Things to Do in Europe

One of the largest and least touristic of Stockholm’s many islands, Kungsholmen is a popular retreat for locals during the summer months, when its scenic walkways and waterfront restaurants offer a tranquil alternative to the lively shopping and nightlife districts of Södermalm or Gamla Stan.

 

The star attraction of Kungsholmen is the grand Stockholm City Hall, which famously hosts the annual Nobel Prize ceremony, and visitors can not only tour the legendary building, but take in the views from its 100-meter tall bell tower. Other highlights include the scenic waterfront promenade of Norr Mälarstand, which stretches all the way to Rålambshovs Park, the central Scheelegatan, crammed with bars and restaurants, and the harbor by City Hall, from where boat cruises head out to explore the islands of the Stockholm archipelago.

Albania’s Kruja Castle was the center of its struggle against the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century, led by national hero George Skanderberg. Today, the castle is home to the National Skanderberg Museum, remains of the Fatih Sultan Mehmed Mosque, an ethnographic museum, a Turkish bath and a reconstructed bazaar. It also offers scenic views of the surrounding area.

The Skanderberg Museum contains artifacts dating back to the 15th century, with exhibits arranged to honor Skanderberg and his military feats. Items on display include paintings, armor, maps and stone and wood engravings. The highlight of the collection is a replica of Skanderberg’s famous helmet topped with a goat head. The ethnographic museum is considered one of the best organized museums in Albania. Set in a traditional Ottoman era house, it contains objects up to 500 years old. Visitors can walk through a handful of the 15 rooms, including the living room, children’s room and kitchen. Exhibits include olive oil processing tools, pottery and both Catholic and Muslim clothing.

Krupówki Street passes through the heart of Zakopane and ranks among the most famous streets in all of Poland. Stretching for a little over half a mile (1 kilometer), the walking street is lined with restaurants, hotels, bars and boutique shops selling sportswear and luxury fashions. No matter the season, Krupówki Street always bustles with activity; street performers entertain passing tourists while portrait artists draw caricatures. Horse-drawn carriages ferry passengers up and down the promenade.

Each summer, the street hosts the International Festival of Highland Folklore, one of Poland’s oldest and largest folk festivals.

The mid-20th-century Slovene architect Jože Plečnik was responsible for much of Ljubljana’s rebirth as a cultured, elegant city; he built bridges over the Ljubljanica River as well as pathways along it and in the 1950s was also given the remit to design the Križanke Summer Theatre. It is located in the former Monastery of the Holy Cross, which dated right back to medieval times but was sacked by Yugoslav Communist leaders in the aftermath of World War II.

Plečnik set about creating a Renaissance-style entertainment venue with a vast entrance courtyard, paved with patterned cobbles and surrounded by arcaded walls etched with sgrafitto; his bust is also found here as a memorial to his designs, while some artifacts from the monastery are on display in a small museum next to the church. Today the complex offers four spaces, ranging from the Courtyard of Hell, where chamber-music concerts are held, to a sizeable stage where orchestral concerts and full-blown theater productions are held as well as rock concerts – it has a retractable roof in case of rain. The theater has a total capacity of 1,270 and is administrated by the Ljubljana Festival as the city’s most popular outdoor venue.

An imposing red-brick fortress stretching along the banks of the Moskva River, the Kremlin is the grand centerpiece of Moscow and one of Russia’s most recognizable landmarks. Originally the seat of the Russian grand dukes and later home to Soviet leaders such as Lenin and Stalin, the Kremlin is now the Russian president’s official residence.

No city tour of Moscow is complete without a visit to the Kremlin, and most sightseeing tours include at least a photo stop outside. Admission tickets to the Kremlin complex offer access to Cathedral Square, where you’ll find the Ivan the Great Bell Tower (open to the public from April to September); the Assumption, Archangel, and Annunciation Cathedrals; the Patriarch Palace; and the Church of Laying Our Lady’s Holy Robe. A separate ticket is required to enter the Armoury, which is home to the Diamond Fund plus a huge collection of ceremonial arms and armor, royal garments, horse carriages, and gold- and silverware.

