Europe attractions

Housing the extensive collection of the late Danish lawyer and businessman Christian Ludvig David, this museum features a variety of Islamic art, with a hall devoted to miniatures. Other highlights found throughout the heritage building—David’s former home—include handicrafts, furniture, Danish silver, and porcelain.

Docked in Southampton, the SS Shieldhall is the one of largest working steamboats in all of the United Kingdom, and stands as a tribute to British maritime history. Here, visitors can view the unique inner workings of classic steamship machinery frozen in time, both above and below deck, learn about how most ocean-going ships worked in the 19th and 20th centuries, and take to the sea.

In the vaults beneath Copenhagen’s centuries-old King Christian IV’s brewhouse lies the Lapidarium of Kings (Kongernes Lapidarium). Housing hundreds of royal sculptures, statues, and monuments amassed from all around the country, the collection serves as an impressive homage to Denmark’s royal history.

Close to Glasgow, David Livingstone Birthplace is dedicated to preserving and discussing the legacy of one of Scotland’s best-known explorers. The museum is home to an internationally significant collection of Livingstone’s belongings and an exhibition that charts his life, from his birth in Scotland to his death in Zambia.

With a Romanesque core that dates back to the 12th century, the Church of Sant Esteve (Església de Sant Esteve) stands serene in Andorra la Vella’s historic center. It has been extensively remodeled over the centuries and most of its frescoes are now in museums or private collections, however some of its 18th-century artworks remain on-site.

Tucked away in a corner of the Strasbourg Cathedral of Notre Dame (Cathédrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg), the Strasbourg Astronomical Clock is an elaborate mechanical device decorated with figures, artwork, and golden embellishments. The various dials of this 19th-century masterpiece track different astronomical occurrences, but the highlight is the mechanical figures—including apostles and a rooster—which provide a daily performance for onlookers.

Dramatic views, dense forests, and underground caves make Domogled-Valea Cernei National Park a popular spot for outdoors enthusiast. From secluded hamlets and romantic lookouts to towering peaks and native animals, there’s much to see across the park’s 150 acres—plus opportunities for hiking, climbing, camping, and more.

The Loire Valley is beloved for its roses, and Les Chemins de la Rose near Saumur is one of the best places to revel in the blooms. In 10 acres (4 hectares) worth of landscaped gardens, you’ll find arched walkways bordered by more than 13,000 rose bushes, and pastel petals and green lawns creating ribbons of color.

For family-friendly fun in the sun, Beach Village in the resort town of Riccione fits the bill. Cool off with four waterslides, two pools, and several play areas, or join the kids’ club and other splashy activities. A snack bar, sundecks, and hot tubs make this small beachfront water park the ideal spot for a relaxing break.

As one of Spain’s most revered contemporary artists, Félix Revello de Toro has a museum devoted to his work in Málaga. The permanent display at Revello de Toro Museum includes more than 100 of the artist’s sketches, figurative work, and powerful portraits. Best known for his delicate depiction of the female form, highlights include family portraits and his most famous work, Sumida en el sueño (Deep Slumber).

Framed by the green slopes of the Taunus Mountains, Bad Nauheim has been a popular wellness center for more than 150 years, thanks to its natural mineral-rich springs. The historic spa town also boasts a place in rock ‘n’ roll music history—Elvis Presley was famously stationed there during his military service in 1958.

The decade after the fall of the Berlin Wall was a time of celebration, political reunification, and creative freedom for Berliners, and the Nineties Berlin: Multimedia Exhibition chronicles all the highlights. Immerse yourself in 90s-era Berlin, from street art and fashion to the infamous party scene at the museum.

Some of the most popular churches in Italy are clad in marble from Ornavasso, found deep inside the mountains near Lake Maggiore. The Antica Cava di Ornavasso offers a glimpse into the history of quarrying marble, from open-air trenches to massive modern tunnels.

First making a name for itself as a wool trading and shipbuilding center in the 13th century, the historic village of Tenterden is today best known as the starting point of the Kent & East Sussex Railway. Here, visitors can take a ride on one of England’s best preserved steam heritage railways—but not before exploring Tenterden’s shops, wood-beamed cottages, and Victorian townhouses.

Big and beautiful, the mighty Ulmer Münster is one of the world’s tallest churches, with a steeple that reaches toward the heavens. It is arguably one of the world’s most interesting Gothic churches. Elegant yet simple Lutheran interiors, 15th-century wooden choir stalls, and stained-glass windows abound—it’s no wonder this church took around 500 years to build.

Perched on the banks of the Clyde River, Geilston Garden is a 200-year-old walled garden surrounded by woodlands and wildflowers. The small country estate looks as if it’s been taken from the pages of a Scottish fairy tale. It's most famous for the huge Wellingtonia tree that stands in its center and its exquisitely kept gardens.

With its ancient roots as the oldest city in France, Marseille is the perfect city to host the Museum of African, Oceanic and American-Indian Art. Housed the Baroque-style Vieille Charité, originally a poorhouse dating back to the late 17th century, the museum features striking ethnographic pieces and ancient artifacts. Also inside the building is the excellent Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology.

