A captivating contrast of old and new, Luxembourg City's past is celebrated by its World Heritage status, while its present sway is clear from its role as headquarters for several major European institutions. Small enough to explore on foot, this compact city offers a wealth of attractions, including dramatic promontory The Bock, underground passages in Petrusse Casemates, Palace of the Grand Dukes and the National Museum. Countless banks on Boulevard Royal, once a fortress moat, hint at the duchy's wealth.

Getting its name from the medieval Duchy of Limburg (now split among Holland, Belgium and Germany and the birthplace of the infamously pungent Limburger cheese), Limburg is the Netherlands’ southernmost region. Many of the area’s best attractions are concentrated in the capital of Maastricht, but other sights include the 12th-century Valkenburg castle ruins, the 17th-century Eijsden castle, the 20th-century Glaspaleis (built next to a medieval church at Heerlen), and De Meinweg National Park.