Things to Do in Europe

Rome’s Stadio Olimpico seats more than 72,000 spectators, and when the city’s deeply beloved A.S. Roma and S.S. Lazio soccer teams hold their home matches here, there isn’t an empty seat in the house. But the stadium isn’t just for "football" fans; rather, the venue is also used for rock concerts and other sporting events.

Soccer is a national obsession in Italy; home matches of the city's two top-division (Serie A) teams are the year’s biggest highlights for Roman sports fans; emotions run high at their matches, especially when they’re vying for a spot for the Coppa Italia, UEFA Champions League Finals, or the FIFA World Cup. The city's original stadium, dating back to the 1930s, was mostly demolished at one point, then expanded. Today's modern stadium was inaugurated in 2008 for the European Cup Finals. Tickets sell out quickly for games at the Stadio Olimpico, so be sure to book in advance. For a truly unforgettable experience, opt for VIP seats, which often include a buffet and open bar.

Stadio Olimpico, located on Piazzale del Foro Italico, is part of the Foro Italico Sports Complex outside the city center. The easiest way to get there is by public transportation: Take the metro line A from Piazza del Popolo to Flaminio, then the tram 2, which goes right to the stadium.

Soccer season lasts from August to May; some championship games run into the beginning of summer.

Roma and Lazio are the two teams based in Rome, but most major Italian cities have their own local teams as well; most famously, Milan, Turin, and Naples.

While the town of Rosslyn is most famous for its Chapel, it’s also the site of a beautiful ruined castle. Rosslyn Castle sits on a tree-covered cliff on the north bank of the North Esk River, and while a castle has occupied the grounds since the fourteenth century, the current ruins mostly date back to 1622, when finishing touches were completed. In 1650, the castle was besieged by Oliver Cromwell’s troops, and what was left after cannon and mortar fire is what you see today.

A few of the castle’s more habitable rooms were fully resorted and furnished by the current Earl of Rosslyn during the 1980s. Today, visitors can rent out the rooms as vacation accommodation through The Landmark Trust.

Wandering the miniature streets of Cadiz’s El Populo neighorbood, it would be easy to never realize that tucked behind the seemingly old buildings is a much, much older structure: the world’s second largest Roman theater. In fact, no one realized this until 1980, when a fire prompted the ancient theater’s discovery. 

The Roman theater, which was likely built during the 1st century BC, fit some 20,000 spectators in its day. Since then, it was built over by a fortress, and later by more recent buildings, hence why it has since remained so very secret. Fortunately, part of the theater has now been excavated, with certain portions, including an interpretation center, open to the public. Though it is still being excavated, much of theater will remain unearthed given the buildings that sit atop it.

Located 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Rome, the Civitavecchia cruise port is a popular jumping-off point for shore excursions to Italy’s capital city. Home to some of the world’s most important art and architecture, and bursting with bustling piazzas and lively restaurants, Rome is a highlight of any Mediterranean cruise. 

To see the important sights in this busy European capital, maximize your time by taking a tour, perhaps a private one with a driver and skip-the-line tickets to the crowded Colosseum and Vatican Museums. Most Rome tours and shore excursions last a day to cover top attractions including Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Square and Basilica. Experience the city’s culinary traditions in trattorias and cafes lining its squares.

Shore excursions and private tours generally include port pickup and drop-off, and shuttle buses and private transfers are available for visitors heading to the city or Fiumicino and Ciampino airports. You can reach Rome by train from the Civitavecchia train station, a 10-minute walk from the port or a short shuttle ride from Civitavecchia's landmark Michelangelo Fort. Trains run every half hour to Rome’s Termini station, and the trip takes about an hour.

Most of the largest cruise lines stop at the Civitavecchia port. Italian is the most widely spoken language here. The local currency is the euro; ATMs are easy to find, and foreign exchange bureaus are near the docks. 

Set among green pastures, this 15th-century stone complex—once the home of Franciscan friars—now lies in ruins, peaceful and eerily empty, with tombstones dotted throughout the site. Inside, visitors can explore the roofless remains, including the church, cloister, kitchen area, and living quarters.

