Choose from 4,530 Fun Things to Do in Europe
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Omonoia Square
Omonoia Square is a big square located north of the central market in Athens, Greece. It's the city's oldest square, and pictures show it was once a lovely square with lots of trees. However, it has been reconstructed several times in order to adjust for the introduction of cars and other vehicles. Six streets intersect at the square, making it a busy traffic hub. Buses, metros, and taxis can all be found here. There are no ancient ruins here like in other parts of the city, but the area surrounding the square is known for its bohemian vibe and cultural mix, and it is popular with students.
You can find affordable hotels, inexpensive restaurants and cafes, and other types of shops here. Nearby are several flea markets as well. The National Archaeological Museum is the most well known attraction located near Omonoia Square. Other important buildings include the Athens Art Gallery and the National Theater.
Practical Info
Omonoia Square is located where Athinas Street becomes 3rd Septemvriou. The transport stop here is called Omonoia.
Address: Omonoia Square, Athens, Attica, Greece 10431, Greece
From $ 23
Olympiapark
Home to the Summer Olympic Games in 1972, Munich's vast Olympiapark is now an international events center, sports venue, and recreational park. In addition to the facilities used for the games, Olympiapark was updated in 2003 to included the Olympic Walk of Stars, modeled after the Hollywood version. A popular concert venue, the park also hosts the Super-Cross Cup, Holiday on Ice, and other seasonal events and festivals.
Outdoor adventurists will love climbing the roof of the Olympic stadium, abseiling on a zipline from the tent roof of the stadium to the lawn 40 meters (130 feet) below, and the newest adrenaline rush: the Flying Fox. The Olympic Tower is also the highest rock museum in the world, with tmons of meorabilia. The Sea Life aquarium gives visitors an educational and entertaining experience about water cycle and sea creatures.
Practical Info
Located against Munich's modern skyline, Olympiapark is almost a miniature city made for everything Olympic to take on the massive task of hosting the Olympic Games. The Swim Hall, Event Hall, Stadium, Tower, Shopping Center, and a lake all divide the park into manageable sections for exploring.
Address: Spiridon-Louis-Ring 21, Munich 80809, Germany
Hours: Open 24 hours a day (hours vary for separate attractions inside)
Admission: Free. Attractions and tours within may have fees
From $ 17
Omodos Village
Nestled in the foothills of the Troodos Mountains, Omodos Village is one of Cyprus’ most picturesque villages, with its aged cobblestones, flower-lined shop fronts and stone-brick buildings lending a nostalgic air to the small mountain settlement. Omodos is an idyllic spot to shop for local handicrafts, explore the museums of the Monastery of the Holy Cross or watch the world go by from one of the many traditional cafes and tavernas, but its biggest claim to fame is its long history of wine production.
As well as visiting the many vineyards and family-run wineries that surround the village, wine enthusiasts visiting Omodos can also see the island’s oldest Linos (a medieval wine press), which offers a unique insight into the region’s historic wine-making traditions.
Practical Info
Omodos Village is located in the foothills of the Troodos Mountains in central Cyprus, approximately 40 km northwest of Limassol.
Address: Omodos, Cyprus
From $ 23
Orange
Orange is a town in the Provence region of France with a mainly agricultural economy. The famous town is known because the Romans left their mark there; Orange is often cited as having the most impressive Roman architecture still standing in Europe.
The town’s Roman theatre and Triumphal Arch of Orange and surroundings were classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1981. In addition, the town’s Museum holds the largest marble cadastral Roman maps ever discovered. Orange’s lovely cobblestoned pedestrian roads, plazas, and fountains make it a charming place to visit.
Practical Info
Orange is located about 21 kilometers (13 miles) north of Avignon. The town's Roman Theatre plays host to annual opera music festival in the summer.
Address: Orange 84100, France
From $ 75
Oratory of Santa Cecilia (Oratorio Di Santa Cecilia)
Tucked away in Via Zamboni Portico, just moments from the Church of San Giacomo Maggiore, the Oratory of Santa Cecilia (Oratorio Di Santa Cecilia) hides a wealth of artistic treasures behind its simple façade.
