Things to Do in Europe

With a history dating back to 1874, the Feskekörka is Gothenburg's oldest market hall, Scandinavia's largest fish market and the much-celebrated focal point of the city's legendary fishing industry. Owing its peculiar name (literally: the "˜Fish Church') to its church-like appearance, the Feskekörka's unique surroundings only add to its charm and a stroll around the lively marketplace is a popular pastime for tourists.

A vast range of black and red peaks dominating the landscape of the Timanfaya National Park, the evocatively named Fire Mountains (Montañas de Fuego) serve as a lasting reminder of Lanzarote's explosive past. Although the last eruption was recorded in 1824, it was a series of eruptions in the 18th century that was most memorable "“ the blasts covered a large portion of Lanzarote with hot ash and lava and created much of the island's unearthly topography, including natural wonders like the El Golfo crater lake and the Los Hervideros cliffs.

Arguably the most beautiful beach on the Balearic island of Mallorca "“ and certainly its most unspoiled "“ the three-km (1.75-mile) stretch of Es Trenc is found on the southwest coast near the resort of Colonia Sant Jordi. Thanks to the soft, sugar-like golden sand and the pristine, shallow water, this is a favorite beach for families; there are sunbeds and parasols to hire as well as lifeguards on duty in the summer months. Facilities also include several bars and restaurants along the beach, including the popular chiringuito (casual beach restaurant) of S'Embat in the purpose-built enclave of Ses Covettes, where several areas of the beach are given over to nudity. Despite its length, Es Trenc becomes very crowded in high summer, but a quiet spot can always be found. The beach also gets packed with wind surfers when the sea breezes start blowing. In winter it is often completely deserted apart from the migrating birds stopping over among the dunes, marshy wetlands and pine scrub backing the beach, which are protected as an Área Natural de Especial Interes (Natural Area of Special Interest).

The limestone cave complex at Dunmore stretches around 0.5 km (0.25 miles) underground and descends to a depth of 46 m (150 ft). It is open for guided tours of the caverns, which are rich in gleaming limestone stalactites and stalagmites that have been forming, drip by drip, for more than 300 million years. The most spectacular is a vast, colonnaded pillar dubbed the "˜Market Cross', which is found in a chamber known as the "˜Town Hall' and is over five m (16.5 ft) high. There is evidence in ancient Irish literature of man settling in the caves as far back as the ninth century, while bones and teeth found in the inner chambers of the complex are thought to be the remains of Vikings murdered in 928. In addition, a hoard of silver and bronze coins, wire buttons and ingots were discovered there in 1999; they are currently displayed in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin and are believed to date from around 970 AD. A small visitor center showcases the history and geology of the cave complex.

Sitting on the Danube River in Lower Austria, Dürnstein is one of the most-visited villages in the Wachau Valley wine-growing region and is accessible from both Vienna and Salzburg. It's a charming mix of medieval and Baroque architecture, with labyrinthine cobbled lanes and pastel-hued houses with red-tiled roofs. Full of traditional Austrian restaurants and stores selling local vintages, it's the perfect lunchtime stopover on driving, cycling or walking tours through the valley. Often packed out by day "“ especially in summer "“ by night most visitors have left and the village reverts to its tranquil, romantic best.

Dürnstein Abbey perches right on the edge of the Danube, its stately blue Baroque tower is a local landmark. Although first mentioned as a nunnery in 1289, by the 16th century it had become an Augustine monastery and 200 years after that it was given its present Baroque facelift.

The ruins of Kuenringer Castle (also known as Burgruine Dürnstein), in which English King Richard the Lionheart was famously imprisoned on his way back from the Crusades in 1192, stand on a jagged promontory overlooking the town. According to legend, Richard's minstrel Jean Blondel rescued him from captivity and it is Blondel's name you will seen on several of Dürnstein's bars and hotels. It's a breathless 30-minute scramble up to the castle but rewarding for some of the best views along the Wachau Valley.

There are over 20 vineyards within stamping distance of Durnstein so the little town makes the perfect starting point for a day's trip through the vines or to an estate to tour the cellars; you can also get to sample some of the Wachau's crisp dry whites at the rustic little heurigen (wine bars) scattered around the region, although they are not open all year around.