Things to Do in Europe

King’s Park, also known as Kungsparken, became the first large park in Malmo when it was established by King Oscar II of Sweden in 1872. Originally called Castle Park, it was developed on ground that was once home to the Malmohus Castle fortifications. Covering more than 21 acres in the center of the city, the park was inspired by the English-style of landscape gardening at the time.

One of west London’s most affluent districts, just south of Hyde Park, Knightsbridge remains one of the city’s most upmarket shopping areas. While London’s most iconic department store, Harrods, draws in the most visitors, the surrounding area is crammed with flagship British and international designer stores. London based shoe luminaries like Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik are based along the eponymous street; household name fashion house Prada has two stores nearby and the hugely popular department store Harvey Nichols is Harrods’ closest rival. Adjoining Sloane Street’s shop list reads like a fashion show itinerary with Christian Dior, Chanel, Gucci, Armani, Alberta Ferretti and Nicole Fahri, just some of the famous names. It’s not all about shopping, though – the area is also has many chic bars, pricey restaurants and swanky hair and beauty salons.

If you’re in the mood for maxing out your credit card, you’ll be in good company in Knightsbridge - the luxury district is home to some of the world’s richest people (unsurprising when you consider that apartment prices here are among the world’s highest) as well as Coutts, the bank of Her Majesty the Queen. Thankfully, admiring the buildings doesn’t cost a cent, and the stately elegance of the area’s Victorian architecture makes even window-shopping worthwhile. Visit in the evening hours or over the Christmas period for the most atmospheric experience, with the streets aglow with twinkling lights and the shop windows featuring luminous displays.

Set at a lofty 2,061 meters high, with the iconic peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau towering overhead, Kleine Scheidegg is unsurprisingly known for its jaw-dropping vistas, including a striking view of the infamous Eiger North Face. With a cluster of hotels and amenities, the scenic mountain pass makes a strategic base for hiking and skiing, with alpine resorts like Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen just below and access to a vast network of ski runs, hiking routes and rock climbing trails.

From ancient Greek ruins to Byzantine monasteries, Cyprus has an incredible variety of historical sites, and the Kolossi Castle is one of the most striking remnants of the island’s medieval era. Built in the 13th century by the Knights of St. John and later restored in the 15th century, the castle has changed hands several times throughout its long history, but remarkably, remains beautifully preserved.

Appearing more like a stone-brick tower than a fortress, the imposing square keep rises 21 meters tall and taking in the views from the rooftop is a popular pastime for visitors. The dramatic landscape of vineyards surrounding the castle is also significant, as it was here that the Knights of St John first began producing wine and processing sugar cane, leading to the birth of ‘Commandaria’ – the sweet dessert wine, renowned as the world’s oldest named wine still in production. Explore the ruins of the castle chambers and you’ll find further evidence of the historic sugar production, including the millstone used to crush the canes and the aqueduct which once brought water to the mill.

Kolomenskoye is an ancient royal estate located a few kilometers southeast of Moscow. Perched on a bluff above the Moscow River, the estate served as a summer residence for the Grand Dukes of Moscow and Russian Tsars. In the 1920s, it became home to the first open-air museum of wooden architecture in Russia and today stretches over 900 acres.

One of the highlights of the estate is the Church of the Ascension, built in 1532 and considered to be a masterpiece of both Russian and world architecture, built in white stone with an octagonal “tent” topped by a small dome at the top. Another highlight is the reconstructed Palace of the Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich. Originally built in the mid-17th century, the wooden palace consisted of 250 rooms and a complex maze of corridors – all constructed without using nails, saws or hooks! Empress Catherine the Great demolished the palace in 1768, but a model survived, forming the basis for the full-scale reconstruction in 2010.

Other buildings to note include the 16th-century George Bell Tower, the 17th-century Vodovzvodnaya Tower and the 19th-century Hunting Pavilion.

Kings Cross was named after a monument for King George IV but the area was settled much, much earlier. St Pancras old church originated in 4BC. These days it's most famous for its train station: Kings Cross/St Pancras. From here trains go all over England, including to Hogwarts if you can find Harry Potter's Platform 9 3/4. It's also home to Eurostar, which whisks you to Paris and Brussels.

The surrounding area is slowly edging its way out of being one of the seediest parts of London. The magnificent St Pancras building is coming back to life as a posh hotel, the British Library is just down the road, and of course, the station redevelopment is full of shops and restaurants.