The Romanesque church was built as a family chapel for Bologna Lord Giovanni II Bentivoglio, and is most renowned for its exquisite series of frescos. Dating back to 1505, the frescos showcase the mastery of some of Bologna’s most important Renaissance artists, including Lorenzo Costa, Francesco Francia, Amico Aspertini and Raffaello Sanzio. Stretching over ten panels, the elaborate scenes depict the life of Saint Cecilia and her husband Valentine, while the church’s main altarpiece was so impressive, it’s now on display in the National Art Gallery of Bologna.
Practical Info
The Oratory of Santa Cecilia is located on Via Zamboni in central Bologna and is open daily from 10am to 1pm, and 2pm to 6pm (October to May) or 3pm-7pm (June to September). Admission is free.
Address: Via Zamboni, 15, Bologna, Italy
Hours: Oct-May 10am-1pm, 2-6pm; June-Sept 10am-1pm, 3-7pm
From $ 83
Olympic Stadium
Greece is where the Olympic Games began in the 11th century BC, as a festival dedicated to the god Zeus. The first modern Olympics was held in Athens in 1896 in the Panathinaiko Stadium, a 4th century BC stadium which was restored for the games. When Athens won the right to hold the 2004 games, people wondered if the chaotic and polluted city could make it work; they did. The result was a rebuilding program which re-invigorated the city and its transport system.
The Olympic Stadium of 2004 was originally built in the early 1980s for the European Olympic Championships and was remodeled by famous architect Santiago Calatrava for 2004. It seats around 70,000 and is now home to the major Athens football clubs and concerts. The stadium is called Spiros Louis Stadium after the winner of the 1896 marathon.
Practical Info
Bus X14 from Syntagma Square takes about half an hour to reach the stadium. The closest train station is Irini on metro line 1.
Address: Spirou Loui, Athens 151 23, Greece
Hours: Check official site for event times. Tour reservations are available only for groups of 15 or more people
Admission: Adults: €3
From $ 23
Open Air Museum of Ethnography
Set on a hill overlooking Tbilisi’s Vake District, the Open Air Museum of Ethnography provides examples of folk architecture and crafts from around Georgia. Named after Giorgi Chitaia, a Georgian ethnographer who founded the museum in 1966, it features 70 buildings spread across 52 hectares of land. The exhibits are divided into nearly a dozen areas, each one representing a different part of Georgian ethnology.
Among the buildings that visitors will see are traditional, flat-roofed stone houses from eastern Georgia, watch towers from mountainous regions like Khevsureti and Svaneti, wooden houses with gable roofs from western Georgia, a Kakhetian wintery and a Kartlian water mill. Within many buildings, you will find displays of traditional costumes, ceramics, furniture and other household items specific to the region.
The museum also hosts a folk culture festival each summer and, in addition to the ethnographic exhibits, it offers superb views around Tbilisi. It also features the Rachasubani restaurant, a good place to try traditional Georgian cuisine.
Practical Info
To reach the museum, take bus 59 from the Rustaveli metro station toward Vake and get off at the last stop. From there, it is about a 30-minute walk, or you can catch a taxi for 3 or 4 lari. Alternatively, you can take bus 61 to Vake Park and walk through the park to the museum, or take the bus all the way to the gas station just past the Iranian embassy and then walk just over a kilometer up the road opposite.
Address: Kus Tbis qucha 1, Tbilisi, Georgia
Hours: June - September: Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
October - May: Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: 3 Georgian lari; guided tours for 10 lari
From $ 70
Orangerie
Stretching over 2,600 hectares, the Parc de l’Orangerie is Strasbourg’s largest and oldest public park and the principal attraction of the city’s northeastern Orangerie neighborhood, or European Quarter. The tranquil, flower-lined gardens were created in honor of Napoléon’s wife Joséphine (although the empress never visited the park) and were laid out in 1804 by André Le Nôtre, who was best known for designing the gardens of the Palace of Versailles.
One of the Orangerie’s principal landmarks is the Europe Parliament building, which fronts the northwest entrance to the park and has served as the seat of the Council of Europe since 1977. It’s an impressive sight, lined with flags from the EU’s 28 member states. Additional highlights of the park include the Joséphine Pavilion, a small zoo and stork sanctuary, a rowing lake and several playgrounds, as well as a network of walking and cycling trails.
