A colorful past as an ancient gateway to trade makes this Belgian city a treasure whether you call it Brugge (Flemish) or Bruges (French). Story [Times photo: Robert N. Jenkins]

A Portuguese perspective
A visit to Porto raises one's sights. Not only do the hilly vistas enchant the eye; the kindness of the residents and civility of their culture inspire visitors' vows to emulate them.

Your trip may be 1,000 clicks away
Arranging travel online can be much more labor-intensive than finding a good agent. Those subject to buyer's remorse had better stick to conventional means.

European tourist offices
For information, event calendars, maps and lists of accommodations in European countries, contact these national tourist offices; save this for future reference (all Internet addresses begin with the prefix http://).

Cruising down the River Douro
From aboard the Douro Princess, life on the river becomes a pageant of Portuguese history and culture, with lots of chances for passengers to stop and join the show.

These guides focus on low-cost lodging
Someone out there cares about you. That is, those of you who prefer to plan your own budget travels in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, France and Spain.

Chartres: The French Acropolis
The magnificent medieval cathedral is the best, but not the only, reason to visit Chartres. The beautiful town is home to stained glass masters, other churches and a treasure of a fine arts museum.