Housed in a 1919 building designed by Antonio Palacios, this private, nonprofit cultural center offers all sorts of events for the artistically minded. The art exhibitions and independent films screened here are a big draw, but there's also an elegant on-site restaurant that's open to all.
Spread across nine levels and showcasing over 160 rare vehicles and car-related artifacts, Stuttgart’s Mercedes-Benz Museum is a must-visit destination for automotive enthusiasts. Debuted in 2006 next to the city’s Daimler factory, the museum is also an architectural marvel, thanks to its sleek, double-helix design.
Inhabitants at the National Sea Life Centre range from penguins and otters to piranhas and jellyfish, displayed in antarctic pools and rain forest habitats. At the dynamic center, viewers can learn about marine life from around the globe in a series of exhibits such as an underwater tunnel, tropical forest, and penguin enclosure.
Cologne’s major modern and contemporary art museum, the Museum Ludwig has been a top cultural stop since its opening in 1976. Housed in a striking wave-like building near the Cologne Cathedral, the museum is known for its expansive range of modernist, pop-art, and surrealist pieces, including an enormous Picasso collection.
Bratislava’s UFO Observation Deck isn’t quite as it seems: rather than a place to spot visitors from outer space, it’s a restaurant and observation deck on top of the New Bridge (Nový Most spanning the Danube River. Its circular design, though, does in fact resemble a UFO.
Also known as the Cimetière du Nord, the Montmartre Cemetery is the third-largest burial ground in Paris, after Père Lachaise Cemetery and Montparnasse Cemetery. The storied necropolis contains some 20,000 graves, including those of luminaries such as author Émile Zola, painter Edgar Degas, and composer Hector Berlioz. Offering a break from the hectic sightseeing, it's a peaceful and evocative place for a stroll.
Hungary's greatest art treasures are displayed at the Hungarian National Gallery (Magyar Nemzeti Galeria, located inside the Buda Castle. Arts lovers find well-curated galleries within the restored royal residence, complete with a grand, colonnaded exterior. Enjoy a collection of more than 25,000 artifacts and numerous temporary exhibitions.
Just as its name suggests, the Helsinki City Museum is solely focused on the city of Helsinki. The museum, located in the oldest part of the city, explores the city’s past and present through the daily lives of Helsinki residents and features eclectic displays that include everything from plastic bags to candy wrappers.
The Stormont Estate is home to Northern Ireland’s main government buildings. In addition to parkland and woodland, the 407-acre (165-hectare) estate contains the Parliament Buildings, the seat of the Northern Ireland Assembly; Stormont Castle, the seat of the Northern Irish Executive; and Stormont House, home to the Northern Ireland Office.
Meštrović Gallery (Galerija Mestrovic) is an art museum dedicated to 20th-century Croatian sculptor, Ivan Meštrović. As his former home and atelier, the palace is an appropriate setting for the artist’s most important works, much of it religious, including a pair of walnut Adam and Eve figures and a powerful bronze Cyclops sculpture.
Originally christened the New Princes Theatre in 1911, this beloved venue later became the Princes Theatre, and then the Shaftesbury Theatre in the ’60s. By any name, this theater has always been a popular place, hosting Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, American variety shows, and musicals such as Hairspray, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Just For One Day.
Located on Korkeasaari island, Helsinki Zoo is home to 150 animal species and more than 1,000 species of plant. Opened in 1889, the zoo is geographically divided into three sections that house bears, tigers, and lions. Today, the zoo is best known for its conservation work, particularly with endangered snow leopards.
The Arctic Cathedral’s strikingly modern glass-and-aluminum facade and daring angular planes form a much-loved landmark in Tromso. With an appearance distinct from that of most churches, it dominates the city’s skyline and is visible from the Tromso Sound, the Tromso Bridge, and the sky when arriving by airplane.
Ninety minutes from Kenmare and Cork, Gougane Barra National Forest Park is a popular day trip for time in Ireland’s nature—and history. Beyond the 339 acres of balding mountains, lush valleys, and the River Lee, visitors will find 300-year-old monastic ruins and a 19th-century church on a small island in a lake, one of the most photographed churches in the country.
Once a glorious temple of gleaming marble and finely carved columns, the elaborate tomb of King Mausolus—the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus—was so remarkable that it became the mausoleum after which all others were named. Built between 355 and 351 BC, it was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, featuring the work of some of the era’s most renowned sculptors and towering up to 164 feet (50 meters) tall.
