Things to Do in Europe

The world’s oldest legal distillery, Bushmills was first granted its whiskey-producing license back in 1608, though historical records suggest production began even earlier. Distillers used malted Irish barley, grains, and water from St. Columb’s Rill to produce their oak-aged Bushmills Original and their Black Bush blend.

 

Make your way to the Old Bushmills Distillery and explore the facility as part of a guided tour that concludes with a complimentary taste of Irish whiskey. Many organized day trips from Belfast stop at Bushmills, as well as other sites along the Antrim Coast, such as Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, and Carrickfergus Castle. Some tours visit Game of Thrones filming locations, including Dunluce Castle. Longer Antrim Coast day tours from Dublin also stop at Bushmills.

 

 

The Old Bushmills Distillery is located in the town of Bushmills in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The quickest way to get there from Belfast is to drive along the M2 and A26, which will take about an hour and 10 minutes. Though longer, the Causeway Coastal Route is a more scenic journey. Visitors without access to a car would do best going as part of an organized tour.

 

The Old Bushmills Distillery is open year-round, except over the Christmas and New Year’s period and July 12. Tours are limited and subject to availability. During summer months, arrive early in the day to ensure a spot.

 

The Old Bushmills Distillery is just one of many attractions that lie along the 130-mile (209-kilometer) Coastal Causeway Route, which runs from Belfast to Derry (Londonderry). Other highlights of the route include Titanic Belfast; Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge; and the Norman-era Carrickfergus Castle, which overlooks Belfast Lough.

Constructed in 1566 during the Ottoman occupation on the sight of an earlier wooden bridge, the Old Bridge (Stari Most) in multi-cultural Mostar straddles the Neretva River; it was designed in a single stone span by Turkish architect Kodja Mimar Sinan and built by Mimar Hayruddin, who was threatened with execution by the Sultan if the bridge should collapse. Thankfully it stood the test of time until its destruction by shells during the Balkan Wars, but now once again soars over the river, 30 meters (98.5 feet) in length and standing 21 meters (69 feet) at its highest point. Today the Old Bridge is world famous for several reasons: it unites the city’s Muslim and Christian residents between the Ottoman left bank and the largely 19th-century Austro-Hungarian enclave on the right bank; it was blown apart in 1993 when the two communities of Mostar turned on each other; and yet has come to symbolize peace and reconciliation since its restoration – using the original white limestone dredged from the river – and reopening in 2004 with a reinforced metal framework. In summer the youth of Mostar use the UNESCO World Heritage-listed bridge as a diving platform in a spectacular display of foolhardy bravery; an annual diving competition is held in mid-August, watched by up to 15,000 spectators.

Situated on Dublin’s Northside, O’Connell Street is one of the city’s main thoroughfares. As well as being home to shops, bars, and restaurants, this broad boulevard is also the setting for several statues, the 390-foot-high (120-meter-high) Spire monument, and the bullet-pocked General Post Office (GPO)—a key site in Ireland’s 1916 Easter Rising.

One of the main streets in Dublin’s center, O’Connell Street is included on many city sightseeing tours. Walking tours, history-themed tours, bus tours, and bike tours all pass along parts of the thoroughfare. Most tours offer information on the various monuments and statues dotted along the street and stop at the GPO, which was occupied by rebels during the 1916 Easter Rising, an event that set Ireland en route to independence. 

Given its centrality, visitors would be hard-pressed to avoid O’Connell Street. It’s a 10-minute walk north of Trinity College, or you can ride the Luas Red Line tram to Abbey Street, O’Connell GPO, or O’Connell Upper station. Many Dublin buses stop on O’Connell Street. 

O’Connell Street is pretty much always bustling, and you’ll never find it totally deserted, no matter when you visit, though it’s best to explore by day. Weekend afternoons during the run-up to Christmas are when it’s most crowded, while Sunday mornings you’ll find it at its quietest.

