The Times newspaper edition recognized Ålesund as the most beautiful town in Norway. It is not without reason: wayward sea, mesmerizing northern nature, famous fjords, fabulous multi-coloured houses in the Art Nouveau style and the legendary Trolls' Path, beckon those wishing to see the stunning wild landscapes.

To visit three countries over one day – it is possible if you are in Aachen. Situated amid Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, small student town took in features of medieval culture that reflected in its astonishing architecture. Yelena Buravtsova visited the town for it to win her heart with its off-beat monuments, streets paved with stone blocks, cozy cafés, one of a kind printed spice cake, museums and spectacular races.

Full set of Norwegian national outfit can be traded for a pretty immodest car. Offspring of Vikings habitually create their bunads, decorated with elaborate embroideries, only manually thus investing a lost of effort and patience in it. Sure enough, they don’t wear helmets with horns anymore, but their folk dress still doesn’t lack splendor.

The great importance of a yurt for the Kyrgyz people is evident from their national flag: a round dome of a traditional home embraced by effulgent solar disc, proudly flaunts in a red background. Although usual life of nomads has been transformed to brick houses, a yurt still has an important place in their daily life, hiding under its tent echoes of history and carefully preserving old traditions.

Crazy stream of traffic with double-decked busses – second of which is a roof full of dare-devils, cycle rickshaws scurrying far and wide like dragonflies, contrast of centuries-old temples and colorful advertising signboards, high-rise blocks with their curious dwellers, ready to invite a stranger to their wedding in the heat of a friendly talk right after first meeting – that’s what Bangladesh is about.

Green slopes covered with heather moorland, deserted suburban roads, narrow streets with small cottages and gardens emitting heady fragrance - it seems that British villages are unchangeable through the passage of time. Like stilled scenery for heroic fantasy fiction, each of them has its own story about great battles, brave warriors and legendary artefacts.

At the bare mention of the word lake, our imagination pictures soothing, nostalgia-laden images of quite pond cosily embraced by the grassy hills. OUTLOOK prepared a selection of the most spectacular lakes, which will change your understanding of this work of nature. Each of them has something to surprise, whether it is unusual water shade, or frightening ability to petrify living creatures.

Dilapidated Soviet-era buildings, grandiose palaces of the Hungarian aristocracy, booths with antique utensils, street art in the style of Van Gogh - Panská Street is full of contradictions! This place is a fusion of old grey-headed traditions, and ardent desire to be a little neat Europe. OUTLOOK knows what secrets go hiding at the streets of Bratislava.

Formidable waves rise up like soldiers on guard, then beat against the rocky coastline, lay down their arms and meekly retreating, crumble into a foam. Wind freely runs over lavender fields and eucalyptus groves hiding sleepy koalas in bushland. Twilight is ready to cover every living creature with a dark bucket, and the bustling nocturnal life spreads its wings.

Bolivian cuisine is the diversity of flavours, mostly inherited from the ancient Indians. Only in Bolivia, you can enjoy authentic dishes cooked according to their indigenous recipes, not influenced by European trends. After a hearty dinner of banana puree with alpaca meat, sitting comfortably in a rocking chair with a mug of the traditional Mate drink, you will feel perfect enjoying the stunning sunset above the mountain slopes.

With the passage of time, people in this country have not ceased to amaze guests with their mentality and thoughtful approach to cooking of homemade meals. Salty tea, sour soups, snacks from horse meat - a bold combination of products and flavours defy culinary clichés, thus creating gourmet masterpiece delighting indigenous population and surprising visitors to the valley of the Celestial Mountains.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a modest beauty anchored between its vibrant friends - the neighbouring Montenegro and Italy stretched across the Adriatic Sea. It used to stay away from usual routes of holiday-makers and flashes of their photo cameras. Those who chase for flamboyant holiday, rarely look into the still backwater of greenery and picturesque mountains, and it works in favour of adherents of quiet holiday.