Things to Do in Europe

As the name might suggest, the Homomonument, located in the center of Amsterdam, pays homage to the struggles of gay men and women fighting for equity and freedom. The memorial, which includes three large pink granite triangles, was opened in 1987 and is the first in the world to honor gays and lesbians who lost their lives at the hands of Nazis. In 2011, another such monument was erected in Barcelona that was modeled after the famous Homomonument.

Travelers looking to explore the history and culture of Amsterdam may want to include a visit to this iconic destination en route to the Anne Frank museum. Travelers say that while it’s easy to miss, the pink triangle monument recognizing some 600,000 who died during the Holocaust.

Opened in 2000 in a handsome, red-brick former Austrian barrack dating from 1911, the Home Army Museum is a vital stop for anyone interested in Poland's role in World War II. The museum chronicles the story of the Polish Underground Movement and its armed resistance through to its official disbanding in 1945. While it operated, the Home Army was the most effective underground organization in occupied Europe and contributed significantly to the Allied war effort.

Among nearly 20,000 artifacts on display—mostly donated from veteran resistance fighters or their families and including propaganda posters, weapons, uniforms, memorabilia and documents—the museum displays an enormous collection of personal testaments, graphic images, documentaries and live war footage shot during WWII, all exhibited with the aid of innovative multimedia and interactive displays.

Entrance to the Home Army Museum is free with a Krakow museum and transport pass, which includes unlimited public transportation and admission to the city's top museums.

Famously painted by artists, such as Claude Monet, Gustave Courbet, and Eugene Boudin, the picturesque waterfront and colorful harbor of Honfleur are among the most memorable in Normandy. The historic port is renowned for its architecture, especially Vieux Bassin harbor’s 16th-century buildings and the wooden church of Sainte Catherine.

 

Strategically located at the mouth of the Seine River, facing the Port of Le Havre, Honfleur is a popular destination for cruise passengers, as well as day-trippers from Paris. On a day tour from Caen or Bayeux, a visit to Honfleur is often combined with Normandy towns, such as Pays d’Auge, Deauville, and Trouville. Alternatively, art fans can follow in the footsteps of Impressionists by pairing a visit to Honfleur with a tour of Monet’s home and gardens in Giverny.

 

Multi-day tours of Normandy from Paris also often include a stop at Honfleur, en route to D-Day beaches, the Loire Valley, or Mont-Saint-Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 

Honfleur is located northwest of Paris on the Normandy coast. There is no direct public transport from Paris, but trains run to nearby Le Havre, from where buses and taxis cross the Seine to Honfleur.

 

Honfleur is at its busiest in July and August, and hotels and restaurants along the main waterfront can book up quickly. The most atmospheric time to visit is on a Wednesday or Saturday morning, when a lively market runs along Cours des Fossés up to Place Sainte-Catherine.

 

When 19th-century landscape artist Boudin brought Monet to Honfleur, it started an art legacy lasting to this day. Honfleur’s stunning waterfront is said to have inspired Monet to begin painting landscapes. Soon, artists, such as Courbet, Alfred Sisley, Camille Pissarro, and Pierre-August Renoir, flocked to paint or sketch the pretty quays. Today, Honfleur still attracts artists and has a number of art galleries plus the Boudin Museum, where Boudin, Monet, and Courbet’s works are on display.

Finally inaugurated in 2009 after a long (and somewhat controversial) wait, Bucharest’s Holocaust Memorial serves as a stark reminder of the thousands of Romanian Jews affected by the Holocaust. The memorial holds great significance not only for Romania’s Jewish community, but as a symbol that the country recognizes its role in events (a fact often denied by the post-war communist government). 

The memorial itself is a simple yet poignant monument, designed by artist Peter Jacobi and featuring a plaque dedicated to the estimated 280,000 Jews and 25,000 Roma who lost their lives during the Holocaust. The memorial includes a ‘Column of Memory’, inlaid with the Hebrew word for ‘Remember’, and a Roma wheel, dedicated to the Romani people.

Skopje's three-story Holocaust Memorial Center stands in remembrance of more than 7,000 Jews from Macedonia that were killed in the Holocaust and the overall history of Jews in the Balkans. Set in what was once the Jewish Quarter of Skopje, the museum was opened in March 2011, coinciding with the 68th anniversary of the deportation of Macedonian Jews to the Treblinka concentration camp.

Travelers will enter the Star of David-shaped building to see a somber variety of displays featuring maps, videos, photos and English language wall texts, all designed to commemorate the Jewish culture of Macedonia that was nearly lost. The moving exhibits trace the history of the country's Jewish community, starting from their expulsion from the Iberian Peninsula and move to the Balkans through World War II, when a devastating 98% of Macedonian Jews were killed in the Holocaust.

