The Best Sight in The Rhineland, Germany

Built in 1907, the neoclassical Kurhaus is the cultural center of the city—and it's home to this beautiful, grand casino. The Klassiches Spiel (table games area: roulette, blackjack, and poker) is a magnificent wood-paneled hall known for allowing very high stakes play; it's said to have been the inspiration for Dostoevsky's novel The Gambler. Jackets are required. To play here—or in the less formal Automatenspiel (slots) in the neighboring Kolonnade—you must be at least 18 (bring your passport).

Aside from the casino, the rest of the Kurhaus is given over to Thiersch-Saal, a splendid setting for concerts, and a Parisian-style bistro. The building is flanked by The Staatstheater (1894), appointed in baroque and rococo revival styles, and two beautifully landscaped parks—one with a boating pond.