Public transit hubs are not often tourist destinations in their own right—but Bockenheimer Warte isn’t your average station. Famous for its surrealist entrance—designed to look like a tram car crashed straight into the pavement—the 1986 station is located west of Frankfurt’s city center and is a must-visit for design and architecture fans.
Built in the late 16th century by Robert Smythson, Doddington Hall & Gardens is a Grade-I-listed Elizabethan mansion, complete with five acres (two hectares) of walled gardens. It also remains a beloved family home. Explore the hall and grounds at your leisure before stopping by the farm shop or grabbing lunch at the on-site café.
With a wide range of animals, amusements, and activities designed to entertain families, Old MacDonald’s Farm can be a fun-filled day out whatever the weather. Meet more than 30 different species of animals including meerkats and wallabies, jump on amusing rides, and enjoy the soft play areas at this folksy park that’s scaled for young kids.
One of Greece’s biggest amusement parks, Allou! Fun Park features two distinct zones, one for teens (Allou!) and one for younger children (Kidom). Enjoy fairground fun, including a ferris wheel, roller coasters, bumper cars, and a haunted house, as well as water rides, racing cars, and laser games. There’s also a wealth of food options.
The award-winning Devil’s Porridge Museum pays homage to HM Factory Gretna, also known as the Greatest Munitions Factory on Earth. Experience the work of this important wartime site with interactive exhibits and virtual reality headsets, and learn about the history of this area of Scotland.
High in the Swiss Alps and not far from the Italian border, Ecomuseum Simplon encompasses a series of historic buildings, castles, and museums linked together by the Via Stockalper (Stockalperweg) hiking route. Follow some or all of the 22-mile (35-kilometer) trail to discover the history and heritage of this remote alpine region.
While Bayeux’s once-thriving lacemaking industry has gone, its traditions live on at the city’s Lace Conservatory (the Conservatoire de la Dentelle de Bayeux) in the town center. Here, you can glimpse artisans using bobbins and pins to create delicate pieces of lace by hand—just as lacemakers did centuries ago.
In startling contrast to the frills and thrills of the French Riviera, the Massif des Maures—a small mountain range running parallel to the coast for 36 miles (60 kilometers)—feels wild and quiet. Casual and avid hikers will find plenty of adventures here on the orchid-lined slopes; those seeking natural serenity will find that in spades, too.
Forming the heart of Kedainiai in central Lithuania, the Old Town is one of the country’s oldest urban gems. First recorded as a settlement in 1372, this charm-laden quarter features gabled houses, handsome churches, and cobbled squares—all of which entice visitors keen to experience old Lithuania.
After the death of famous German sculptor Georg Kolbe, his home and studio in West Berlin were converted into a museum in 1950. Discover over 200 of the artist’s statues at the museum, plus a few crafted by Kolbe’s contemporaries. See beautiful examples of architectural modernism in the museum’s two buildings connected by a large garden with tall trees.
The Baur Foundation, Museum of Far Eastern Art features an impressive collection of 9,000 art objects from China and Japan. The museum hosts two permanent galleries—with work from Imperial China and Edo-period Japan—and one temporary exhibition. Beyond the well-curated collection, visitors can enjoy the Zen Buddhism–influenced Japanese garden.
The 16th-century Church of St. Paul's Shipwreck is one of the oldest and most important churches in Valletta. It was built on the site of an older temple to St Paul; this incarnation dates back to the 1580s, with a baroque facade dating to 1885. The interiors are covered from floor to ceiling with gilded frescoes and paintings.
In the land of historic Burgundy wineries, Domaine Debray is the new kid on the block. This young wine estate was established in 2006, yet has made a name for itself as a quality producer of whites and reds. The winery prides itself on its traditional wine-production methods, such as grape collection by hand and vinification in French oak barrels.
In the heart of Ávila is the Plaza Mayor, the historic meeting place of the city’s markets and the home of Ávila City Hall. Originally built in the medieval era, the imposing building that now has pride of place in the Plaza Mayor was constructed in the 1800s and is a grand example of Isabelline architecture—a mix of Flanders and Castilian styles.
Set amid the forested valleys of Blavet, the Village de Poul-Fetan transports visitors back to 19th-century Brittany. With traditional thatched roof cottages, farmyard animals, and costumed villagers going about their work, this attraction is a fun and immersive way to learn about Brittany’s cultural heritage.
