Things to Do in Europe

Madame Tussauds is the ultimate wax museum with locations the world over. Madame Tussauds Berlin has a wide variety of life-like wax figures made to look like celebrities, including actors such as Johnny Depp and Julia Roberts, and musicians such as Rihanna and the Beatles. Wax exhibits also include politicians such as Angela Merkel and Barack Obama, sports stars such as Muhammad Ali and Mesut Özil, and historical figures such as Albert Einstein and Ludwig van Beethoven. There's even a section of superheros like Spiderman and Shrek.

There's also a behind-the-scenes area where visitors can get a closer look at how the figures are made. It's a complex process starting with measuring and photographing the person who will be sculpted. Great care is taken to ensure the eye color, hair color and style, skin color and even the teeth are as accurate as possible. 

Madame Tussauds is a fun place where visitors can walk among the celebrities and have their photo taken with the stars. On average, visits take about an hour and a half.

One of Barcelona’s most dazzling attractions, the Magic Fountain (Font Montjuic) was built in 1929 for the city’s World Exhibition. Travelers can still watch the fountain’s spectacular illumination displays, which feature music and a kaleidoscope of shimmering lights, all set against the majestic backdrop of Montjuic Palace. 

Designed by Carles Buigas, the Magic Fountain is one of Barcelona’s most popular tourist attractions, drawing almost 2.5 million annual visitors. Stop by the fountain after dark to enjoy a range of uniquely choreographed spectacles—soundtracks range from classical scores to a remix of Barcelona by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé, while the fountain’s water acrobatics are performed by 3,620 jets and reach heights of 177 feet (54 meters). Guided tours of the Montjuic neighborhood often include a stop at the fountain during the day, and night tours—evening bike tours, bus tours, and nightlife tours—often feature the free fountain show.

The Magic Fountain is located at the foot of Montjuic Mountain, a hilltop Barcelona neighborhood, near the famous Placa Espanya square. The easiest way to get there is via the metro, getting off at Espanya station. Bus 55 also stops near the fountain, as do most hop-on, hop-off bus tours.

To experience the fountain in its full glory, it’s best to visit during one of the synchronized light and sounds shows. The light show schedule varies by season, with nightly shows on weekend evenings and an extended summer schedule. It’s a good idea to arrive a few minutes early to get a good spot during summer.

The former bullring in Placa Espanya, now a shopping center, offers excellent panoramic views of the Magic Fountain, Montjuic Palace, and the entire city of Barcelona. Ride the escalators to the top floor, where restaurants circle the rooftop and the spectacular views are completely free.

Belonging to Portugal and lying in the Atlantic more than 550 miles west off the coast of Morocco, the archipelago of Madeira is not exactly a place one stumbles upon while traveling. But visitors soon realize it is a destination worth planning for, and the town of Machico is its shining star.

Along with the island's largest city, Funchal, Machico quickly became a full-fledged town shortly after the discovery of the island in the early 15th century. In fact, it was the first place where explorers landed and as such, is the historical heart of the island. Sights include Franciscan chapels, defensive forts, and the original fire beacon to warn of intruders. There are also beautiful vistas, modern beach clubs, world-class diving spots, and the town itself, with its welcoming locals.

Between the two huge islands of Sardinia and Corsica is a small group of islands that also belong to Italy – the Maddalena Archipelago, which is made up of seven major islands that are located just off the gorgeous Costa Smeralda on Sardinia. Visitors weren't always allowed on the islands, largely because Isola Maddalena (the largest one) is a NATO base. Today, however, travelers can much more easily discover the area. The town of La Maddelana houses the vast majority of the archipelago's local residents.

The islands are included in one of Italy's 24 national parks and are also on UNESCO's tentative list as a World Heritage site. The islands' beaches are among Sardinia's loveliest.

The Macca Villacrosse Passage, also known as the Pasajul Macca-Vilacrosse, is a fork-shaped arcaded street in central Bucharest. Covered with yellow glass to allow natural light to shine through, the passage was built at the end of the 19th century to connect the Calea Victoriei and the National Bank. Today, the Macca side of the passage opens on to Calea Victoriei, one of Bucharest’s main avenues, while the Villacrosse side opens to the National Bank and Strada Eugeniu Carada. The passage has a French look to it and is similar to other covered passages built in Milan and Paris during the same period. During Communist times, it was known as the Jewelry Passage due to the presence of the city’s largest jewelry shops, but the original name was restored in 1990. 

Today, the passage is still home to a few jewelry shops, but also features several restaurants, cafes, boutiques and hookah bars.

