Germany

Munich in 2015 was beer gardens, pretzels the size of your head and a city that is a lot more fun than German stereotypes would have you believe. I walked along the Isar in winter, went through the big museums and, as a football guy, made the pilgrimage to the Allianz Arena, which looks like a giant inflatable cushion and makes you want to stand in front of it with your arms up.

I also went out to the Dachau memorial, just outside the city. Walking through the barracks, the camp model and the crematorium is something I don't think anyone should skip if they're nearby. It is quiet and heavy and changes the way you look at the rest of the trip. Germany doesn't hide from that part of its history, and I respect that a lot. Then you go back to the city, and the beer gardens feel different, and they should.