The city of Amsterdam is known for its many entertainment options, but many don’t realize that there is a casino with traditional gaming and gambling. The first was opened in Zandvoort, but the Amsterdam casino remains one of the country’s largest and most visited. Poker, Blackjack, and American and French roulette tables run throughout, as do more than 500 slot machines. Punto Banco, Caribbean Stud Poker, Sic Bo, Bingo, a money wheel, and mega jackpot are some of the other available games. There are also a variety of restaurants and nightclubs open to visitors on its three levels.

The casino is known for its upscale atmosphere and elegant interior, with chandeliers, comfortable seating, and beautiful design. A visit to the gaming tables is often combined with a dinner cruise on the canals.

Standing 15 meters tall in the heart of Trinity Square in Buda’s castle district is the Holy Trinity Column. Made of limestone and erected near the beginning of the 18th century, the column was built to celebrate the end of the plague in Budapest while also memorializing the victims and, the residents hoped, protecting them from another plague. The sculpture at the top of the column represents the Holy Trinity and includes a prayer written in Latin. Just below the Holy Trinity sculpture is a long pillar decorated with statues of small angels and larger statues of six saints. The pedestal includes reliefs on three sides, depicting three different scenes: King David praying to God to end the plague, the plague with the Buda Castle in the background and the construction of the Holy Trinity Memorial. It also features the Hungarian crest.

The Holy Trinity Column is the oldest Baroque sculpture in Budapest and is a popular meeting spot for tours of the castle district or the Buda side of the city in general.

There’s plenty of year-round outdoor and indoor action at Holmenkollen: climb the 250 steps to the viewing platform for vistas across the scenic Nordmarka protected wilderness; visit the world’s oldest ski museum at the foot of the jump; or grab a zip line to whizz 1,180 ft (360 m) down the length of the ski jump – a ride for real adrenaline junkies with a firm head for heights. Somewhat more enjoyable is the simulator ride that gives a bird’s-eye experience of ski-ing down the ski jump.

In winter Holmenkollen hosts the World Cup Nordic skiing events and is the springboard for Nordic or downhill ski-ing and skating in Nordmarka, which by summer it is hiking and cycling central, with locals pouring out of the city at weekends to get back to nature among the tranquil forests and lakes.

With a history dating back more than 1,000 years and a serene setting on the banks of the River Avon, the Holy Trinity Church has long been renowned as one of England’s most beautiful and most visited parish churches. An architectural highlight of Stratford-upon-Avon, the Grade I listed church dates in part from the 13th century and is celebrated for its fine Clopton Chapel, Victorian stained glass windows and series of 26 ornately decorated misericords, as well as a first edition 1611 King James Bible on display. 

The lavish interiors are impressive enough, but for most visitors the main draw to the Holy Trinity is its connection with William Shakespeare. The iconic playwright was famously born in Stratford-upon-Avon and was both christened and buried at the church. Visitors can view Shakespeare’s Grave for a small fee, as well as the graves of Anne Hathaway, Dr John Hall and his wife Susanna, and Thomas Nash.

Although still standing on the site of the original medieval castle, which was in place by 1463, today’s majestic Imperial Habsburg Palace has undergone several transformations over the centuries, reflecting Innsbruck’s own political fortunes. The first Gothic castle was extended by Emperor Maximilian I between 1495 and 1519, and was subsequently given a Renaissance makeover in the 1560s. With the transition of political power to Vienna after the Thirty Years War, Innsbruck and the Hofburg lost importance; it was not until the 1750s that Empress Maria Theresa revived the fortunes of this great palace and gave it a glorious Baroque and Rococo facelift.

The palace offers a series of 25 ornate Imperial Apartments open to the public, from the Guard Room and the Giant’s Hall, both smothered with great paintings depicting the history of the Habsburgs, to the Furniture Gallery with its elegant examples of Biedermeier styling. The series of beautifully furnished and decorated private apartments are Rococo confections in blues, pinks and greens, complete with gilded clocks, four-poster beds and richly upholstered sofas. They are laid out as they were when occupied by the Imperial Family during the 17th and 18th centuries.

A branch of the extraordinarily expensive Café Sacher is also found in the Hofburg; head there for coffee and Austria’s most acclaimed Sachertorte after viewing the Imperial Apartments.

The towering Holy Trinity Cathedral is the tallest church in all of Tbilisi and recognized as a symbol of  ”New Georgia”. Its golden dome rises out of the hillside of St. Ilya and is visible from almost any point in the city. The stunning structure is part of a massive complex that includes a monastery, theology school, hotel and nine chapels (including five that are underground).

