Founded in 1565 by the Order of St John as a refuge for soldiers returning from the Crusades, Valletta is now the capital of Malta and a piece of living history. With an unsurpassed collection of original Baroque architecture, fortified city walls overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, and the spectacular Co-Cathedral of St John, which features intricately carved stone vaults and a famed painting by Caravaggio, it is no wonder that this smallest of European capital cities is a world heritage site.

One of the three principal islands of the Maltese archipelago, the island of Malta is the largest of the chain. Its capital Valletta, a lively, bustling city with many buildings dating back to the 16th century, teems with cathedrals, palaces and forts. The impressive Grand Harbour offers a dramatic arrival. The top archaeological attraction is the UNESCO-designated Hypogeum temple ruins, a macabre, 5400-square-foot underground necropolis and the world's only underground prehistoric temple.

Graceful Mdina, the stately town known as the Silent City, holds court from the southwest corner of the captivating island of Malta. The commanding medieval Old City perches on its rocky promontory, its fortified bastions looming above the azure waters of the Mediterranean. This enchanting Maltese city offers a warren of narrow streets, populated by churches, palaces and gracious houses, punctuated by large squares and delightfully free of cars in its UNESCO-designated ancient quarters.

Perched on a hilltop in northern Malta, laid-back Mellieħa has a more local feel than many of the island's more developed southern resort towns. You'll find Malta's longest beach here, the white-sand Mellieħa (or Għadira) Bay.

One of southeastern Sicily’s UNESCO-listed baroque cities, Noto is famed for its opulent architecture and surfeit of beauty. Its 18th-century cathedral is a local highlight, as is Caffe Sicilia, which is rumored to make some of the best gelato in all of Italy.

Three miles of twisty mountain roads up from Amalfi, the gorgeous resort of Ravello has been attracting celebrities for centuries, including Richard Wagner, Greta Garbo, Gore Vidal and D.H. Lawrence, who wrote Lady Chatterley’s Lover here. Ravello’s Duomo (Cathedral) and Villa Cimbrone (both 11th century) and Villa Rufolo (13th century) are all magnificent sights. The annual summer Ravello Festival began as a salute to Wagner’s music, but now showcases a wide range of music and arts.

There are 2,000 years of history in Cologne, and visitors here will find everything from Roman towers to Gothic churches to fine examples of modern architecture. Cologne has a variety of museums, too—check out the Museum of Applied Art, the Museum Ludwig and, if you have a sweet tooth, the Chocolate Museum. Be forewarned, though—the gift shop at the latter will utterly ruin your diet.

Dubai is a destination that mixes modern culture with history, adventure with world-class shopping and entertainment. Catch a show at the Dubai Opera, see downtown from atop the Burj Khalifa and spend an afternoon along Dubai Creek exploring the gold, textile and spice souks. If you’re looking for thrills, you can float above the desert dunes in a hot air balloon, climb aboard a high-speed ride at IMG Worlds of Adventure or skydive over the Palm Jumeirah.