Austria

Austria

Kristallwelten

Swarovski crystals are world renowned for their beauty and sparkle. Kristallwelten, the company’s museum of the most beautiful and artistic glass works under its name features amazing spectacles of sight and sound like Crystal Planet, Crystal Dome, Crystal Meditation, Crystal Theater, Crystal Calligraphy and the Ice Lane. These permanent fixtures of the museum showcase the sheer breathtaking kaleidoscope of reflective light. As well, the museum is home to textile works by Donna Karan, Yves St. Laurent, Coco Chanel and Givenchy, some of the most famous designers in recent history. , Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali, thought provoking and innovative artists, also have pieces featuring these luminescent crystals in the museum. Home to the most expensive crystal that money can buy, the Swarovski Kristallwelten, is quite possibly the most breathtaking establishment you will ever enter.

Germany

Germany

Berlin
Berlin is perhaps the best point for starting your travels in Germany. Berlin Germany has served as a cultural center for hundreds of years. Following the end of World War II, the city was split into two halves—East Berlin was held by the Russians and communism while West Berlin was held by the allies and democracy. In 1961, the infamous Berlin Wall was constructed, further separating the two halves. However, the wall was torn down in 1989 and the country was unified once more. One day you might pay a visit to the Charlottenburg Palace, home of the first Prussian King; on the next day you might go to Potsdamer Platz Arcades, a shopping center containing over a hundred modern stores. Those looking for something a little less mainstream will love Hackescher Market, an area that hosts countless small shops that feature items containing their own unique style.
Of course, one cannot mention Berlin without speaking of the Berlin Wall. There isn’t terribly much left of the structure that split the city in twain, but the Brandenburg Gate still stands, serving as a reminder of the past. If you want a better understanding of the history behind the wall, you should visit the Berlin Wall Museum in Berlin. This now broken separator is in itself a symbol of some of the darkest history of Germany but also a shining beacon of hope in it’s demolition and stands now as a symbol for freedom, democracy and unity.

 

Belgium

Belgium

Brugges
Bruges’ incredibly well-preserved medieval architecture makes it one of the most exciting tourist attractions in Europe. Bruges has been voted a top World destination. As well, it has been named on Unesco’s World Heritage List since 2000. Bruges lies within a circle of canals and earth banks, the remains of centuries-old fortifications, and is the best preserved example of medieval architecture. At its heart are two squares: Markt, the medieval marketplace; and Burg, the ancient seat of government, dominated by the City Hall.
Things to do and see in Bruges
Market Square (Grote Markt) and Belfry (Belfort)

The market square is the medieval commercial centre of the city. One of the city’s most impressive monuments is the Belfry and Cloth Hall and on the north side the Provincial Court. For excellent views of the city climb the 366 steps to the top of the 83-metre high Belfry tower. The rest of the square is occupied by restaurants and cafes located in guild houses.

 

Denmark

Demark

Welcome to Dyrehavsbakken, the oldest amusement park in the world and the most entertaining in Denmark, with a history of great entertainment stretching back 425 years.

Dyrehavsbakken is located in the most attractive countryside area near Copenhagen.
The park is packed with rides of all kinds – some fast and furious, turning the world upside-down, and others more sedate – ideal for our youngest visitors. You can test your skills in more than 30 different entertaining games and competitions.

Dyrehavsbakken has around 40 restaurants and bars and suits all tastes and any budget. Sit down and relax in a restaurant or grab a quick hamburger or hotdog – or perhaps a giant ice cream. The bars are always full of life and many of them host live music throughout the season. Dyrehavsbakken is also home to the Circus Revue and the Bakkens Hvile music hall.

 

Finland

Finland

Suomenlinna
Suomenlinna is a historic sea fortress surrounding half a dozen islands. A UNESCO World inheritance site, it is a popular purpose for tourists. It is a favored picnic site, and there are also more than a few museums there as well. Guided tours cover the eventful history of the fortress and its main sights, including the Great Courtyard and the dry dock, which at the time of its completion was the biggest in the world. There are several restaurants and cafés where you can enjoy meals and snacks at various prices.
While on the Island, make sure to:
• Visit the Suomenlinna Museum and watch the widescreen show
• Take a short coffee break, explore the Kustaanmiekka island and walk to the King’s Gate OR get souvenirs in the summer shop.

