Lithuania

From the distance the Hill of Crosses doesn't look like much, just a small knoll with some crosses. But as you approach the collection of crosses you will suddenly realise just how many crosses there are. The hill is literally covered in crucifixes of all sizes, materials and colours which as been left by pilgrims through the last couple of centuries. It's estimated that there are more than 100,000 crosses - and more are coming every year.

If you don't know what to do with an otherwise uneatable part of an animal, serve it to beer. In the Baltic region, the number one beer snack is pig ear. Just skin and cartilage - pickled, sliced and served with strong mustard. And it's actually not too bad.

The picturesque Trakai Island Castle has just the perfect location. It thrones a small island in the pretty lake of Galvė walking distance from the town of Trakai. The medieval castle was completed in 1409, but was totally done up in mid 20th century. It's a popular weekend destination for newly wedded couples and picnicking families - along with hordes of tourists in summer. There are lovely strolls along the lake shore and even the town of Trakai has its charming corners of wooden houses and docked rainbow coloured rowboats.

While Tallinn has a pretty Nordic feel and Riga is a worn mix of Soviet blandness and ancient elegance, Vilnius has a more central European atmosphere. Less Soviet concrete and more enchanting plazas with grand churches connected with a maze of cobbled, narrow alleys, which of course is UNESCO enlisted. However, Vilnius does have its fair share of quirky sights, like the Frank Zappa monument (the man never went to Lithuania) and Užupis, a artist enclave with their own silly declaration of independence. The amount of local pubs and bars will make any beer drinking and potato/meat eating visitor happy and the locals - whereof a large portion are gorgeous women - are friendly. So there isn't that much to dislike about Vilnius.