Europe attractions

The State Darwin Museum was the world’s first museum of evolution when it opened its doors in 1907, and it remains one of the largest of its kind. Spread over three floors, the vast permanent collection features more than 400,000 items, with interactive exhibits and multimedia displays making it fun and educational for all ages.

Opened in 1989 to mark the centennial of her birth, the Anna Akhmatova Museum in the Fountain House of Sheremetev Palace celebrates the life and works of one of Russia’s most renowned poets. The twice Nobel Prize–nominated writer lived here for over 20 years and now, enthusiasts can get a sense of where she worked and view her personal effects.

Nikolaevsky Palace is one of St. Petersburg’s lesser-known palaces, but its striking neoclassical facade and unique architectural features make it well worth a visit. The historic palace also plays host to the popularFeel Yourself Russian! show—a showcase of traditional Russian music and folk ballet.

The Cabeco do Canto hiking trail reveals Faial’s volcanic landscape in all of its lush green glory. While the 1.5-mile (2.5-kilometer) circular route is considered of medium difficulty, it’s one of the Azorean island’s most popular treks thanks to the rugged beauty of the landscapes it traverses.

An enormous water park just outside Nessebar, Aqua Paradise is also home to a large resort hotel. The park, sometimes known as Aqua Park Nessebar, features over 20 water slides, multiple swimming pools, lazy rivers, and attractions including a surf simulator. There are also a range of bars and restaurants, plus themed live shows in season.

Named after Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin—the first person in space—the Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Center was once the top secret base of the Soviet Space Program. Now operated by the Russian Federal Space Agency and open to the public; it provides a fascinating insight into Russia’s long history of space exploration.

Russia’s rich cultural history and diverse heritage is the focal point of the Russian Museum of Ethnography, one of the largest of its kind in the world. With a gigantic collection spanning the 18th to 20th century, it offers fascinating insight into life in Russia through the ages.

Opened in 2003, the Izmailovo Kremlin on the outskirts of Moscow pays homage to the other kremlins around Russia. Built in a pseudo-Byzantine style, it was inspired by both Russian fairytales and the design of early Russian palaces. More than a half dozen museums can be found within the Kremlin walls, including the Museum of the History of Vodka, the Museum of Bread, the Museum of Miniatures, the Museum of the History of the Russian Navy and the Chocolate Museum. There are also a couple restaurants and a wooden church dedicated to St. Nicholas of Myra, the patron saint of arts and crafts. Visitors can also learn more about traditional Russian matryoshka (nesting) dolls and even try painting their own. Adjacent to the Kremlin is the Izmailovo Vernissage, a large flea market where visitors can buy a variety of souvenirs and kitschy items such as fur hats, chess sets, Soviet paraphernalia and, of course, matryoshka dolls. Prices are generally lower than elsewhere in Moscow and bartering is expected; transactions are cash only. The Vernissage is open daily, but many vendors only come out on the weekends.

The looming yellow cathedral tower and star-shaped fortifications of the Peter and Paul Fortress dominate St. Petersburg’s riverfront, rising up from the shores of Zayachy Island. Built by Peter the Great in 1703, the fortress boasts a long history, having served as a military base, royal burial site, and political prison.

Situated at the base of the Monument to the Conquerors of Space—which depicts a rocket soaring into space—Moscow’s Museum of Cosmonautics looks back at Russia’s role in space exploration. From retro space race propaganda to Soviet-era rockets, exhibits celebrate the Soviet space program and the country’s outer space achievements.

Encircled by poignant monuments and memorials, the Victory Museum—or the Museum of the Great Patriotic War—is the focal point of Moscow’s Victory Park (Park Pobedy). Opened in 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, it’s Russia’s largest and most important museum of military history.

St. Petersburg’s most iconic site after the Hermitage Museum, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is known for its elaborate façade and brightly colored onion domes. Officially the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, the magnificent church was built on the site where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated in 1881.

