Things to Do in St John's

Just off the west coast of Scotland on the Isle of Iona, the Iona Abbey has long been a symbol of Scottish history and religion. It served as a mausoleum for many early Scottish kings, with more than fifty accounted for by the 16th century. It is one of the oldest religious centers in Western Europe. The Irish monk Columba arrived to the island in 563, establishing a monastery that survived for centuries to come. In around the year 1200 the historic Abbey and Nunnery were constructed. 

Responsible for the spread of Christianity throughout Scotland, it remains a symbol of Scottish Christianity that many still pilgrimage today. There are four impressive high crosses remaining, all of which can be seen in the abbey museum. The oldest, St. Martin’s Cross, dates back to the 8th century. The isle has a spiritual atmosphere and is today maintained by the Iona Community.

High on a hilltop in the north of Bangalore, the ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) temple is one of the organization's largest complexes on earth and one of Bangalore's most popular Hindu places of worship. Unlike many of the temples in the city, this one features contemporary architecture and modern interiors.

 

Built in 1997, this enormous temple complex atop a 7-acre (3-hectare) hill is a popular stop on pilgrimages and most city tours. The complex has six shrines, a gold-plated flag post, and various shops selling snacks and religious materials. Daily activities include worship, philosophy talks, and devotional chanting. The temple also runs a variety of special programs for Hindu festivals and other important holidays.

 

 

The ISKCON Temple is located in the Rajajinagar area of North Bangalore on Chord Road. It’s about 6 miles (10 kilometers) northwest of the city center. The nearest metro station is Mahalakshmi, a 5-minute walk from the temple. The Green Line runs south into the city from here, connecting to the Purple Line at Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Station; for Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace and Bangalore Fort, get off at Krishna Rajendra Market.

 

The temple is open daily, from early morning until well in the evening, with breaks for lunch on weekdays. It's a year-round attraction, though the most atmospheric time to visit is when the temple community is celebrating one of many Hindu festivals, such as Deepotsava (Diwali) in October or November or Holi (the festival of colors) in early spring.

 

Adherents of ISKCON are often known in the West as Hare Krishnas for their frequent use of the Hare Krishna mantra. Although the organization has a large presence in India, it was originally founded in the US in the 1960s by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, an Indian renunciate who played a major role in promoting Indian philosophy in the West, at the peak of the counterculture movement of the '60s and '70s.

One of the worst defeats in British military history occurred on January 22, 1879 during the Battle of Isandlwana. The battle, fought near a hill in Zululand of the same name, took place early in the Anglo-Zulu war when a British invasion column of some 1,300 soldiers under the command of General Lord Chelmsford was attacked by a 20,000-strong Zulu army, resulting in a humiliating defeat.

Today Isandlwana Battlefield is dotted with stone cairns indicating the resting places of soldiers killed in the battle. A small on-site museum and visitors center showcases artifacts, relics and background information on the battle — a bonus particularly for those visiting the battlefield without a guide.

Isa Bey Mosque was built in 1375 near the ancient city of Ephesus in what is today Selcuk, Turkey. Parts of the mosque were built using stones and columns from the ruins of Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis. It was designed asymmetrically instead of a more traditional symmetric layout and includes a large courtyard. The mosque uses a Selcuk style of architecture rather than the Ottoman style that was used more often in later years. 

Visitors can admire the facade on the western side which is covered in marble and carved with geometric designs and calligraphy inscriptions. You can all see the brick minaret that has survived over the centuries on the north side of the mosque and two domes in the center. The mosque sits below the citadel near the Basilica of St. John. From the mosque, you can look up at the impressive ruins of the citadel and the basilica. The view from the hill where the basilica sits gives an impressive perspective of the mosque as well.

Once travelers have gotten their fill of Panama City’s urban streets, they can escape to the white sandy beaches and palm tree-lined shores of picturesque Isla Grande. The ideal place for visitors to slow down and sink in to real life relaxation, this destination offers crystal clear waters perfect for snorkeling, SCUBA diving or just taking a dip and soaking up the sun.

Travelers can enjoy local cuisine and fresh fish cooked with island flavors at one of the numerous roadside restaurants. Scenic boat tours through lush mangroves showcase the natural beauty of this popular island destination and private hotel beaches provide picturesque escapes that are slightly off the beaten path, free of heavy foot traffic and hawkers selling local goods.

