Things to Do in Europe

Ranking high on the list of York’s top attractions, the magnificent York Minster is one of Europe’s finest cathedrals and the largest medieval cathedral in the UK. Although the earliest parts of the building are from the 12th century, the Minster’s roots date back much earlier, with the present day cathedral built on the site of a former Norman church and Roman fortress. A masterpiece of gothic architecture, the Minster is renowned for its stonework and exquisite stained glass windows, as well as its fine acoustics.

Today, the Minster is not only an important center of worship and a popular venue for classical music performances (including regular recitals by the celebrated Minster Choir), but is home to a number of tourist attractions. Visitors can climb the 275 steps to the top of the Central Tower, the highest point of York; head into the underground chambers, where interactive galleries and exhibits that chronicle the Minster’s long history; or discover some of the world’s most important medieval art on display in the Orb, a special presentation of John Thornton’s stained glass art. Finally, don’t forget to kiss your loved one beneath the cathedral's Great West Window – local legend dictates that couples who embrace beneath the windows’ heart emblem, known as 'The Heart of Yorkshire', will have a long and happy union.

Once stretching 2.5 miles around the ancient city, today the well-preserved ruins of the York City Walls trace the periphery of the modern city center, encompassing many of York’s top attractions. Originally erected in Roman times, the remaining walls today date back to the 13th and 14th centuries and include four ‘bars’ (gatehouses), where tollbooths once taxed entrants to the city. Although only 3 main sections of the walls remain, interlinked by footpaths, walking the walls is a popular pastime for visitors to the city and clambering up the ramparts affords spectacular city views.

Starting from Micklegate Bar, the ceremonial entrance to the city once used by Royal visitors, a walk around the walls takes in highlights like the Museum Gardens, York Minster, the York Castle Museum, Clifford’s Tower and the Monk Bar, which now houses the Richard III Museum.

Whisking visitors on a hair-raising journey through York’s grim and gruesome past, the York Dungeon is one of the city’s most entertaining attractions, located close to the landmark Clifford’s Tower. Spanning over 2,000 years of York’s history, the city’s most notorious ghosts and villains are brought to life in the dungeons, with 11 shows employing a wacky cast of actors, authentic sets and costumes, and special effects to shock and scare even the bravest of participants.

Get lost in the murky world of 18th century York, as you watch the infamous outlaw Dick Turpin meet his fated end in the gallows; follow notorious traitor Guy Fawkes as his plot to blow up Parliament is foiled; see how the Great Plague raged through the city in 1349; or test your nerves as you hunt down the eerie Ghosts of York. That’s not all – there’s also a terrifying invasion by bloodthirsty Vikings, medieval torture chambers and the treacherous Labyrinth of the Last Roman Legion.

Also known as the Fortress of Seven Towers, the Yedikule Fortress is located just over 3 miles southwest of Sultanahmet. It was first built as the Golden Gate during the reigns of Theodosius I and II in the 5th century. With enormous doors covered in gold, the gate had four towers and was the ceremonial entrance to the city for those arriving from Europe. After the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, Mehmet the Conqueror added three towers to the structure to transform it into a fortress, treasury and prison.  The towers today are known as the Armory Tower, the Flag Tower, the Sultan Ahmet III Tower, the Dungeon Tower (also known as the Tower of Inscriptions), the Top Tower, the Tower of the Treasury and the Young Osman Tower, where Sultan Osman II died while imprisoned.

The Yedikule Fortress also marks the end of the remaining land walls surrounding Istanbul. If you’re feeling adventurous, it’s possible to walk all the way on or along the walls between the fortress and Ayvansaray, about 7 kilometers north on the Golden Horn.

The elegant, canary-yellow façade of Yusupov Palace is somewhat understated in comparison to St. Petersburg’s typically ostentatious architecture, but don’t be fooled by its demure frontage. Step inside the palace and you’ll find a series of ballrooms, banquet halls and bedrooms richly decorated with colorful frescos, sumptuous furnishings and gilded chandeliers. The exquisitely preserved interiors date back to the 19th and early 20th centuries and provide a fascinating glimpse into the aristocratic life of the era, with highlights including the Rococo style private theatre, the Moorish Drawing Room and the grand Ballroom.