Though the Spire and the GPO are O’Connell Streets best-known landmarks, they are far from its only notable sights. At the south end of the street, look for the O’Connell Monument, which pays tribute to the 19th-century nationalist leader Daniel O’Connell. Near the Spire, you’ll find a statue of favorite son James Joyce, the author of Ulysses. Charles Stewart Parnell, an Irish nationalist who campaigned for home rule, is honored with a monument at the north end of the street. For shopping, swing down Henry Street off O’Connell Street: It’s lined with high-street shops, malls, and stalls. 

The Old Bridge in Heidelberg is a sandstone pedestrian bridge that goes across the Neckar River linking the old town on one side with the Neuenheim district on the other. It was built in 1786, and even though there were several other bridges before it in this location, it was the first one made of stone. On the city side of the bridge, there are two towers that once formed part of the city walls. They contain old dungeons which were used to hold criminals. Between the towers, you can see a plaque honoring the Austrian troops who helped defend the bridge against an attack from the French in 1799.  

Another feature visitors will notice is a statue of a monkey holding a mirror. The monkey represents the idea that neither those who lived within the city walls nor those who lived outside the city were any better than the other, and that they should look over their shoulder as the cross the bridge to remember this. Other sculptures on the bridge include a monument to Prince Elector Carl Theodor, who had the bridge built, and one devoted to the Roman goddess Minerva.

At the foot of Fourviére Hill, the historical streets of Old Lyon (Vieux Lyon) offer a welcome change of pace from the modern city across the river. With elegant medieval churches, Renaissance-era monuments, and pastel-painted facades, this is Lyon’s most atmospheric district.

There are many options for exploring Old Lyon, from walking tours and standard or electric bike tours to Segway jaunts and hop-on hop-off bus excursions. In addition to Old Lyon, city tours often visit neighborhoods such as La Croix-Rousse and the Presqu’île and ride the funicular up to the Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière for impressive city views. Food tours explore Lyon’s gastronomic heritage at the famous Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse market and restaurants around Old Lyon.

Old Lyon stretches along the left bank of the Saône River, with Fourviére Hill rising to the west. It’s a short stroll across the bridge from Place Bellecour or Place des Jacobins, and the closest metro station is Vieux Lyon (line D). Funiculars for Fourvière Hill also run from this station. 

Explore the streets of Old Lyon in the morning to avoid the crowds and take photos of the beautiful historical buildings, or visit in the evening to dine along the riverfront. The most spectacular time to visit Old Lyon is during the annual Festival of Lights in December, when dazzling light projections brighten up landmarks such as Saint John the Baptist Cathedral (Cathédrale-Saint-Jean-Baptiste, or Lyon Cathedral).

With buildings dating from as early as the 11th century, the streets of Vieux Lyon are bursting with architectural treasures. The star attraction is Saint John the Baptist Cathedral, with its stunning stained glass windows and striking mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles. Nearby are the Maison du Crible mansion, with its much-photographed pink tower, and a number of historical traboules (narrow alleyways). In the northern Saint Paul quarter, the Gothic Maison du Consul and the grand Hotel Gadagne (now part of the Musées Gadagne) are notable highlights, while the Saint Georges quarter was Lyon’s original silk-weaving area and is home to the riverfront Church of Saint George (Église Saint-Georges).

Perched on the steep edge of the caldera, looking out over the glittering Mediterranean, Oia (pronounced “ee-yuh”) is famed for its dreamy sunsets. Oia is also one of the most picturesque villages in Santorini, with its striking white buildings, blue-domed churches, and atmospheric cave houses burrowing into the volcanic rock.

Oia is a popular inclusion on Santorini sightseeing tours, shore excursions, and boat tours, and most excursions time their visit to catch the sunset. Combine a tour of Oia with nearby attractions like the archaeological site of ancient Akrotiri or the Monastery of Profitis Ilias, a visit to traditional villages like Pyrgos or Fira, or a Santorini wine tasting. Alternatively, set sail around Thirassia island, enjoy snorkeling at Red Beach, or take a soak in the hot springs on Nea Kameni island. Then, sail past Oia on a sunset cruise. 

Oia is located at the northwestern tip of Santorini island, about 6.5 miles (11 kilometers) north of Fira. Without your own transport, the easiest way to visit Oia is with a guided tour. However, it’s also possible to arrive by taxi or take the local bus from Fira. Hikers can also walk the coastal trail between Fira and Oia, a scenic 3- to 4-hour walk along the top of the caldera. 