Practical Info
The Orangerie Park is located a mile northeast of Strasbourg’s Grande Ile and can be reached by tramline 6 from the city center. Admission to both the park and zoo is free.
Address: Avenue de l'Europe, Strasbourg, France
Hours: 24 hours
From $ 70
Orava Castle
Set on a hill above the Orava River in northern Slovakia, the Orava Castle is considered one of the most beautiful castles in Slovakia. Built in the 13th century while the area was part of the Kingdom of Hungary, the castle stands on the site of an old wooden fortification that was built to protect from Mongol invasions. While it was originally designed in the Romanesque and Gothic styles, it was later rebuilt as Renaissance and neo-Gothic.
Today, the castle is home to the Orava Museum, one of the oldest in Slovakia. The museum features multiple exhibitions, including an ethnographic exhibition focused on Orava regional folk culture that is located in the Dubovsky Palace within the castle. The natural history exhibition displays photographs of the natural history of the region, rock and mineral specimens and paleontological findings. An archaeological exhibition features findings from excavations at the castle itself and the historical exhibition documents the castle’s transformation over time. Also worth seeing are the castle’s chapel, the Knights’ Room, the Painting Gallery and the Weapon Room.
Practical Info
The opening hours of Orava Castle vary throughout the year, depending on the season. It can be entered only with a guide and tours last about two hours. Admission is 5 or 6 Euro, again depending on the season. To get to the castle from Kralovany, take the train to the Oravsky Podzamok station or drive from Dolny Kubin on the road toward Poland.
Address: Oravský Podzámok, Slovakia
Hours: Vary by season
Admission: Varies by season
From $ 1,668
Orient Museum (Museu do Oriente)
The origins of the Orient Museum (Museu do Oriente) date back to 1988 and the founding of the Fundação Oriente to strengthen Portugal’s ties with Asia. Twenty years later, the foundation opened the Orient Museum with the purpose of preserving and showcasing the richness of Portuguese influence in Asian art and culture.
Housed in a former salt cod warehouse, the Orient Museum’s permanent collection focuses on the Portuguese presence in the Far East, with pieces like statues of Jesuit martyrs, Chinese and Japanese folding screens, Ming porcelain and ritual masks from East Timor. A second collection showcases some 13,000 pieces related to performing arts in the region spanning from Turkey to Japan.
A top floor restaurant serves Asian fare with impressive views over the River Tagus.
Practical Info
To get to the Orient Museum, take the Cascais Line to Alcântara Station. The station has an underground crossing with an exit next to the museum.
Address: Av. Brasília Doca de Alcântara Norte, Lisbon, Portugal
Hours: Open Tues-Sun 10am-6pm and Fri 10am-10pm
Admission: Adults: € 6; Children: € 2
From $ 23
Onofrio's Fountain
Just through the main Pile Gate into Dubrovnik’s Old Town, Onofrio’s Fountain stands to the right of Stradun, the main thoroughfare through the cobbled streets. The fountain was constructed between 1438–40 and it is the ingenious end point of an aqueduct that traveled 12 km (7.5 miles) from a spring at Šumet – which still supplies Dubrovnik’s water today – into the city. Both fountain and aqueduct were designed by architect Onofrio della Cava; the latter has a huge brick central dome, originally topped by a dragon, and 16 elaborately carved water taps spouting over a stone trough. Although the dragon was destroyed in the earthquake of 1667, the fountain is one of the city’s most important landmarks and provides shade and respite for weary visitors. A smaller fountain, decorated with leaping dolphins, stands at the opposite, eastern end of Stradun; this was also designed by Della Cava and originally supplied water to the market traders on Luza Square in front of St Blaise Church.
Practical Info
Stradun, Dubrovnik. Open to all free of charge. Best accessed on foot in Dubrovnik’s pedestrianized Old Town.
Address: Stradun, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Croatia 20000, Croatia
From $ 14
Olympic Tower
Towering a dizzying 291 meters over the surrounding Olympic Park, Munich’s Olympic Tower is one of the city’s tallest buildings and boasts its highest observation deck at 190 meters. Take the high-speed elevator to the top floor, from where the views span the city center and spread across the Alps from Salzkammergut to the Allgäu. It’s also possible to dine with a view at the 182-meter Restaurant 81, which offers 360-degree panoramic views from its revolving restaurant floor. Also at the top is one of Europe’s highest museums - a small rock ‘n’ roll museum, housing a variety of music memorabilia and occasionally hosting music concerts.