Isabel de Torres Mountain is located near Puerto Plata and overlooks the region’s coastal strip. Also called Mount Isabel de Torres, this scenic mountain is home to the only aerial tramway in the Caribbean. The cable car, or teleférico in Spanish, brings visitors up 2,555 feet (778.8 meters) while offering spectacular views down to the city and surrounding waters. The ride takes approximately five to seven minutes. It is recommended that you visit in the morning, as early as possible; the afternoon is prone to heavy cloud cover and you might find yourself at the top of Mount Isabel de Torres with no views at all.

Mount Isabel de Torres’ peak offers impressive views of the Dominican Republic. Atop the mountain, there is a replica of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue found in Brazil. The statue sits atop a big dome, which houses stores selling jewelry and other souvenirs.

The mountain is also home to a botanical garden. Wander the paths to admire the tropical plants and surrounding scenery. If you are hungry, there is a full-service restaurant and snack shack at the Isabel de Torres’ peak as well. 

Ischia is often overshadowed by its glamorous neighbor, Capri, but this island in Italy's Bay of Naples offers many delights, including natural hot springs, beautiful scenery, excellent cuisine, and the resort towns of Casamicciola Terme and Lacco Ameno.

Travelers visit the island of Ischia, the largest in the Gulf of Naples, to relax in the thermal spas, explore the 21 miles (34 kilometers) of coastline, hike the peak of Mt. Epomeo, and dine at its waterfront restaurants. You can tour Ischia island by sea on a boat tour that also stops at the tiny island of Procida nearby or by land on a food and wine tasting tour.

Ischia is located off the coast of Campania, and you can take a ferry from Naples, Sorrento, or the Amalfi Coast to the island's main town of Ischia Porto in about an hour, making it an easy day trip.

Ischia can be very crowded in summer between June and September, so spring and fall—when the weather is warm but the crowds have yet to arrive—are the best times to visit.

There are a number of lovely beaches along the coast—the most famous include Sant'Angelo below Serrara Fontana, Maronti Beach near Barano d'Ischia, and Citara near Panza. The imposing 15th-century Aragonese Castle (Castello Aragonese) at Ischia Ponte and the English-style La Mortella Gardens in Forio are also popular attractions. Ischia is also close enough to the coast of southern Italy to offer lovely views along the coastline and over Mt. Vesuvius.

This tiny islet that’s part of the Palo Seco barrio once served as a leper colony in the early 19th century and travelers to this historic place can still visit Segundo de la Portilla, a stone building that once housed these social castoffs. Today, Isla de Cabra services as a shooting range and training area for the Puerto Rico Police Department, as well as home to Isla de Cabras Recreational Park, where locals and travelers congregate along beaches perfect for fishing and picnicking—almost no one swims here. Visitors love the picturesque views of city walls, known by residents as El Morro, as well as the well-known Fort San Juan de la Cruz, which was designated as a national historic site.

The colonial heart of Manila, Intramuros—which means “within the walls”—is the capital’s oldest district and home to some of its most impressive historic monuments. Founded by the Spaniards in the 16th century, the gigantic stone citadel is surrounded by impressively preserved city walls, stretching for almost 3 miles (5 kilometers).

 

Many Manila city tours include a visit to Intramuros, and a walking tour is a popular way to explore the many historic attractions within the walls. Highlights include the mighty waterfront Fort Santiago, home to the Rizal Shrine, a tribute to Philippine national hero, Jose Rizal; San Agustin Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest churches in the country; the 16th-century Manila Cathedral; and the fascinating Casa Manila Museum. Leave plenty of time to browse the souvenir and handicraft shops, and enjoy a coffee at one of the lively cafés, too. Some excursions combine a tour of the city with an evening dinner cruise.

 

Intramuros is located close to the port on the south bank of the Pasig River, and there are numerous entry points to the walled town. The closest train station is Central Terminal. Alternatively, the easiest way to access Intramuros is by taxi.

 

Make an early start to avoid the heat and the crowds, as you’ll likely be doing a lot of walking. While it’s possible to visit Intramuros at any time, most attractions close around 6pm. Be aware that museums are typically closed Mondays.

 

Spanish governor Miguel Lopez de Legaspi founded the walled city of Intramuros in 1571. At the time, it was the entire city of Manila. With its 20-foot-high (6 meter) walls, moats on all sides, and seven fortified gateways, the 163-acre (66-hectare) citadel was impenetrable. However, the city sustained considerable damage during World War II bombings and extensive restoration work has since taken place on the walls, city gates, and many of the historic buildings.

As Ireland’s premier museum for contemporary and modern art, the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) is a leader in exhibiting innovative visual arts. Founded by the Irish government in 1990, it’s housed in a 17th century former royal hospital, with classic architecture, long halls, and an extravagant courtyard. A wide meadow, formal garden, and medieval cemetery can also be found on the grounds. The former stables have been turned into artists’ studios, with the museum accepting artist residencies on an annual basis. 