 

Ross Errilly Friary, known as Ross Abbey to locals, is one of Galway’s hidden gems, with few tourists passing through the quiet, tranquil ruins. Some day tours around Connemara, departing from Dublin or Galway, stop at the friary en route to other more well-known sights, such as Kylemore Abbey, Killary Harbour, and the village of Cong, which is famous as the location where the John Wayne classic The Quiet Man was filmed.

 

 

Ross Errilly Friary sits on the border between County Galway and County Mayo, and is a 30- to 40-minute drive from Galway City via the N84. Public transport is scarce in this rural part of Ireland, so if you don’t have access to a car, it’s best come as part of a tour.

 

Ross Errilly Friary can be visited year-round. The site doesn’t attract large crowds, even during the peak tourist months of July and August. One of the best times to visit is late afternoon when the sun sinks lower in the sky, creating a soft, golden light that’s ideal for photographs.

 

Most likely founded during the 15th century, Ross Errilly Friary was home to a community of Franciscan friars. The friars would have lived a tenuous existence at Ross Errilly, under near-constant threat of eviction, persecution, and attack, usually by English authorities. The turbulent politics of the period would have forced the friars to flee and return to the site several times, before their final departure in the mid-18th century.

Also known as Praça Dom Pedro IV, Rossio Square sits at the heart of Lisbon and has been a popular meeting spot since the Middle Ages. The square bustles with life as cars, buses, and pedestrians speed around it, intermixed with those leisurely sitting on benches or in cafes. Cobblestone walkways are arranged in wave patterns, a style that has since spread throughout Portugal and parts of Brazil.

It is surrounded by two identical Baroque fountains, with a column monument of Pedro IV, king of Portugal and the first emperor of Brazil, standing tall in the center. Allegorical figures of Justice, Wisdom, Restraint and Courage can be found at the monument’s base. Both the fountains and the monument are spectacularly lit up by night. The Dona Maria II National Theater sits at the northern end of the square with Ionic columns of the Church of St. Francis, which was destroyed in the earthquake of 1755.  

The square is lined with traditional cafes, restaurants, and shops — many with outdoor seating. It is a great place to sit down and simply watch the city pass by. Café Nicola and Café Suiça are two particularly classic cafes to enjoy, dating back to the 18th century.

One of the most visited towns along Bavaria’s Romantic Road (Romantische Strasse), Rothenburg ob der Tauber has photo opportunities at every turn. This perfectly preserved medieval town, with its half-timbered houses and stone watchtowers, has featured in numerous movies, including some of the Harry Potter films.

The best way to explore Rothenburg is on foot, and highlights of a walking tour include the Renaissance-style Town Hall (Rathaus), 14th-century St. Jacob’s Church (Stadtkirche St. Jakob), and the fascinating Medieval Crime Museum (Mittelalterliches Kriminalmuseum). For the best views, climb one of the watchtowers and walk along the medieval walls, looking down over the town below. 

Many travelers visit as part of a day or multi-day tour from Munich or Frankfurt, often combined with nearby cities such as Heidelberg, Nuremberg, or Harburg. The most rewarding route follows the scenic Romantic Road, stopping at towns like Dinkelsbühl, Nördlingen, and Donauwörth, or magnificent Neuschwanstein Castle (Schloss Neuschwanstein). 

Rothenburg is about halfway between Frankfurt and Munich, due west of Nuremberg, in the Franconia region of Bavaria. Tourist buses ply the Romantic Road between Frankfurt and Füssen throughout the summer. Alternatively, take the train from Frankfurt or Munich to Rothenburg train station, about a 10-minute walk from the walled town. Much easier is to arrive by private transport or as part of a guided tour; parking lots are located just outside the walled center.

The swell of summer visitors can make Rothenburg unbearably crowded during July and August. Make an early start to arrive before the throngs, or stay until early evening when the day-trippers have left. The most atmospheric time of year to visit is in December, when a lively Christmas market is held on Marktplatz (Market Square), along with carol concerts, torchlight walks, and festive entertainment throughout the town.