There’s no doubt that the most atmospheric time to visit Oia is at sunset and the small village can be suddenly overrun by crowds at dusk. To experience the quieter side of the village, plan to spend a night at one of Oia’s boutique hotels or visit during the winter months, when you’ll have the sunset to yourself. 

Oia’s beautiful architecture and vast ocean views are best enjoyed on a walking tour, and the maze of narrow streets are full of shops, art galleries, and cafés. Stop to visit the tiny Naval Maritime Museum, admire the historic captains’ houses, and explore the ruins of Oia’s Venetian Fortress, then follow the 300 steps from the top of the caldera down to the fishing port of Ammoudi. 

The Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater is the oldest theater in Odessa, originally opened in 1810. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1873 and was rebuilt in 1887 with elements of neo-Renaissance, Baroque, rococo and classical baroque elements. Niches on the top floor of the façade display busts of Mikhail Glinka, Nikolai Gogol, Alexander Griboyedov and Alexander Pushkin. The main entrance is decorated with stucco molding depicting dramatic and comedic episodes. The theater’s large, horseshoe-shaped hall is decorated with gilded stucco figures and designs and features unique acoustics that allow even a whispered voice to reach any part of the hall. 

In its early days, to keep theater patrons comfortable during the summer months, workers would lower ice and straw to the basement below the hall, from where cool air would then rise up through vents beneath the seats. Although it was renovated in 2007, the theater sits upon precarious ground and is in danger of eventually collapsing.

The Old Jewish Cemetery is one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Berlin. It was built in 1672 and contains the grave of Moses Mendelssohn, a philosopher and the forefather of Jewish Enlightenment in the 1700s. It is estimated that around 12,000 Jewish people are buried here from the years 1672 to 1827. Unfortunately the cemetery was destroyed during World War II, and the site was used as a holding place for Jews before they were deported to concentration camps. The cemetery was reopened in 2008.

Since the cemetery suffered so much destruction during the war, not much remains of the original graves. Memorial plaques have been put up to honor Mendelssohn and other notable people who were buried at the Old Jewish Cemetery. Several thousand World War II soldiers ended up being buried here as well. Other memorial plaques and monuments here honor the Jewish community that once lived in this area and were deported during the war.

Riga’s Old City is the historic and geographic center of the city, located on the right bank of the Daugava River. Only remnants of the fortifications that enclosed the city between the 13th and 18th centuries still remain, but visitors will be charmed by the narrow cobblestone streets and the medieval architecture. The old city has something for everyone, from churches to museums to outdoor cafes and restaurants. Highlights include the 13th-century Riga Dome Cathedral, the tall steeple spire of St. Peter’s Church, Riga Castle, the House of the Blackheads and the Latvian War Museum, which is housed in the Gunpowder Tower. A trip up the tower of St. Peter’s is a must for its great views over the old city. During the holidays, large outdoor markets can be found in both Dome and Livu Squares and in the winter, an ice skating rink takes over the middle of Livu Square.

The Old Fortress is a Venetian fortress in Corfu Town on the Greek island of Corfu. It covers the promontory between the Gulf of Kerkyra and Garitsa Bay and is separated from the mainland by a moat known as the Contrafossa. The western tower of the fortress was fortified by the Byzantines in the 12th century and is known as the New Castle, while the eastern tower is known as the Old Castle. The old town of Corfu initially grew within the walls of the fortress, which was used to fight off three Ottoman sieges, in 1537, 1571 and 1716. None of the Venetian era buildings have survived, so most of those existing today were built by the British.

The most famous fortress on the island of Corfu, the Old Fortress today houses the public library of Corfu and the Hellenic Music Research Lab of Ionian University, as well as the small church of St. George, built in 1840. The grounds are often used for art and culture exhibits and the top of the fortress provides great views over Corfu Town.

One of the largest cemeteries of its kind in Europe, with headstones dating back to the mid-1400s, the Old Jewish Cemetery is an off-the-beaten-track destination where you can spend a peaceful hour or two. More than 100,000 of Prague’s Jewish citizens were buried here, and there are around 12,000 gravestones still in place.