France

France

The Musée du Louvre

The Musée du Louvre– or simply the Louvre – is one of the world’s largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. The museum, formerly a royal fortress is one of the central landmarks of Paris. Nearly 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 19th century are exhibited over an area of 60,600 square metres of beautiful architectural design. The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace which began as a fortress built in the late 12th century under Philip II. Remnants of the fortress are still visible. The Louvre houses one of the oldest and most expansive collection of art from around the ancient and modern world.
Egyptian antiquities, comprising of over 50,000 pieces includes artifacts that date back from 4,000 BC to the 4th century. Exhibits feature works from Ancient Egypt, the Middle Kingdom, the New Kingdom, Coptic Art and the Roman, Ptolemaic and Byzantine periods.
The Greek, Etruscan, and Roman department displays pieces from the Mediterranean Basin dating from the Neolithic to the 6th century.
The Near Eastern Antiquities and Islamic art collection, the museum’s newest, spans “thirteen centuries and three continents” from before the advent of Islam to its flourish.
The sculpture department comprises work created before 1850 that does not belong in the Etruscan, Greek, and Roman department. The Objets d’art, or decorative arts collection spans from the Middle Ages to the mid-19th century. The painting collection has more than 6,000 works from the 13th century to 1848 and is managed by 12 curators who oversee the collection’s display. Among these is the ever famous Mona Lisa, with her captivating and secretive smile Da Vinci’s portrait has captured the hearts and minds of many.
Under the main entrance to the museum is the Carousel du Louvre, a shopping mall. Among a wide variety of other stores, it has the first Apple Store in France.

Greece

Greece

Acropolis, Athens
Other Greek cities and towns may boast a section of town by the same name (Acropolis means “higher city’), but the mere mention of the word anywhere in the world brings to mind the Athens Acropolis. A veritable Greek icon, the Acropolis complex of ancient buildings has caused writers to wax poetic over its grandeur and beauty for centuries.
In the modern world, it endures as a classic symbol of survival – of war, the passage of time and the many transitions of fashion. Among the most famous of the remaining buildings that make up the Acropolis is the Parthenon, a classic beauty of Doric architecture completed in 438 BC and dedicated to Athena. Today, the Parthenon is part of an ongoing restoration project – with recent work now being completed and the scaffolding removed, to once again show off its classic line and form to best advantage.
A visit to the Acropolis would also not be complete without taking in the smaller gem of Ionic architecture, the Erechtheion, with its charming south portico supported by caryatids, a term used for columns shaped in human form. In this case, they are beautiful maidens, draped in garments with folds resembling fluted columns.
Indoors, the Acropolis museum can be found below the level of the Parthenon, featuring a stunning collection devoted to finds from the Acropolis including 5th century BC statues and well-preserved segments of the Parthenon fresco.

Iceland

Iceland

The Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is certainly one of the most popular places to visit in Iceland and that is because this body of water is considered to be one of the most mystical on Earth. The water’s temperature is optimal for swim or relaxation; the gently warmed waters are also rich in minerals that are considered to have curative powers. The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa where you can relax while swimming in geothermal sea water. All this time you can also enjoy the beautiful surroundings that consist of amazing lava fields and unique black sandy beaches. The sea water comes to the lagoon from the wells that can be found 2000 m deep. The water is warm throughout the whole year never dropping below 36 C. You can also find there an indoor Blue Lagoon and a geothermal sauna. The properties of this sea water (rich in mineral salt, silica and blue green algae) are excellent for providing you the relaxation you need. The silica has exfoliating properties having a revitalizing effect for your skin and the mineral salt is perfect for relaxing and balancing your body.

Italy

Italy

Roman Coliseum
The Colosseum, or the Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre, is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy. It is the largest ever built in the Roman Empire, and considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering.
Capable of seating 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical roman mythology. The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine.
The Colosseum is an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome. It is one of Rome’s most popular tourist attractions and still has close connections with the Roman Catholic Church, as each Good Friday the Pope leads a torch lit “Way of the Cross” procession that starts in the area around the Colosseum.

 

Luxemburg

Luxemburg

Vianden Castle
The castle is open daily in the summer from 10am to 6pm. Tourists of all ages and from all over Luxembourg congregate to watch the medieval dancers, cobblers, ironsmiths, monks, and knights. The festival’s charm and the castles obvious magnificence make for a great day out full of ancient experiences for you and the kids. Vianden Castle was constructed between the 11th and 14th centuries on the foundations of a Roman “castellum” and a Carolingian refuge. This castle, as well as the city of Vianden, had the look and feel of a fairy tale.

