European Crown Jewels - 5148A

Copenhagen, situated on two islands, is the capital and largest city in Denmark. It is perhaps best known for being the final resting place of the famous author Hans Christian Andersen, and also being one of the world’s most environmentally friendly cities. It has a very high quality of life. With many colourful buildings dating back to the early 18th century, medieval cobbled streets and canals just a stone's throw away from ultra-modern waterfront architecture, and a street plan that dates back to the Middle Ages, it simply captures the imagination of all visitors. Read more about Copenhagen, Denmark

Fredericia is a town located in Fredericia municipality on the eastern part of the Jutland peninsula of Denmark, in a sub-region known locally as ‘The Triangle’. The town is one of Denmark's largest traffic hubs. It is also a major barracks, home to the Royal Danish Army's Signals Regiment that is located at Rye's Barracks and Bulow's Barracks. It takes about one hour to stroll through the centuries-old fortress, surrounded with old cannons as well as historical statues commemorating battles past. Read more about Fredericia, Denmark

Aalborg is located in the north of Jutland, Denmark. The local tourist board calls it the "little Paris of the North". Although this may seem a bit far-fetched, the location by the Limfjord is truly superb, and the town is well worth a visit. From Aalborg, it is not far to the white beaches of the North Sea, to the forest of Rold, the lovely Rebild Hills, and the slopes of the Jutlandic Ridge. Read more about Aalborg, Denmark

Invergordon is a deepwater port near the entrance of Cromarty Firth, "the seaway to the Scottish Highlands." Inverness, where shopping is great and visitors can see tartans being made, is the capital of the Highlands, and is a half an hour drive from Invergordon. Loch Ness, home of the elusive monster, is just a few kilometres beyond. The town of Invergordon itself is small and modern, and now specialises in the construction of large offshore wind turbines. Invergordon also has a grain whisky distillery that produces many blended whiskies. Read more about Invergordon, Great Britain

Ullapool is a small village on the shores of Loch Broom in the Highlands of Scotland, about an hour north of Inverness. It is the largest settlement for many miles around, and is a major tourist destination of Scotland. The North Atlantic Drift passes by Ullapool, bringing mild temperatures. The town of 1500 with its white houses is neatly set out along the shores of the Loch, with colourful boats in its small fishing marina, and holiday camping ground along the water front. Read more about Ullapool, Great Britain

The resort town of Oban, also well known as ‘The Gateway to the Isles’, occupies a beautiful setting in the Firth of Lorn in Scotland, UK. Climb the surrounding hills to absorb the panoramic views of the mountains, lochs and islands that have captivated artists, authors, composers, and poets for centuries. The scenery is as striking now as it was over 600 years ago when Dunollie Castle, now a ruined heap, stood sentinel over the narrow entrance to the sheltered bay. Visitors can’t miss McCaig’s Tower - the Coliseum lookalike - that dominates the skyline and offers the best views of the harbour. Read more about Oban, Great Britain

Belfast is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, and is currently experiencing a successful tourist boom. One of the most visited cities in the UK, Belfast has plenty of attractions and is a good base from which to visit virtually anywhere else in the North. In the city centre concentrate on the glories resulting from the Industrial Revolution – grandiose architecture and magnificent Victorian pubs – and the rejuvenated area from Ann Street to Donegall Street now known as the Cathedral quarter. Among the fascinating places that tourists visit is the Belfast Castle with its restaurants, small heritage centre, and beautiful views of the whole city. Read more about Belfast, Great Britain

Greenock is a town located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland, that forms part of a continuous urban area with Gourock to the west and Port Glasgow to the east. Evidence of the wealth generated in its early days can be seen in the large villas of Greenock's west end, one-time home to ship owners, industrialists, and investors. The area is fronted by the 1.6 km sweep of the Esplanade with its views across the Clyde to Kilcreggan. Built on a hillside near the centre of Greenock, the Cemetery with historic grave stones in a lovely setting provides some of the fascinating history belonging to the people buried there. Read more about Greenock, Great Britain

Liverpool lies along the Mersey Estuary in England, UK. Not only is it extremely well known for the Beatles and other groups from the Merseybeat era, it is also home to the oldest Black African and Chinese communities in Europe. In addition, several areas of the city have been granted World Heritage Site status. Most visitors make sure to visit Paul McCartney's birthplace and other famous haunts of the Beatles by taking a nostalgic tour during their stay. Read more about Liverpool, Great Britain

Portland Harbour, dating back for thousands of years, is located beside the Isle of Portland off Dorset on the south coast of England. It is home to one of the largest man-made harbours in the world. Today the harbour is a popular location for wind surfing, diving and sailing, and it hosted most sailing events in the 2012 Olympic Games. It is also world-renowned for its Portland-stone that is quarried here, and has been used world-wide for many well-known buildings, such as the United Nations Building in New York. Read more about Portland, Great Britain

Dover, the world’s busiest ferry port, is located in the county of Kent, England, at the extreme SE corner of Britain. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, 35 km away across the Straits of Dover. Possibly best known for its lyrically famous ‘White Cliffs’, archaeological finds have revealed that the area has always been a focus for peoples entering and leaving Britain, and this continues to this day. This goes some way to explaining why this region in Kent has more than its fair share of castles, stately homes and museums than any other coastal region in the UK. Read more about Dover, Great Britain