 

Historians estimate that the cemetery was first put to use during the early 15th century. The oldest grave, belonging to the rabbi and poet Avigdor Kara, dates to 1439. The most recent grave dates from 1787—burials were banned within the city limits after this time due to public health concerns. Headstones display various styles from different eras, including Renaissance, baroque and Gothic. Small pieces of paper held down with pebbles in front of the graves dot the space—local custom has it that the dead will answer your wish if you write it down and leave it in the graveyard, but only if weighted down with a stone brought from your hometown.

 

Visitors often come to the cemetery as part of a walking tour of the city, or as an additional activity after visiting the Jewish Museum. Special tours dedicated to the city’s Jewish history can provide additional insights.

 

 

The Old Jewish Cemetery is located in the Josefov area of the city, between Brehova, Maiselova, and Siroka streets. It is close to the river at the Staromestska metro stop (line A). Tramline 17 also stops close to the cemetery. Traveling by car is not recommended—most people visit on foot, often as part of a guided walking tour.

 

The cemetery is open every day, except Saturdays and Jewish holidays. Opening hours are 9am–4:30pm with extended hours in the summer—the exact dates change every year so check before visiting on summer evenings.

 

A marvel of medieval engineering, the Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square (Staromestske Namesti) is one of Prague’s most popular tourist attractions. Every hour, on the hour, carved figures of the Apostles parade past windows in the clock to the delight of the visitors gathered below.

The Old Heidelberg University, Germany's oldest university, was build in the early 1700s. It now holds the Rector's Office, the Old Assembly Hall, and the University Museum. The museum shows the history of the university beginning with its foundation in 1386 through today. Exhibits, portraits, and documents explain this history in three different sections. There's one about the Palatinate electors, one about the Baden era, and one about the twentieth century. In addition to the permanent exhibits, every few months there is a new special exhibit opens. 

In the square in front of the building is a fountain of a lion, called Löwenbrunnen. The lion was the symbol of the Palatinate. At the back of the Old University, visitors can see the student prison, which was in use until 1914 and is now one of the most popular attractions in the city. Students could be put in the prison from two days to four weeks depending on the offense, although life there was quite comfortable.

The Old Harbor, or Oude Haven, of Rotterdam is the city’s first port, dating back to 1350. Today, the Old Harbor is an entertainment center of Rotterdam, with a unique mix of old and new structures and a collection of terraces and restaurants to enjoy some time to relax in the bustling city.

Rotterdam’s Old Harbor is home to a number of old sailing ships that harken back to the heyday of the city as a trading port. Alongside the harbor stands Het Witte Huis (The White House), recognized as the first skyscraper of Europe. Standing 45 meters, the White House was built in 1898, and was not only the first, but also the highest skyscraper in Europe.  

The ten-story, art nouveau-style building was designed by Dutch architect Willem Molenbroek, and stands on 1,000 piles that keep it from sinking into the soft soil. It is one of the few buildings in Rotterdam to have survived the German bombing campaign of May 14, 1940.

The Old Harbor used to be the home of the Plan C business complex, built in 1880. This complex combined shops, offices and homes around central arcades, allowing shoppers to remain dry even during the rain. This complex was, in fact, one of the first shopping malls similar to the malls of today. Unfortunately, most of Plan C was destroyed in the bombing, and only the railing and some underpasses of the complex remain today.

Taking its place around the Old Harbor are the restaurants and modern apartments that the Old Harbor is known for today. Chief among these are Rotterdam’s Cube Houses, built in 1984.  These houses, designed by Piet Blom, look like giant yellow blocks, tilted on their side and raised up on poles. The cube house complex is known as the Blaakse Bos, or Blaakse Forest, as each of the houses can be seen to look like a tree. One of the cube houses is open to the public, or you can spend the night at the Stayokay hostel, which is located within one of the cubes.

The area around the harbor has now been transformed into a center for dining and nightlife in Rotterdam. There are thirteen restaurant and cafes that surround the harbor, along with a CitizenM hotel. 

