This place challenges every notion of what a European city feels like

If you had to guess where in the world you were by looking at a single street, you’d have little chance of identifying Sarajevo.

• by Brian Johnston

Guide to Eurovision: Julia Zemiro's 10 favourite destinations

Julia Zemiro, queen of the world’s quirkiest song fest, counts down her hit parade of Europe’s best places.

• by Andrea Black

World's great divided cities: The most enchanting cities split into two halves

There are two sides to every story, with some major cities compelling examples of the maxim.

• by Ute Junker

The world's best cities with the worst reputations

They're mad and bad, unclean and mean - or so the story goes. These are the cities with the worst reputation in the world.

Europe: Aboard the peace train

The scars of war add poignancy to the beautiful Balkan region, writes Leisa Tyler.

• by Leisa Tyler

Tracing Franz Ferdinand's last steps through Austria, Croatia and Sarajevo

Adrian Bridge retraces the last journey of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian empire 100 years later.

Aboard the peace train

Andrew West travels by rail through the Balkans and finds beauty and new life along with the scars of war.

Crossing over to normal

The scars of war are plain to see on the stonework of Sarajevo and Mostar, yet nothing diminishes the country's wild mountain ways, writes Sophie Cooke.

Once around the bloc

Steve McKenna explores the rejuvenated tourist gems of a region once tortured by conflict.