The 220-mile (355-kilometer) Romantic Road is one of Germany’s most popular tourist routes, starting in Füssen, close to the Austrian border, and winding its way through the Bavarian Alps, past medieval towns and fairy-tale castles, to Würzburg in the north. In addition to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, highlights of the Romantic Road include King Ludwig II’s Neuschwanstein Castle; the UNESCO-listed Würzburg Residence; the medieval villages of Nördlingen, Dinkelsbühl, and Bad Mergentheim; and Oberammergau, known for its stunning house murals.

A vision on the shores of Lough Leane, the 15th-century Ross Castle was built as a medieval fortress for an Irish chieftain named O’Donoghue, and was said to be one of the last strongholds to fall to the brutal English Cromwellian forces in the mid-16th century. The ruin has been restored, and features lovely 16th- and 17th-century furniture. 

Ross Castle is commonly included on organized jaunting car (pony and trap), hiking, and sightseeing tours around Killarney National Park. Kayak and boat tours, which meander through the Lakes of Killarney—often traveling between Ross Castle and the Gearhameen River near the Gap of Dunloe—regularly stop here too. 

You can also tailor private Ring of Kerry day tours, departing from destinations all around the Iveragh Peninsula, to include a photo stop at Ross Castle. While you can view Ross Castle from the outside at any time and explore the surrounding grounds at will, access to the property is by guided tour only. Tours last 40 minutes; purchase tickets at the castle site.

Ross Castle is just a 6-minute drive from Killarney town. From the N71, take the Ross Road turnoff and follow the road down to the Ross Castle parking lot. From April through October, shuttle buses depart from the Killarney Discover Ireland Centre on Beech Road and stop at Ross Castle. 

Ross Castle is open from March through November, with several guided tours taking place daily during this time. The castle is a very popular site within the park, and it can become crowded, especially during July and August. Arrive early in the day if you plan on doing a tour.

Ross Castle is just one of Killarney National Park’s many offerings. The park also encompasses the Victorian-era Muckross House and Gardens; Muckross Abbey, a ruined Franciscan friary; and the Gap of Dunloe, a scenic mountain pass bordered by lakes and peaks. In Lough Leane, right next to Ross Castle, is Innisfallen Island, where you can check out the ruins of an abbey and a free-roaming herd of deer. 

Copenhagen’s Rosenborg Slot, or Rosenborg Palace, is a Danish castle built in the early 17th century in the Dutch Renaissance style—typical of Danish buildings of the time—by architectural innovator King Christian IV. Originally the king’s summer home, today the castle contains a museum exhibiting the Royal Collections, impressive heirlooms representing the span of royal Danish culture from the late 16th to 19th centuries.

The Rosenborg Slot is impressive in and of itself. But even more remarkable are its collection’s highlights, including the Danish Crown Jewels—particularly Christian’s IV’s dazzling crown and Christian III’s jewel-encrusted sword; the Royal Regalia; coronation furnishings; and family portraits. The royal heirlooms displayed in the castle’s upper rooms are chronologically arranged by monarch. To beat the lines, which can get quite long in summer, purchase advance tickets. You can also visit the palace as part of a half-day or full-day city tour of Copenhagen, or stop by while doing a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tour.

Rosenborg Palace is only 650 feet (200 meters) from Norreport Station. There is an entrance at Oster Voldgade 4a and via the bridge over the moat from King’s Garden. It can be reached by S-trains, metro and regional trains, and several bus lines.

Rosenborg Palace’s opening hours vary throughout the year. It is most popular with tourists between April and September, and can get quite crowded. To beat the crowds, try to arrive first thing in the morning.

