San Teodoro is a typical seaside Sardinian town, with lovely beaches, great restaurants, and a giant flock of pink flamingos. Well, maybe those flamingos aren’t so typical… but they’re certainly distinctive! Visit the San Teodoro Lagoon between beach excursions to see them and other rare birds.

Ajaccio, Corsica's main city, is fun to visit at any time of year. But if you're a secret (or not-so-secret) Napoleon Bonaparte groupie, plan to be there on August 15 and join the celebration of the birthday of Ajaccio's most famous son. Casa Buonaparte, Napoleon's family home and birthplace, is worth a visit, as is the town cathedral. Or just enjoy the Corsican sun.

Brazil's capital was constructed between 1956 and 1960 on tropical savannah. It's a gem of modernist urban planning with stunning, world-renowned architecture sights. Cosmopolitan Brasilia celebrates a slew of festivals and is home to the National Museum and National Library of the Republic.

Sitting on the edge of the Baltic, the modern, cosmopolitan city of Helsinki is the World Design Capital for 2012. The beauty of the surrounding nature blends seamlessly with high-tech achievements and contemporary trends. Walking tours of the city centre show layers of history, while modern architecture and cutting-edge style stake the city's claim to the future. Choose Helsinki during its endless summer days or get adventurous on crisp, snowy winter nights.

On the banks of the Volga River, Kazan sits austerely, its cityscape a visual confection of architecture that somehow manages to be both playful and severe. No matter your spiritual inclination, you simply must visit the Temple of All Religions, a Technicolor cultural center built by artist Ildar Khanov. Though still a work in progress, the "temple" is a feast for the eyes—and the spirit.