While you can explore independently, a guided walking tour helps you learn more about the Kremlin’s fascinating history. Kremlin tours are often combined with other Moscow attractions such as Red Square, Resurrection Gate, and St. Basil’s Cathedral, or a cruise along the Moskva River. 

Located in the heart of Moscow, the Kremlin is easily accessible by metro or on foot from nearby attractions like Red Square (a 5-minute walk). The main entrance is by the Kutafya Tower, just northwest of Cathedral Square, and a second entrance is located just south, through the Alexander Garden (Alexandrovsky Sad). The closest metro stations are Borovitskaya (Line 9) and Biblioteka Imeni Lenina (Lenin Library; Line 1). 

The Kremlin is open to visitors daily except Thursdays and during public holidays or official events. The busiest time to visit is between May and September, when advance bookings are essential—visit early on a weekday morning to avoid the biggest crowds. 

Moscow’s bold monuments and elaborate architecture are a tribute to Russia’s glorious history, and the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Kremlin and Red Square are the city’s most memorable architectural landmarks. On Cathedral Square, the 15th-century Assumption Church is a visual feast, with golden domes, Corinthian columns, and stunning frescos. Other architectural highlights include the 16th-century Resurrection Gate, a decorative entryway to Red Square, and then the star attractions of Red Square itself—17th-century Kazan Cathedral, rainbow-colored St. Basil’s Cathedral, and the State Historical Museum, with its red baroque facade. 

Spectacular Kravice Falls in Bosnia and Herzegovina are one of Europe’s best-kept natural secrets. Plummeting over 98-foot (30-meter) soft tufa cliffs on the Trebizat River southwest of Mostar, the waterfalls have sliced out a natural amphitheater spanning nearly 400 feet (120 meters) as the river splits into more than a dozen separate waterfalls cascading into the lake below.

The falls are a sheer pleasure to experience. Rope swings are poised over the river and several fish restaurants, picnic areas, and camping facilities are dotted on the shore. During the late spring and hot summer months, an amazing natural phenomenon occurs at around noon: The heat causes some of the lake water to rise and create a mist at the top of the valley. A small grotto full of stalactites is nearby, as is an old mill and sailing ship. Visit the falls as part of a day tour from Mostar, including stops in Pocitelj, Blagaj, and/or Medugorje, or as a day trip from Dubrovnik, Croatia, including a stop in Mostar. Day tours from Sarajevo are also possible.

The Kravice Falls are 25 miles (40 kilometers) southwest of Mostar by car along the M6 Capljina-Ljubuski road; turn left down the dirt track at the brown sign marked “Kravice Falls” and follow it for almost two miles (about three kilometers). If you’d rather not drive yourself, book a taxi or join a tour from Mostar, Dubrovnik, or Sarajevo.

It is possible to visit Kravice Falls only from May to October. The best time to go is during the spring snow melt, when the falls are at their fullest and the surrounding landscape is a luscious green. The falls are tamer in summer, when several small sandy beaches appear underneath the cascades from which to swim in the icy, emerald waters.

You can combine a visit to Kravice Falls with one or more nearby towns or villages. Stop in the medieval town of Blagaj, once the capital of Herzegovina, or visit the fortified Pocitelj old town, built into the rocky cliffs above the Neretva River. You might also stop at Medjugorje, one of the largest Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world.

Kreuzberg makes up the western side of the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district, though the two sides are still referred to separately since they were only joined together in 2001. When the city was divided up after the war, the border between east and west ran in between Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg, leaving Kreuzberg in West Berlin.

After World War II, cheap housing attracted many students and immigrants to the neighborhood, and today, there is still a large immigrant population here, along with students and artists. It's an area of predominantly young residents and includes a wide variety of restaurants and bars, making it a great place to get dinner or a few drinks. 