Rosenborg Palace is surrounded by Copenhagen’s oldest public park, the King’s Gardens, which is free to visit. Also nearby is the Botanical Garden—with about 13,000 plant species and its extensive complex of historical glass greenhouses—and the Botanical Museum.  Another worthwhile experience is the changing of the guard at Amalienborg Palace: the Royal Guard marches from their barracks near Rosenborg Palace through the streets of Copenhagen to Amalienborg in time for the ceremony at noon.

The Rosengart Collection is Lucerne’s newest museum addition and houses the extensive and once private collection of Angela Rosengart, a Swiss art dealer and good friend to the famous Spanish painter Pablo Picasso. Rosengart, who has collected one of the biggest private art stashes of the classical modernist era, wanted to make these paintings, which would normally just be passed from one private collector to the next, more accessible to the public. The museum, which now draws art lovers from all over the world, has earned international recognition for its focus on the works of Pablo Picasso and Paul Klee, a Swiss German painter famous for his unique style of cubism, expressionism and surrealism. While the Klee collection consists of 125 watercolor pieces, paintings and drawings showing the artist’s whole career, the Picasso part of the exhibition mainly focuses on his older works that were created after 1938, with a couple sketches from earlier eras thrown in to compliment the paintings. A third floor houses more than 20 other world famous artists of the impressionist and classical modernist eras, such as Monet, Matisse, Miró and Léger. 

The collection is located in the center of Lucerne in an empire style building originally constructed for the Swiss National Bank. The simple but well-built palazzo is a fitting place for the museum, as the neo-classical structure was built in the same time period when many of the great pieces of art it houses themselves were created. The inside is an interface between old and new, with high walls and an open floor plan to give the art more than enough room to breathe. Some more light sensitive works have even found their home in the old bank vaults. 

The Roque Nublo is a unique rock formation on Gran Canaria that truly is a sight to behold. At 70 meters tall, the red basaltic monolith is the most dramatic formation on the island. Translated it means “cloudy rock” and after a short hike visitors are rewarded with panoramic views of surrounding nature. The rocky landscape is dotted with pine trees and shrubbery and drops off into cliffs.

The rock was formed by volcanic eruption on the island about 4.5 million years ago, and today is an icon of the island and is protected as a national monument. On a clear day it is possible to even see the Teide volcano in the distance. Often though, the rock will disappear into or appear out of dense fog and clouds (hence the name.) It is one of the tallest natural crags in the world, and is also a climbing destination. Trekking tours to the rock are available to those who preferred a guided hike.

With its striking three-peaked façade looming over the central Römerberg square, Frankfurt’s historic town hall, the Römer, is one of the city’s most identifiable buildings. The distinctive medieval design, characterized by three stepped gables, adorned with Neogothic embellishments and topped with a domed bell tower, was originally built in the 15th century, but reconstructed after the war to include the now-iconic central balcony. 

Today, the Römer also features an additional wing, added in the late 19th-century and linked to the main buildings by a pedestrian bridge, nicknamed the ‘Bridge of Sighs’ after the famous Venice bridge of the same name. Still the center of city council meetings and the house of the municipal leader, the Römer is also a civil registry office and a popular tourist attraction in its own right. For visitors, the undeniable highlight is the magnificent Kaisersaal (Emperor Hall), once used for coronation banquets and honoring its past with a unique collection of 19th century portraits, featuring the 52 Kings and Emperors of the German Holy Roman Empire.

Arguably the most beautiful building in Bucharest, the Romanian Athenaeum is the city’s foremost concert hall and a source of national pride, with an elegant Doric-colonnaded façade topped with a pediment and cupola. It was designed in Neo-classical style by French architect Albert Galleron and opened in 1888 to great acclaim; the great Romanian conductor George Enescu debuted his ‘Romanian Poem’ here in 1898. The lobby of the concert hall is an opulent, almost Art Nouveau triumph of ornamental gilding supported by arched, pink marble columns that lead off to a series of twisting marble staircases leading up to the concert hall. The circular auditorium seats 652 under a fabulous domed ceiling richly ornamented in scarlet and gold and fringed by frescoes by Costin Petrescu depicting important events in Romanian history; it is world-famous for the clarity of it acoustics and is home to the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, who offer a full program of classical and chamber concerts as well as performing in the celebrated George Enescu Classical Festival, one of the biggest cultural events in eastern Europe.

