One of the greatest pleasures of a holiday is having the time to sit and read a book. One of the other greatest pleasures of a holiday is having the opportunity to discover the city which so inspired the author. Combine Barcelona and The Shadow of the Wind for a literary tour of epic proportions.

It may be a sprawling city of soaring skyscrapers and pearlescent mosques, tiptoeing further into the dunes like some ironic human equivalent of desertification, but it’s more than a buzzing metropolis in a sandpit: it’s home.

Malta has always been a bit of a hidden gem, an archipelago paradise in the middle of the Mediterranean. Travellers in the know laud its coastlines, crystal clear waters and diving potential, history, and cuisine; really, it’s no surprise people are flocking to Malta.

With such a lot of world to see and your flight paid by the company, it’s almost a crime to not take advantage of the free travel and see the city while you’re there

Home of the day trip, Nice has plenty to keep you falling in love with the city every time you return. Well-practiced in catering to the droves of tourists it receives every year, this seaside city offers an endless supply of accommodation, dining and entertainment.

If Europe has one thing, it’s beautiful cities. Rolling countryside gives way to imposing architecture, history, culture and that indescribable vibe only European cities can offer. While there’s plenty to discover—made ever easier by cheap flights and interrailing—there are six classic destinations that belong on any traveller’s list.