Built in 1968 to designs by Sebastian Rosenthal, the Olympic Tower is more than just a lookout point – constructed in time for the 1972 Olympic Games, the sky-high antenna rising from the top of the tower provides TV broadcasting for 6 million viewers, as well as providing digital TV for the entire southern region of Bavaria.
Built in 1968 to designs by Sebastian Rosenthal, the Olympic Tower is more than just a lookout point – constructed in time for the 1972 Olympic Games, the sky-high antenna rising from the top of the tower provides TV broadcasting for 6 million viewers, as well as providing digital TV for the entire southern region of Bavaria.
Address: Spiridon-Louis-Ring 21, Munich 80809, Germany
Hours: 9am - 12am Daily. Last ascending elevator at 11:30pm.
Admission: Adult: 5.50 EUR, Child: 3.50 EUR
From $ 70
Onyar River
The Onyar River will likely be your first and most lasting impression of Girona, its rainbow-colored-building-lined waters a warm welcome and unforgettable sight. Their dazzling appearance invites you to journey to the other side of the bank — the eastern side — where you’ll discover more of the city’s treasures, held within its old town.
But before you get there, you’ll likely cross one of the Onyar’s many bridges. Your eye will undoubtedly be drawn to its most peculiar and perhaps even familiar bridge, the Pont Eiffel. Indeed, this red, cage-like crossing is reminiscent of a more famous structure of the same name, the Eiffel Tower. This is, of course, because they share the same designer (the bridge was constructed in 1877, just before the tower). Once you arrive on the eastern bank, feed your river curiosity by visiting Casa Maso, the only waterside building open to the public, and once home to its namesake architect.
Practical Info
Note that if you enter the old town by crossing Plaça de Catalunya, you may walk over the Onyar without even realizing it, as the plaza literally sits atop the river. If you come this way, take advantage of your location to head to the nearby entrance to the Passeig de la Muralla – a walk on the old city walls – which is indicated by signs.
Address: Girona, Catalonia, Spain
From $ 162
Ondarreta Beach
Picking up where San Sebastian’s main beach of La Concha stops at a rocky outcrop just short of Monte Igueldo, marked by the formal gardens and elaborate Palace of Miramar, Ondarreta Beach is another swathe of soft sand sculpted out of the Cantabrian coastline.
Backed by a promenade and stretching almost 0.5 km (0.3 miles), the beach is only slight less busy than La Concha in the summer, when it fills up with families huddled in the shade of blue-and-white striped beach tents and kids playing beach tennis or volleyball. It shares the same views of Isla de Santa Clara floating out in the bay, which is a lovely spot for a summer picnic lunch.
Less protected from the whims and winds of the Bay of Biscay than La Concha, Ondarreta is the place of choice for surfers when the waves pick up. At the end of the beach, at the foot of Monte Igueldo in the residential district of El Antiguo, there’s a spectacular piece of sculpture by Eduardo Chillida entitled Peine del Viento (The Wind Comb). Constructed of three interlocking strands of steel, it has been at the mercy of wind and sea alike since 1977.
Practical Info
Canoes and kayaks can be hired to go out to Santa Clara by hour or by the day from a variety of venues along the beach. The Peine del Viento can be viewed 24/7.
Address: San Sebastian, Spain
From $ 50
Open-Air Mining Museum
Set in the Stiavnicke Vrchy Mountains near the town of Banska Stiavnica, Slovakia’s Open Air Mining Museum is one of a kind and not for the faint of heart. Mining in the area dates back to the 3rd century B.C. and the area boasted one of the richest silver deposits in the Middle Ages. Gunpowder was used here for the first time ever in 1627 and over the two centuries that followed, the region was home to most of the major developments in mining and metallurgy, as well as forestry and chemistry.
Visitors have the opportunity to descend into an underground mining pit that stretches for 1300 meters underground, with the deepest section laying 45 meters below the surface. During the 90 minute tour, visitors learn about the history of mining in the Stiavnicke Vrchy Mountains and see exhibits showing both current and obsolete mining techniques and technologies, including drilling technology and methods for transporting ore. Above ground, exhibits include original mining buildings and an exposition about the geological development of the country.
