One of the most photogenic cities in Europe, Budapest boasts a dramatic skyline with notable landmarks including the magnificent Parliament Building guarding the riverside and an assortment of remarkable basilicas. Divided by the mighty River Danube, Budapest is split into two neighbourhoods with distinct personalities: Buda with its steep hills and sweeping panoramas and Pest with its café culture and buzzing bar scene. It is famed for its Art Nouveau architecture and fascinating history, along with its poignant memories, such as the Shoes on the Danube.

Poised in the shadow of the snow-draped Rhaetian Alps and nestled between steep-wooded hills, the spectacular surroundings of Lake Como welcome you with open arms. Also known as Lario, Lake Como is a lake of glacial origin in Lombardo and is the third-largest lake in Italy. Favoured by many an A-List celebrity, Lake Como is an upscale resort area known for its dramatic scenery – set against the foothills of the Alps, beautiful villages where you can enjoy a coffee alfresco, and extravagant villas.

Consider some of Europe’s most unforgettable scenery and it’s likely you’ll spot it from your window on the Bernina Express. Snaking through the Swiss Alps, the train links the verdant pastures of Chur with the Italian Lakes, navigating bridges, tunnels and viaducts with the most spellbinding views of alpine wonderland. The route takes in one of Europe’s highest railways, seemingly touchingly close to the shimmering glaciers. Choose to travel in the spring months for velvety green landscapes, summer for golden grasses and the bluest skies, autumn for burnished treetops, and the winter for the most scenic landscapes of all, a land of sparkling snow and ice.

Discover the beauty of Vienna, Austria’s cultured capital, awash with grand imperial palaces and a treasure trove of museums, filled with masterpieces. Take your pick of palaces; from the Hofburg Palace where the Lipizzaner stallions perform their classical dressage at the Spanish Riding School to the beautiful Schonbrunn Palace with its stunning park and gardens; or coffee houses stacked high with extraordinary cakes and patisseries. Rich in musical heritage – Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, Strauss, Brahm and Mahler all found inspiration in Vienna and here, music still plays an important role in everyday life.