The old Hanseatic port city of Hamburg lies in northern Germany near the border of Denmark. A free city-state for much of its existence, it was once one of the biggest ports in the world, but struggled during the Cold War because of its proximity to East Germany. In the center of town is the old warehouse district, which is a free zone and exempt from customs and duties. This area is now being redeveloped into more modern complexes that intermingle with the refurbished brick warehouses lining the canals. A short distance away is the center of downtown Hamburg. Here there is a public square in front of the massive city hall with stairs leading to water. It is said that Hamburg has more bridges than Amsterdam or Venice, as evident by the numerous canals throughout the city. On the main banks of the Elbe river is the city’s passenger docks, where cruise liners and tourist boats pick up and drop off people. The other side of the river is filled with shipping cranes and industrial complexes. While not naturally beautiful, the citizens of Hamburg like this view as it represents the prosperity of their city.

The port city of Antalya is the eighth largest city in Turkey and has a long history dating back to days of the Greeks and Romans. The old town is nestled on the side of a hill overlooking a small inlet of the Mediterranean Sea. Twisty alleys zig zag up and down the hill that is lined with old buildings, cafes, and mosques. At the top of the hill are several towers and public squares with giant sculptures commemorating famous Turks. Circling the old town is a large road that leads into the surrounding mountains. There are a number of elevated walkways that let you cross from the old town to the new one, complete with outdoor escalators. The newer part of the city extends in all directions with large boulevards lined with apartment buildings spotted with satellite dishes. The north side of the city is perched on a cliff overlooking the sea, with a number of fancy resorts, making it a destination for international jet setters.

The Latvian capital lies on the banks of the river Daugava, just a short way from the Baltic Sea. The city has a small medieval center filled with churches, classical architecture, and cobblestone streets throughout. In the center of the city, there are a couple of large churches with single towers that rise up out of the city. Here you can go to the top of the towers for a fantastic view of the city, surrounding suburbs, and the river. In the old town, part of a fortification wall still stands while the rest of the wall has been torn down to make way for new buildings. Nearby is Riga’s history museum where you can learn about the city’s turbulent history, having had invaders come and go throughout the years.

Located at the entrance of the Baltic Sea, the capital of Denmark has a long history of dominating the waters of the north. The central train station is a main hub for the city connecting buses, metro, and trains to the city, the rest of denmark, and to the mainlands of Europe. The center of town is a mix of old buildings with bronzed rooftops and modern square apartment blocks. Surrounding the center are large square bodies of water that were originally built to protect the city and later supplied the citizens with water. The roads that pass through these waters lead to the different districts of Copenhagen with names that are quite difficult to pronounce. The town is intersected by canals that flow by government buildings, the stock market, and old churches, all impressive buildings of old northern European architecture. Close by is the picturesque Nyhavn, an old canal with a variety of 18th century colored buildings, bars, restaurants, large boats, and yachts. This is a centerpiece of the city and was likely a sight for sore eyes of sailors and pirates returning to town after sailing voyages.

The German capital has experienced a turbulent history in the 20th century, from being defeated in World War I as the capital of the Prussian Empire, experiencing the rise and fall of the Nazi’s in World War II, being divided into two separate cities during the Cold War, to eventually regaining its role as the capital of a reunified Germany. Down in the east part of the city and former center of the pre-war Berlin is Alexanderplatz, a large square surrounded by old monuments, communist era apartment blocks, and shopping centers. The Fernsehturm, a large television tower with a giant silver ball a the top, is a dominant fixture of the skyline and can be spotted in the distance from much of the city. Old pink piping still stretches around parts of the East, a remnant of the sewer system during the Cold War and awaits integration onto the new Berlin.

Originating at the Brandenberg Gate, the large boulevard, Unter den Linden, is lined with rebuilt museums and churches that were constructed in the grand days of the old city. It has been said that Berlin is a city that has always been on the verge of Becoming but has never quite arrived. On the Spree river in the center of town, next to the brand new train station, is the rebuilt Reichstag and government complex that now seats the current leaders of Germany. As a grand symbolism of the reunited country, this area lies where The Wall ran through and had separated the former East and West.

The capital of France, know as the “City of Lights,” sits on the banks of the river Seine. In the heart of the city is a small island on the river where the famous church Notre Dame stands. Walking down the river you’ll find stalls and stalls of booksellers doing business out of green-painted sidewalk stands. Soon you come to the intersection of Saint-Michel, where busy cafes are filled with espresso sipping Parisians who sit underneath old style French buildings topped with classical metal roofs. This intersection is a main hub to the city with Parisians, tourists, and vagrants either hurrying somewhere, standing still to get the perfect photo, or just waiting for someone’s spare change.

When you continue down the road, you come to the Avenue des Champs-Elysees with its grand promenade and stately structures. Eventually you find the Arc de Triomphe which was built to commemorate French victories on the battlefields of Europe. Down the way a bit more and just out of the center is Paris’s ultra modern business district, La Defense, with towering buildings of modern french architecture. The centerpiece of this district, the Grand Arche, is a gigantic square glass arch that must have been built to commemorate French victory on the financial battlefields.

The capital of Portugal is on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, on the tip of a peninsula at the mouth of the Tagus River. Down by the water is the Praca do Comercio, a large square surrounded by yellow and white buildings, and is quite an impressive entrance for a city. Giant archways lead you into the downtown area of straight streets and large buildings filled with shops and businesses. On the right side of downtown is a large hill with an old school castle on top, keeping a watchful eye over the city. On the left side is the Bairro Alto, where an outdoor elevator and cable car will take you up to the hill where the party happens. Lisbon is an old town with great architecture and historic churches throughout the hills. Just passed the Bairro Alto are stunning views of the bay with the red bridge named after a date, 25 de Abril, spanning the water to the south. Lisbon is known for its patterned stone ground work, with funky waves, stars, and other shapes.

The capital of Sweden is on the western shores of the Baltic Sea, spread across a multitude of islands that seem to go on for a while. The Swedish parliament building and the royal castle are on a small island, Gamla Stan, in the middle of everything. Close by is the main train station, where it seems most roads and tracks lead into and through this part of town. Venturing around town, you cross many bridges over water, roads, and train tracks that connect Stockholm’s hilltop neighborhoods. On one side of the city is the large port area, surrounded by the old town, some parks, and cliffs with massive cruise ships parked in front. Stockhom is a fine example of a city that combines classical Nordic architecture with modern Scandinavian design.