One of Berlin's most well-known sights is the Oberbaum Bridge, which connects Kreuzberg with Friedrichshain on the other side of the River Spree. Other attractions in Kreuzberg include Checkpoint Charlie, the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, parts of Friedrichstrasse, the Schwules (Gay) Museum and the German Museum of Technology. Near Checkpoint Charlie, you'll also find the Peter Fechter Memorial, which honors Fechter, who was one of the first to die attempting to escape from East Berlin to West Berlin. 

Immortalized as the setting of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Kronborg Castle is one of Denmark’s top attractions. The fortress casts an imposing silhouette on Øresund (“the Sound”), and its towering Renaissance facade holds more than 400 years of history. From lavish ballrooms to the darkest of dungeons, this castle has it all. 

Kronborg Castle (Kronborg Slot, also known as Hamlet Castle) was once one of Europe’s most impregnable strongholds. Now the fortress is open to the public, and travelers are free to explore its vast interior, including the former royal chambers, King Frederick II’s wine cellar, an expansive 16th-century ballroom, and dungeons housing a foreboding statue of Viking chief Holger Danske.

Kronborg’s proximity to Copenhagen makes it a perfect day trip from Denmark’s capital. Visit on a private Hamlet Castle tour and learn about Kronborg’s storied history from an expert guide, or take a full-day tour of Kronborg, the nearby town of Elsinore, and the 17th-century Frederiksborg Castle. To visit at your own pace, get free entry to the castle with a Copenhagen Card. 

Kronborg Castle lies 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Copenhagen on Denmark’s eastern coast, roughly 45 minutes by road. Parking is available near the castle. To get there via public transportation, take the coastal train to Elsinore from Copenhagen Central Station or Nørreport Station. 

Kronborg is open year-round, Tuesday through Sunday. Summer is the best time to enjoy warm weather on the castle grounds, as well as the Shakespeare Festival, which features live performances of the playwright’s most famous works. Opt for an early visit to avoid crowds, especially in July and August. 

In 2000, Kronborg Castle was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Perched on a strategically important site on Øresund, the stretch of water between Denmark and Sweden, the Renaissance castle played a key role in the history of northern Europe and has great cultural significance for the Danish people. 

The cobblestone Main Square (Rynek Główny) of Krakow Old Town is Central Europe’s largest and has been the center of the city’s social, religious and political life since the Middle Ages. Today it still serves as Krakow’s modern pulse, dominated by the splendid Renaissance arcades of the Sukiennce (Cloth Hall), the lop-sided St Mary Basilica and an endless supply of cafés and bars. 

From the square, Krakow’s complex medieval alleyways peel off in all directions and work as the focus of most visits. The district contains Baroque churches by the handful, a gorgeous ensemble of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture, as well as about 25 museums covering subjects as diverse as Japanese manga, photography and stained glass. The standout historical collections are found in the many branches of the National Museum and in the Rynek Underground below the Cloth Hall.

The so-called “royal route” leaves the square down Grodzka and leads directly to the great architectural mish-mash of Wawel, perched on a rocky crag south of the square. Some of Poland’s most important buildings are assembled here, including the Renaissance castle, the flamboyant cathedral and the Crown Treasury, which houses the Polish crown jewels. 

The gigantic town square of Rynek Glowny is the centrepiece of Krakow’s UNESCO-listed Old Town and the largest medieval square in Europe. Dominated by the Renaissance-style Cloth Hall and flanked by colorful neoclassical buildings, the square is both an architectural landmark and the main hub of local life. 

As the navigational center of the Old Town and home to many of Krakow’s historic monuments, the main square is seen on almost all city tours. A walking tour offers the best photo opportunities; an experienced tour guide will point out the architectural highlights and explain the many historical events that took place on Rynek Glowny.