Wandering through the 100-acre grounds of Magdalen College paints an idyllic picture of Oxford university life—punting along the river, watching a game on the cricket lawns, strolling through the deer park or walking the woodland Addison’s Trail, a favorite route of Oxford alumnus C.S Lewis. The verdant setting is reason enough to visit, but Magdalen’s striking architecture is equally notable, making it a worthy rival to nearby Christ Church College.

Founded in 1448 by future Chancellor of England William Waynflete, Magdalen College—pronounced "Maudlin"—was home to Oxford’s first science department and still ranks among the university’s most prestigious colleges. For visitors, most tours start at the landmark Magdalen Tower, a grand Gothic bell tower most famous for its May Morning celebrations, before moving on to explore highlights like the 15th-century St. John's Quad, the richly decorated gatehouse and the atmospheric Great Quad, adorned with expertly carved hieroglyphs.

In the city of Pozzuoli, just outside Naples, sits the ruins of an ancient Roman market - the Macellum of Pozzuoli - in what is the larger Phlegraean Fields Regional Park.

The market structure was likely built between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, and was excavated in the 18th century. At that time, a statue of the Greek god Serapis was found among the ruins, so some believed the building to have been a temple. Though it was later determined to be a marketplace, the name Temple of Serapis is also often used to describe the ruins.

Many of the Phlegraean Fields ruins are underwater due to the volcanic shifts in the area over the centuries, and the Macellum was no exception. While there are columns rising high above the modern street level, the ground level of the market itself is well below sea level. The columns show evidence of shellfish, as they were once underwater, too.

The ground level continues to move up and down very slowly, because the market is located near the middle of the volcanic caldera that makes up the epicenter of the Phlegraean Fields. Visitors today won’t notice the shift in ground level, though geologists track the site constantly.

Madame Tussauds may have branches around the globe, but its London wax museum is the birthplace of it all, with a history dating back almost 250 years. The ever-expanding collection of wax figures features everyone from Hollywood movie stars, pop icons, and record-breaking Olympians to politicians, historic figures, and members the British royal family. The museum’s fun, interactive exhibitions are sure to entertain the whole family. 

Pre-book your Madame Tussauds London priority entrance ticket to skip the line and head straight inside. If you’re sightseeing in the city, most London hop-on hop-off tours stop at the wax museum, while an iVenture Card or BIG London attraction ticket combines entrance to Madame Tussauds with access to top attractions such as the London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and The Shard.

Madame Tussauds is located on Baker Street in Marylebone, in northwest London. The closest London Underground station is Baker Street, which is a 2-minute walk from the museum. Baker Street station can be accessed by the Bakerloo, Circle, Jubilee, Metropolitan, and Hammersmith & City lines. 

Madame Tussauds is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 4pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 4pm. To avoid the crowds, visit outside of peak summer season or opt for an early morning visit on a weekday. 

There are roughly 300 wax figures to pose with, so you can “meet” pop stars like Michael Jackson, Madonna, Lady Gaga, and One Direction; snap a selfie with Kim Kardashian, Olympic legend Usain Bolt, or even Her Majesty the Queen; or learn more about British legends such as William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens. Additional highlights include the Star Wars Experience, where you can meet characters such as Yoda, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia, and the Marvel Super Heroes 4D Exhibition, featuring fan favorites such as Spiderman, the Incredible Hulk, Captain America, and Iron Man.

Madrid Rio is the name given to the 820-hectare area running along the banks of the Manzanares river in Madrid. Unveiled in 2008, 1.5 km from Puerta del Sol, Madrid Rio runs alongside the river for 6 km and connects existing green areas like the Casa del Campo with the city center. As you explore, you'll see river rowing lanes, kiosks, cafes, restaurants, terraces, sports facilities, outdoor gyms for adults, and 17 children’s play areas which include a tree trunk jungle, a slides hill and a zip line area. Eleven new footbridges have also been built as part of Madrid Rio, and already-existing bridges have been improved. New trees have been planted, including 5,000 in Arganzuela Park which also has a new cultural center, an auditorium for concerts, and a large skating rink. But come summertime, the most popular spot in Madrid Rio is the Urban Beach, which is little wonder given that the nearest beach is 220 miles away.

Once a large slaughterhouse and now a center for the arts, the Madrid Matadero was one of the most important architectural transformations for the city in the 20th century. It operates as a living laboratory for cross-disciplinary artistic forms, pushing the boundary of culture and creativity while honoring the structure of the past. 

The city has transformed one of its largest agricultural markets into a center for the arts. Ranging from music and drama to dance and theater, it encourages experimentation and alternative forms of expression and creation. Its facilities (stages rehearsal rooms, and classrooms) are open and available to all artists. 

Frequent exhibitions of the best in modern fashion, design, cinema and literature make this series of open and covered spaces one of the most fascinating cultural spots in Madrid. Some consider it to be one of the most important contemporary art centers in all of Europe.

