Things to Do in Europe

One of the oldest fortresses in Germany, this medieval castle dates back to the 13th century with original owner Rudolf von Greifenstein residing here in 1226. Located in Hesse and declared a national historical landmark in 1995, the dark grey stone castle features numerous courtyards and bastions, as well as torture chambers, towers, catacombs, a baroque church, an underground chapel, herb gardens and a wine cellar. Interestingly, the castle has been destroyed and rebuilt several times, and today you’ll see sections that are in ruins while other parts are in-tact.

A major highlight of a visit to the Greifenstein Castle is its German Bell Museum, where you can view about 50 beautiful bells, some dating back to the ninth century. Bells have descriptions about how they were produced, and visitors have the chance to create their own music by chiming them. Don’t leave without also having a meal in the onsite restaurant, which is reminiscent of old times with scroll menus, knights providing entertainment and traditional meals you eat with your hands. If you have time, you can explore the hiking trails in the nearby forest.

Hamburg is famous for its Beatles history. It's the city where the band got their start by playing at various clubs near Reperbahn in the St. Pauli neighborhood, Hamburg's red light district. This is where they eventually gained worldwide fame. Of the many clubs they appeared at, Kaiserkeller, located at Grosse Freiheit 36, is one you can still visit today. The Beatles started playing here in late 1960 after the Indra Club closed. It was a good location for the band since it was closer to the heart of the neighborhood.  

Grutas Parks is a fascinating cultural center that exhibits Soviet era relics and statues in its museum and sculpture garden.

From 1989 to 1991, when Lithuania regained its independence, Soviet monuments were dismantled and dumped throughout the country. In an effort to preserve the monuments but with little money to do so, the government allowed Lithuanian entrepreneur Viliumas Malinauskas to open this self-funded sculpture park in 2001 near the town of Druskininkai.

Spread over 20 hectares (49 acres), Grutas Park has 86 monuments and statues set among re-creations of Soviet prison camps, guard towers and barbed-wire fences. Here you’ll find statues of the main Communist leaders and thinkers, including Lenin, Stalin and Marx, leaders of the Red Terror and the Red Army. The set-up is designed to help visitors understand the impact of Soviet ideology on the Lithuanian people.

One of Belgium’s best fine art museums, the Groeningemuseum, holds a collection that covers around 600 years of Flemish and Belgian painting, from the 14th through the 20th century. Notable pieces include the 15th-century Flemish painter Jan van Eyck’s Madonna with Canon Van der Paele. This piece was completed in 1436 and features highly sophisticated techniques such as fine detailing and the use of multiple layers of oil and varnish to achieve texture and depth. This painting is regarded as one of Van Eyck’s most ambitious works.  

Other works on display include Hans Memling’s Moreel's Triptych; Hieronymus Bosch’s The Last Judement, Gerard David’s Judgment of Cambyses, which depicts the corrupt Persian judge Sisamnes being flayed alive, and other pieces by early Flemish painter Rogier van der Weyden and the surrealists Magritte and Paul Delvaux.

The museum is small but thoughtfully arranged so that the layout of its 11 rooms follow a chronological order. Unlike many European art museums, the Groeningemuseum does not suffer from large crowds, even in the peak summer tourist season. The museum is set back from a main street in a small park behind a medieval gate. When you have finished inside the building, the surrounding gardens make an attractive place to spend some time.

Gullfoss, meaning "golden waterfall," is a massive waterfall on the river Hvita in western Iceland. The falls are considered one of Iceland's most treasured natural wonders, with a name inspired by the phenomenon when glacial sediment in the water turns the falls golden in the sunlight.

The Guinness Storehouse, one of Ireland’s top visitor attractions, draws travelers from all corners of the world who want to see the birthplace of the famed dark beer and get a taste straight from the barrel.

The Basics
The 7-story, pint glass-shaped interior of the Guinness brewery and storehouse features a multimedia experience that includes interactive exhibits and demonstrations of the brewing process. On the self-guided tour, learn the history behind the legendary stout and check out vintage ads. Touch the barley, smell the hops, and learn the art of pouring a perfect pint, plus get a peek into the history of Guinness advertising. After getting familiar with the main ingredients in Guinness, learn about the brewing process and the variations that are on the market. Floors two through six take you back in time to discover the history behind Arthur Guinness, the company, and the Guinness Storehouse itself. On the ground floor, visit the retail store for Guinness-themed souvenirs.

At the top-floor, glass-enclosed Gravity Bar, the culmination of the seven-story visitor experience, line up to claim your free pint of Guinness to enjoy with 360-degree views over the brewery and the city of Dublin. Some tours and tickets offer skip-the-line privileges, allowing you to bypass the (sometimes long) queue.