Its collection of more than 15 exhibits each year has cemented its place in both the Irish and international art scene. Most of the works were created from they year 1940 to the present. The core of the museum showcases the best in contemporary works from Irish artists, acquiring new pieces annually. The museum also hosts various educational programs, studio tours, workshops, and lectures open to the public.

Set within four acres, the ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) Temple of Mumbai is dedicated to Lord Krishna and is located in the Juhu area of the city. The temple was established by Swami Prabhupada at the end of the 1970s, with the aim to spread the word of Krishna consciousness.

The interior is adorned with a variety of colorful and intricate paintings and statues, making it a captivating place to visit aesthetically as well as spiritually. A number of cultural, spiritual, and educational activities take place at the temple, which visitors can either participate in or simply observe. The ISKCON Temple, however, is mainly used by devotees and visitors as a place for prayer, chanting, and meditation, with many arriving daily from all over the world to chant the mahamantra and take part in the temple’s evening prayers and bhajans.

Paying admission to get locked in a barren cell? At Inveraray Jail, it is worth it. The former prison turned museum manages to bridge the gap between tourist attraction and meaningful infotainment and delves into the darker parts of Scottish history. Small as it was, Inveraray was the seat of the Duke of Argyll and thus, the town came to be of central importance. The prison and the courthouse were opened in 1820 and prisoners from all over the area were brought here, not only men, but also women and children. Due to overcrowding, an additional building had to be constructed but the whole jail eventually shut down in 1889, when larger prisons in the bigger cities took over.

A visit to Inveraray Jail includes a tour through the different wings of the prison and even a trial lock-up in the cells and courtyard cage. Visitors can read stories about the inmates who were locked up in those cells, sit in the restored courtroom and listen to trials and meet the warden and prison guards, all dressed up in authentic period costumes. Coincidentally, Inveraray Jail is believed to be one of the most haunted buildings in Scotland and has many ghost sightings to report.

Beautiful Iriomote Island is one of the most remote spots in the Japanese archipelago. Not a lot has changed on the island in recent decades, and 90 percent of it remains blanketed in jungle and mangrove forest, the abode of the rare Iriomote wildcat. While the interior of the island, the second largest of the Okinawa Islands, can be explored via kayak, riverboat or trek, the main draw for most of the island’s visitors are the colorful reefs covered in virgin coral that ring the island.

Snorkelers and divers who explore beneath the surface near Iriomote might spot dolphins and manta rays, who school along the aptly named Manta Way during the spring and summer.

The Irish Whiskey Museum is dedicated to one of Ireland’s most beloved tipples: whiskey. With multimedia exhibits and Irish whiskey memorabilia, the museum looks at the distilling process, the origins and history of Irish whiskey production, and the rise, fall, and current revival of the Irish whiskey industry. 

Access to the Irish Whiskey Museum is by guided tour only. Join a 1-hour guided tour to find out more about Irish whiskey production, the social importance of the spirit, and its rise, fall, and resurgence in Ireland and beyond. Tours conclude with an Irish whiskey tasting session. Upgrade to a premium tour to enjoy an additional sample of a premium aged whiskey as well as a take-home souvenir. 

For an extra treat, opt for a whiskey and brunch experience, which combines a guided tour and tasting with a typical Irish brunch at the on-site Cafe Bar. Whiskey connoisseurs might want to opt for a whiskey blending experience, which includes a guided tour, a tasting of four Irish whiskies, and the opportunity to blend and take home their own 1-ounce (30-ml) bottle of whiskey.

The Irish Whiskey Museum is situated in Dublin city center, at the north end of Grafton Street near Trinity College. Ride the Luas Green Line tram to the Trinity stop, which is just a 2-minute walk away. 

Regular tours take place daily, with blending experiences offered during the afternoon only. Plan a morning visit if you want to do the whiskey and brunch experience, which is offered daily during summer (May–September) and on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the rest of the year. The museum is busiest on summer weekends, so come midweek to avoid the crowds. 

Irish whiskey lovers won’t have to look hard for opportunities to indulge their passion in Dublin. Take tours of the Jameson Distillery Bow St., Teeling Distillery, or Pearse Lyons Distillery, or pop in to one of Dublin’s whiskey bars, such as the Palace Bar on Fleet Street or the Dingle Whiskey Bar on Nassau Street, where you can taste a wide variety of old and new whiskies from all over Ireland. 