Practical Info
Banska Stiavnica and the Open Air Mining Museum are located about two and a half hours from Bratislava. Visitors can get to Banska Stiavnica by taking the bus or train to Zarnovica and continuing by taxi to the town, or by joining an organized tour. The mining museum itself is 1.5 kilometers from the town center on the Jozefa Karola Hella Road.
Address: Jozefa Karola Hella 12, Banska Stiavnica, Slovakia
Hours: Hours vary throughout the year. In the low season, visits are by tour only, usually three times each day. Check with the tourist information.
Admission: 5 Euro, photos an additional 2 Euro
From $ 123
Olympic Museum Lausanne (Musee Olympique)
Welcome to the Olympic Museum Lausanne: 1,500 objects, 32,292 square feet (3,000 square meters) and seven hours of audio-visual and interactive material make it the largest archive of Olympic Games in the world. Its state-of-the art, hands-on exhibition immerses visitors in the history and spirit of the Olympics on an approximately two-hour tour of the museum's three stories and surrounding grounds.
Your visit to the Musée Olympique, as the museum is also known, begins in the basement but ends up in the Olympic Village, where hundreds of athletes live and train over 15 days. Discover how they eat, how they relax and how technology influences their training by trying your hand at interactive devices that will allow you to experience the extent of their physical capabilities.
On the ground floor, you'll learn about the Games themselves with a 180-degree theater and a display room full of memorabilia and Olympic medals. The second-floor exhibit is dedicated to the Olympics' ancient origins and showcases torches from every edition of the Games since 1936, as well as the first Olympic flag, dating back to 1913.
Good for both sports fans and families, the Olympic Museum is a popular stop among visitors arriving to Lausanne on a day trip from nearby Geneva or Chamonix. Most trips include a guided tour of the iconic Château de Chillon and a stop in the lakeside town of Montreux, so you can make the most out of your visit to the Swiss countryside.
Insider’s Tip: If you’re traveling with children, plan to spend the bulk of your time on the Olympic Spirit floor, where the young ones–as well as the more competitive adults–will have the opportunity to test their balancing, reaction times and strength in real time, the results of which they can compare against actual Olympic data and life-size posters of Olympians.
Practical Info
The Olympic Museum Lausanne is located on Quay d’Ouchy, across Lake Geneva. It can easily be reached by public transit: Ouchy-Olympique station (line 2) is a 10-minute walk west from the museum, and buses 8 and 25 stop directly in front of the museum. If arriving by car, drive toward the lakefront from central Lausanne and park in the lot beneath the Place de la Navigation. Parking costs 2.20 CHF per hour.
The museum is open daily from 9am to 6pm between May 1 and October 14, and every day except Monday from 10am to 6pm between October 15 and April 30. Admission rates are 18 CHF per adult (17+), 10 CHF per child (6-16) and 40 CHF for families.
Address: 1 Quay d’Ouchy, Lausanne, Vaud Canton 1006, Switzerland
Hours: Open daily 9am–6pm (May–Oct 14); Tues–Sun: 10am to 6pm (Oct 15–April 30)
Admission: Varies
From $ 19
Op era Garnier
Home to the Opera de Paris, ballet performances, and the fictional Phantom of the Opera, the grand 19th-century Opera Garnier—also known as Palais Garnier—recalls the splendor of France’s Second Empire, an era synonymous with elegance and extravagance. Beyond its opulent exterior and foyer, the 2,000-seat auditorium is a riot of red velvet, gold, and bronze, with a massive chandelier and a colorful ceiling painting by modernist master Marc Chagall.
The Basics
With its gilding, grandeur, and lavish ornamentation, Opera Garnier is often compared to the Palace of Versailles. While you can admire architect Charles Garnier’s Beaux-Arts and neo-baroque masterpiece from the outside on Paris sightseeing tours, it’s also possible to see the interior by attending a performance or taking a self-guided audio tour or a guided tour of the venue. Book an after-hours tour to explore the Opera Garnier without the crowds. You can also combine a tour of Opera Garnier with visits to other nearby architectural gems, such as the historic Galeries Lafayette department store and the passages couverts (covered shopping galleries).
Things to Know Before You Go
- The on-site restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The bar inside the theater sells drinks before performances and during intermissions.
