Nijmegen

Built on seven hills, like Rome, which makes it clearly unique in an otherwise linear topography, Nijmegen has an upper and a lower town skirting the river Waal near the strategic junction of the Maas/Waalkanal, an understructure of medieval passageways and cellars, and the highest concentration of outdoor cafés, so they say, in The Netherlands. The resident Catholic University Nijmegen gives the town a young, hip style at designer discount prices, making your stay here almost as good a value as it was in its days as a medieval trading center, which can still be explored vicariously in the area of the Begijnenstraat. Splendid river views are afforded from Valkhof, the hilltop site of a revolt against Rome in AD 69-70, and Belvedere Park where there's a fine restaurant in a tower. Nearby is the Waalkade riverfront esplanade, lined with restaurants, shops, and a casino, in back of which is an embarkation point for riverboat trips in July and August.