Sweden has countless castles (or 'slott' in Swedish) from its storied history. Seeing all of them would take ages. I have compiled a list of some of my favorite castles from across Sweden including Uppsala Castle, Kalmar Castle, Kärnan, Borgholms Castle, Gripsholm Castle, Vaxholm Fortress, Örebro Castle, Skokloster Castle, and Carlstens Fästning.

Trakai is a small town of 5,000 people just 28 km west of Vilnius in Lithuania with origins dating back to 1337. The town features a large array of different community nationalities (Karaims, Tatars, Lithuanians, Russians, Jews and Poles). The highlight of the town has to be the Trakai Island Castle on Lake Galvé. Today it serves as a museum as well as a venue for festivals and concerts.

Suomenlinna, situated off the coast of Helsinki, translates to 'Castle of Finland'. Originally built by the Swedes, it has been occupied by the Russians, before being handed over to Finland. Take some time here to explore the Suomenlinna and Military Museums, Cafe Silo, Cafe Vanille, Adlerfelt, the King's Gate and Artillery Battery, Sveaborgs badstrand, and the Jetty Barracks Gallery!

Riyadh, (or Riad) is the capital of Saudi Arabia and is the largest city in the Arabian peninsula. It is considered a global city and hopes to challenge Dubai in attracting much foreign investment. Riyadh can be reached by all modes of transport. but specific places to see include the Kingdom Tower, Tuwaiq Palace, Al Masmak Palace, Murabba Palace, and the King Abdullah Financial District.

Chernobyl is an infamous area, known for the nuclear meltdown it experienced in 1986. The town of Pripyat, just 3 miles away, experienced the devastation of this accident, and to this day is a ghost town. Book a tour of this city and see the abandoned buildings of Hotel Polissya, Prometheus Cinema, and Avangard Stadium. The Duga Radar and Containment Zone are also popular stops.

Since it is an island nation, Iceland sure must have plenty of lighthouses. There are about 104 of them, manning the roughly 5000 kilometer coastline. Some notable lighthouses include the Garður Old Lighthouse, and the ones in Malarrif, Svörtuloft, Hvalnes, Öndverðarnes, Súgandisey Island, Dyrhólaey, Old Akranes, Bjargtangar, Dalatangi, Þrídrangaviti, and Grótta Island.

Slovenia is a country that is perfect for a road trip. It's not too large, plenty of small cities to visit, and a gorgeous national park with a plethora of gorges and waterfalls for hiking and other outdoor sports. This is a road trip guide on seeing the Slovenian cities of Ljubljana, Ptuj, Maribor, Piran, Bled, Triglav National Park, and some other stops along the way.

Trieste is a city and seaport in the Northeast corner of Italy, sitting near the border with Slovenia. It is described as the 'Vienna by the sea' and its location has given is such a rich medieval and modern history. Some great places to see was the Palazzo Gopcevich and Carciotti, Castello di San Guisto, Miramare Castle, the Roman Theater, and the Serbian Orthodox Church of Saint Spyridon.

This small town sits on a peninsula on Slovenia's Adriatic coast. The orange-shingled rooftops evoke impressions from Dubrovnik and other Balkan sea towns. Piran is one big old town with medieval city walls, a city square, a church and bell tower (Zvonik Campanile Bell Tower), and plenty of restaurants and cafes lining the streets. It is a must see stop anything you're in this part of the world.

Triglav is the highest mountain in Slovenia and the tallest peak in the Julian Alps. As such, it is the centerpiece (and namesake) of Slovenia's only national park. This park is vast and full of natural wonders, my favorites being Tolmin Gorges, Lake Bohinj, Slap (waterfall) Pericnik, Vintgar and Great Soča Gorges, Fort Kluže, the Russian Chapel, and Slap Virje, among many others!

There's a reason why people think Bled is the best city to see in Slovenia. Centered around a gorgeous lake, the crown jewel has to be the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Maria. Other great places to see include Bled Castle, St. Martina Parish Church, the Heart of Bled, and the viewpoints at Velika, Mala, and Ojstrica (perfect for sunrise).

As the 2nd largest city in Slovenia, Maribor is considered the cultural center of the country. Crowned the European Co-Capital of Culture of 2012, this history possesses some incredible landmarks built in the Baroque, Gothic, and Renaissance styles. Be sure to check out Maribor Castle, Vodni Stolp, Mestni Park, Grajski Square, Old Town, and the Basilica of Our Mother of Mercy.

Ptuj is the oldest recorded city in Slovenia with origins dating back to the Stone Age. Developed from a Roman fort, this small town of just thousands of people is a nice detour on your trip through Slovenia. Take half a day to check out the Ptuj Castle and St. George's Church while walking through the charming old town and along the riverside.

The 350 Churches for 330,000 people living in Iceland is probably too much. Regardless of your faith, there are many of these gorgeous churches all around the country that are worth seeing. Here is a guide to some of them like Hvalsneskirkja, Strandarkirkja, Vikurkirkja, Kirkjubaer, Husavikurkirkja, Heimaey Stave Church, Hallgrímskirkja, Seyðisfjarðarkirkja, Hofskirkja, Búðakirkja, and Glaumbaer.

Quito for some may just be a quick stop on their way to the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador. Make no mistake however, this capital city is worth spending a few days in. Whether you want to check out the crafts and markets at La Ronda, visit the Ecuador, or see the gorgeous church of Basilica del Voto Nacional, you'll be glad you took the time to see this cityscape before your Galápagos trip.

The term Baltic State is geopolitical and refers to the 3 sovereign states located on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea, which have formed close intergovernmental and parliamentary ties with each other. Each capital is quite different and has much to offer. This guide breaks down the Baltic capital cities of Tallinn (Estonia), Riga (Latvia), and Vilnius (Lithuania).

The Norse established their parliament on the Tinganes peninsula of Tórshavn in 850 AD, which has since been known as the capital city of the Faroe Islands with a population of 13,083. The city features great attractions like the Svartafoss Waterfall, Vesturkirkjan, Skansin, and the Tórshavn Old Town. All roads lead to Tórshavn in the Faroe Islands and a day is all you need to explore the city.

Helsingborg is the 9th largest city in Sweden, located in the South (otherwise known as Skåne). A city of barely 100,000, it is worth seeing as it boasts excellent architectural wonders like Rådhuset and Kärnan, great beaches and ports that can whisk you to Helsingør, Denmark, and wonderful manor grounds at Sofiero. The island of Ven is also a popular day trip for many of the residents here.