Long considered one of the highlights of any tour of Tbilisi, Holy Trinity Cathedral was built to coincide with the 2000th anniversary of Christianity and the 1,500th anniversary of the Georgian church’s independence. The cathedral’s interior proves as impressive as its exterior and travelers say it is worth visiting twice—once to see in the daylight, and once to see as the sun sets in the hills that surround it.

The 900-year-old Hohenwerfen Fortress squats 510 ft (155 m) up on a rocky hilltop, surrounded by swathes of pine trees and the harsh peaks of the Tennengebirge Mountains. From its lofty position the castle dominates the village of Werfen in the Salzach Valley region of the Austrian Alps. 

Accessed by either steep climb or funicular from the car parks, Hohenwerfen Fortress has its beginnings in the 11th century; it was built in tandem with the Hohensalzburg Fortress in Salzburg as a refuge for the ruling prince-bishops. Parts of the fortified medieval walls can still be seen but the castle’s history has been turbulent and it was razed to the ground during the Peasants’ Rebellion of 1525. 

Much of what you see today is the result of subsequent 16th-century restyling in Baroque style, when the castle was extended and heavily fortified to protect the prince-bishops from further attack. It was also used to house military prisoners before falling into disuse in the late 18th century; more refurbishment followed by then-owner Archduke Eugen of Austria before parts of the fortress was destroyed yet again by fire in 1931. 

Restored once more to its present pristine whitewashed majesty, Hohenwerfen featured as Schloss Adler in the 1968 WWII movie Where Eagles Dare.

Today an audio-guide leads visitors around the landscaped gardens and battlements, into the kitchens and Romanesque chapel, around the prince-bishops’ apartments, and up the bell tower for far-reaching Alpine views. There are also small museums detailing the history of the castle and displaying weapons used in its protection as well as Austria’s only falconry museum – the summer months see daily flight demonstrations with birds of prey. Tours of Hohenwerfen Fortress are often combined with a trip through the world’s largest ice caves at Eisriesenwelt near Werfen.

Perched on a hilltop overlooking the Alpsee and Schwansee lakes and close by the Austrian border, the magnificent Hohenschwangau Castle (Schloss Hohenschwangau) is a dramatic gothic fortress dating back to the 19th century. The sister castle to the world-renowned Neuschwanstein Castle (the famous blueprint for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle), Hohenschwangau is a popular stop on the German Castle Trail and is often visited on day trips from Munich or nearby Füssen. 

Hohenschwangau Castle was built in 1832 on the site of the 12th-century Schuangau fortress and is celebrated for its striking interior décor, including a series of paintings by Domenik Quaglio depicting key events in German history. Built by King Maximilian II of Bavaria, the palace is notable as the childhood home of his heir, the future King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Ludwig would later go on to build a series of fairytale castles, including Neuschwanstein, and while Hohenschwangau’s sprawling ruins don’t quite match their majesty, their influence is inherent. 

The castle is now open to visitors and offers breathtaking views over the Alpsee and its surrounding mountain valleys, but to fully appreciate the setting, take a boat trip on the lake or hike one of the many trails that skirt the foothills of the castle.  

The attractive walled Basque town of Hondarribia (Fuenterrabia in Spanish) sits on the banks of the River Bidasoa on Spain’s Atlantic coast 20 km (12.5 miles) east of San Sebastian. Considered one of the prettiest Basque coastal towns, Hondarribia is almost on the Atlantic border with France and is backed by the austere peak of Mount Rhune.

This historic town is blessed with a lively marina; a sandy beach and a waterfront esplanade; a gaggle of wooden-balconied fishermen’s dwellings; and through an ancient stone archway, an ancient heart of labyrinthine cobbled lanes in Parte Vieja (Old Town), lined with stone palaces and traditional medieval townhouses.

Currently enjoying something of a moment in the sun for its explosion of gourmet restaurants, Hondarribia has a number of tasty pintxos bars along tree-lined San Pedro Kale, where these Spanish mini-kebabs can be enjoyed along with a glass of local cider. In fact you’ll find restaurants to suit every pocket, from downhome and casual through sleek wine bars to the Michelin-starred Alameda.

In Turin’s Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista, the faithful and curious from across the globe gather to view the Holy Shroud of Turin (Sacra Sindone), one of most famous and controversial religious relics in Italy. This linen cloth is said to have been laid over Jesus’ body after his crucifixion, though its authenticity remains debated.

