Dominated by two giant, bubble-shaped biomes—the world's largest greenhouses—the Eden Project is one of Cornwall's most famous landmarks. The biomes maintain miniature ecosystems that enable all kinds of plants to flourish: orchids, palms, and cacao trees in the Rainforest Biome and proteas, cacti, and huge aloe veras in the Mediterranean Biome.
Nestled on the edge of a scenic gorge overlooking the Vorotan River, this 10th-century monastery complex is one of Armenia’s most dramatic sights. Tatev was home to a medieval university for two centuries, one of the most renowned in Armenia. Today, the monastery is still in active use. Despite the hours-long travel time from Yerevan, Tatev draws crowds.
The Nuremberg Palace of Justice is a historic landmark that’s famous for being the setting of the Nuremberg Trials, where Nazi war criminals were prosecuted after World War II. Courtroom 600, where these trials took place, was a working courtroom until 2020, and you can visit this room, watch media installations, and see the Nuremberg Trials Memorial on the top floor.
An affluent residential neighborhood at the confluence of the Grand Union and Regent's canals, Little Venice oozes the sophisticated style typical of West London. The former home of poet Robert Browning, Little Venice is full of quaint cafés, canal boat cocktail bars, and grand white townhouses along leafy avenues.
The dramatically named Boca do Inferno, or Mouth of Hell, is a unique rock formation in the seaside town of Cascais in Portugal. It’s constantly battered by the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean—when they’re at their most mighty, water surging through the chasm gives the effect of an erupting volcano.
No Turkish city is complete without a bazaar, the bustling marketplace at the heart of local life. If you’re looking for a local experience, Bodrum Bazaar doesn’t disappoint, with dozens of shops and stalls selling everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to clothing, homeware items, souvenirs, handicrafts, and every flavor of Turkish delight imaginable.
Towering 98 feet (30 meters) above the Forth and Clyde Canal, The Kelpies are a monumental tribute to the horses that have shaped Scotland’s industry and mythology. Sculptor Andy Scott’s two steel structures are within The Helix park, where you’ll find playgrounds, a café, a visitor center, and walking and cycling paths.
Built in the 1st century, the Roman Aqueduct of Segovia is one of the world’s best-preserved ancient aqueducts. It may make for an incongruous sight, running through this picturesque Spanish town, but it’s one of Segovia’s most famous landmarks. It runs for about 9 miles (15 kilometers); amazingly, the aqueduct still conveys water from the Frio River.
One of Istanbul’s most vibrant areas, Besiktas is also among the city’s oldest districts—it has roots dating back to Byzantine times. Located on the European side of Istanbul, the Besiktas district boasts a mix of scenic residential streets, cultural attractions, shopping opportunities, and transport hubs (including for ferries across the Bosphorus). Highlights include Dolmabahce Palace, the lively Bebek neighborhood, and many luxury hotels.
It may not top anyone’s list of must-see sights in Venice, but Piazzale Roma serves an important purpose. This is a major transportation hub and bus station, the last spot in car-free Venice where driving isn’t banned. If you come to Venice by bus, you’re likely to be dropped off here. There are also parking garages for people who arrive by car.
One of the top resort destinations on Spain’s Costa Brava, Lloret de Mar offers family-friendly stretches of sandy beach lapped by azure waters perfect for various water sports. The old town—a former fishing village—is home to attractions like the Santa Clotilde Gardens, Modernist cemetery, and Church of Sant Romà within its maze of narrow twisting lanes, plus eateries specialized in Catalonian cuisine.
At Acua Water Park—the only park of its kind in Fuerteventura—you can enjoy more than a dozen family-friendly attractions, including the Lazy River, the Wave Pool, and more. After zipping down slides and playing games in the Activity Pool, refuel with onsite dining options, relax in the Jacuzzi, or lie back on comfortable lounge chairs.
Hallstatt Salt Mine is known for being one of the world's oldest salt mines; it dates back more than 7,000 years. You can soar down wooden slides, enjoy a train ride, and see one of the oldest wooden staircases in Europe. The mine also has an underground lake, ancient mining tools, and exhibits about Hallstatt’s pivotal role in the salt industry.
Armenia isn’t light on religious buildings in spectacular settings, yet Geghard Monastery still finds a way to stand out. Surrounded by rocky peaks and perched in a valley over the Azat river gorge, the monastery is an awe-inspiring sight. The complex’s chapels and tombs have been carved from the cliffs that loom over them, making for one of Armenia’s most unique architectural experiences.
Open since 1898, Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery is home to the Dewar’s brand and the only distillery built by its namesake family. Located on the banks of the River Tay in the Perthshire countryside, it hosts tours, tastings, and experiences, and also has a visitor center, heritage museum, lounge, bar, café, and gift shop.
