Rhine Grand Passage With Rhine Gorge

Capital of the Netherlands, the magical Venice of the North is famous for its dazzling Golden Age of power and wealth during the 16th and 17th centuries. Today, it is a bustling wonderland of things to see and do. No visit is complete without a cruise along the intricate network of more than 62 miles (100 km) of canals and time with the Dutch masters at the renowned Rijksmuseum. Other highlights include the Royal Palace, Anne Frank House, lavish 17th-century canal homes, Heineken Beer Experience, and the infamous red-light district!

Enkhuizen is a charming West Frisian city on the IJsselmeer. Like Amsterdam and Hoorn, it was one of the Dutch East India Company's premier harbor towns for overseas trade during the Dutch Golden Age. Today, Enkhuizen boasts one of the country's largest marinas; the Zuiderzee Museum, which chronicles the region's cultural and maritime history; and a host of outdoor activities, like biking, sailing, fishing, and kayaking.

While most European cities are a focus on the old and older, Lelystad in the central Netherlands was built in 1967 on reclaimed land, named for the engineer who made the reclamation possible. Today, the city is famous as the home of a replica of the 17th-century Batavia, the 17th-century flagship of the Dutch East India Company. Other highlights in Lelystad include the Aviodrome national aviation theme par, the Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve, and outdoor hiking, biking, and birdwatching in the nearby forests and wetlands.

One of the Netherlands' oldest cities, Nijmegen recently celebrated its 2,000th birthday! Located near the German border, it was the first Dutch city to fall into German hands during WWII and heavy bombings left Nijmegen with few remaining historic buildings. Among its treasures, though, are Valkhof Park, site of a palace ruin whose construction was started by Charlemagne in the 8th century; the 16-sided Sint Nicolaas Chapel; and De Waagh (weigh house), built in 1612 in the Dutch Renaissance style and still sporting a huge set of scales hanging inside the building.

Proud international hub of business and finance, Düsseldorf is ranked the sixth-most-livable city in the world, but it wasn't always this way. It started as the marshland home of Germanic tribes before small farming and fishing settlements began cropping up in the 7th century. Today's highlights include the harbor, Gothic St. Lambertus Church with its twisted tower, the palace tower, and Germany's oldest inland navigation museum. Meanwhile, the 200-year Altbier tradition makes a taste of the copper-colored brew feel like sipping a piece of history.

The electric atmosphere of 2,000-year-old Cologne is undeniable. Its strategic location on the Rhine quickly elevated the city as a vital trade center that grew into a hub of industry by the 19th century. Even plagues and wars couldn't damper Cologne's tenacious spirit. During WWII, nearly 90% of the city center was destroyed, but a massive rebuilding effort restored much of its cultural heritage, including its famous Gothic cathedral. Highlights include the four preserved gates in the city wall, and Kölsch—the beer that’s been brewed here since the 17th century!

Although Bonn has a fascinating legacy dating back to Roman times, its most noteworthy era was as capital of West Germany and then unified Germany from 1949 until 1999. During that time, the city transformed into a modern, cosmopolitan hub of government, and cultural districts. It did manage to preserve much of its historic character, though, with winding cobblestone streets and centuries-old churches and cathedrals. Important landmarks include the birthplace of composer Ludwig van Beethoven and Poppelsdorf Palace, now part of the University of Bonn.

Lying on the east bank of the Moselle River, Bernkastel charms with its striking half-timbered homes lining the medieval Market Square. Here, the narrow Spitzhäuschen (Pointed House) commands attention, as well as St. Michael's Fountain, which flows with wine during the annual fall wine fest; and Graach Gate, the only town gate still standing. For oenophiles, there is no shortage of local wineries—including the extremely steep vineyards of the Bernkasteler Doktor. The legend of just how the historic vineyard earned its doctor's degree is truly fascinating!

Deep in the heart of the Rhine Gorge is the romantic wine village of Rüdesheim, one of the river's most popular ports. Home to some of Germany's finest vineyards, Rüdesheim is particularly famous for its Riesling, as well as its signature coffee made with German brandy, whipped cream, and chocolate shavings. Highlight attractions include the cable car up to the Niederwald Monument, which commemorates the unification of Germany in 1871, and the atmospheric Drosselgasse, lined with gorgeous Old World architecture, boutiques, and countless cozy wine taverns.

Mainhattan—it's a nickname that Frankfurt am Main has earned as home to more than 300 international credit institutions, the European Central Bank, and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. But today's bustling city has humble roots reaching back over 2,000 years, and a turbulent fate during WWII that saw bombing of much of its historic architecture. Post-war, Frankfurt rebuilt and is now a blend of modern skyscrapers and rebuilt treasures.