Dortmund

Dortmund is a hi-tech hub with a rich past, packed with captivating museums, tempting restaurants, and a lively nightlife. It's probably most famous for beer and soccer, and you can visit many quality breweries as well as the Westfalen Stadium – home to Borussia Dortmand, the city's Bundesliga team – and the German Soccer Museum.

For shopaholics, the main draw will be Westenhellweg, one of Germany's best shopping streets, while culture vultures will want to visit the art-filled Museum Ostwall, which resides with the iconic Dortmund U-Tower. Offering a natural oasis, Westfalen Park boasts sprawling lush lawns, a rosarium with 1000s of fragrant species, and the pointy Florian Tower, which features an observation platform.