Located in the Southern Rhône—across the river from the storied Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation—the Tavel region is the birthplace of some of France’s most esteemed rosé wines. Visit the appellation (and the petite, charming village of Tavel at its heart) to taste wine or simply enjoy the South of France’s unhurried way of life.

Visitors to Gijon who are interested in the city’s underwater life shouldn’t miss a visit to the Gijon Aquarium (Acuario de Gijon), which showcases a variety species in tanks that mimic habitats around the globe. Find fresh and saltwater aquariums, exhibitions, and frequent tank feedings at this lovely, family-friendly spot.

Located on an island southeast of Copenhagen's city center, Amager Museum (Amagermuseet) offers visitors a glimpse into a way of life that’s long-since disappeared. Reconstructed rooms recreate the interiors of old Danish farmhouses, while embroidered traditional costumes and displays of hand-weaving provide insight into the fashions of a bygone era.

First discovered in 1902 by quarry workers, the Caves of Thouzon (Grottes de Thouzon) near Avignon are sometimes known as the “Fairy Caves” (“Grottes aux Fées”), owing to their unusual rock formations. Visit the subterranean landmark as a striking way to cool off in the summer or stay dry on a rainy day in Provence.

Located in Marseille’s 2nd Arrondissement, between the City Hall and the Cathedral, and built on the ruins of an ancient Roman warehouse discovered in 1947, the Roman Docks Museum features, as its name states, exhibits based on the 20 Roman shipwrecks that have been found nearby. The museum opened in 1963, and was renovated in 1987. It is one of the only still-used today commercial warehouses from the Roman era in all of France, and is considered a Historic Monument. Fernand Benoit, a world-renowned archaeologist and historian, helped preserve some of the site’s relics including 30 large jars dating back from the Roman Empire, and walls and wells from medieval homes.

Prague’s outpost of the Wax Museum of Legends by Grévin (Musee Grévin is one of the largest in Europe, famous for its waxwork likenesses of celebrities, royalty, athletes, and historic Czech figures. Opened in 2014, the museum provides three floors of family fun and fantasy close to the Staré Mesto (Old Town.

There’s something for every fun-loving family member at the eclectic Leolandia park, with attractions from impressive models of some of Italy’s most iconic monuments to lighthearted water rides and an exotic bird sanctuary with live shows. If your kids need a break from the bustle of Milan, take a day trip to this unique amusement park.

Opened in 1900 as the first light railway in England, the historic Kent and East Sussex Railway now operates a 10.5 miles (17 kilometer) route between Tenterden and Bodiam. Riding aboard one of the 20th-century steam or heritage diesel trains is one of the most traditional ways to appreciate the English countryside, including the Rother Valley and Wittersham.

For prehistoric rock art, stalactites, and stalagmites in the Lot Valley, Pech Merle Cave is the place to be. The grotto stretches under the hills around Cabrerets, and while its geology is impressive, its 20,000-year-old artwork is even more so. Venture into the cave’s depths to see pictures of dappled horses and handprints discovered by children in the 1920s.

The Bauhaus Archive Museum of Design(Bauhaus-Archiv Museum für Gestaltung) is both a museum and a research institute in Berlin. It is a non-profit organization that was established in 1960, and it is dedicated to the history and the after-effects of the most significant art school of the 20th century. The works found here represent many areas such as painting, sculpture, architecture, furniture, ceramics, metal, photography, stage and photographs from the original Bauhaus Workshop. The Bauhaus was founded as a state-run school by Walter Gropius, and the Bauhaus Workshop operated from 1919 to 1933. The aim of the Bauhaus Archive is "to collect and present all documents relating to the activities and cultural and intellectual heritage of the Bauhaus," which includes photographs, books, designs, models and artistic works, along with the organization of exhibitions and accompanying programs. Exhibitions in the museum include permanent collections as well as special temporary exhibits. Please note: The Bauhaus Archive Museum of Design is currently closed for renovation. The reopening is scheduled for 2022.

Discover the learning potential in play during a visit to the Kindermuseum MachMit, designed for children. This hands-on museum engages all of the senses through arts and crafts, special workshops, and interactive exhibits. It’s also a popular place for birthday parties and other events for kids.

In the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region of Southeastern France, Castellane is many things: It’s France's least populated subprefecture; it’s a registered historical site dating back to the High Middle Ages; and it’s the Gateway to the Verdon Gorge (Gorges du Verdon), aka “Europe’s Grand Canyon,” a scenic area rife with hiking trails, overlooks, and rafting routes. While history lovers would be comfortable here, the town’s outdoors draw the most travelers.

Silver, iron, and uranium were once unearthed at the Czech Republic’s Príbram Mine, and today, the 18th-century complex is a museum dedicated to its history and production. Ride on surface and underground mine trains, venture into mining tunnels, and travel deep below ground in a mine elevator as you explore this historic mine.