Built between the 5th and 1st centuries BC, Cartagena’s Roman Theater wasn’t discovered during modern times until 1988, following which a massive restoration took place. Come 2008, the newly discovered theater was opened to the public along with a museum, once again inviting visitors into a grand space that, during Roman times, welcomed some 6,000 spectators.

The theater is situated on a vista-rich city hillside, from which the stadium seating was carved out of the actual rock below. During a visit, you can explore the different corners of this conserved space, as well as check out the museum, which offers an in-depth overview of the archeological remains along with informative panels explaining the restoration (all in both English and Spanish).

Propelled into the limelight by Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, this 15th-century chapel is well worth a look, even for those with no interest in Knights Templar conspiracy theories. The Gothic exterior—with its flying buttresses, pinnacles, and pointed arches—hides an elaborate interior, full of stone carvings rich in symbolism. 

Rosslyn Chapel is a popular day trip from Edinburgh. Organized day tours often venture south from Edinburgh, stopping at Rosslyn Chapel, Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, and—in some instances—at Hadrian’s Wall across the border in England. Other organized tours plot courses north from Rosslyn Chapel, making stops at Stirling Castle, the National Wallace Monument, and Dunfermline Abbey (the burial place of Robert the Bruce). Other day tours to Rosslyn Chapel stick to historic sites in and around Scotland’s capital, such as the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, and Glenkinchie Distillery.

The modern, on-site visitor center at Rosslyn Chapel helps day-trippers decode the enigmatic carvings using interactive displays, as do the informative talks, which take place at the chapel several times daily.

Rosslyn Chapel is in the Lothians, about a 30-minute drive south from Edinburgh city center. 

To get there by public transport, take the 37 Lothian bus (marked via Roslin) from Queensferry Street and get off at the Roslin Hotel stop. The chapel is a 2-minute walk from there. 

Rosslyn Chapel is open throughout the year. If you want to explore the grounds, go in summer when the weather is more likely to comply. Weekday mornings are especially peaceful. 

Rosslyn Chapel’s intricate carvings are the its star attraction, and have spurred many theories regarding their meaning. The carvings feature flowers and biblical scenes, tsymbols supposedly associated with the Freemasons and the Knights Templar, and mysterious native American plants that were made before Colombus’ discovery of the New World. Some posit that the Knights of Templar hid in parts of the chapel and that its vaults may hold the Holy Grail or even the body of Christ.

Verona Arena, the first-century Roman amphitheater on Piazza Bra is one of the city’s most famous sights, but Verona also boasts a pristine Roman Theater that is even older than the arena and is set on the banks of the River Adige. Visit the theater to see remains of the stage, stone seating (cavea), and loggia arcades.

 

Verona’s Roman Theater was unearthed during the 19th century, when developers discovered the original marble floor of the orchestra pit and rows of stone seats. Part of the seating was destroyed when the Church of San Siro was built on the site during the 10th century, but otherwise this theater dating from the first century BC is surprisingly intact. On the hill above the theater, the former Convent of San Gerolamo is home to the Archaeological Museum, displaying a collection of Roman artifacts found in and around Verona.

 

By day, visit the Roman theater with a walking or bike tour of Verona, or join a hop-on hop-off bus tour that stops at the theater and museum. Most Verona tours also include skip-the-line entrance to the arena and stops at the historic center’s top attractions. On summer evenings, you can enjoy a concert in the theater.

 

 

The Roman Theater and Archaeological Museum are located just across the Adige River from the historic center of Verona. These sights are easily reached on foot or via public transportation by crossing the Ponte Pietra bridge. Verona is located in the Veneto region in northern Italy between Venice and Milan, and is a popular day trip from Venice or Lake Garda.

 

The theater is open all day Tuesday through Sunday and Monday afternoon year-round, but is especially memorable to visit on a summer evening to see a concert or performance. On evenings when events are scheduled, the theater may close early.

