Paris, France
The Louvre (metro: Palais Royal) and the Musee d'Orsay (metro: Musee d'Orsay) are tops for art. Visits to Sacre-Coeur cathedral and the artists' district of Montmartre (metro: Anvers) are also popuar choices. Or, go to St Michel metro and walk along the Seine, crossing to Ile de la Cite and Notre Dame cathedral. Then walk to Saint Germain des Pres and treat yourself to tea at the Café Deux Magots.

Brussels, Belgium
Eurostar whisks you into Brussels' central Gare du Midi in two hours 20 minutes or flights take just one hour from London. Head for Grand Place, a cobbled square surrounded by historic buildings, pavement cafes and fine restaurants. Shopping in Brussels is great - chocolates, beer and lace are top buys. The main shopping areas are the old centre and the Sablon and Ave Louise areas in the Upper Town.

Oslo, Norway
Just over two hours by air from London. Most of Oslo's sights, including the harbour front, are within a 15-minute walk of the main street, Karl Johans Gate, which runs from the train station to the Royal Palace. Take a 10-minute ferry ride to the Bygdoy peninsula to visit attractions including an open-air folk museum, the Viking Ship Museum and the Kon-Tiki Museum.

Nice, France
It may seem a long way to the Cote d'Azur but it's only two hours by plane, and a shuttle bus runs into the centre of Nice every half-hour. Once you're there, it's a very walkable town. Stroll along the Promenade des Anglais for a view of the sweeping bay immortalised by artists such as the Fauvist Raoul Dufy. Explore the Old Town for arts and crafts and the gorgeous daily flower market. It also has a wealth of restaurants and cafes.

Munich, Germany
Just a one hour 45 minute flight from London. Once in the city, explore on foot or use the underground or U-bahn to get around. On a day visit, your best bet is a walk around the old town, or Aldstadt, with its historic buildings and Marienplatz at its centre - pause for a coffee at one of the pavement cafes and watch the street performers. If you want to buy art, there are some 300 galleries in Munich.

Copenhagen, Denmark
In just under two hours by air, you can be in the Danish capital. The Stroget is the main shopping area, with plenty of places to shop and eat - try a genuine Danish pastry or a smorrebrod - a traditional open sandwich. The area north of the Stroget is the Latin Quarter, with lots of cafes and secondhand bookshops - climb the rundetarn there for great views of the city.

Amsterdam, Holland
The Dutch capital is just a one-hour flight from London. Central Amsterdam lies within the canal belt - a great area to stroll around and just admire the view. There are some fine museums here - a visit to the Rijksmuseum is a must. The popular Van Gogh Museum houses more than 200 paintings by Vincent. Another big attraction is Anne Frankhuis, which tells the moving story of the famous Jewish Frank family.

Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Just over an hour's flight from London, Dublin offers a great day out. In the centre, follow the Heritage Trail, which links many of Dublin's historic buildings, including Trinity College which houses the Book of Kells (an illuminated manuscript from around AD 800, and one of the oldest books in the world), and Dublin Castle. Explore the historic streets of Temple Bar, now full of cafes, restaurants and interesting shops.

Prague, Czech Republic
Known as the city of a hundred spires, historic Prague is packed with beautiful buildings including churches, palaces and a castle. Wander around the cobbled streets of the Old Town from the medieval Charles Bridge to the Old Town square with its famous astronomical clock. Must-sees are Prague castle and the Art Nouveau buildings on Wenceslas Square in the New Town.

Lille, France
A one hour 40 minutes train journey away from London by Eurostar is Lille - birthplace of Charles de Gaulle. Its attractive Old Town with its cobbled streets and Flemish-style buildings is pleasant to wander around. There are two excellent museums - Palais des Beaux-Arts and Musee d'Art Moderne du Nord. On the 3rd weekend in June, the annual Fete de Lille festival features street theatre and parades.

Source: Teletext Holidays - September 2006