With its ancient churches, numerous bookstores and tempting food shops, Poitiers is one of my favourite French cities. Its medieval centre is a maze of winding streets filled with charming timber-clad buildings.
Poitiers
Jordan travel guide
Thanks to its breathtaking scenery, long history and scrumptious food, there's more to this Middle Eastern gem than its most famous site, the ancient city of Petra.
Turin: Cathedral and the Royal Palace
Famous for its sports cars, chocolate and the Turin Shroud, this former Italian capital boasts charming squares, tree-lined avenues and an Alpine backdrop.
Milan
Italy's economic capital is probably best known for its bi-annual fashion week, but there's much more to this stylish city than big name designer outlets and shopping.
Sintra: Castelo dos Mouros
Built by the Moors in the 10th century, this sprawling, striking stone fortress, which sits high on a hill overlooking Sintra, is the epitome of a formidable defensive structure.
Sintra: Pena Palace
High in the hills overlooking Sintra, you'll find the kitsch, brightly painted Pena Palace. It's a magnificent, romantic building surrounded by 85 hectares of gardens.
Sintra: Quinta da Regaleira
Nestled in the lush green hills surrounding Sintra, the extraordinary Quinta da Regaleira is a stately home quite unlike any other.
Sintra: The National Palace
Marked by its distinctive conical chimneys, this palace in the centre of Sintra became a royal residence in the 12th century when King Afonso Henriques conquered Lisbon.
Lisbon: Belém
With two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a palace, a museum and a café famous for its pastel de nata, the western suburb of Belém is well worth visiting.
Lisbon: Mosteiro dos Jeronimos
The magnificent monastery is one of Lisbon's most popular landmarks. Affiliated with the Order of St Jerome, it's the resting place of Portuguese monarchs and poets, as well as the legendary explorer Vasco de Gama.
Cahors
The ancient capital of the Lot region is home to well-preserved medieval buildings, a double-domed cathedral and a striking bridge.
Lisbon travel guide
Historic sites, interesting museums, spectacular day trips and mouthwatering food – Portugal's cool, laid-back capital has it all.
Little Old World 