Suzdal’s Museum of Wooden Architecture and Peasant Life is an open air museum dedicated to showing how Russian peasants lived in centuries past. Just a short walk across the Kamenka River from Suzdal’s Kremlin, the museum consists of about 20 wooden buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, including log houses, windmills, churches and a barn. Set up like a small village, the museum sits on the site of St. Dmitry’s Monastery, one of the oldest in Suzdal. Visitors can go inside three houses, as well as the 18th century Transfiguration Church, notable for its dome covered with silvery aspen shakes. The museum is also home to a variety of cultural activities, including weaving demonstrations, pottery making and folk singing. Museum staff wear traditional costumes and English speaking guides can explain how the various buildings were used and provide insight as to how Russian peasants lived.

Among stiff competition, the elegant Neo-classical crescent of Gatchina Palace is one of St. Petersburg’s loveliest palaces, built for Count Gregory Orlov, a favorite (read: lover?) of Catherine the Great, in 1782 by the maestro Antonio Rinaldi, who was responsible for many churches and Imperial palaces around the city. After Orlov’s death, Gatchina was home to four generations of the Romanov Tsars before being requisitioned by the state in 1917. All but destroyed in World War II, the doors of the palace only reopened when refurbishment started in 1985; it is so breathtakingly huge that restoration still goes on today. Today a visit to this most romantic of palaces encompasses a treasure trove of Romanov riches — what style these guys lived in — in a series of ever-more opulent rooms; the standout collections among the art, coins and armory being the moving black-and-white photographs charting the life of the Romanov family, more than 30,000 rare Russian books and priceless 16th-century Sèvres porcelain. The palace is surrounded by landscaped gardens that could take all day to explore. They are ornamented by winding pathways through birch trees, bridges hopping across to islands in the lakes, fountains, orangeries, aviaries and a variety of wood and stone follies — including the Priory Palace, which was given to the Romanovs by the Maltese Knights of St John in 1799 — as well as greenhouses nurturing tropical plants and botanical gardens neatly divided into parterres.

The Winzavod Center for Contemporary Art (Vinzavod) in Moscow is the heart of the city’s contemporary art scene. The seven industrial buildings that make up the center include the former home of Moscow’s oldest winery and what was once the second largest brewery in Moscow. The complex was later bought by one of the richest men in Russia, who established an art gallery with more than 500 paintings, making the Winzavod Center the oldest art gallery in Moscow. Covering 20,000 square meters, the center is now home to four of Russia’s most prestigious contemporary art galleries, as well as artists’ studios, fashion showrooms, a photography studio, an avant-garde clothing store, a bookstore, an art-supply store and an art-café. Eight different halls within the complex can be used for special events such as lectures, festivals or art exhibitions. It also hosts the annual national photo contest, Best of Russia, which receives tens of thousands of entries from all over the country.

One of the three museums dedicated to the life of Leo Tolstoy n Moscow, the Leo Tolstoy State Museum (Muzey L.N. Tolstogo) was the winter home of the writer in the 1880s and 1890s. Containing more than 6,000 items belonging to Tolstoy and his family, the museum not only offers a glimpse into Tolstoy’s life, but also provides visitors a sense of how the nobility lived in the 19th century. The house sits on nearly a hectare of land lined with maple and linden trees and has remain mostly unchanged from when Tolstoy called it home. The house’s 16 rooms have been carefully preserved, from Tolstoy’s raccoon coat hanging on the wall in the entrance, to the toys in his youngest child’s bedroom. The second floor study is where the writer penned many of his masterpieces and in the large living room, he and his wife hosted literary and musical evenings with the likes of Rachmaninov.

The Kremlin Armoury houses the most precious treasures of the Russian czars, many of which were made right in the Kremlin. Some 4,000 glittering valuables are spread across two floors and arranged according to themes, from heavily embroidered royal regalia and carriages to weapons and jewel-encrusted Fabergé eggs.