Rynek Glowny is located in the center of Krakow Old Town and is reachable on foot from several centrally located attractions, including Wawel Royal Castle and Planty Park. It’s about a 20-minute walk from Krakow’s central train station. 

Rynek Glowny is buzzing with activity at all hours. Head there early in the morning for crowd-free photo opportunities or in the evening to grab a drink at one of the many bars and cafés lining the square. Although it’s busiest in July and August, the square is at its most atmospheric during the festive season, when it hosts a large Christmas market. 

Now home to a shopping arcade and an art gallery, the 16th-century Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) stands at the center of the square. Next to that, the Gothic-style Town Hall tower affords views over the Old Town; the magnificent St. Mary's Basilica, which dates back to the 14th century, stands at the eastern end of the square. Other architectural highlights include St. Adalbert Church, Krakow’s oldest church, and a number of notable sculptures including Igor Mitoraj’s Eros Bendato and monuments to the poet Adam Mickiewicz and the cabaret legend Piotr Skrzynecki. 

Krka National Park is one of Croatia’s most enchanting natural wonders, with over 88 square miles (142-square kilometers) of lush woodlands, cascading waterfalls, and travertine cliffs stretching along the banks of the Krka River. Just minutes from the Dalmatian coast and far less visited than Plitvice Lakes National Park in the north, Krka is an idyllic retreat for hikers, cyclists, nature lovers, and just about everyone looking to escape Croatia’s well-worn tourist trail. 

Most Krka National Park visitors are day-trippers. Tours run from Split, Sibenik, Trogir, and Dubrovnik, and typically include a walking tour of magnificent Skradinski buk (the park’s largest and the river’s longest waterfall), a scenic boat ride along the Krka River, and hiking or biking along the park’s network of trails. For the best value, combine a small-group or private tour with a visit to Sibenik town or wine tasting in Skradin.

Krka National Park is approximately 6 miles (10 kilometers) inland from Sibenik in northern Dalmatia; it is 40 minutes away from there by road and about one hour from Split. There are five entrance points to the park: Lozovac, Skradin, Roški Slap/Laskovica, Burnum/Puljani, and Kistanje/Krka Monastery. The most popular entry point for tour buses is Lozovac, at the south of the park, while boat cruises start out from Skradin. 

Krka National Park is open year-round, and while summer is the most popular (and busiest) time to visit, each season brings its own highlights. Winter is calm and quiet; spring brings rushing waterfalls and vibrant wildflowers; summer heat makes swimming that much more refreshing; and autumn colors along the not-as-busy trails are a treat. Off-season (November to March) is the cheapest and quietest time in the park, but boat tours do not operate. In the busy summer months, arrive early or stay until sunset—after the tour buses have moved on. 

Krka National Park’s star attraction is the spectacular Skradinski buk waterfall, a sequence of 17 cascades that tumble 151 feet (46 meters) into an inviting swimming lake. But Skradinski buk is only one of seven waterfalls at the park, including Brljan falls, Bilusšic buk, Roski slap, and Manojlovac slap. Additional highlights include the old water mills along the Krka River, the Krnici Gornji viewpoint, Ozidana pecina cave, and Lake Visovac’s island and monastery.

Berlin’s biggest cultural center is the Kulturforum, an affiliation of 12 prestigious museums, galleries, libraries, churches and concert halls whose overall concept was designed by Modernist architect Hans Scharoun in the 1960s. The forum sits just off Potsdamer Platz, which was brutally divided by the Berlin Wall during the Cold War, and it came to represent West German success in the face of increasing poverty and degradation in East Germany before the Wall was ripped down in 1989. Today it is highly regarded both for its architectural diversity and its top-quality museums.

