Image one: St Basil's Cathedral, Moscow, Russia
Fancy a trip? Moscow has plenty to offer in terms of dining experiences, hip hotels, great bars, culture – even its ping-pong club has panache.
And this exciting vibe isn't confined to the capital, cities all over Russia are enjoying a creative boom. St Petersburg is a particular case in point, with its vibrant underground arts scene, or check out Tim Stanley's top 10 hidden cultural gems and discover a whole new side to the city.
Image two: One of Notre-Dame's gargoyles, Paris, France
Fancy a trip? Try one of the city's great African restaurants. Check out our city guide for tips on where to eat, drink, shop, visit and sleep and discover the impromptu live music scene.
Image three: Borgund Stave Church, Borgund, Norway
Fancy a trip? Scandinavia's TV crime drama wave has thrust the Nordic countries into the limelight. It's the home of skiing, so the powder's great for aficionados of the sport, and the Northern Lights are a favourite with tourists, but there's also a buzzing arts scene – check out Oslo's 24-hour Ekeberg Sculpture Park.
Image four: La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
This unfinished masterpiece was designed by local boy Antoni Gaudí, who left his architectural mark all over Catalonia's coastal capital.
Fancy a trip? If flying's not your bag, take the very civilised high-speed train, which gets to the city in 10 hours from London. Visit the museums, eat tapas, go clubbing and, when you've rambled La Rambla, rest your head in a hip hostel. Check out our city guide for recommendations.
Image five: Durham Cathedral, England
Fancy a trip? This university city proved a hit with Bill Bryson. Head to the cathedral to soak up the story of St Cuthbert, around whose bones the cathedral (and Durham) was built.
Image six: Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut by Le Corbusier, Ronchamp, France
Fancy a trip? Perched on a hill overlooking this western French town, Le Corbusier's modern masterpiece dominates the skyline. Check out our guide to France for places to visit, eat, drink and stay in the east of the country.
Image seven: Duomo, Milan, Italy
Fancy a trip? Home to designer boutiques and La Scala opera house, Milan also has plenty to offer in terms of culture, food, bars and chic hotels. And, as Francesca Dziadek discovered, Christmas is a great time to visit Italy's second largest city.
Image eight: Las Lajas Sanctuary, Ipiales, Colombia, South America
This church took more than 30 years to build and was finished in 1949 but there has been a shrine since the 1750s.
Fancy a trip? Follow the pilgrims to this ethically diverse south American country and enjoy its beaches, diverse ethnic culture or make your way to historic Mompós, and soak up its old-fashioned charm.
Image nine: The Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, Orange County, California, USA
Fancy a trip? The Crystal Cathedral is where you'll find the Hazel Wright Memorial organ, one of the largest musical instruments in the world. Pack your board and go surfing USA on one of the many perfect beaches in this sunny state, or get your boots on and take in the views at its numerous national parks.
Image 10: The Metropolitan Cathedral of Brasilia, Brazil
Fancy a trip? This ultra-modern place of worship was designed by Oscar Niemeyer and completed in 1970. Beat the World Cup crowds heading to Brazil and check out the beach culture of Bahia and Rio, with their golden sands, azure seas and bronzed bathers. Or hit the jungle trail on an ethical eco-trek through the Amazon.