 

Norway

Norway

Midnight Sun Cruises
Land of the midnight sun

The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon which means that the sun does not set during the summer months. In other words, given fair weather, you can see the sun for a continuous 24 hours. This is where Norway gets its well known nickname, Land of the Midnight Sun. Capture this magnificent experience on a midnight sun cruise or safari before the darkness of winter arrives. These trips will take you out on the open sea to experience the special light. You can sit on deck and enjoy the midnight sun or there are plenty of bird and whale watching opportunities aboard the same ship. One of Norways best known and most loved experiences is enjoying the dazzling sunlight at midnight. An excellent way to experience the Norwegian coast, is to go on a cruise with Hurtigruten (The Norwegian Coastal Voyage).

Approximate dates when you can see the midnight sun
The Arctic Circle
12 June – 1 July
Bodø 4 June – 8 July
Svolvær 28 May – 14 July
Harstad
25 May – 18 July
Bardufoss 23 May – 19 July
Andenes 22 May – 21 July
Tromsø
20 May – 22 July
Bossekopp 19 May – 24 July
Vardø 17 May – 26 July
Hammerfest 16 May – 27 July
Berlevåg 15 May – 28 July
The North Cape
14 May – 29 July
Longyearbyen (Svalbard)
20 April – 22 August

Portugal

Portugal

Rally Vinho da Madeira
The European Rally Championship is on the island of Madeira, Portugal in early August. The European Rally Championship is the oldest international competition organised by FIA (the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), and includes 10 events in 10 European countries. The worlds best drivers gather to this small island once a year for the main event of the racing competition, the Rally Vinho de Madeira. The surrounding landscape affords the lightning paced race a gorgeous scenic backdrop. The Madeira Wine rally is one of the most important events in the championship and is the region’s biggest automobile event, attracting thousands of spectators to mountainous areas in search of a better place to watch the vehicles as they roar by.

The rally is named after one of the main products in Madeira, the liqueur wine that was already highly popular in European courts in the 18th century due to its unique aroma and flavour.

Spain

Spain

Magic Fountain- Barcelona, Spain
The Magic Fountain is the main feature of the collection of waterfalls and ponds on Avinguda Maria Cristina, which stretches from the Palau Nacional to Plaça Espanya in Montjuïc. It was built for the 1929 World Fair by Carles Buïgas.This is a spectacular fountain which is very popular because of its water arrangements, sound and lighting. Through its connection to the groundwater network of Montjuïc Mountain, the Magic Fountain and the three upper waterfalls are supplied with water coming from subsoil level.
In the 1980s music was added, and shortly before the 1992 Olympic Games it was completely renovated; despite this, the fountain still has a large part of the original mechanisms. Using extremely artisanal methods, up to thirty different water arrangements can be viewed by audiences and this number of combinations is enhanced by the full array of colored lighting that plays along with the water show.

Sweden

Sweden

Ice Hotel
As the name suggests, the Ice Hotel is a hotel in northern Sweden made entirely of ice. Constructed and re-constructed winter after winter, the Ice Hotel takes guests during the coldest months of the year. The first and the largest in the world, this Swedish destination makes for a once in an lifetime experience. The hotel itself has been referred to as more than just a hotel, an art project. As is it must be rebuilt every winter, new designs surface with every new layout for an ever changing but constantly beautiful work of art and architecture. The cuisine is said to cultivate the many flavors of the Swedish Lapland as well as gourmet dishes from around the world.
Each year, visitors from all over the world are attracted to the little village of Lapland, 200km north of the Arctic Circle. The hotel also organizes daily excursions to the mountain range and even all the way up to the northern tip of Norway to see the Fjords, the country’s most prominent peaks.

Netherlands

Netherlands

Heineken Brewery, Amsterdam
The Heineken brewery, located in Amsterdam, offers the Heineken Experience to visitors. The historical brewery is also a corporate visitor center for the internationally distributed Dutch beer (pilsner).The Heineken Experience tour is designed to educate you on the process of making this world famous beer.
It’s not just a museum, it’s an interactive experience! You will be lead through four levels of beer making through the different stages of brewing and distillation and packaging. You can see it, feel it, hear it and even taste it! The Heineken brewery is open daily from 11am to 7pm.