- Operas are usually performed in their original language, with French (and sometimes English) supertitles.
- While no official dress code is enforced for regular performances, most operagoers dress smartly. For special gala events, attendees wear more formal attire.
How to Get There
Palais Garnier is in the Opera and Grand Boulevards area, one of Paris’ shopping hotspots. The Opera station, just across the street from the venue, can be accessed by Metro lines 3, 7, and 8, while lines 7 and 9 serve the nearby Chaussee d’Antin–La Fayette station. Alternatively, take the RER A line to Auber station.
When to Get There
Opera Garnier tours are held daily throughout the year and attract the biggest numbers during summer. To escape the crowds, book an after-hours tour, which allows you to traverse quiet corridors and the hushed auditorium without the daytime crowds. Note that access to the auditorium is dependent on availability; for the best chance of seeing it, opt for a morning tour, as rehearsals typically take place in the afternoon.
Highlights of the Palais Interior
The interior’s standout features are the fresco- and gold-adorned Grand Foyer, the bronze Pythonisse sculpture, and the imposing Grand Staircase (Grand Escalier). Auditorium highlights include the 2,600-square-foot (241-square-meter) ceiling painting by Marc Chagall, in the center of which hangs an enormous, seven-ton crystal and bronze chandelier that inspired the dramatic chandelier drop in Gaston Leroux’s “Phantom of the Opera.”
Address: 8 Rue Scribe, Paris 75009, France
Hours: Open Daily 10am – 5pm
Admission: Varies
From $ 13
Olympic Stadium (Olympiastadion)
Berlin’s Olympic Stadium was built for the 1936 Summer Olympics, and still serves as one of the city’s main arenas for football games and events. The stadium, where Hitler presented his Nazi propaganda to the world, is best known for hosting the 2006 FIFA World Cup Championship. It is now home to the Hertha BSC football club from Berlin.
The Basics
The Olympiastadion can seat more than 74,000 spectators and is part of the massive Olympiapark complex, which includes the 25,000-seat open-air Waldbuhne amphitheater, the large track field known as Maifeld, an Olympic-size swimming pool, and the 255-foot (78-meter) Glockenturm Bell Tower. Many hop-on hop-off tours in Berlin include a stop at the Olympiastadion, which you can visit on days when there are no scheduled events.
Guided and self-guided tours are available to explore the facilities. The topics for the guided tours can be architecture, sports, or history, and generally include visits to off-limits areas such as VIP lounges, the locker rooms, and the field. Self-guided tours include audio guides in a variety of languages.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The stadium is a must-visit for sports lovers and those interested in Olympic history.
- The on-site restaurant, Ostkurve, is open on non-event and event days.
- Wheelchair seating is available throughout the stadium, as are accessible restrooms and parking areas.
How to Get There
Berlin’s Olympic Stadium is located past Charlottenburg, in West Berlin. Take the U2 underground line or the S5 commuter train to the Olympiastadion stop. If driving, there is generous parking available on non-event days, though it’s quite limited during events.
When to Get There
The best time to visit the Olympiastadion is on non-event days, generally from 9am to 7pm, when the grounds are open to the public. Visitors generally spend about two hours exploring Olympiastadion and Olympiapark. Since it is quite far west, you can combine a visit to the Olympic Stadium with nearby sights such as Charlottenburg Palace and Zoologischer Garten.
The History of Olympiastadion
The Olympic Stadium was built for the 11th Olympic Games, which took place in August 1936. The National Socialist Germany party commissioned architect Werner March to build a stadium suitable for the games as well as any future rallies for the German people. A history trail is available at the stadium, with 45 signs about the building’s past and notable artworks.
Address: Olympischer Platz 3, Berlin 14053, Germany
Admission: Varies
From $ 9
Omaha Beach
As one of Normandy’s D-Day landing beaches, Omaha beach was the backdrop to one of the most significant events of World War II, immortalized in the movie Saving Private Ryan and forever etched into history. Today, visitors to Omaha Beach can follow in the footsteps of the Allied soldiers and pay their respects at the American Cemetery.
