Hamburg

Hamburg is a maze of canals and bridges, making a break there feel more like a holiday in Venice than one in north Germany.

It is the country's second biggest city, and is buzzing with trendy boutiques crammed with arch-trendy clothes, progressive theatres and art museums.

Its canals and the River Elbe are great to lounge by and walk along, while Elbe Beach is a great sandy and forested haven away from the city.

Hamburg's nightlife is also renowned, with a fun night out on the Reeperbahn guaranteed provided you know where to look and where to avoid. It is a young city, thanks to it being a focal point for Germany's media, and there is a distinctly international flavour there too, with many Europeans being drawn to its cosmopolitan lifestyle.