Choose from 4,530 Fun Things to Do in Europe
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Aviva Stadium
Dublin residents are passionate about sport, and the Aviva stadium is the pulsing epicenter of Rugby Union and football (soccer). This 51,700-person stadium holds Ireland’s largest sporting events and concerts, and tours are available on days that don’t have a concert or large-scale event. Aside from being a popular venue, Aviva Stadium also holds a bit of Dublin history, as back in 1873, this was the site of one of the world’s first international sporting contests. Rugby matches were held on the grounds between regional teams in Ireland, and the Lansdowne grounds held international contests in 1878. Originally built as a multi-purpose venue for cricket, rugby, and athletics, Aviva Stadium is best known today as the site of Irish football. It’s also the site of superstar concerts, with big name acts such as Rihanna, Neil Diamond, and Michael Jackson having performed at Aviva’s grounds.
Practical Info
Aviva Stadium is located in downtown Dublin about 8 minutes from St. Stephen’s Green, and tours start at 10am and run on the hour until 3pm. The DART runs directly to the stadium and is the easiest means of transport, and the nearest LUAS stop is at Charlemont about 1.5 miles away.
Address: Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland
Admission: Varies
From $ 67
Avebury
Dating from between 2900 and 2600 BC, Avebury is the world’s largest Neolithic stone circle. Originally composed of three stone circles—the largest of which comprised 98 standing stones (though only 27 now remain)—Avebury is truly immense. Though the function of Avebury is not fully understood, it was likely used for pagan ceremonies.
The Basics
The county of Wiltshire is brimming with Neolithic sites. Day tours departing from London, Glastonbury, and Salisbury typically combine visits to Stonehenge, Avebury, Woodhenge, and West Kennet Long Barrow, which are all part of the Stonehenge and Avebury UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other day tours combine a trip to the Avebury site with visits to picturesque English cities, towns, and villages, such as Georgian Bath or medieval Lacock, known for its wood-framed houses and stone cottages.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Avebury is a must for history buffs and anyone with an interest in mysticism.
- Beat the daytime crowds with a guided after-hours tour.
- Part of the henge is accessible by wheelchair, and a wheelchair-accessible restroom can be found on Avebury High Street.
How to Get There
Avebury is situated in Wiltshire in southwest England. If you’re driving, parking is available at the National Trust parking lot, 6 miles (10 miles) west of Marlborough on the A4361. Alternatively, take the train from London Paddington to Swindon, then switch to the Stagecoach route 49 bus to Avebury.
When to Get There
Visitors can walk around the stone circles at any time, though early morning and early evening are when the site is at its most tranquil. As in neighboring Stonehenge, the summer solstice in June is a big event, and the parking lot often fills up early on this day.
History and Highlights of Avebury
Today in Avebury, only 30 original stones remain standing, though pillars mark the places where other stones once stood. It is thought many of the original stones were removed in the Middle Ages by religious zealots who wanted to wipe out evidence of England’s pagan past. Other stones were pilfered in the 18th century and used to build houses in the vicinity, some of which can still be seen across the fields. Some stones to look out for: the huge Swindon Stone, which has never been toppled, and the Barber Surgeon Stone, under which the skeleton of a man was unearthed. The tools he was buried with indicate that he was a barber-cum-surgeon.
Address: West Kennett, Marlborough, Wiltshire, Avebury SN8 1QF, England
Admission: Varies
From $ 64
Badoca Safari Park
While in southwest Portugal, travel to what feels like the heart of Africa by heading to Badoca Safari Park. Situated about an hour and a half south of Lisbon, the wildlife park features animals that are native to Africa and that live in surroundings similar to their natural habitat.
To get the full experience, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the critter-filled landscape during a 45-minute safari ride. While on the excursion, you’ll spy wild animals such as giraffes, zebras, camels and more. Other park activities include the lemur experience, during which you can interact with the endangered animals; and a children’s petting zoo, complete with goats, donkeys, lambs, ponies and more. And if you’re keen for more adventure, even go — and get soaked — on the African rafting ride.
