Famous as the home of Henry the Lion, Braunschweig is one of Germany’s prettiest cities. The powerful medieval prince made it his capital in the 1100s, and it’s still known as the “Lion City” to this day. A majestic bronze-cast Brunswick Lion monument anchors the medieval downtown district, which is dotted with ancient churches, cathedrals, castles and cafes.

It’s also interspersed by its fair share of modern buildings, which give the city an eclectic and upbeat feel. For a taste of Germany’s vibrant student culture, a few days in Braunschweig is a great bet. The city is home to Technische Universität, Germany’s oldest technical college. Beyond wandering around the campus, head to the Magni and Siebenschläfer districts for the city’s best bars, clubs and cocktails.

Braunschweig is located in Lower Saxony, just north of the towering Harz mountains. Hannover is the closest airport, with the trip taking around 40 minutes by car, or around one hour by train. Another access point is Braunschweig Hauptbahnhof, which offers rail connections to a host of German cities.

As well as having one of Germany’s oldest universities, Braunschweig also boasts the country’s oldest museum. Renowned for its extensive collection of historical artworks, Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum showcases masterpieces by Flemish Baroque painters like Johannes Vermeer and Peter Paul Rubens.