One of only a few active synagogues in Bucharest, the Moorish Revival-style Choral Temple (Templul Coral, which was originally built in 1857, has survived anti-Jewish persecution and pogroms. Behind its yellow and red brick exterior is a colorfully adorned interior. Outside stands a memorial to victims of the Holocaust.
Set up by Polish Jews in the mid-19th century, the Great Synagogue (Sinagoga Mare is one of less than a handful of working synagogues in Bucharest. Behind its simple facade is a lavish rococo-style interior and poignant exhibits documenting Jewish life in Romania and the persecution of Romanian Jews during the Holocaust.
The Rhine Tower, at 789 feet (234 meters) high, is one of Düsseldorf’s tallest buildings and a defining feature of the city skyline. Visitors take a high-speed elevator to the top of the telecommunications tower, which has an observation deck and a revolving restaurant, both offering scenic views of the Old Town and Rhine riverfront.
For a scenic jaunt just a short drive from Zagreb's city center, Mt. Medvednica (Sljeme) offers a near-perfect mix of outdoor activities and fantastic vistas. Known for its network of protected trails, you can stroll, cycle, and trek in the woodlands, visit Medvedgrad—a centuries-old fortress—or hit the slopes at Sljeme Ski Resort.
A giant red star that once crowned Bulgaria’s Communist Party headquarters and a spectacular range of Lenin statues adorn the 80,000-square-foot (7,500-square-meter) sculpture garden of Sofia’s Museum of Socialist Art. As the name would suggest, the museum showcases works from Bulgaria’s Socialist (Communist) period: 1945–1989.
The Old Jewish Cemetery (Alter Jüdischer Friedhof) was built in 1672. As many as 12,000 Jewish people were buried here, including Moses Mendelssohn, a philosopher and forefather of the Jewish Enlightenment. The cemetery was destroyed during World War II but has been restored with plaques honouring those who were buried here.
German-born Albert Einstein was undoubtedly one of Switzerland’s most famous immigrants. In this Bern apartment, the Nobel Prize winner developed many of his groundbreaking ideas, including the Theory of Relativity. Today, the restored residence functions as a museum, providing insight into the life and work of the world’s most famous physicist.
The Home Army Museum (Muzeum AK) opened as a tribute to the heroic actions of the Polish Underground Movement, which operated under the Nazi German occupation. Situated in a restored former red-brick Austrian barrack, it tells the story of the fight for freedom during World War II through old documentary clips and displays of weapons, uniforms, propaganda materials, and photos.
Located deep in the Anatolia region of Turkey (officially the Republic of Türkiye), Hattusa is one of the country’s biggest archaeological sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the second millennium BC, Hattusa was the capital of the Hittite Empire, wielding power across Anatolia and beyond. Its ruins coat a large hillside and include temples, fortifications, gates, and statues.
Perched on the banks of the Gota River, Gothenburg Opera House is Gothenburg’s most prestigious arts venue, hosting more than 300 performances a year. The grand building is also among Gothenburg’s most notable landmarks, with its maritime-inspired façade and ship-like silhouette dominating the Lilla Bommen waterfront.
The Mönch is the middle peak of a mighty trio of mountains in the Swiss Alps—the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau—set in the Bernese Oberland. With a 1,347-foot (4,107-meter) summit altitude that’s more for mountaineers than everyday folk, the Mönch can still be viewed in all its glory from the nearby Jungfraujoch saddle or the Schilthorn summit.
Craggy peaks rise up around the clean, clear water of this large stream-fed lake, creating a postcard-worthy panorama. Scenic walking trails run along part of the shoreline and into the surrounding fells, leading to overlooks and beauty spots including Scale Force, the highest waterfall in Cumbria’s Lake District.
The ancient city of Kamiros stretches along the northwest coast of Rhodes. Once among the most prominent cities in the Dodecanese Islands, it thrived off local figs, wine, and oil production. The Hellenistic ruins of Kamiros, including the remains of the agora, temple, and reservoir, were rediscovered in 1929.
Also known as the Ablain Saint-Nazaire French Military Cemetery, Notre Dame de Lorette is the world’s largest French military cemetery. Located in Nord-Pas-de-Calais, the 60-acre (25-hectare site contains the remains of more than 40,000 soldiers and is a poignant reminder of the Great War’s devastation.
If you’ve ever wondered how coins are minted or what French francs looked like through the ages, a visit to the Paris Mint Museum (Musée de la Monnaie de Paris) provides a deep dive into the process of coining. Housed in the city’s oldest factory, which has been minting coins since the ninth century and still produces commemorative coins today, museum visitors can watch artisans at work, learn about the art of making coins, and admire the vast coin collection.