Practical Info
Different experiences — such as African rafting and the interaction with lemurs — have additional costs. If you wish to go rafting, expect to get quite wet, so plan accordingly with extra clothes. Also note that the rafting experience has limited opening hours, so inquire in advance so you don’t miss out.
Address: IC33 between Santiago do Cacém and Sines, Setubal District, Portugal
Hours: The park is closed until February 2016, though is usually open
daily between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Admission: Adults: €17.50; Children (4-10 years): €15.50; Seniors (65+): €15.50; Family ticket: €60
From $ 21
Babi Yar Memorial
In 1941, one of the largest shooting massacres of the Holocaust took place at Babi Yar, a ravine near Kiev. Over the course of just two days, some 34 thousand Jews were brought down to the ravine in groups of 10 and murdered by SS troops and local collaborators.
The site of this atrocity is now a peaceful public park dotted with memorials. The oldest memorial was erected in 1976 to memorialize Soviet prisoners of war. In 1991, the Menorah Monument was built to recognize the Jewish victims of the massacre, and in 2001, another monument was dedicated to the children murdered at Babi Yar. Other memorials commemorate murdered Ukraine nationalists, Orthodox Christian priests, concentration camp prisoners, and gypsies.
Practical Info
Leave yourself an hour or two to wander the park and read the various guide maps and placards offering background information about the tragedies of Babi Yar.
Address: Kiev, Ukraine
From $ 50
Aventine Hill
Aventine Hill is one of Rome’s famous seven hills. It’s the southernmost hill, located on the eastern bank of the Tiber River. This hill is important in the myths involved with the founding of Rome. The brothers, Romulus and Remus, each chose one of the area’s hills on which to found a city. Remus chose the Aventine Hill, but it was his brother Romulus (set up on the nearby Palatine Hill) who saw more signs (supposedly from the gods) and who goes on to found the city of Rome.
In Ancient Rome, the Aventine Hill was the site of a Temple of Diana, but today the hill is mainly a relatively quiet and wealthy residential district with a few churches and gardens worth checking out, plus one of the most interesting views of St. Peter’s Basilica you’ll see in Rome.
Spots worth visiting on the Aventine Hill include the 5th century church of Santa Sabina, the rose garden, the orange garden, and the famous “keyhole” view of St. Peter’s Basilica at the building housing the Knights of Malta. The Circus Maximus is to one side of the Aventine Hill.
In Ancient Rome, the Aventine Hill was the site of a Temple of Diana, but today the hill is mainly a relatively quiet and wealthy residential district with a few churches and gardens worth checking out, plus one of the most interesting views of St. Peter’s Basilica you’ll see in Rome.
Spots worth visiting on the Aventine Hill include the 5th century church of Santa Sabina, the rose garden, the orange garden, and the famous “keyhole” view of St. Peter’s Basilica at the building housing the Knights of Malta. The Circus Maximus is to one side of the Aventine Hill.
Address: Italy
From $ 31
Avenida dos Aliados
This bustling promenade lies at the heart of Porto, a Beaux-Arts beauty stretching between the imposing, landmark bell tower of the marble-and-granite City Hall and Liberdade Square to the south. As the boulevard makes its way downhill, it is lined with majestic civic buildings, luxury hotels and cafés, including the historic Guarany, where specialties include sweet pastries, strong coffee and a tradition of live music.
Porto’s main tourist office sits right by City Hall, and the courtyard statue in front honors Portuguese writer Almeida Garrett. A magnificent walkway – designed by Alvaro Siza Vieira, architect of Porto’s Serralves Museum – marches down the center of the avenue to Praça da Liberdade; this esplanade is the scene of much summer action and a popular venue for performers, pop-up cafés and street parties around the equestrian statue of King Pedro IV.
Practical Info
Take the metro to Aliados or Trindade to reach Avenida dos Aliados.