Delhi’s ISKCON Temple is a large, contemporary temple complex that features a modern take on an eclectic array of traditional Indian architectural styles. It's the local hub of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (aka the Hare Krishnas) and provides a good introduction to Vedic beliefs, especially for Westerners.

Along with a main temple and multiple shrines, this large complex features a restaurant, multiple bookstores, and a Vedic museum featuring a robotics show, an art gallery, and a "quadroscope," a sort of video globe showing an animated video about the sacred Bhagavad Gita text. It's a popular stop on South Delhi tours and is frequently visited in conjunction with the nearby Baha'i House of Worship, the Lotus Temple.

Things to Know Before You Go 

The ISKCON Temple is located in eastern South Delhi, within a 20-minute walk from both the Lotus Temple and the Shri Kalkaji Mandir. It’s about a 20-minute drive from Connaught Place, Delhi’s de facto city center, though the trip can take considerably longer during periods of dense traffic. The nearest metro stop is at Nehru Place (a 14-minute walk away), which connects to central Delhi via the Violet Line.

The ISKCON complex is open throughout the year, from early morning until well into the evening, though the main temple hall closes for a few hours in the middle of the day. Prayer ceremonies, lectures, and devotional chanting sessions take place throughout the day, with special programs on key religious holidays, such as Krishna Janmashtami (which honors the birth of Lord Krishna, in August or September) and Holi (the festival of colors, in February or March).

ISKCON is known for its food, and The Higher Taste cookbook is one of their most popular publications. You can try many of their dishes at the Delhi temple’s Govinda’s Restaurant, which offers around 18 different dishes daily at lunch and dinner, served buffet style. All of the food here is vegetarian (without eggs) and cooked without garlic or onions or excessive spice, and many of the options are vegan.

Islamic architecture abounds in Cairo—after all, it is one of the world’s oldest Muslim cities and also known as the City of a Thousand Minarets. The densest and oldest concentration of historic hammams, mosques, education centers or madrasas, mausoleums and fountains—some dating to the 10th century—comprise Islamic Cairo, a loosely defined bastion of old Cairo. Here, visitors can spend days winding through narrow streets, exploring mosques and markets, and feeling transported to a Cairo sans‐McDonalds and shopping malls. Popular points of reference include the old citadel built in the 12th century atop the tallest point in the city to defend from marauding crusaders and the Al‐Azhar Mosque with its marble‐paved interior courtyard, affiliated University—perhaps the oldest such institution in the world—and stalactite cornicing representing dripping water. Other popular stops include the Mosque‐Madrass of Sultan Hassan with its 220‐foot minaret and the Mosque of Ibn Tulun located on a small hill that local legend says is where Noah’s Ark rested following the floods instead of at Mount Ararat.

Current seat of the Clan Campbell and the hereditary seat of the dukes of Argyll since the 15th century, Inveraray Castle is considered one of Scotland’s most visually stunning stately homes. Built from 1745 to 1790 on the shores of Loch Fyne, the castle was designed by Roger Morris and boasts turrets and battlements that look right from the pages of a fairytale. The exterior was used to represent the fictional Duneagle Castle in the hit TV series Downton Abbey.

The castle interior has a well-maintained collection of eighteenth century French furnishings, art and a sizable armory hall displaying more than 1,300 weapons — dirks, muskets, pole-arms and axes. Tours through the castle recount the rise of the Clan Campbell. Visitors will also find a tearoom serving scones and other light snacks, as well as a gift shop selling Scottish souvenirs.

Travelers to Brazil rank a trip to Iracema Waterfall among the top destination for visitors in search of an ecological adventure. Stationed deep in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest, a trip to see the thundering waters of Iracema is an ideal way to get up close with the indigenous wildlife while exploring the Urubui River. After hiking the surrounding trails that lead to this picturesque peak, head to the foot of the falls where shallow waters provide a welcome escape from the humidity and heat of the Amazon heat and a perfect place for a refreshing dip. 

Isla Lobos is a small, flat island located off the coast of San Cristobal Island known for its snorkeling and diving. Beside its rocky shores lie calm waters in which conditions for swimming and viewing marine life are optimal and visibility can reach up to 40 feet.

The island is most known for its resident sea lion population, where dozens of them play in the turquoise water and dot the white sands to rest. Bird watching for blue-footed boobies, Darwin finches, brown pelicans, and frigate birds is also feasible here.

Isla Lobos is the closest dive site to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. With the right timing, it is even possible to see baby sea lions or marine iguanas eating seaweed and swimming in the water. The channel the island creates next to San Cristobal makes for excellent conditions to encounter wildlife.