Madurodam, a mini-Holland on a 1:25 scale, lets you tour the entirety of the Netherlands in an hour. One of Holland’s most popular attractions since its development in the Hague in 1952, it highlights the epitomes of Dutch culture in scale-model replicas of perfectly ornamented bridges, canals, windmills, and major national landmarks.

 

This miniature park allows you to discover the Madurodamers working, relaxing, watching a football match, and just going about their lives. Check out Madurodam’s fully functionally harbor, trains, and airport. The model city even has carefully manicured gardens made with real flowers and plants at a quarter of real size. All of the important Dutch cities—including Rotterdam, the Hague (with its International Court of Justice), Delft, and Amsterdam (including the Peace Palace)—are rendered in accurate lifelike representations.

 

You can purchase tickets at the park or in advance. You can also make your way to the miniature town as part of a guided tour; popular options combine a visit to Madurodam with city sightseeing tours of Delft and the Hague.

 

 

Madurodam is located within the Hague (between Central Hague and Scheveningen). You can access the park easily by car; there is a small parking fee. Trains are available from within the Hague; use tram 9 or bus 22.

 

Madurodam is open every day of the year. Hours vary seasonally: Typical spring and summer hours are from 9am to 8pm; fall and winter hours are 11am to 5pm. Check the park’s website for exact times.

 

Madurodam is a natural fit for a family-friendly day trip. Kids of all ages will enjoy the variety of hands-on activities, including managing a miniature Dutch port, discovering Dutch cheese, generating wind energy, and playing with water. A fully equipped playground helps kids burn off excess energy.

Magere Brug is a bridge in Amsterdam that crosses the Amstel River. Its name translates as “skinny bridge” and comes from the original bridge that was so skinny, it was difficult for two people to pass each other while walking across it at the same time. Legend also has it that the bridge was built by the Mager sisters to make it easier to visit each other since they lived on opposite sides of the river. Though it is still called the Skinny Bridge, today it is no longer so skinny. The bridge was replaced with a wider one in 1871, and now pedestrians and bicycles can cross with greater ease. 

The bridge is a wooden drawbridge that is raised frequently throughout the day to allow boats to pass through. At night it is lit up by over 1,000 light bulbs. Day or night, the Skinny Bridge is a charming place to visit and enjoy views of the river and the city. 

As the world's most famous waxworks museum, Madame Tussauds needs no introduction. And where better to rub shoulders with movie stars, music icons, and historic figures than Vienna? Snap a selfie with everyone from Brad Pitt to Barack Obama, take a walk through Austrian history, and entertain the whole family with fun, interactive exhibitions. 

Pre-booking a Madame Tussauds Vienna priority entrance ticket means you can skip the line and head straight inside. If you're sightseeing in the city, most Vienna hop-on hop-off tours stop at the wax museum, while the Vienna Card includes entrance to Madame Tussauds, along with that to top attractions such as the Schönbrunn Palace, Schonbrunn Zoo, and Hofburg Imperial Palace.

Madame Tussauds is located in the Prater Amusement Park on Riesenradplatz in central Vienna. The closest U-Bahn stop is Praterstern, and it's about three minutes' walk from the station. 

Madame Tussauds is open all year round, but those hoping to avoid the crowds should visit outside of peak summer season or opt for an early morning visit on a weekday. 

There are over 80 wax figures to pose for photos with, so you can cozy up with film stars like Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, and Johnny Depp; "meet" icons such as Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, and Freddie Mercury; or spot global politicians like Nelson Mandela. Don't miss the many notable Austrian personalities, including Emperor Franz Joseph, his wife Sisi, Mozart, Maria Theresia, and Gustav Klimt.

Maiden’s Tower, or Kiz Kulesi, is an ancient site in Istanbul located on a tiny islet in the Bosphorus Strait that has a history of both practicality and folklore. The origins of the tower aren’t completely known, leading to legends such as one attesting that it was built to lock away a princess after it was prophesized she would die from a snake bite on her 18th birthday – hence the name Maiden’s Tower.

The origin of Maiden’s Tower is believed to date back over 2,000 years, though the tower itself has changed over the centuries. Originally built of stone, a wooden tower was added in the 12th century after the Ottoman Turks conquered the area. This led to the tower’s downfall when a fire ravaged it in the 1700s. The tower was rebuilt in stone and in the 1800s a light was also added to the top. During this time, Maiden’s Tower also switched from being used as a defense tower to being intermittently used as a lighthouse and as a quarantine facility for those affected with cholera.

Today, Maiden’s Tower is home to an upscale restaurant and bar. The bar is located on the top floor and has a romantic vibe with an outdoor balcony you can enjoy your drink on.