Address: Avenida dos Aliados, Porto, Portugal
From $ 12
Aynalikavak Palace
Aynalikavak Palace is a lovely Ottoman palace located in the Hasköy neighborhood of Istanbul. It was originally built under Sultan Ahmet I in 1613 and served as a summer palace and hunting grounds for numerous Ottoman sultans, who also expanded upon the original palace buildings and grounds.
Aynalikavak Palace has intricate and ornate design to it both inside and out. The exterior reflects a traditional Ottoman Palace and has a golden hue and small central dome. Explore the interior and you’ll find an elaborate collection of Ottoman-style furniture and other housewares. A part of its original décor is also what gave the palace its name, as Aynalikavak translates to mirrored poplars; in 1718, Venice gave Sultan Ahmed III Venetian poplar mirrors after signing the treaty of Pozarevac. The sultan had these large, luxurious mirrors installed in the palace.
Practical Info
Aynalikavak Palace is located on a hill overlooking the Golden Horn and taking a ferry along the Golden Horn is the easiest way to get there. From the Hasköy stop, it is a 10- to 15-minute walk to Aynalikavak Palace, though it can get a bit strenuous as it is uphill. Buses and taxis are also available to take you from the dock to the palace entrance. Aynalikavak Palace is closed Monday and Thursday and is open the rest of the week from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Address: Camiikebir Mh., Beyoğlu/İstanbul 34440, Turkey
Hours: Fri-Sun & Tue-Wed 9:30am-4:30pm
Admission: TL 5
From $ 41
Bad Homburg
Renowned as one of Germany’s wealthiest postal codes, the 19th-century spa town of Bad Homburg makes a popular day trip from neighboring Frankfurt, less than 30 minutes away. Owing its fame to its 14 natural mineral springs, Bad Homburg markets itself as a town of ‘champagne air’ and has nurtured a thriving wellness center for over 170 years, surrounded by the idyllic forests and lakes of the Taunus Mountains.
A visit to Bad Homburg has to include a dose of pampering and the lavish Kur-Royal Day Spa is its most famous bathhouse, a 27,000-square-foot complex housed in the Neo-Renaissance style Kaiser-Wilhelms-Bad, which dates back to 1887. There’s more to the town than mud-wraps and massages, though. Visit the 17th-century Landgräfliches Schloss (Count’s Castle), once the summer residence of the German Emperors; stroll around the enormous Peter Joseph Lenne designed Kurpark, home to the opulent Spielbank Casino and a number of impressive temples and monuments; or explore the UNESCO World Heritage listed ruins of the Saalburg Roman fort.
Address: Frankfurt, Germany
From $ 261
Bacvice Beach
Lying just east of Split’s historic UNESCO World Heritage-listed center, Bačvice is the most popular city beach with residents and visitors alike. Made of sand and shingle, it curves in a half moon around a wide bay and is backed with an assortment of buzzing beach bars, clubs and cafés, pastry shops and fast-food outlets. There’s also a top-end restaurant with views over the Adriatic Sea to be found in the Art Deco-style pavilion built in 2004 on the eastern flank of the beach.
A favorite with local families, Bačvice Beach is fully supervised by lifeguards, while sun loungers and blue parasols can be hired for a small fee. It offers play parks, table tennis, inflatable castles and water slides for young children along with mini-golf and paddleboats; other water-sports facilities include wind surfing, jet skiing, parasailing and banana-boat rides. The beach is also home to a peculiarly Croatian game; picigin resembles a game of volleyball played in the sea – there’s no net and the aim of the game is to prevent the ball from hitting the water.
An easy way for visitors to get to Bačvice Beach is to take Split’s hop-on, hop-off tour bus; it is also featured on walking tours of the city. The beach is also a recommended stop off on multi-day trips through Croatia and the Balkan.
Practical Info
The beach is 0.5 miles (1 km) east of Split city center near the ferry port. It is easily accessed on foot along the scenic waterfront promenade.
