Sopron, Hungary

With its 115 monuments and 240 listed buildings, SOPRON, tucked away in the far northwestern corner of the country, 79km west of Győr, can justly claim to be "the most historic town in Hungary", as well as one of the most attractive. Never having been ravaged by Mongols or Turks, the inner town retains its medieval layout, with a melange of Gothic and Baroque that rivals the Várhegy in Budapest – and here there are even fewer cars on the streets. Sopron is also a major wine-producing centre and the base for excursions to the Esterházy Palace and the vintage steam train at Nagycenk amongst others. Its proximity to Vienna means that Austrians have long come here to shop, eat out and get their teeth fixed (there are dentists everywhere in Sopron). While the local economy benefits, visitors will find that prices are almost at Budapest levels and accommodation can be in short supply in the high season. If you're visiting in the winter, be warned that some museums are closed from October until March.