With a wide sandy beach, big hotels, and handy proximity to Colombo, Negombo is one of Sri Lanka’s most popular resorts. Beyond its sands lies an interesting mix: a colonial-built canal and crumbled fort; a lively fish market, traditional fishing communities, and a wildlife-rich lagoon.

Visitors are drawn to the golden sand beaches of Wadduwa, on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. The lush beauty of coconut plantations gives Wadduwa an undiscovered, exotic feel—perfect for someone seeking a tranquil vacation in Sri Lanka.

Famous for its long sandy beach, west-coast Hikkaduwa also boasts good waves for surfers, reefs for snorkelers and divers, plus sand-side hotels, restaurants, and bars. Add an island temple, tsunami museum, and turtle sanctuary, and you have one of Sri Lanka’s best beach-holiday haunts.

Rising around a scenic lake, UNESCO-listed Kandy is home to sacred landmarks, landscaped gardens, and cultural museums. Beyond the city, a cloudy forest and tropical plantations roll across the mountain slopes providing plenty of hiking and wildlife-watching opportunities, while upscale resorts line the Mahaweli River.

Perched on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast, Galle wears its history on its sleeve. Windswept beaches and nodding palms surround its colonial-era showpiece, a 16th-century Portuguese-built fort, while the rest of the city is trimmed with Dutch-style houses, quirky shops, whitewashed mansions, and heritage museums.

Smack in the center of Romania is Brasov, a harmonious mash-up of traditional charm and modern city life. Ride a double-decker bus around the city to get your bearings and see the sites whiz by, then hop off to squeeze down Strada Sforii, the narrowest street in Europe. Take a day trip to see the fortified church of Prejmer, the Libearty brown bear sanctuary, and the deliciously ominous Bran Castle, otherwise known as Dracula’s Castle.

It’s nicknamed the Eternal City for a reason. In Rome, you can drink from a street fountain fed by an ancient aqueduct. Or see the same profile on a statue in the Capitoline Museum and the guy making your cappuccino. (Which, of course, you know never to order after 11 am.) Rome is also a city of contrasts—what other place on earth could be home to both the Vatican and La Dolce Vita?