Istanbul is one of the truly great romantic cities. Istanbul is home to a layering of civilization on civilization, of empire built on empire. A stroll through this historic city will reveal ancient Roman hippodromes, peristyles, and aqueducts, the greatest excesses of the Byzantine Empire and the mystique and power of the Ottoman Empire. In this sprawling, continent-spanning city you can tramp the streets where crusaders and janissaries once marched; admire mosques that are the most sublime architectural expressions of Islamic piety; peer into the sultan's harem; and hunt for bargains in the Kapali Çarsi.

Athens was named after Athena the goddess of wisdom. Scented with mythology, Athens is a sociable city enlivened by outdoor cafes, pedestrian streets, parks, gardens and urban eccentrics. Almost every house and apartment has a balcony bulging with geraniums, and many of the city's streets and squares are fringed with orange trees. Even though you've probably come here to see the "glory that was Greece," perhaps best symbolized by the Parthenon and the superb statues and vases in the National Archaeological Museum, your best moments may come sitting at a small cafe, sipping a tiny cup of the sweet coffee.

Barcelona - Spain's second city - is always on the biting edge of fashion, architecture, food, style, music and good times. Barcelona is one of the most dynamic and exciting cities on the western Mediterranean seaboard. Walk its narrow streets and wonderful plazas and discover its magic: stalls full of books, birds and flowers. Explore its new modern squares, designed by leading artists such as Miró and Barceló and every visitor will understand how Barcelona has been transformed into one of the most moderns and active cities in Europe.

Corfu is an Ionian Island located between mainland Greece and Italy, especially popular with British tourists. The interior of the island has lush vegetation and gentle slopes, modest villages and farms, and countless olive and fruit trees. Corfu is steeped in history and it is perennially connected to the history of Greece starting from Greek mythology. Its history is full of battles and conquests. The island of Corfu is a good starting point for a trip to Ionian. This beautiful island is home to the Ionian University.

Surnamed "Pearl of the Adriatic," Dubrovnik is one of the most beautiful cities on the Croatian coast. Many buildings in the old city center testify of its glorious past and its Venetian influence. The walls of Dubrovnik girdle a perfectly preserved complex of public and private, sacral and secular buildings representing all periods of the city's history, beginning with its founding in the 7th century. Nowadays, Dubrovnik is a tranquil touristic and cultural center hosting many musical, art and theater events year round.

Part of the Cyclades islands, Mykonos is a top European summer destination, offering magnificent beaches and scuba diving centers. The main town in the island is Hora, an architectural landmark where you can admire the nice Alefkandra area, called the "Little Venice". You can enjoy careless walks on the maze of alleys, as motorized traffic is prohibited in Hora. The nightlife is an essential Mykonian attraction, made of famous clubs and taverns, like the beach bars of Paradise and Paranga.

Rome is Italy's treasure, packed with masterpieces from more than two millennia of artistic achievement. Modern Rome has one foot in the past, one in the present. Find a cafe at summer twilight and watch the shades of pink turn to gold and copper before night finally falls. That's when another Rome comes alive; restaurants and cafes grow more animated and after dinner you can have a gelato (or an espresso in winter) or stroll by the fountains or through Piazza Navona, and the night is yours.

This volcanic archipelago is among the most spectacular worldwide. The largest island is Thera, host of a giant central lagoon surrounded by high cliffs on three sides and the small island Therasia on the fourth. A magnificent view is offered by Santorini cities, from the top of the cliff over the entire lagoon, which is in fact a caldera left by a huge volcanic eruption 3500 years ago. A legend relates this eruption to the lost Atlantis. A real wonder of Santorini is the town of Akrotiri, covered by lava, but incredibly preserved under it.

City of music, cafes, waltzes, parks, pastries, and wine - that's Vienna in a nutshell. Vienna doesn't hurry, and, as you saunter through its stately streets, marveling at its Baroque palaces, neither should you. Explore churches filled with statues of golden saints and pink-cheeked cherubs, wander through treasure-packed museums, or while away an afternoon in one of those countless meccas of mocha (the inevitable cafés), you will feel lapped in lashings of rich, delicious, whipped cream - the beloved Schlagobers that garnishes most Viennese pastries.