Originally a dam in the river Amstel, Amsterdam today is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, as engineered dams, sea gates, and the 19-mile dyke walling out the Zuider Zee prevent this low-lying country from being reclaimed by the North Sea. Interestingly, the 17th century canals of Amsterdam located in the heart of the city have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The main tourist attractions are undoubtedly the famous Museums such as the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum. However, there is much more to be seen and appreciated. Read more about Amsterdam, Netherlands

In the region of Flanders the city of Antwerp, situated on the eastern bank of the river Scheldt and joined to the North Sea by an estuary, is a major destination of Belgium. It claims to be the ‘world's leading diamond city’ and it has every right to do so, as more than 70% of all diamonds are traded here. Due to its long and culturally rich history, the city houses buildings built in varying historical periods with an interesting variety of architectural designs. Indeed, the port itself has scenic historic walking areas that are well worth investigating. Read more about Antwerp, Belgium

The port city of Zeebrugge is a harbour town at the western end of the Belgian coast and a subdivision of the city of Bruges - one of the best preserved cities in Europe - for which it is the modern port. The new port has reinvigorated the city as an art and tourist centre for northern Europe. Upon visiting Bruges you will immediately notice that this city has always carefully cherished its architectural and artistic treasures from the past, but what makes Bruges so unique though is the way it deals with this past today. There is something for everybody. Read more about Zeebrugge, Belgium

Cherbourg is a coast town of Normandy, France, on the English Channel. Of special note is that Cherbourg was the first stop of the Titanic after leaving England. Also of note are the massive man-made sea walls and the ever-busy piers. While many passengers visit the Normandy beaches, the Saire Valley, Cap de la Hague, or Mont Saint Michel from Cherbourg, a 15 minute walk or short ride in a shuttle bus takes visitors to the township that is best known for its aquarium, parks and museums. Read more about Cherbourg, France

Rouen lies on the River Seine in northern France and is the capital city of Normandy. It is possibly best known for being home to the site of Joan of Arc’s pyre where she was burnt in 1431, and which is now marked by the modern church of Saint Joan of Arc, situated in an historical square with buildings of fascinating architectural styles. Another very famous attraction is the Notre Dame Cathedral situated at the centre of the old city, with its unique Butter Tower and fabulous Gothic architecture. Read more about Rouen, France

Rouen lies on the River Seine in northern France and is the capital city of Normandy. It is possibly best known for being home to the site of Joan of Arc’s pyre where she was burnt in 1431, and which is now marked by the modern church of Saint Joan of Arc, situated in an historical square with buildings of fascinating architectural styles. Another very famous attraction is the Notre Dame Cathedral situated at the centre of the old city, with its unique Butter Tower and fabulous Gothic architecture. Read more about Rouen, France

Located in the scenic estuary of the Douro River with swathes of vineyards clinging to the hills, Oporto - aka Porto - is Portugal's second largest metropolis, and one of Europe's most charismatic cities. The city is home to monuments by leading world architects from the past and the present, and some fantastic baroque carvings. Then there’s the world-famous sweet wine, and Ribeira - Its historical centre - that was awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO. Understandably, it is considered the economic and cultural heart of the entire region. Read more about Oporto, Portugal

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, lies in the western Iberian Peninsula aside the Atlantic Ocean and the Tagus River. As one of the oldest cities in the world, it is rich in Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, Modern and Post-Modern constructions. The city is also crossed by historical boulevards and monuments along the main thoroughfares. The Lisbon Coast hosts some fine sandy beaches at Cascais and Estoril and fishing villages like Sesimbra. Read more about Lisbon, Portugal

Melilla is one of the two Spanish enclaves that lies on the coast of Morocco. It has been in Spanish hands since the late 15th century. The town is a convenient entry point into Morocco, with ferries to Malaga and Merida. Among the major sights are the Medina Sidonia and the municipal museum. Read more about Mellila, Spain

Cartagena is a Mediterranean city and naval station located in the Region of Murcia, SE Spain. The rich Carthaginian heritage extends as far as the Sea Wall, built by Charles III in the 18th century, and which defines the old quarter. Overlooking the Mediterranean there are two elements that are clearly connected with the sea: the prototype of the submarine by the inventor Isaac Peral; and the National Museum of Maritime Archaeology. The museum is home to the National Centre of Underwater Archaeological Research that highlights aspects of naval construction from ancient times. Read more about Cartagena, Spain

Valencia city, the administrative capital of the Valencian community and the centre of the region of L’Horta, is situated in the centre of the Spanish Mediterranean coastline. The Old City of Valencia, with its monuments, museums, and gardens, is a major tourist attraction. Here one finds the Gothic building of La Lonja that has been declared by UNESCO as a universal heritage monument. Built between 1482 and 1548, this late Valencian Gothic style building is possibly its major attraction.The Cathedral of Valencia, with its amazing Apostles Door that is situated in the centre of the ancient Roman city, where some believe the temple of Diana once stood, is also well worth visiting. Read more about Valencia, Spain

Barcelona, located in Catalonia Spain, is Europe's largest metropolis on the Mediterranean coast, and one of the world’s major global cities. Today, Barcelona balances itself on the cutting edge of architecture, intellectual life, and style. Indeed Barcelona won the 1999 RIBA Royal Gold Medal for its architecture, the first time that the winner has been a city, and not an individual architect. The ‘Gothic Quarter’ is the centre of the old city of Barcelona, where many of the buildings date as far back as the Roman settlement. Read more about Barcelona, Spain