 

The Verona Arena is a spectacular oval-shaped Roman amphitheater dating from the first century. The arena once hosted sporting events, games, and gladiator battles. The arena was opened once again during the 19th century to hold performances, and today audiences of up to 15,000 gather there to watch opera, concerts, and ballet.

Reputedly the narrowest street in Europe and certainly the narrowest in Romania, Rope Street (Strada Sforii) connects Cerbului with Poarta Schei in Braşov’s Old Town. It is 262.5 feet (80 meters) long and just 3.5 to 4.5 feet (1.10–1.35 meters) wide, making it almost impossible for two people to pass each other. It has its origins somewhere around the beginnings of the 17th century and may have been built for access by firefighters into the Old Town. Renovated in 2003, Strada Sforii is signposted from both ends and bears a plaque declaring its dimensions; it’s a favorite photo spot for travelers to the city.

Perched on El Tajo canyon, Ronda is set on one of Spain’s most dramatic landscapes and possesses a rich history documented by ancient rock paintings, towering stone bridges, and 14th-century ruins. Today, the city’s dramatic cliffs, local wineries, and rustic charm make it an ideal mountain getaway or day trip destination.  

As one of Andalucia’s most beautiful and accessible white hill towns, or pueblos blancos,  Ronda is a popular day trip from the region’s bigger cities—Malaga, Seville, and even the coastal towns of Marbella and Gibraltar. Travelers can visit partially intact 14th-century Arabic baths beneath the city, stroll through the Islamic Old Town, enjoy fine local wines, and photograph stunning mountain vistas. A typical guided tour to the city often includes visits to El Tajo canyon, Puente Nuevo bridge, and Plaza de Toros de Ronda (Spain’s oldest bullring). It’s also possible to combine a visit to Ronda with stops at some of the area’s other villages, such as the lovely medieval town of Grazalema. 

Ronda is located in southern Spain, roughly two hours by road from Seville. Daily trains connect Ronda to Granada, Malaga, and Madrid, and take between two and five hours. There are also multiple daily buses from Seville, Malaga, and Marbella.

Ronda’s position in the mountains gives it a slightly cooler climate than the rest of Andalusia, but summer temperatures still regularly top 100°F (38°C). September travelers can experience two of Spain’s most popular festivals: Feria de Pedro Romero and Corridas Goyescas.

Ronda’s iconic bridge can be difficult to capture on film from the town itself. Hike down to the bottom of the gorge for stellar shots of the bridge and neighboring Parador de Ronda hotel.

Made up of a number of smaller valleys, Rose Valley is famous for its otherworldly rock formations and world-class hiking opportunities. The valley trails provide a variety of levels of challenge, and there are plenty of walks that are suitable for beginners. For seasoned hikers, there are trails where you get to scale stone tunnels and climb down ladders. Either way, you’ll get to wander canyon bottoms and explore Cappadocia’s rocks at sunset when the valley turns blood red.

Valleys within the famous valley that’s named for its rose-hued rocks are Gulludere, Kizilcukur, Meskendir and Zindanonu. The most popular path in Rose Valley is a 3.5-km route that begins just outside the town of Goreme, but you could easily come back several times to explore new trails and catch sight of its hidden cave churches and abandoned rock houses.  

More popularly known today as Istvan Szechenyi Square, Roosevelt Square was originally named after U.S. president Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It was renamed in 2011 for the founder of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and developer of the adjacent Chain Bridge. The square is lined with notable buildings such as the art nouveau Gresham Palace, which is now home to the Four Seasons Hotel, one of the top hotels in Europe. It is worth stopping into the lobby to see the exquisite stained glass, mosaics and ironworks.

As you explore the small square, notice the Ministry of Justice building and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, as well as a statue of Hungarian minister Ferenc Deak, who was responsible for negotiating the Compromise of 1867, which resulted in the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary. Another statue on the west side of the square depicts Austrian and Hungarian children holding hands in peace.