The Andén Cero is the ideal spot for fans of history and transport. Situated in the heart of Madrid, the Metro station preserved as a transport museum has been stuck in time since it closed in 1966. The original features remain in place, such as the ticket booth and advertisement posters, creating a window into the past.
Located in the suburbs of Lille, Le Fresnoy is an educational center and an exhibition space. It trains French and international artists working on various audiovisual and multimedia projects in a state-of-the-art residency center. Le Fresnoy is also open to the public for contemporary art exhibits, films, theater performances, lectures, and concerts.
One of Spain’s most important archaeological sites, the Santimamiñe Cave (Cueva de Santimamiñe) is renowned for its dozens of ancient cave paintings. Representing some 14,000 years of human history, the landmark was discovered by two young children in 1916, and underwent excavations from 1918 until 1962. Today, it is closed to visitors.
Alba is best known for its UNESCO-listed countryside and its precious white truffles, but this town in Piedmont has a history that dates back to ancient Rome. Explore this past by heading deep below the town center to admire Roman ruins—including a temple, forum, theater, and domus—as well as medieval tower foundations.
Home to more than 400 animals and 200 plant species, the Naples Zoo (Lo Zoo di Napoli) is made up of a combination of vast animal enclosures and botanical displays. Explore pavilions full of hippopotamuses, rhinoceroses, and elephants; visit a variety of reptiles; and enjoy the birds in the zoo’s aviary.
Sagadi Manor (Sagadi Mois) has stood in what is now Lahemaa National Park for 500 years, dating from Estonia’s Baltic-German period. Having been restored to its former glory, the manor is now open to visitors who can explore the rooms and gardens while learning about its history and admiring its romantic architecture.
The Musical Instrument Museum in Berlin (Musikinstrumenten-Museum) is a haven for those interested in the history of music. It houses the largest collection of musical instruments in Germany, with more than 3,500 pieces from the 1500s to today. The museum is also a part of the State Institute for Music Research under the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation.
Set between two peninsulas in the Aegean Sea—Bodrum to the north and Datça in the south—and hemmed in by the dramatic sea cliffs, sandy coves and rocky islands of the Gulf of Gökova (also known as the Ceramic Gulf) make up some of the most picturesque landscapes of Turkey’s (officially the Republic of Türkiye) famous Turquoise Coast.
The Martin Bodmer Foundation is home to a priceless collection of rare books and letters amassed by Swiss scholar Martin Bodmer himself. A treat for lovers of the written word, the site boasts highlights such as a Gutenberg bible from 1452 and a collection of Egyptian “papyri,” with segments of Old and New Testament writings.
Note: Spaceport has now closed for business and Eureka Science and Discovery has taken over the premises. \ Escape the city and journey into space on a visit to Liverpool’s Spaceport science center. Explore the universe via interactive displays, take a ride on Explorer 1, and marvel at the mysteries of the cosmos in the planetarium on a family-friendly day out.
Occupying one of Madrid’s most beautiful buildings, the 4-story Geomineral Museum (Museo Geominero) hosts a permanent exhibition of 18,000 geological specimens discovered in Spain and worldwide. Head here to admire samples of glittering quartz, gems, meteorites, and fossils in grandiose gallery halls.
Birthplace of the Genevois philosopher Jean-Jacque Rousseau, the Maison de Rousseau et de la Littérature (MRL) has been reborn as a modest museum-come-library. Paying homage to the man regarded as Geneva’s most famous son, the site retraces Rousseau’s life and legacy with a self-guided audio tour and light display.
Housed in the Palais de la Bourse, the former Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the enchanting Maritime and Commercial Museum of Marseille focuses on the city’s modern maritime history, which spans the last 500 years or so, and provides a fascinating look into what has made Marseille a major player in the worldwide maritime economy.
Housed in the Brasserie Cantillon, the only remaining traditional lambic brewery in Brussels, the Brussels Gueuze Museum is a great place to learn about Belgium’s celebrated brewing traditions firsthand. Here, visitors can see the insides of a working brewery that has changed little over the last century.
Flamenco is nothing if not passionate. Expect stomping, clapping, frenzied guitar strumming, and, of course, dancing. Take a lesson—or just take in a performance—at Cafe de Chinitas, one of Madrid’s celebrated flamenco spaces. Upgrade with dinner and sangria to make the evening a truly special occasion.
