Things to Do in Europe

An eerie world where everything has been carved from salt blocks, the Wieliczka Salt Mine is made up of a labyrinth of tunnels, the deepest of which lies 1,075 feet (327 meters) underground. The ancient UNESCO World Heritage site is a major part of Poland's salt mining history, one of the country's most popular attractions, and one of the world's oldest salt mines, having produced table salt from the 13th century until 2007.

The Basics
Three of the mine's nine levels are open to visitors. Explore these upper areas and see underground lakes, pits and chambers that have been made into detailed chapels, and an array of statues and monuments, all carved from salt. The mine's claim to fame is its ornate Chapel of St. Kinga, made entirely of salt—from the chandeliers to the altarpieces—over the course of 30 years. Wieliczka is a popular site for travelers to Krakow, often visited on a half-day trip with a tour guide or combined with a trip to the nearby Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum.

At the heart of the Dartmoor National Park, the ancient oak forest of Wistman’s Wood is one of few woods left in England that date back to prehistoric times, and it’s an eerily beautiful sight. With its dramatically twisted oak trees climbing with lichen, giant moss-blanketed boulders and a backdrop of heather-dappled moors, it’s an enchanting landscape and a favorite among hikers, dog walkers and naturalists. The unique setting of Wistman’s Wood has also given rise to a number of myths and legends surrounding the woods. Depending which tale you believe, the woods are inhabited by a pack of ferocious Yeth hounds, haunted by the devil or home to a troop of mischievous fairies.

Wicklow Mountains National Park, also known as the Garden of Ireland, is one of the country’s six national parks and an easy day trip from Dublin, only 18.5 miles (30 km) away. Travelers frequent this County Wicklow mountain range to spend time away from the city and enjoy the stunningly wild landscape that is so markedly different from the typical green, grassy plains of the Emerald Isle. You’ll find 50,000 acres (20,000 hectares) of low mountains, serene lakes, and deep glacial valleys offering chances to fish, kayak, and hike.

Wicklow Mountain Scenery

From bog lands to heather fields, stunning mountain landscapes awaits at the Wicklow Mountains. The park features Glencree Valley and Sally Gap, in addition to one of Ireland’s highest waterfalls, Powerscourt. Other must-see spots include the P.S. I Love You Bridge; Powerscourt Gardens at the Powerscourt Estate; the Wicklow Gap, where much of Braveheart was filmed; and Lough Tay, also known as Guinness Lake. Many tours include nature walks with a tour guide, and some allow for exploring nearby medieval villages such as Kilkenny and the round tower at the Glendalough Monastic Settlement, founded by St. Kevin in the sixth century. Because there’s so much natural beauty to take in at the national park, it’s recommended that you spend a full day here.

Insider Tip

Stop by Fitzgerald's Pub in Avoca in County Wicklow for lunch at a traditional Irish pub. Plus, what’s lunch on the Emerald Isle without a Guinness to go with it?

Worms (pronounced more like Vohrms in German), is a town of around 86,000 people on the banks of the Rhine River. While it is now quite industrial, with some fame for its wine, its real claim on our attention is its age. Worms was settled by the Celts and is locked in a 3-way battle with the cities of Cologne and Trier for the title of Oldest City in Germany. It is Germany's only member of the Oldest European Towns Network.

Another claim to fame is that is was the place Martin Luther made his stand against the Catholic Church in 1521 and the Protestant movement was born. Today it is a center for the chemical and metals industry, but despite this, the river is clean enough for swimming and there are even reputed to be salmon. There is also a Romanesque cathedral worth a visit.

Windsor Castle is the largest occupied castle in the world that is still used by the monarchy. Since William the Conqueror built a wooden fortress here over 900 years ago, this has been a royal palace and residence. Despite its daily use for royal business, much of the palace is open to the public and well worth a visit.

The pretty spa town of Wiesbaden might be proud of its reputation as one of Europe’s most prestigious wellness centers but its self-effacing elegance keeps its feet firmly on the ground. This might be a town of glitzy shopping boutiques and exclusive health resorts, but there’s still something for everyone in the provincial capital of Wiesbaden.

Lying across from Mainz on the banks of the Rhine and perched at the gateway to the idyllic Rheingau Wine Region, Wiesbaden benefits from a tranquil location worthy of its many health resorts. The town’s popularity can be traced back to Roman times when word about the region’s thermal springs quickly spread around the country. There are twenty-six natural thermal springs in the city, renowned for their health and healing properties and founding an enormous health industry. The exquisite 1,500-square-meter Kaiser Friedrich baths, built on the site of an ancient Roman steam room, are the most celebrated, but hotels all over the city feature thermal spas and wellness facilities.

The Roman spas aren’t the only reminder of the city’s historic prowess and a walking tour of Wiesbaden unveils a number of notable buildings. The Heidenmauer (Heathens' Wall), the Römertor (Roman Gate) and the Roman Open-Air Museum are the most impressive remnants of the city’s Roman past, but the oldest intact building is the early 17th-century Old Town Hall. Equally impressive are the 129-meter long spa colonnade, the longest columned hall in Europe; the 19th century Hessian State Theater; and the neoclassical domed Kurhaus, one of the city’s most spectacular buildings, now housing the famous casino of the same name.

The continual influx of well-heeled Europeans has served to make Wiesbaden one of Germany’s most sophisticated cities and the city center is teeming with luxury restaurants, chic bars and bistros, distinguished art galleries and grand hotels. As such, you’ll never be short of things to do, but for a real celebration of local culture, time your visit for the Wilhelmstrasse street festival, one of Germany’s biggest, held on the city’s principal shopping street.