The Chateau d’If, situated just off the coast of Marseille, is a former French naval base and prison that was immortalized by Alexandre Dumas in the novelThe Count of Monte Cristo. Visit the island fortress to see its jail cells and enjoy panoramic views of the city of Marseille.
Aqualand Corfu Water Park is the island’s largest, most popular water park, with themed areas catering to fun-seeking visitors of all ages. Stretching across almost 3 acres (1.2 hectares), this family-friendly spot is home to water rides and slides, lazy rivers, and swimming pools for an action-packed day in the sun.
This stately red-brick mansion was the country home of one of Britain’s most lionized leaders, Sir Winston Churchill. The World War II prime minister purchased the property in 1922 and spent much of his retirement here. Little has changed since then, and visitors will find Churchill memorabilia and personal belongings scattered throughout.
With over 10,000 works of Spanish, European, and Basque art spanning from the Middle Ages to present day, the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum (Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao) is one of the most-visited museums in the Basque Country. Highlights include masterpieces from El Greco, Francisco de Goya, and Mary Cassatt, plus regular temporary exhibits.
High on an escarpment on UNESCO-listed Hadrian’s Wall, Housesteads Fort is one of 16 forts along what was the Roman Empire’s stone-built north-western frontier. The ruins of the AD 123-built camp, and a museum and visitor center take guests back to the days of Roman Britain 2,000 years ago.
Set atop a grassy pasture overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, this crumbling, ivy-covered castle is one of Ireland’s most romantic ruins. The castle, which originally dates back to the 16th century, was damaged during the 17th-century War of the Three Kingdoms. Now, only parts of the structure, such as its high stone walls, remain in place.
One of the top pilgrimage destinations in Italy, the town of San Giovanni Rotondo was home to Padre Pio—a priest canonized in 2002. Faithful followers from around the world flock to the town to honor its most famous resident, paying homage in the Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina and Santa Maria delle Grazie, where the saint is buried. A visit here is particularly significant for Roman Catholics, and visitor numbers peak near his feast day in late September.
CosmoCaixa is one of Europe’s leading natural science museums, featuring exhibitions that span from the creation of the universe to the natural wonders of the Amazon rainforest and Antarctica, as well as a planetarium and micrarium. It’s packed with innovative exhibitions, interactive displays, and living gardens, making it a must for anyone interested in understanding more about the natural world.
The clifftop town of Orvieto sits above a hidden warren of tunnels and caverns made by countless generations of residents, dug out of soft tufa bedrock from the Etruscan era to the 20th century. Discover this underground network with a visit to Pozzo della Cava, an Etruscan well enlarged in the 16th century, which leads to a series of ancient caves, tombs, and a cistern, as well as medieval kilns and other fascinating sites hidden far beneath the city.
From sedan chairs to ceremonial state coaches, the Imperial Carriage Museum showcases the dazzling carriages used by the Viennese court over the centuries. The collection includes 600 vehicles—170 of which are on display—including two lavishly gilded 18th-century imperial carriages, as well as ornate saddlery, courtly robes, and livery.
Nestled in the village of Ranville near Caen, Ranville War Cemetery contains the graves of 2,235 World War II Commonwealth soldiers killed on D-Day on June 6 1944, when the Allies landed on Normandy’s beaches. The cemetery is open to those wishing to pay their respects and is a stop on several WWII battlefield tours.
Although France's Champagne region is far from the sea, it has its own lighthouse. It was conceived in 1909 as a marketing gimmick by Champagne producer Joseph Goulet, who wanted to draw attention to his brand. Today, it’s a popular tourist attraction, complete with an interactive museum, a tasting room, and a gift shop.
Museum Kampa is one of Prague’s top museums and exhibits contemporary European art in the whitewashed medieval Sova Mill on Kampa Island. In addition to the permanent collection of works by artists like Cubist sculptor Otto Gutfreund and abstract artist František Kupka, the museum holds world-class temporary exhibitions.
Learn why Portugal is famous for the popular dessert wine of port. Espaço Porto Cruz offers pours, tastings, and a variety of workshops—from pairing with food to mixing into cocktails—along with views overlooking the Douro River and a restaurant, cocktail lounge, shop, and meeting and event space.
Copenhagen’s Vesterbro neighborhood was once a famous rough-and-tumble red-light district. After receiving a thorough makeover, the area is now known for its fashion-forward art scene, extensive restaurant selection, and vibrant nightlife.
