NEUR

Perhaps no single edifice has had more impact on a city than the Guggenheim Museum of Bilbao. Designed by renowned architect Franck Gehry and opened in 1997, the massive, billowing, titanium-clad structure reflects the city’s revitalized relationship with the river that runs through it, and the modern collection within the museum is as impressive as the exterior. Other worthwhile museums include the Museo de Bellas Artes and the Euskal Museoa, devoted to Basque culture.

This seaside resort in French Basque Country lies only 15 miles from the Spanish border. Long popular with surfers, Biarritz now offers stylish boutiques and sophisticated restaurants to complement its beach bars. Perhaps French fashion designer Coco Chanel foresaw the future when she opened her first shop here in 1915. Visit the city’s most famous landmark, Hotel du Palais, built by Napoleon III as a summer home for his bride, Empress Eugenie. Just 20 minutes from Biarritz, the resort town of St. Jean de Luz features beautiful 17th-century architecture, including the Church of St.

Belle Île means “beautiful isle,” and indeed it is. Located off the coast of the Brittany region of France, the island boasts 60 gorgeous beaches and a rugged coastline. Worth a visit is Citadelle Vauban, a star-shaped fortress in the town of Le Palais that was built by the famous military engineer in the 18th century. Further afield on the island’s northern tip, the fort at Pointe des Poulains houses a museum dedicated to 19th-century actress Sarah Bernhardt, who made it her home in 1894.

Lanzarote's bustling capital of Arrecife is named for the black reefs behind which boats once hid from pirates. The dark, barren hills and vast craters of the island’s spectacular volcanic terrain can be explored by bus or 4x4, on foot or by camel, and nearby Timanfaya National Park is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The island is also renowned for its stellar beaches. Manmade attractions include Castillo de San Gabriel, on a tiny islet facing town, and Castillo de San Jose, home to the contemporary art museum.

A diamond center, a magnet for fashionistas, a European cultural hub and mecca for brewmeisters – Antwerp is a multifaceted jewel. Meet the Rubens, van Dycks and van Eycks that fill its world-class museums. Admire the two oldest printing presses in the world at the sublime Museum Plantin-Moretus, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Wander through one of the world’s most beautiful train stations and down the nave of the Antwerp Cathedral, where religious paintings by Rubens and other Flemish masters are on display.

The Dutch capital is one of Europe’s best-preserved cities – with 60 miles of canals and nearly 7,000 buildings dating from the 18th century or earlier. A good way to see the narrow shop houses is on a canal cruise. Consider a canal tour that includes the poignant Anne Frank House on the Prinsengracht Canal. Amsterdam is an art lover’s city with over 70 museums, the best known being the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum, considered a national treasure for its collection of masterworks by Rembrandt, Vermeer and others.

Akureyri is Iceland’s second largest city and is known as the “Capital of the North,” but with a population of approximately 18,000, Akureyri feels more like a town than a city. Only 62 miles from the Arctic Circle, it surprisingly has one of warmest climates in the country. Enjoy a stroll through the charming streets, especially Hafnarstræti, a pedestrian-friendly street filled with quaint coffee shops and boutiques selling locally made wares. Also in town is a lovely botanical garden near the majestic Akureyri Church, the city’s best-known landmark.