Seven worthwhile spots you might overlook

1. El Escorial, a monastery and palace about an hour outside Madrid. The tombs of Spanish royalty and nobility alone are worth the trip out, and the building itself is quite impressive. It is filled with art treasures, of course.

2. The Cathedral at Koln (Cologne). This is a hot tip. If you are going to take a train through Koln and don’t intend on stopping, catch an earlier train, and when you get to Koln jump off and go to the cathedral, which is a two-minute walk from the station. Give yourself an hour or two, then catch the next train to your destination.