The northern Italian lakes are popular destinations, beloved for their placid waters and mountain scenery. Among these, however, sleepy Lake Orta (Lago di Orta) is one of the least well known. Overshadowed by its famous neighbor, Lake Maggiore, and slightly farther from Milan, Lake Orta attracts visitors who want to get away from it all.
The cliffs and lush forests of Krka National Park serve as a dramatic backdrop to the the waterfalls of Roski Slap. Located along the Krka River and peppered with historic water mills, Roski Slap features small cascades that make for pretty photo opportunities.
This colonial-style mansion in the heart of Gran Canaria’s Old Town once hosted Christopher Columbus on his way to the Americas. Today, this former governor’s house is a museum dedicated to Columbus’ voyages and the history of the Canary Islands. Kids will enjoy the models of all three of Columbus' ships—the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María—and the resident courtyard parrots.
Commissioned in the 16th century by Suleiman the Magnificent for his daughter, Mihrimah Sultan Mosque (Mihrimah Sultan Camii) in Edirnekapi was designed by the celebrated Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan. The mosque is dappled with windows that let sunlight into the space and is topped by a monumental dome. Unlike most imperial mosques, it only has one minaret.
The historic center of Noto is a treasure trove of Sicilian baroque architecture, and the Palazzo Nicolaci is among the finest examples of this 18th-century style in the city. With ornate balconies and whimsical carvings adorning its facade, the palace—together with a number of equally sublime baroque churches—is a highlight of Noto.
See birds in their natural habitats at Pont de Gau Ornithological Park (Parc Ornithologique du Pont de Gau), a top natural attraction in France. Of particular note are hundreds of pink flamingos that feed off its salt marshes. The park is spread out over 150 acres (60 hectares) inside Camargue National Reserve in the south of France.
This Gothic-Renaissance-style church sits in the center of Korcula’s old town, surrounded by charming streets. St. Mark’s Cathedral, also called the Korcula Cathedral, draws visitors for two main reasons: art and architecture, plus the views from its cupola-topped bell tower. Check out the curious characters on the building’s façade before going inside to see two paintings by Tintoretto and finishing the visit with a climb to the top of the bell tower.
The Rumsiskes Open-Air Museum of Lithuania is located in the countryside just east of Kaunas in central Lithuania. One of Europe’s largest ethnographic open-air museums, this museum features reconstructed historical buildings and exhibitions of furniture, crafts, and artifacts all of which reveal what rural life was like here from the 18th to the mid-20th century.
The Museum of Cycladic Art houses one of the top ancient art collections in Athens, centered around the Cycladic figurines dating from 3000 BC to 2000 BC that inspired many 20th-century artists. Also admire Greek and Cypriot art spanning the millennia between 2000 BC and AD 300, as well as a multimedia exhibit of scenes from daily life in ancient Greece, plus occasional special exhibitions.
Situated on the scenic riverfront, Kaunas Castle is a 14th century structure packed with archaeological relics. Tour the castle to see a medieval prison, history exhibits, and animation about the 1362 castle siege. The castle is part of the Kaunas City Museum and also holds exhibits about Lithuania's past.
In a city home to hundreds of baroque, Gothic, and Renaissance churches, the neoclassical Basilica of San Francesco di Paola (Basilica di San Francesco di Paola) stands out. Completed by Ferdinand I after his return to the throne—and the ouster of Napoleon and his brother-in-law—the church dominates Piazza del Plebiscito with its portico and oculus reminiscent of Rome’s Pantheon.
George Orwell Square (Plaça de George Orwell) offers tree-shaded respite in the busy Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic). Named for the British author—who traveled to Spain during the country’s civil war and wrote a book about Catalonia’s struggle against fascism—it features a small children’s playground and a sculpture at its center. It is lined on one side by a row of lively bars and cafés that draw locals and visitors alike.
Over a million years’ worth of Bulgarian history is displayed across the four halls that make up the National Institute of Archaeology & Museum. The museum opened in 1905, occupying a 15th-century former mosque that was once the city’s largest. Exhibits include prehistoric objects, unique Thracian treasures, as well as a range of artifacts spanning Early Antiquity to the Late Middle Ages.
One of Ephesus’ most important fountains, the Fountain of Trajan (Nymphaeum Traiani) stands proud on Curetes Street. Built sometime between 102–114 AD to honor Emperor Trajan, it once stood more than 30 feet (9.5 meters) high and featured around 15 statues, including a vast sculpture of Trajan, of which only one foot remains.
The Archeological Museum in Krakow is a treasure trove of more than 500,000 archaeological artifacts. The collection spans the entirety of human history, from the Paleolithic age to the present day. Admire Egyptian antiquities, prehistoric pottery, and a very important discovery—a 9th-century depiction of a Slavic deity—The Zbruch Idol.