Address: Bačvice, Split, Dalmatia 21000, Croatia
From $ 23
Avenida da Liberdade
Avenida da Liberdade (Liberty Avenue) is a wide, central boulevard in the heart of Lisbon. Stretching for more than a half-mile (1,100 meters), its tree-lined, cobblestoned lanes connect Praça dos Restauradores with Praça do Marquês de Pomba. It is 295 feet (90 meters) wide and is said to be modeled after Paris’s Champs Elysees. Trees provide shade for pedestrian walkways, with small fountains, mosaics and statues placed throughout, while shops, restaurants, theaters and even universities make it one of the most important avenues in the city. Grand hotels, houses of fashion, banks and other high-end retailers also call the avenue home.
A few historical mansions can still be seen along the avenue, adding to the elegant architecture. There is also a Monument to the Fallen of the Great War, honoring the 50,000 Portuguese soldiers who lost their lives in World War I, located about halfway down.
Practical Info
The Avenida is located in Baixa (Old Town.) The nearest metro stop is Avenida.
Address: Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon, Portugal
From $ 17
Bagatti Valsecchi Museum
A visit to the historic Bagatti Valsecchi house museum in Milan is a step back in time to when every Italian palazzo was a private home. As a bonus, it also houses a nice art collection.
The Bagatti Valsecchi Museum is in the Montenapoleone area of central Milan, and was once the home of the Bagatti Valsecchi brothers – Fausto and Giuseppe. They died in the early 1900s, and the palazzo stayed in the family until 1974, when one of Giuseppe's sons sold the palazzo to the region of Lombardy for use as a museum to house the brothers' impressive collection of decorative arts and paintings.
Among the items in the collection are furniture, tapestries, glassware, ivory, and ceramics. The paintings include works by Donatello and Bellini. The intention of the Bagatti Valsecchi Foundation was to create a reproduction of a 16th-century Italian nobleman's home, including period furnishings and décor.
Practical Info
The Bagatti Valsecchi Museum is located near the Montenapoleone Metro stop on Via Gesu. It's open Tuesday-Sunday from 1 to 5:45pm, and tickets are €9 for adults, €6 for seniors and children ages 6-14 (children 5 and under are free). The museum is also €6 for everyone on Wednesdays.
Address: Via Gesù, Milan 20121, Italy
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 1-5:45pm
Admission: Adults €9, Seniors and Children (6-14) €6
From $ 12
Avenue des Champs-Elys ees
The Arc de Triomphe looks down upon the grand tree-lined boulevard that is Avenue des Champs-Elysées: one of Paris’ most memorable sights and one of the world’s most famous avenues. It’s not just the striking architecture that captivates visitors—the shopping street is lined with designer boutiques, luxury hotels, and fine restaurants.
The Basics
No Paris sightseeing tour is complete without visiting Avenue des Champs-Elysées, and the best way to soak up the atmosphere is on foot. Opt for a guided small-group or private walking tour, admire the illuminations on an evening city excursion, or visit independently on a Paris hop-on, hop-off bus tour. Alternatively, discover Paris’ most beautiful boulevard on a bike or Segway tour, a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride, or from the passenger seat of a classic French 2CV car.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes—it takes at least 30 minutes to walk from one end of the boulevard to the other.
- Paris’ main tourist information center is located along the Champs-Elysées, close to the Arc de Triomphe.
- The Champs-Elysées is wheelchair accessible, as are many of the shops and restaurants along the boulevard.
How to Get There
Avenue des Champs-Elysées stretches 1.3 miles (2 km) through the heart of Paris’ 8th arrondissement, from the Arc de Triomphe on Place Charles de Gaulle all the way to Place de la Concorde on the banks of the Seine River. Metro stations located along the Champs-Elysées include (from north to south) Charles-de-Gaulle Etoile (Line 1), George V (Line 1), Franklin Roosevelt (lines 1 and 9), Champs Elysees-Clemenceau (lines 1 and 13), and Concorde (lines 1, 8, and 12).
When to Get There
As one of Paris’ busiest thoroughfares, the Champs-Elysées attracts crowds at all hours. Shoppers wanting to dodge the crush are advised to avoid weekends and holidays, while those driving should stay away from the morning and evening rush hours. The most dazzling views are found after dark, when the boulevard is spectacularly illuminated.
