Antwerp

Yes, it's true: there's a lot more to Belgian cities than Brussels and Bruges. As the country's second largest centre and Europe's second largest port, Antwerp is rammed to the rafters with history, architecture, art, fashion, and - wait for it - literally thousands of bars, pubs and roaring clubs.

The neighbouring Dutch are well aware of Antwerp's charms (they come here to party) but travellers from further afield often skip over it on the map without a second thought. Our tip: stop by for a visit before they realise their mistake and descend en masse.

Situated in Flanders (the northern, Flemish-speaking half of Belgium) Antwerp lies on the banks of the Scheldt River less than 50km from French-speaking Brussels. This proximity makes it an attractive stop on any Belgian or western European spree, but it's also an absorbing place just to visit for itself.

Impressive buildings it has aplenty, from the guildhalls and vast City Hall lining the triangular Great Market, to the Gothic Cathedral of Our Dear Lady and the extravagant Art Deco district of Cogels-Osylei.

Flemish master Pieter Paul Rubens lived and painted in Antwerp, leaving behind his house and studio (today the Rubenshuis museum) as well as a major collection of his works now housed in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, which also holds a vast hoard of other important Flemish and Belgian pieces.

Although there's plenty more to see and do - palaces, galleries, gardens, the port, more museums, shopping along The Meir, and so forth - be sure to take full advantage of the city's watering holes and outdoor cafés. The beer, of course, is fantastic - see if you can sample every brew on offer. Go on.