Lausanne was once an intellectual capital, attracting such great thinkers as Rousseau and Voltaire. Today it is a haven for lovers of water skiing, swimming and sailing. The International Olympic Committee even has its headquarters here. The town's history is evident, though, in its medieval cathedral, the museums of the Palais de Rumine, and Ouchy, the port where Lord Byron wrote "The Prisoner of Chillon" and the Treaty of Lausanne was ratified. For great views, hike up to the Signal de Sauvabelin.

In Silkeborg, you can customize whatever kind of getaway suits you. Spend a week with the family working on a local farm or have a splash in the pristine Almindsø Lake. Try your hand at orienteering, or push it to the max while cycling or rambling along a stunning countryside trail. Or, simply float along on cloud nine, spending some restorative time in on of the area's many "bathing lakes." An annual jazz festival, regular fireworks parties and a passel of theme parks spice up the Scandanavian serenity.