With a prime location on the corner of Nevksy Prospekt and the Moika River Embankment, the Stroganov Palace (Stroganovsky Dvorets) is one of the oldest aristocratic in St. Petersburg. Designed by renowned Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the palace is one of the best examples of late Baroque architecture in St. Petersburg. The light pink main façade faces Nevsky Prospekt and features a large entrance arch supported by two Corinthian columns that leads to an inner courtyard. Oak gates feature carvings of branches and lion’s heads, while windows are framed by cupid figures. Today the palace houses part of the collection of the State Russian Museum and several rooms are open to the public, having been restored to their late 18th century appearance. The State Dining Room overlooks both Nevsky Prospekt and the River Moika and features large mirrors opposite the windows to create the illusion of a room much larger than it actually is. The Large Ballroom is simply grand, with glittering chandeliers, parquet floors made of exotic woods, stucco molding and patterned balcony railings, as well as a large painting by Valeriani. The Mineral Study, restored in 2005, is considered one of the masterpieces of 18th century Russian architecture.

Ellenbogen—meaning “elbow” in German—is quite literally an area shaped like an elbow, located on the northernmost tip of the island of Sylt, which boasts unspoiled natural beauty. This wild landscape features grassy dunes, pristine beaches, and lighthouses. Ideal for a scenic escape from city life, you can cycle, hike, or relax on the beach, while enjoying the serene surroundings.

With its underground network of trains and tunnels stretching for more than 190 miles (305 kilometers) across 200-plus stations, Moscow’s metro system covers a lot of territory. It’s more than just a transport hub though. Many metro stations are architectural landmarks, built in Soviet times and dubbed "the palaces of the people."

Tucked down a side street in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, Els Quatre Gats (The Four Cats) is one of the city’s most famous restaurants and a memorable location for a cup of coffee or some Catalan cuisine. The tavern was fashioned after Le Chat Noir in Paris and quickly became a favorite haunt of Pablo Picasso and Antoni Gaudí.

Russia’s long and turbulent history—from prehistoric times to the early 20th century—is recounted in fascinating detail at this enlightening museum. Housed inside a Russian revivalist building, its 4.5-million-strong collection includes everything from mammoth tusks to treasures belonging to czars, with exhibits arranged chronologically.

An imposing red-brick fortress stretching along the banks of the Moskva River, the Moscow Kremlin is the grand centerpiece of Moscow and one of Russia’s most recognizable landmarks. Originally the seat of the Russian grand dukes and later home to Soviet leaders such as Lenin and Stalin, the Kremlin is now the Russian president’s official residence.

Ithomi is best known for the magnificent ruins of Ancient Messene (sometimes called Ancient Messini) set at the foot of Mount Ithome. While it’s as striking as other Greek archaeological sites, Messene sees fewer tourists. Visitors can marvel at the marketplace (agora), stadium, and monumental gate, and visit the small museum.

The most luxurious house of its time in St Petersburg, the Menshikov Palace was also the first large stone building to be constructed in the city. Standing on Vasilievsky Island, it is the only surviving private structure from the early 18th century. Designed by Italian architects, the exterior combines a western Baroque style with traditional Russian architectures that has been dubbed “Petrine Baroque.” Inside, the rooms that hosted some of the first balls in the city have been restored to their original state, with parquet floors, Dutch tiles and marble accents. The exhibits likewise take visitors back to the 18th century, with collections of European and Russian applied art from the era, as well as sculptures, paintings, engravings and furniture. The palace has functioned as a branch of the State Hermitage Museum since 1967.

With its perfectly preserved medieval architecture and two working drawbridges, Château de Montmuran is a highlight of the Rennes countryside. Join a guided tour to explore its two original 12th-century towers, as well as the imposing gatehouse, guardroom, dungeon, and chapel, plus take in views over the lush Dinan landscape dotted with more than 20 bell towers from atop the fortress walls.

