Germany

In focus: Bavaria

1. Wildlife: Walk across to the Pulver-Moos, a wildlife sanctuary and habitat for 60 bird species including corncrake, dipper, whinchat and snipe.

2. Railway: Take the funicular to the top of Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze, which offers a 360° panorama of endless peaks spanning Austria, Switzerland and Italy.

3. Caves and lakes: Venture down into the Bärenhöhle – Bear Cave – a 20m deep pit containing bone findings of rhinos, cave lions and bears from the Neolithic era to the Iron Age. For some open-water swimming, head to the warm waters of Lake Staffelsee at the foothills of the Bavarian Alps.

4. Castles: Standing aloft Neuschwanstein Castle at dawn is like something out of a fairytale. With its breathtaking setting on a rocky outcrop, this is one of our absolute must-sees.

5. Waterfalls: Travel up the Kolben chairlift to 1270m, from where there's a choice of routes up to the spectacular Sonnenberg ridge. Your route down passes a succession of crashing waterfalls and the reconstructed 19th-century whetstone mill at Schleifmühle.