Located about 10 miles north of Krakow, Ojcow National Park may be the smallest of Poland's national parks, but it offers plenty to see and do. You'll find two river valleys, limestone cliffs, more than 400 caves and the ruins of two castles. The largest cave is the 1,000-foot-deep King Lokietek’s Cave, while the park's impressive rock formations include the Hercules Club, a limestone column standing more than 80 feet high. Ojcow is also very biodiverse, with more than 5,500 species of insects, birds and mammals living here.

Tourist routes marked as red, blue or yellow serve to guide visitors through the park. Highlights include the ruins of a Gothic castle at Ojcow and a Renaissance castle at Pieskowa Skala, as well as the Wladyslaw Szafer Natural Museum. The castle at Pieskowa Skala is also home to a branch of the National Art Collection. 

Herodes Atticus was an aristocratic and wealthy Greek who funded several great building projects in ancient Athens, including the Odeum (also Odeon or Herodeion), which he commissioned in 161 BC in memory of his wife. Found at the bottom of the southern slopes of the Acropolis, it was a concert hall with 32 rows of seating around a semi-circular, tiled stage and covered with a wooden ceiling to aid acoustics. Able to accommodate an audience of 5,000, the Odeum’s three-story exterior was adorned with four vast arches and decorated with statues of the muses. 

Destroyed in 267 AD by Germanic invaders, the Odeum was neglected until the 1950s, when refurbishment saw the seating and stage restored. It is today a popular open-air venue thanks to its spectacular setting underneath the Acropolis and the venue for many magical summertime open-air concerts and staging of classical plays as well as the Athens & Epidarus Festival from June through August.

Linking the northern and southern halves of central Dublin, O’Connell Bridge is one of the most heavily trafficked routes across the River Liffey. The 18th-century construction, now named after 19th-century political leader Daniel O’Connell, offers views of the riverfront and accommodates vehicles, trams, and pedestrians.

As one of the most central bridges over the Liffey and the most direct route between the main shopping strip of Grafton Street and the broad, monument-dotted O’Connell Street, O’Connell Bridge is hard to miss. Many walking tours and hop-on hop-off bus tours of Dublin cross the bridge as they explore the north and south of the city, stopping at nearby attractions and destinations such as Temple Bar, Trinity College, the General Post Office (GPO), and the Spire. 

O’Connell Bridge is situated in Dublin city center, connecting Westmoreland Street and D’Olier Street on the Southside to O’Connell Street on the Northside. While you can ride the Luas Green Line tram across the bridge, it’s better to go on foot so you can pause to admire the view. Get off at the Westmoreland Luas stop (Green Line) south of the bridge or the Abbey Street stop (Red Line) or GPO stop (Green Line) to the north and stroll across. 

Avoid morning and afternoon rush hours as the bridge can be crowded during these times. Consider coming at night to admire the twinkling city lights; the cityscape especially sparkles during the run-up to Christmas. 

O’Connell Bridge is one of 23 bridges that span the River Liffey. The next bridge to the west is the Ha’penny Bridge, the oldest pedestrian crossing. Farther west is the much newer Millennium Bridge, another pedestrian-only crossing that opened just days before the advent of the year 2000. Farther east is the Samuel Beckett Bridge, whose distinctive asymmetrical design—comprising a curving pylon and steel cables—was inspired by the harp, an Irish national emblem.

The Old Midleton Distillery near Cork, Ireland is home to the famous Jameson Irish whiskey. The distillery was founded by the Murphy brothers in the early 19th century, and it wasn't until 1975 that the new distillery, adjacent to the old one, was built. The new distillery produces 24 million bottles of Jameson, Powers and Paddy Irish whiskeys each year, and the old distillery is now a museum where visitors can take a tour and learn how Irish whiskey is made. 

Visitors are taught how Irish whiskey is produced and shown the old workings of the Old Midleton Distillery. The world's largest pot still is located here, as well as a 150 year old water wheel. Visitors will also get to see the original malting houses, corn stores, and still houses. At the end of the tour, there are Irish whiskey samples for everyone to try. There is also a restaurant and a gift shop with around 25 brands of Irish whiskey.