The Champs-Elysées is also an integral part of Parisian celebrations, and some of the most memorable visits are timed to see the incredible Christmas light displays, the annual Bastille Day military parade, or the grand finish of the Tour de France.
Paris Monuments Along the Champs-Elysées
A great number of Paris highlights are located on and around the Champs-Elysées, starting with the imposing Arc de Triomphe. After taking in the views from the 19th-century monument, stroll past Charles De Gaulle’s statue, Grand Palais, and Petit Palais to Place de la Concorde, with its beautiful fountains and Egyptian obelisk. For an extended tour, continue through the idyllic Tuileries Garden (Jardin des Tuileries) along the right bank of the Seine River until you reach the Louvre museum, Palais Royal, and the Pont des Arts pedestrian bridge that crosses the Seine.
Address: Avenue des Champs-Elysées, Paris 75008, France
Hours: Open 24 hours a day
Admission: Free
From $ 13
Baden-Baden
Set in the Black Forest region near the border between France and Germany, Baden-Baden offers a charming blend of cultures with grand Art Nouveau villas, modern boutiques, and chic cafés. The town’s thermal waters and ancient Roman baths are its main attractions, including the famous Friedrichsbad spring and Trinkhalle pump room.
The Basics
Take a dip or drink from the refreshing thermal springs, explore 2,000-year-old ruins, visit the Belle Epoque spa, lay down some cash at the extravagant Casino Baden Baden, or peruse the Frieder Burda or Faberge museums. Walking tours are a good way to explore the small spa town and often include a stroll along Lichtentaler Allee—a street lined with the city's best sights. Regional day trips typically depart from Frankfurt and often combine a visit to Baden-Baden with stops at Heidelberg and other Black Forest highlights.
Things to Know Before You Go
- While age limits for young children vary at Baden-Baden’s thermal baths, some spas have onsite babysitting services.
- Most baths and attractions in Baden-Baden are accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.
- Free Wi-Fi is available throughout much of the town.
How to Get There
In addition to guided tours that depart from Frankfurt, travelers can also opt to arrive independently by train or plane. The train station has connections to Mannheim, Basel, Stuttgart, Paris, Strasbourg, and Paris, while the airport is located just six miles (10 kilometers) from the city center and serves destinations in Germany and around Europe.
When to Get There
Winter, when the Black Forest is snowy, is a great season for spending hours in the thermal baths. If you’d prefer to see the town’s many gardens and stroll along the Oos River, visit in July and August—the region's warmest months.
The Wine Region
Germany’s Rhine Valley and France’s Alsace wine regions aren’t far from Baden-Baden, and many wine tours include stops at all three spots, plus wine tastings at local vineyards.
Address: Baden-Baden, Frankfurt, Germany
From $ 229
Aveiro
In Roman times, Aveiro was known as Aviarium, which in Latin means “gathering of birds” due to the large number of birds inhabiting the city’s lagoon area. Today, Aveiro is known for being one of the largest metropolitan areas in Portugal (when associated with nearby Ílhavo). It’s also known as the “Venice of Portugal,” as its city is crossed with canals on which boats called barcos moliceiros ferry passengers to and fro.
Aveira’s fortunes have always been tied to the Ria (estuary) and the sea. In contemporary times, the Ria is linked to Aveiro via three canals: the Canal das Pirâmides (marked at its entrance by two stone pyramids), which flows into the Canal de São Roque, and the Canal do Paraíso. Travelers may want to book a tour or plan one of their own that familiarizes them with canals, as they are major avenues of transit and can be overwhelming to first-time visitors.
In terms of attractions, Aveiro’s canals are certainly a must-see. The city’s old-world charm and colorful buildings are underscored by the brightly colored barcos moliceiros pushing across the channels, and the Ria is a fascinating landscape, crisscrossed by intersecting waterways and finger-like peninsulas. Likewise, the city’s beaches are among the best in the country, and surfing is a popular pastime. As the city came into its own in the middle ages, visitors can expect to find centuries-old buildings, including the Aveiro Cathedral and the Igreja de la Misericordia, designed by 18th-century Italian Architect Nicolau Nasoni.
