Things to Do in Europe

With its a unique approach to science, Cardiff's leading science and discovery center, Techniquest, is one of the most popular discovery centers in the whole of the UK, dedicated to making science not only accessible, but a whole lot of fun.

Since it opened 1986, the Techniquest Science Discovery Centre, located in Cardiff Bay, has become one of the most visited family attractions in the country, with over 120 hands-on exhibits and a Science theatre to keep children (and inquisitive adults) amused.
A series of fully interactive puzzles bring the weird and wonderful tricks of science to life, along with some mind-blowing optical illusions. Watch objects hover in a vertical wind tunnel; make your own shadow freeze in place; find your way through a complex maze of mirrors; act out a rocket or hot air balloon launch; or test your reflexes through a series of challenges.

There's method behind the madness too - as each installation leaves you desperate for explanations, you'll find yourself soaking up information without even realizing and there's plenty to take in. Learn how the surface tension of bubbles affects their speed in a "˜bubble race'; understand how acoustic design can make a whisper audible from 100 feet away; figure out how an object can roll uphill and experiment with making yourself "˜invisible'. Finally, once your brain is well and truly frazzled, head to the Planetarium, where you can lay back and marvel at the glittering night sky.

Tivoli World is an amusement park and performance venue atop a hill in Benalmádena. The performances can be kind of tacky - there's a Wild West Show (yee-ha!) and can-canning soubrettes - but there's also flamenco dancing which, while it may not be anything close to authentic, can still be quite thrilling.

Fittingly, the layout of the Torture Museum is of a maze of small, dark rooms. Often listed amongst the "world's most unusual museums", it features a theatrical atmosphere, which lightens what would otherwise be a rather somber mood. Each room displays one or two torture devices, with some being safely secured from human use, and others being free to touch and feel. Each device is accompanied by a description of how and why it was used; the most curious visitors will undoubtedly enjoy the image from an old book showing it in use. The museum is obviously home to a variety of torture devices, including well-known ones such as the guillotine. It also features lesser-known devices such as thumbscrews, the intriguing flute of shame, the iron maiden, skull crusher, Judas chair, Catherine Wheels, and Scold's bridle. While some of the devices are genuine, some have been reconstructed according to the literature.

The wooded hilltop of Tomnahurich, or the "˜Hill of the Yews', is one of Inverness' most prominent landmarks, a glacial esker located a mile out of the city center. The summit, a steep 67-meter peak overlooking the Caledonian Canal, is home to a war memorial and the 18th and 19th century cemetery of the same name, with notable burials including Major-General Sir Robert Adams and submariner Rear Admiral Sir Anthony Capel Miers "“ both holders of the Victorian Cross medal.

Despite its poignant memorials, Tomnahurich remains most famous for its folklore legends. If you believe the myths, the hill is the seat of the Fairy Queen and a local fairytale tells the tall tale of the two traveling fiddlers who were tricked into playing for the fairies and disappeared for a hundred years. Another legend dictates that the 13th-century seer Thomas the Rymer was buried beneath the summit with his army of men and horses, ready to be resurrected in Scotland's hour of need. Far fetched though the legends may be, there's no doubting the enchanted Tomnahurich holds a special place in the hearts of locals and climbing to its peak is one of the city's most popular walks, affording pleasant views over the surrounding countryside.

Since opening its doors back in 1864, the Tropenmuseum, or "˜Museum of the Tropics', has amassed 175,000 objects from Dutch colonies around the world, making it one of the largest museums in Amsterdam.

Split into eight sizable permanent exhibitions, the items showcase the daily life and possessions of Dutch overseas residents and provide a fascinating glimpse into the diverse cultures and traditions of inhabitants around the globe. Each exhibit focuses on a different geographical region, with Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, all getting a nod. Other key attractions include a vast collection of over 150,000 photographs dating from 1855"“1940; a theatrical exhibition featuring masks, puppets and musical instruments from around the world; and a Junior sub-museum, with a series of interactive exhibitions and events, including dance, art and cooking, aimed at children. A varied roster of temporary visual arts and photographic exhibitions play a huge part in the Tropenmuseum's popularity too, ensuring that the weird, the wonderful and even the downright ordinary are all covered.

The anthropological museum is owned and operated by the Royal Tropical Institute and housed in a specially constructed listed building in East Amsterdam. The sprawling mansion was constructed in 1926 to designs by JJ.Van Nieukerken and the elaborate facade features sculptures, friezes and carvings symbolic of Dutch history and world cultures.