The Basics
Guided tours of the five D-Day beaches—Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Gold Beach, Juno Beach, and Sword Beach—run from Bayeux, Caen, Le Havre, Carentan, and Paris, and often include visits to other Normandy battlefields such as Pointe du Hoc, Arromanches, and Pegasus Bridge. For a more personalized experience, opt for a private tour or small-group tour and choose to focus on the American, Canadian, or British sites and memorials.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Most tours visit WWII cemeteries and memorials, so it’s important to dress and act respectfully.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes to explore the battle ruins and beaches.
- Some tours are wheelchair accessible, but it’s best to check in advance with your tour operator.
How to Get There
Omaha Beach is located along the coast of Normandy in northern France, 15 miles (24 kilometers) northwest of Bayeux. Although buses run to the beach from Bayeux, the easiest way to visit is by private transportation or as part of a guided tour. The American Cemetery lies above the beach, from where a long walkway heads down to the beach itself.
When to Get There
Tours run to Omaha Beach year-round, but it can get busy during peak summer season. If you’re visiting in July and August, try to arrive early morning or early evening to avoid the large groups of day-trippers. The most moving time to visit is during the annual D-Day Festival, which commemorates the anniversary of the Allied Landings with a program of memorials, parades, and beachside picnics.
The D-Day Landings
Omaha Beach was the location of one of the most significant battles World War II. On June 6th 1944, American troops were given the task of securing Omaha beach as part of a strategy to land Allied troops along five points on the coast of Normandy—an operation code-named D-Day. Due to unforeseen tidal forces and stronger than expected German defenses, the American soldiers suffered massive losses—2,400 casualties in a day of bloody fighting. However, the landing was eventually successful with 34,000 troops securing the area for the Allies, and thus beginning the end of the war.
Address: France
Admission: Free
From $ 69
Oludeniz and the Blue Lagoon
Named the “dead sea” in Turkish due to its calmness, Ölüdeniz is one of Turkey’s most popular – and overwhelmingly most frequently photographed – beaches, thanks to its spectacular setting along a gorgeous blue lagoon.
Beachgoers flock to two separate areas here: a long, wide strip of open beach facing the Mediterranean, known as Belcekız; and the more sheltered shoreline of the Blue Lagoon, which is inside the boundaries of a protected natural park (entrance fee) and has a dramatic backdrop of mountain scenery behind it – Babadağ, one of Turkey’s top destinations for paragliding.
Since Ölüdeniz is extremely popular, be prepared for large crowds on the beaches, particularly on weekends in the height of summer – this isn’t a place for those seeking peace and quiet – and for the inevitable slew of generic restaurants and tacky souvenir shops along the waterfront.
As if the lagoon weren’t entrancing enough, there are also daylong boat trips that leave from here for scenic coves and beaches nearby, as well as to points of interest including Butterfly Valley. In addition, Ölüdeniz is the starting point for the Lycian Way, a 510-km (315-mile) hiking trail that runs from Fethiye to Antalya along the coast.
Beachgoers flock to two separate areas here: a long, wide strip of open beach facing the Mediterranean, known as Belcekız; and the more sheltered shoreline of the Blue Lagoon, which is inside the boundaries of a protected natural park (entrance fee) and has a dramatic backdrop of mountain scenery behind it – Babadağ, one of Turkey’s top destinations for paragliding.
Since Ölüdeniz is extremely popular, be prepared for large crowds on the beaches, particularly on weekends in the height of summer – this isn’t a place for those seeking peace and quiet – and for the inevitable slew of generic restaurants and tacky souvenir shops along the waterfront.
As if the lagoon weren’t entrancing enough, there are also daylong boat trips that leave from here for scenic coves and beaches nearby, as well as to points of interest including Butterfly Valley. In addition, Ölüdeniz is the starting point for the Lycian Way, a 510-km (315-mile) hiking trail that runs from Fethiye to Antalya along the coast.
Practical Info
Ölüdeniz is about 15km south of Fethiye and is served by frequent minibuses. If you’re coming from the abandoned Greek village of Kayaköy, it’s a mostly downhill walk of about an hour and a half from there to Ölüdeniz.
The natural park is open from 8am to 8pm and admission is 4.5 TL.
The natural park is open from 8am to 8pm and admission is 4.5 TL.
Address: Ölüdeniz, Turkey
Hours: Daily 8am to 8pm
Admission: 4.50TL
From $ 35