Practical Info
In the days of sail, one of Aveiro's chief exports was blue ceramic tile known as azulejos. Aveiro's contemporary buildings favor an Art Noveau style, and azulejos figure prominently in the designs.
Of course, Aveiro is also known for its not-so-contempoary buildings. Among these, you will want to visit the Convento de Jesus. This 15th century convent was once illicitly sought after by the daughter of King Afonso V, and now it houses the Museu de Aveiro, which houses a large collection of Portuguese Baroque art, as well as sculptures and archeological finds.
Address: Aveiro, Portugal
Admission: Free
From $ 55
Avenue of the Knights (Ippoton)
Running down from the hilltop citadel to the commercial port and crowned by the dramatic Palace of the Grand Masters of the Knights of Rhodes, the historic Avenue of the Knights (or Ippoton) takes the prize for Rhodes’ most famous street. The noble heart of the Old Town of Rhodes, this was the street where the knights lived and held meetings, and it remains one of Europe’s best-preserved examples of a medieval street.
Strolling the cobblestone thoroughfare effectively evokes the atmosphere of medieval Rhodes, with its narrow walkway cocooned by a wall of honey-colored stone buildings and monumental archways. Lining the 600-meter-long avenue are the Inns of the Tongues, the dining and meeting houses of the Knights, each divided by language, or ‘tongue’, according to their origins and signed with stone-carved codes of arms.
Address: Greece
From $ 533
Bacina Lakes
With their startling turquoise waters fringed by pine forests and set against a backdrop of distant mountain peaks, the Bacina Lakes are one of Croatia’s most enchanting and still-undiscovered natural wonders. The postcard-worthy views are just part of the fun – the seven lakes, six of which are interconnected, and the surrounding Neretva River delta, also offer an idyllic setting for outdoors activities.
As well as hiking around the waterside, the Bacina Lakes are a prime spot for fishing, with the freshwater lakes teeming with fish. Alternatively, water sports like canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding have become popular in recent years, and make an excellent way to explore the lakes’ islands, swamps and fishermen’s villages.
Practical Info
The Bacina Lakes are located in Dalmatia, approximately mid-way between Split and Dubrovnik, just inland from Ploče.
Address: Bacinska Jezera, Baćina, Croatia
From $ 39
Avellino
Located in the Campania region, Avellino is not nearly as well-known as its seaside neighbor Naples. History buffs may recognize the name, as Avellino was heavily bombed area during World War II. Today, it’s a nice getaway for visitors looking to trade coastal views for scenic countryside mountain views.
Agriculture is important in Avellino. Wine grapes, tobacco and hazelnuts are important crops here. That said, Avellino is a fairly modern city, having survived and rebuilt after several earthquakes.
Visitors can hike to the Montevergine Sanctuary, visit Avellino Cathedral or see the remains of the Lombard Castle in Piazza Castello (Castle Square). The main street or promenade is car-free, making wandering and window shopping easy. Avellino also has its own basketball club, so if you’re a basketball fan, it’s worth checking the schedule for any games while you are in town.
Practical Info
Avellino is about an hour’s drive east from Naples. It’s located on the Sabato River surrounded by the Apennines.
Address: Avellino, Italy
From $ 217
Avoca
Even though it’s only an hour from Dublin, Avoca is a town where visitors feel like they’ve traveled back 400 years. Much of that feeling can be attributed to the historic Mill at Avoca Village, which has been weaving rugs, throws and scarves since 1723. Today, Avoca Handweavers is renowned throughout Ireland for their woven women’s clothing, and in addition to being Ireland’s oldest mill, is also considered to be the oldest business still operating in Ireland today. The multi-generational business aside, Avoca village is so visually charming that’s it been chosen as the set for numerous movies and local Irish television. When strolling the pastel-cottage lined streets—which themselves are backed by rolling green hills that define the Irish landscape—you truly feel that you’ve left the city for an authentic Irish village. It’s little wonder, given its beauty, that Avoca is a popular weekend getaway or long day trip from Dublin, and a place where shopping for hand-woven scarves, or lingering at a cozy café, form simple, relaxing ways to spend time in the pristine countryside of Ireland.