Places of interest at the Kulturforum include the Gemäldegalerie, with a world-class collection of medieval art, and the Neue Nationalgalerie (New National Gallery), a steel and-glass masterpiece designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1968 that houses Germany’s most important collection of European art — it is currently closed until 2019 for refurbishment. Along with collections of musical instruments and graphic arts, the Museum of Applied Art (Kunstgewerbemuseum) is also on the plaza, housed in purpose-built gallery designed by Rolf Gutbrod in 1985. Likewise the Berlin Philharmonic and State Library (Staatsbibliothek) are located in the Kulturforum and both are the work of Hans Scharoun. A new Museum of Modern Art is scheduled for 2020.

See how the royalty of Istanbul’s past lived centuries ago with a visit to Kucuksu Palace, also referred to as Kucuksu Pavilion or Kucuksu Kasri. Built in the mid-1800s after being commissioned by Sultan Abdulmecit, Kucuksu Palace was used by Ottoman sultans as a summer palace where they headed for some hunting and relaxation.

Kucuksu Palace is smaller compared to other royal summer residences in Turkey, but still has an impressive façade and interior that blends together both European and Ottoman styles from the time period with intricate carvings along the exterior and gilded accents inside. Both history and design buffs will enjoy visiting the palace and learning more about life within its walls and outdoor gardens. The palace still reflects a stately Turkish home from the 19th and 20th centuries with traditional furniture along with a large collection of artwork. The lower level is where the servants and kitchen staff of the sultan lived and it is interesting to walk through to see their way of life as well.

The Kumu Art Museum is the main branch of the Art Museum of Estonia and is also the largest and most impressive exhibition venue in the country. The museum opened in February 2006 and in 2008 received the European Museum of the Year Award.

On both the third and fourth floors are collections of Estonian art starting from the early 18th century. Art from before World War II is also exhibited on the third floor, and on the fourth, an exhibition of works from the Soviet occupation period is on display. On the museum's fifth floor, find a modern art gallery and exhibitions of contemporary art from Estonia as well as other countries.

Each year, 11 or 12 rotating exhibits are displayed, half of which come from Estonia, while the other half is made up of international pieces. The museum also has a 250-seat auditorium for film programs, performances, concerts, seminars and conferences; an educational center with programs and courses for different age groups; and a library with the widest collection of art literature in Estonia.

For an inside look at the extravagance of the Russian tsars, pay a visit to the Kremlin Armoury. Housed in a mid-19th century building inside the Kremlin, the Armoury Chamber displays a wide variety of items from the tsars’ treasury, including ancient state regalia, ceremonial dress and the largest collection of gold and silver by Russian craftsmen. 

Spread out over nine halls on two floors, the Armoury is home to more than 4000 items of applied art of Russia, European and Eastern countries of the fourth to the early 20th centuries.  On display are Russian gold and silverware, including works by Petersburg and Moscow masters and the famous Faberge eggs. You will see European and Oriental ceremonial weapons, guns crafted in Persia and Turkey and Russian arms dating back to the 12th century. Exhibits also feature ambassadorial gifts from Germany, England, Sweden, Poland and France, including a unique collection of English Renaissance silver and French dinner and tea sets.

Also of interest are clothes from the tsars’ wardrobes, including coronation dress and accessories, crowns, scepters and orbs from the 13th to 18th centuries, and the thrones of Ivan the Terrible and the Romanov tsars. Royal carriages from the 16th to 18th centuries, including that of Catherine the Great, complete the collection, which provides a fascinating look into Russian imperial history.

Built in the sixth century by Emperor Justinian I as the Church of the Saints Sergius and Bacchus, the Kucuk Ayasofya (Little Hagia Sophia) later took its name from its resemblance to the larger Hagia Sophia, which was built nearby a few years earlier. After the Ottomans conquered Constantinople, the church was converted into a mosque.

The Kucuk Ayasofya has a distinctive irregular octagonal shape. After a restoration in 2006, the mosque’s interior was returned to its Ottoman-era decoration, though some aspects that date to Byzantine times are still visible. Kucuk Ayasofya still functions as an active place of worship.