Housed in a spectacular glass pavilion designed by the architectural practice OMA in partnership with Rem Koolhaas 2015 on the site of a derelict restaurant, Garage is the creation of Russian girl-about-town Daria Zhukova, the longstanding girlfriend of Roman Abramovich. Originally found in the Bakhmetevsky Bus Garage (hence the name), which is now the home of the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center, the art gallery has a spectacular location on the fringe of Gorky Park. The temporary exhibitions held on the gallery’s two levels concentrate on promoting the work of international modern artists, while its permanent holdings specialize in the development of Russian contemporary art from the 1950s to present. Recent big names shown there include Louise Bourgeois and installation artist Rashid Johnson. Creative workshops are held for kids and there’s a stylish café with views over Gorky Park, an arty bookshop and a research library in the museum too. A welcome addition to Moscow’s burgeoning cool cultural scene, Garage should be on the itinerary of all visitors spending time in the city.

Moscow’s iconic, brick-and-glass Bakhmetevsky Bus Garage was designed by avant-garde Russian architects Konstantin Melnikov and Vladimir Shukhov in 1926. By the dawn of the 21st century it was in disrepair but was restored by Roman Abramovich to house the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art. That then moved and the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center subsequently opened at the Bus Garage in 2012. Now firmly on all the tours of Jewish heritage in Moscow, it is dedicated to the backstory of Russian Jews from medieval times to present day, with displays walking chronologically through spacious galleries making clever use of the very latest technology. Using personal narrative, film footage, holograms, multimedia touch screens and listening stations, this is a thoroughly modern museum with a surprisingly positive message. Yes, the subject matter deals thoughtfully with programs and the Holocaust but also dedicates space to the achievements of the Jews in Moscow and St Petersburg before World War I, when they successfully played a large part in civic and cultural life. There’s a small collection of Jewish ephemera and a permanent art exhibition as well as an animated 4D movie in the Beginnings Theater, which explains the beliefs fundamental to Judaism, but the heart of the museum lies with the panoramic film projected on to a massive, curved screen that combines wartime footage with testimonies from Holocaust survivors and deals with Jewish repression under Soviet rule. The Tolerance Center is a place in which to reflect and look forward; it houses a children’s center and the Schneerson Collection, a library of priceless Jewish books and manuscripts.

Located in the seaside town of Strelna, the Constantine Palace today forms part of the National Congress Palace complex of St. Petersburg. Strelna was originally chosen by Peter the Great to be the site of his summer residence in 1714, but the palace stood unfinished until the early 19th century. It served as a residence for the Romanov grand dukes until falling into decay after the Russian Revolution. Later, all interior decorations were stripped during the German occupation of St. Petersburg. In 2001, Vladimir Putin ordered the palace to be renovated and converted into a presidential residence. It hosted more than 50 heads of state during St. Petersburg’s tercentenary celebration in 2003 and recently held the qualifying draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Visitors to the palace today can see exhibitions of Russian painting, decorative and applied arts and the history of Russian glass production from the 1700s. The palace also boasts a thousand masterpieces of Russian art from the 17th to 20th centuries, based on collection of Russian musicians Rostropovich and Vishnevskaya.

Officially known as the F.M. Dostoevsky Literary Memorial Museum, this museum celebrates the life of Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. It was opened in 1971 in the apartment where he lived first in 1846 and again from 1878 until his death in 1881. Notably, it is also where he penned his last novel, the Brothers Karamazov. The interior has been reconstructed based on recollections of Dostoevsky’s wife and friends and includes memorabilia donated by his grandson. A literary exhibit focuses on Dostoevsky’s life and work, while exhibit halls occasionally display contemporary art. The museum library holds about 24,000 volumes and museum collection also includes a large collection of graphic and applied art and a collection of photographs. Every November, the museum hosts a conference on Dostoevsky and World Culture. It also hosts bus and walking tours of St Petersburg focused on Dostoevsky’s works and the city.