Practical Info
Avoca is located approximately one hour from Dublin by car or bus. There is currently no train service to Avoca Village, and some tour packages will combine Avoca with a trip to the Wicklow Mountains.
Address: Avoca, Ireland
From $ 38
Avanos
The small town of Avanos in Cappadocia is famous for its distinctive red earthenware pottery, which has shaped its reputation since the days of the Hittities in the Bronze Age.
Situated on the banks of the longest river in Turkey, the Kızılırmak (Red River), the lovely old town overlooks the red silt of the river which has been both the lifeblood and the destiny of Avanos. Small pottery workshops still cluster in the narrow streets of the old town and here you can learn how to throw a pot and buy the local ceramics. There are also larger warehouses on the outskirts of town.
Avanos is also a great base for exploring the rest of Cappadocia: the fairy chimneys at Zelve, the underground cities of Ozkonak, Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı, and the rock churches with their Byzantine frescoes in the Göreme National Park.
From Avanos you can also go hot air ballooning, walking, biking, canoeing, horse-riding and rafting, all within the spectacularly-eroded volcanic landscapes that make up the cliffs and valleys of Cappadocia.
Situated on the banks of the longest river in Turkey, the Kızılırmak (Red River), the lovely old town overlooks the red silt of the river which has been both the lifeblood and the destiny of Avanos. Small pottery workshops still cluster in the narrow streets of the old town and here you can learn how to throw a pot and buy the local ceramics. There are also larger warehouses on the outskirts of town.
Avanos is also a great base for exploring the rest of Cappadocia: the fairy chimneys at Zelve, the underground cities of Ozkonak, Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı, and the rock churches with their Byzantine frescoes in the Göreme National Park.
From Avanos you can also go hot air ballooning, walking, biking, canoeing, horse-riding and rafting, all within the spectacularly-eroded volcanic landscapes that make up the cliffs and valleys of Cappadocia.
Address: Cappadocia, Turkey
From $ 41
Bacalhôa Wines of Portugal (Bacalhôa Vinhos de Portugal)
One of the largest wine-producers in Portugal, Bacalhôa Wines is set in a 15th-century castle previously owned by the Portuguese Royal Family. Bacalhôa has a long tradition of winemaking—a family-owned company founded in the 1920s, their wines are made from grapes from seven different wine-regions in Portugal.
Bacalhôa offers tours, tastings, a museum and gardens for visitors to explore. The surrounding grounds include carefully manicured hedges among flowing fountains and reflecting pools. The museum houses the family’s private art collection, which contains pieces from Africa, South America, and Asia as well as stunning examples of Portugal’s traditional azuleijo tiles. A highlight of a visit to the estate is the atmospheric storeroom – where antique wine casks lay in a dark room, adorned with ancient Portuguese tiles.
A variety of wines are available for tastings, including award-winning cabernet sauvignons, rosés, port wines. Visitors can purchase bottles and cases of wine, as well as locally made cheeses and other bites.
Practical Info
Bacalhôa Wines of Portugal is located at Estrada Nacional 10, Vila Fresca de Azeitão, 2925-483 in the city of Azeitão and is open Monday – Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A visit to the Bacalhôa Winery and Museum is €3, and a visit to the Bacalhôa Palace and Estate is €4, to see both is €6. On Sundays, only tours to the Bacalhôa Museum are available. Visitors can book tours online or over the phone in advance, drop-ins are possible, but are based on staff availability.
Address: Estrada Nacional 10, Vila Fresca de Azeitão, Azeitão 2925-483, Portugal
Hours: Monday – Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., On Sundays, only tours to the Bacalhôa Museum are available (Bacalhôa Palace and Estate is closed Sundays).
Admission: tour of Bacalhôa Winery and Museum is €3, Bacalhôa Palace and Estate is €4, to tour both is €6
From $ 138