The 53-square-foot (5-square-meter) Holy Shroud, displayed in a quiet 17th-century chapel designed by Guarino Guarini, architect of the nearby Real Chiesa di San Lorenzo, bears the faded image of a thin, bearded man who appears to have wounds consistent with Biblical tellings of those suffered by Christ at his execution. Historians and scholars have questioned the antique relic’s authenticity—never officially recognized by the Catholic Church—for years, and the Duomo has gone to great lengths to preserve it. The contentious shroud is one of the highlights of Piedmont’s capital city, and a viewing is included in many Turin small-group walking tours along with the Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale), Piazza Castello, and Mole Antonelliana. Because of its age and delicacy, the shroud is stored in a climate-controlled case filled with a special atmospheric mix of argon and oxygen, and is rarely displayed to the public; in its stead, the church shows video footage of the original. The last public showing of the actual Holy Shroud was in 2015.

The Turin Cathedral, or Duomo di Torino, is located in the Piazza Castello district, a short walk from the train station. It’s easy to arrange a Turin day trip from the nearby city of Milan by taking the high-speed train that runs between these two Italian regional capitals.

The Duomo is most crowded when the original Holy Shroud is being displayed to the public, and tickets to these showings must be booked far in advance. Hours are daily from 7am (Sundays from 8am) to 12:30pm and again from 3pm to 7pm.

Most visit the Duomo di Torino primarily to view the Holy Shroud, but the church itself is worth a look. Built at the end of the 15th century, the Renaissance Cathedral is attached to the original bell tower from 1469.

Located along Reykjavik’s scenic waterfront, the whitewashed building known as Hofdi House is best known as the place where US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev held the 1986 summit that led to the end of the Cold War. Images of the house were broadcast throughout the world, making it world famous.

 

Beautiful Hofdi House was built in 1909 and originally housed the French consul; there are still signs of this on the building, including the initials R.F. for the Republic of France. In the 1940s and ’50s, it was home to the British Embassy. The house has also hosted several celebrities and heads of state, including Queen Elizabeth II, Winston Churchill, and Marlene Dietrich. Hofdi is now owned by the City of Reykjavík and is currently used for official receptions and meetings. Although the house is unfortunately not open to the public, visitors are welcome to explore the house from the outside.

 

Many city sightseeing tours of Reykjavik include a stop at Hofdi house, offering the opportunity to see the exterior and read the various plaques that tell of its role in international politics.

 

 

Hofdi House is located on the waterfront, on Saebraut Road. It’s about 25 minutes’ walk east of downtown Reykjavik and can be reached using bus routes 4, 12, or 16. It is also a stop on the hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour bus.

 

There are no restrictions on when you can visit the Hofdi House grounds. If you want to avoid the biggest crowds of tourists, aim to visit in the evening. The glow of dusk lighting up the water in front makes for an attractive sight.

 

Some people believe that Hofdi House is occupied by the “White Lady,” thought to be the ghost of a young woman who drowned. A British Ambassador who once occupied the house was so unnerved by the ghost’s presence that he persuaded the British Foreign Office to sell the house back to the Icelandic government.

Hopetoun House is widely known as one of the best examples of 18th century architecture in Britain. Located just outside of Edinburgh on the shores of the Firth of Forth, Hopetoun dates largely to the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The original part of the home provides great examples of Scottish wainscoting, carving and ceiling painting, while a newer addition boasts a grand façade, colonnades and state apartments that were the center of the family’s social life in the 18th century. The furniture, paintings, tapestries and other items on display in the house remain mostly unchanged from that era. Two libraries contain books that the family has collected since 1650. Visitors can also climb 92 steps up to a rooftop viewing platform that offers magnificent views around the estate and the River Forth.

The grounds surrounding Hopetoun House feature two walking trails, an orienteering course and a garden, and can be visited on their own or in conjunction with a tour of the house.

Holy Island is located in Lamlash Bay off the Isle of Arran on Scotland's western coast. The island has a spiritual heritage dating back to the 6th century. Today there is the Centre for World Peace and Health on the north end of the island which has ongoing retreat programs and courses. The center welcomes overnight guests. There is also a closed Buddhist retreat on the south end of the island. There is also a hermit cave from a 6th-century monk and evidence of a 13th-century Christian monastery. 

Some visitors come to Holy Island to learn about meditation, yoga, tai chi, cooking, gardening, and other forms of relaxation. Others come here to enjoy the unspoiled natural scenery as an escape from their every day lives. Parts of the island are divided into natural reserves. Some areas are for birds and animals, while others are set aside for a native tree planting program. Visitors are asked to stay on the pathways.