At Cardamomo Tablao Flamenco, travelers experience a long-standing art form reflecting Spain’s rich cultural heritage: a traditional, underground flamenco dance performance, complete with singing, heel tapping, and clapping. To round out a show, enjoy a Spanish meal with must-try dishes such as gazpacho and tortilla Española.
The stark exterior of the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia sets it apart from many of the beautiful buildings that neighbor it in Riga Old Town. This brutal and cold facade reflects the events and stories told inside about Latvia’s experience under occupation by the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany during the 20th century.
Standing proud on a grassy knoll looking out to the North Atlantic Ocean is the ancient Tower of Hercules. Not only does this well-preserved lighthouse add to the skyline of La Coruna and offer excellent views of the city, but it’s also a bit of a record breaker, both as the world’s oldest known Roman lighthouse still standing and the second tallest lighthouse in Spain.
Stretching east of Salzburg, the Austrian Lake District—the Salzkammergut—is home to some of Austria’s most stunning scenery. This is an idyllic spot for a summer vacation, with picturesque alpine villages, lush green valleys framed by snow-dusted peaks, and dozens of glittering lakes. These dazzling landscapes, coupled with thousands of years of salt-mining heritage, have earned the Hallstatt-Dachstein region UNESCO World Heritage status.
Set inside a tiny cliff-lined inlet just outside of the coastal village of Praiano, Marina di Praia is one of the most charming beaches on the Amalfi Coast. The pocket-sized stretch of pebbles and rocks is lapped by cobalt water, and a clutch of rental umbrellas and beach chairs sit next to rows of cheery wooden fishing boats, making for a picturesque scene.
Overlooking the Douro River and with views out to the Porto cityscape, the Jardim do Morro offers visitors a series of viewpoints and benches to sit for a moment and take in Porto’s scenery. This green park isn’t particularly large, but thanks to its prime location in Vila Nova de Gaia, it remains one of Porto’s most popular sunset spots.
Billed as the world’s only floating cat sanctuary, Amsterdam’s De Poezenboot (The Cat Boat) is unlike any of the other houseboats that frequent the city’s picturesque canals. Established nearly 60 years ago, De Poezenboot takes in and rehomes hundreds of cats each year. It’s also open several times a week to cat lovers who want to greet and play with the resident felines.
Set in the arid Anatolian heartlands between Ankara, Konya, and Cappadocia, Turkey’s second-largest lake has become one of the region’s most photographed natural wonders. The shallow salt lake of Tuz Golu is famous for its striking pastel-pink hue and seasonal flamingos. It dries out to reveal a glistening white salt flat during the dry summer months.
The Atelier des Lumières, Paris’ first digital arts museum, is housed in a former steel foundry. Within the vast venue, 140 projectors create larger-than-life art and light shows that visitors can immerse themselves in. The museum has hosted a range of exhibitions since its 2018 debut, each dedicated to topics ranging from Ancient Egypt to the Impressionists and Van Gogh.
Jutting right into the Norwegian Sea, Atlantic Sea Park (Atlanterhavsparken Aquarium) is one of Scandinavia's largest saltwater aquariums. With huge landscape tanks, touch pools, and activity pools, the aquarium showcases life on—and below—the Norwegian coast. Visitors will see salmon, seals, starfish, otters, penguins, and many more creatures, with plenty of opportunities for getting up close.
In Barcelona’s La Ribera neighborhood, this museum showcases more than 130 works by the famously anonymous street artist, Banksy. Some of their most notable international artworks have been recreated at the museum—look out for the Flower Thrower from the West Bank and Girl with Balloon in London’s South Bank—bringing you into the poignant, thought-provoking, and often-political world of Banksy.
Once the world’s tallest building, Lincoln Cathedral remains one of England’s most significant religious landmarks, housing one of only four original Magna Carta manuscripts in the world. At the intricately detailed cathedral, visitors can pray, attend service, light a votive candle, or simply enjoy the Gothic architecture.
Winding their way for miles beneath the western coastline of the Laconian Peninsula, the Diros Caves are among the most spectacular natural wonders in the Peloponnese. These flooded chambers and passages hold countless stalactites and stalagmites, crystals, and towering waterfalls that you can explore with a guide by rowboat and on foot.
St. Anthony, also known as Anthony of Padua or the patron saint of lost things, didn’t actually hail from Padua in Italy—in fact, he was born some 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) away in Lisbon. The Church of St. Anthony, an 18th-century baroque landmark that’s now a National Monument, denotes his birthplace and remains a popular place of worship.
Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stretches 73 miles (117 kilometers) across the north of England, all the way from the Irish Sea to the North Sea. Built in AD 122 under Emperor Hadrian’s orders and finished four years later, the wall marked the northern boundary of the Roman Empire in Britain.