Some small-group and private walking tours combine a visit to Kucuk Ayasofya Mosque with other sights nearby, including Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Suleymaniye Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Chora Museum.

 

Located in the Kumkapi neighborhood, the Kucuk Ayasofya is walking distance from the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia in Sultanahmet Square. It is easily accessible by bus and from the Sultanahmet tram stop.

The Kucuk Ayasofya is open daily from the morning until evening. Arrive early to beat the crowds. The mosque is closed to non-Muslims during prayer times, which are longer on Fridays; check times online. Muslim and Turkish holidays can affect opening hours as well.

To enter a mosque in Istanbul, it is necessary to dress appropriately. All visitors must remove their shoes and cover their shoulders and knees; women need to cover their heads as well. Most Istanbul mosques provide coverings if you need them, but plan ahead and bring your own scarf—or wear long pants or a long skirt and something on your shoulders—to visit mosques more easily and efficiently.

Just a few steps away from Mostar’s landmark Stari Most, the historic bridge that was destroyed in the Balkan Wars of the 1990s, lies the Stari Grad, the oldest part of town. The historic and commercial heart of this district is the Kujundziluk (Old Bazaar) overlooking the left bank of the River Neretva, which in Ottoman times was where all the trading and bartering took place. In the 16th century, Turks and Bosnians alike congregated here daily to do business; today the Kujundziluk is just as crowded with international visitors keen to seek out traditional crafts and street snacks from the tiny stalls and artisan shops of this cobbled warren of alleyways backed by pink-painted houses. Colorful geometric-patterned rugs, intricate handmade jewelry and gaudy beads, embroidered scarves, bags and shisha pipes are some of the treasures to be unearthed here; be prepared to bargain for discounts off the initial prices.

The Kubinka Tank Museum is the largest museum in the world of armored vehicles. Located just outside of Moscow, it houses more than 300 tanks and vehicles from throughout the 20th century. One of the most unique vehicles on display is the German super-heavy tank prototype known as the Panzer VIII Maus—one of just two made and the only one still in existence.

Other exhibits include the Troyanov heavy tank and a Karl-Gerat self-propelled artillery, as well as single and limited edition prototypes from Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union and Cold War era tanks that were war trophies from the Middle East, Africa, Vietnam and Latin America. The vehicles are displayed throughout seven hangars, including four for Soviet and Russian armor alone, divided into heavy, medium, light and wheeled vehicles hangars. In 2000, all of the old vehicles were repainted in their original manner by Russian historical specialists.

Travelers in search of a unique and memorable performance need look not further than Prague’s Krizik Fountain. This iconic Czech landmark has been in operation since 1891 and served as an easy meeting place for city residents on the move. Today Krizik Fountain hosts dozens of live shows and its one-of-a-kind spectacle features dancing water, traditional music and brilliant colors. A few of the regularly schedule evenings even include film projections on the water and live accompaniment by the regional ballet company. While tickets are essential, advance reservations aren’t, so catching a show at Krizik Fountain can be done on the fly for visitors who find themselves nearby when the performance starts.

While not nearly as big as other archaeology museums in the world, that of Krakow’s has the particularity of being home to the world’s only Slavonic god to ever be unearthed – an 8-feet tall, 4-faced piece of stone. There are hundreds of other artifacts inside the museum, which offers fascinating information on the ancient people that once commanded Eastern Europe. The permanent collection consists of two exhibitions: one called Prehistory and the Early Middle Ages that focuses on the evolution of the Neanderthal cavemen to the early-medieval Poles, and another called Gods of Ancient Egypt displaying a mesmerizing collection of Egyptian antiquities. There is also a space reserved for temporary collections, which have gained quite a reputation throughout the years for being particularly interesting.

Additionally, the museum is housed in a 14th-century fortress with a fascinating history, having gone from being a lavish medieval palace to an Austrian prison later in the 19th century.