow-covered mountains. Take a stroll through the Old Town and admire the 19th-century turf houses. Sample some authentic Icelandic cuisine, or warm up in the steaming Akureyri Thermal Pool. Around the corner, youll find Akureyris basalt church, Akureyrarkirkja, with its striking, futuristic facade. Iceland cruises give you access to stroll through Lystigardurinn, the northernmost botanical garden in the world, and breathe in the fresh air and the scent of wild arctic flowers.

Ísafjörður is a town in the Westfjords region of northwest Iceland. Its known for its dramatic landscapes. The old town has wooden houses with corrugated tin roofs built by fishing merchants in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Westfjords Heritage Museum has exhibits on the town's maritime history, including a collection of old fishing boats. The old hospital, now a cultural center, contains archives and photography

Reykjavik is the beating heart of Iceland. The city was founded in 1786, but its also the site of Icelands first permanent settlement, dating back to 874 AD. Check out the Settlement Exhibition, a combination archaeological ruin and museum based around a 10th-century longhouse, where interactive technology and archaeology reveal historical Iceland. The church Hallgrimskirkja dominates the skyline ? admire its distinctive Expressionist-style architecture designed to mirror the nearby mountains and glaciers during your Iceland cruise. Need relaxation of the highest order? Take the sub-hour drive to the world-famous Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa surrounded by volcanic vistas