Things to Do in Europe

Used for growing grape vines since at least the 11th century (and probably as far back as Roman times), this 18-mile, 2,050-acre stretch of terraced vine-rows across the Swiss canton of Vaud is one of the world’s most remarkable examples of human interaction with a natural landscape. The southern-facing terraces, which maintain a mild climate within a country known for its spectacular winters, are famed for producing the Chasselas grape, which make a full, dry and fruity white wine that fueled the local economy for centuries.

While the Swiss wine industry doesn’t rival that of its neighbors in Italy and France, this area has remained in continuous, productive use, and its historic buildings, footpaths and vines have been well maintained and preserved. While there is clear evidence that the vines were cultivated by Benedictine and Cistercian monks, traces of Roman settlements here and in nearby Lausanne, a city which historically owes some of its wealth to the Lavaux wine industry, has led many to believe that ancient Romans also used the terraces for growing wine grapes.

Le Suquet is the old quarter of Cannes perched on a hill overlooking the radiant French Riviera. The hill became the property of the Iles de Lerins monks in the 11th century, and a castle constructed by them in 1088 still exists today. It is a popular area for people to climb the winding cobbled roads and enjoy the local cafes, restaurants, and shops, located mostly on Rue St Antoine. The atmosphere is more casual and medieval than the glamorous heart of Cannes.

A clock tower and church are situated in Le Suquet, overlooking the peninsula and Cannes itself. At the base of Le Suquet on Rue Dr. P. Gayagnaire is the charming Marche Forville, where a market takes place in the mornings and early afternoon.

Perhaps one of the world's most beloved architectural mistakes, the Leaning Tower of Pisa's imitable tilt has made the UNESCO World Heritage site an icon of Tuscany and all of Italy. Travelers flock to take the must-have photo in which they pose as if holding up the famous leaning tower, which was originally intended as a bell tower for Pisa Cathedral. If you're up to the challenge of ascending the leaning tower's 294-step spiral staircase, you'll be rewarded with stunning views over Pisa. And you won't have to worry about toppling over—thanks to expert engineering using cables and counterweights, the tower is completely stable.

The Basics
Due to the Leaning Tower of Pisa's global renown and unstable subsoil, tickets to the 12th-century tower are strictly limited and visits are timed. With that, booking in advance is a must and skip-the-line tickets are highly recommended—jumping a long queue could save you hours of precious sightseeing time.

All Pisa tours cover the Leaning Tower, generally depart from Florence or Rome, and often include other Pisa sights such as the Piazza dei Miracoli and the Piazza dei Cavalieri, which boast the sublime Pisa Baptistry and Duomo, a marvel of Romanesque architecture. Travelers short on time can combine a visit to Pisa with whistle-stop tours of Lucca, Siena, San Gimignano, and Florence, all of which travel through the serene Tuscan countryside.

The mountainous interiors of these steeply pitched volcanic islands are draped with a unique and lush ecosystem, the Laurisilva Rainforests of Madeira. Named for its flowering laurels, these forests are marbled with waterfalls and home to hundreds of endemic species, many endangered though this was once one of Europe's most common biomes.

This type of subtropical humid forest begins at an elevation of around 300 meters (984 feet), reaching its cool, misty pinnacle atop Pico Ruivo (1,861m / 6104ft). Well-worn hiking trails and winding roads wend through these rich forests, some specifically protected as biogenic and natural reserves with admission fees, such as Vale da Ribeira da Janela and the Deserta Islands. Others are less formally accessible, such as those around Santana and on the Selagem Islands. All are protected as part of Madeira Natural Park.

The National Studio for Contemporary Arts located in the Lille suburbia acts as both a teaching establishment and a museum; its goal being to give northern France residents and visitors easy access to the arts of all forms (cinema, photography, applied arts, musique, living arts, etc.) in a state-of-the-art building. Its genesis is to integrate audiovisual techniques to its productions, making Le Fresnoy an exclusive place for locals to experiment with various practices – the museum creates over 50 pieces every year. In a nutshell, Le Fresnoy is kind of like “dance studio meets movie set”; every movement, every pain stroke is subject to technological embellishments. Because of its unique mission, the museum has welcomed several world-class art exhibitions over the years, and continues to be acclaimed by other museums around the world. The museum also houses a cinema and regular exhibitions aimed at children.

Just 30 minutes from downtown Madrid, Las Rozas Village is a shopper’s nirvana – a designer outlet village crammed with over 100 shops and boutiques. One of nine Chic Outlet Shopping malls in Europe, Las Rozas Village not only offers an impressive array of luxury brands and local designers, but shoppers can enjoy discounts of up to 60%, plus tax-free shopping for non-E.U residents.