Coimbra, Portugal has a UNESCO listed university, rich history, unique Fado music, and art that make it a great place to spend a couple of days.

Turin, with its rich history, architecture, and culture, is home to some great museums. Plus, the city has some great food spots, like Eataly. Finally, only Turin has the annual “That’s A Mole” competition, which offers humorous takes on the city’s most iconic building.

I’m Sandi, a longtime corporate marketer who’s now a travel blogger and trip planner. Since 2006, my husband, David, and I have traveled to a different part of Europe each year for great food, culture, and scenery. I’m creating The Artful Passport to share tips and special lodging ideas to help you plan a different kind of trip to Europe.

Cosmopolitan. Beautiful architecture. A rich history. A river running through it. Public thermal baths. Great food and cafes. Jewish heritage. Budapest is all of this and more. It’s not the old-fashioned Communist era city you may think it is. Budapest is a great city to savor and explore – and with some simple planning, you can find some lovely, tranquil spots.