With two levels of more than 400 wax statues of historic figures, the Madrid Wax Museum is an excellent introduction to periods of history and those who impacted the world at that time. An incredible range of wax figures from all eras is on display, from Napoleon, Cleopatra and Christopher Columbus to modern day celebrities like Brad Pitt and Antonio Banderas. The museum is constantly updated with figures of the world old and new.

In other rooms, a collection of Spanish monarchs and Catholic leaders brings history to life. There is a section dedicated to children’s figures such as Snow White, the Simpsons, and Harry Potter. Those interested in a scarier experience will appreciate the ‘Terror Train’ journey through a dungeon of figures such as Dracula and Freddy Kruger. Beyond the wax figures, there is even a Simulator ride that takes visitors on a journey through modern space, and a telling of the History of Spain by an animatronic Emperor Charles I.

Set on the site of the 1992 Expo in Seville, Magic Island Park (Parque Isla Magica) brings 16th-century colonial Spain to life—complete with pirates, galleons, jungles, and swashbuckling adventure. Seven themed areas center on a lake, with highlights that include white-knuckle roller coasters like Anaconda and El Jaguar, the 223-foot (68-meter) El Desafio drop tower, and Iguazu, a high-speed flume ride through the Brazilian jungle.

Magic Island Park is one of Andalucia’s most popular family attractions, and park goers have several options for visiting. Besides a basic entrance ticket, you can choose from combined tickets to both Magic Island and its new sister water park. Or opt for an afternoon-only ticket—an especially good value on summer Saturdays when the park remains open to midnight. Magic Island is one of the stops on the Seville hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus.

The theme park is situated about two miles (three kilometers) northwest of El Centro. It’s walkable from the La Macarena district by passing over the Barqueta Bridge. Buses C1 and C2 take passengers from El Centro to the park’s front entrance.

Due to the park’s popularity, it’s a good idea to arrive early and head straight for the star attractions before lines get too long. Plan to stay (or return) after dark for the worthwhile fountain shows.

In 2014 the Magic Island amusement park debuted Agua Magica, a water park expansion that includes a small wave pool, an artificial beach, a variety of swimming pools, several slides, a lazy river, and a water feature–packed play area. Agua Magica is open from March or April to October, and hosts special events around Halloween and Christmas.

During World War II, Terezín was the largest of the concentration camps constructed by the Nazis to imprison Europe’s Jews; while not an extermination camp in itself, more than 30,000 prisoners died here due to the appalling, disease ridden and cramped conditions, while 80,000 more were shipped to the death camps in eastern Europe such as Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen.

The Magdeburg Barracks were originally constructed in 1780 in Baroque-style and formed part of a military fortress commissioned by Habsburg Emperor Franz Josef II to protect the Austro-Hungarian Empire from invasion by Prussia. During WWII they became part of the Terezín complex, housing countless Jewish families in primitive, freezing conditions in ramshackle, ghetto-like dormitories.

Thanks to the Soviet Army, liberation finally came to the Magdeburg Barracks in May 1945; ironically Terezín ended up as the prison and execution site for many Nazi war criminals. Today the barracks are a place of reconciliation and hope, restored and reopened in 1997 as a conference center run by the Holocaust Education Trust; also displayed are the replica prison dormitories and heart-wrenching exhibitions showcasing the art, literature and music produced by Jewish inmates during the Holocaust.

The Mafra National Palace, which once served as a Franciscan monastery, was one of the largest buildings in Europe when it was built in the 18th century. In 1717, King João V built the palace to celebrate the birth of his daughter. Its Baroque and neoclassical architecture draws from both German and Italian influences. The massive complex in total covers nearly 38,000 square meters, with around 1,200 rooms. The facade of the palace alone is 220 meters long. Visitors will find the structure divided into four areas today: the palace, the convent, the basilica, and the library.  

The marble and dark wooded library holds a collection of over 35,000 leather-bound books from the 14th to the 19th century. The basilica is another marvel, with eleven chapels, six organs, and one of the largest domes in the world. The Royal Apartments are divided into king and queen’s chambers, each with rooms ornately decorated with period furniture and artwork. At the edge of it all lies dense forest that once served as royal hunting grounds.

This stunning and historic church is tucked among an incredible complex comprised of dozens of caves and dates back to the early 10th century. Its unique location and iconic beauty has been attracting travelers for hundreds of years. Widely recognized as one of Matera’s most important religious monuments, Madonna delle Virtu Church, as well as nearby San Nicola dei Greci, draws pilgrims from around the world.

The church’s interior is decorated with brilliantly restored frescos and occasional temporary exhibits are also on display here. Travelers can wander the two floors containing multiple rooms, gaze out over vast landscapes and picturesque views and tour the site’s unique history on a visit to Madonna delle Virtu.