1 . Athens: More than a Summer Holiday Destination

While the Greek islands are popular for summer holidays, Athens is a year-round destination. So even if you’re flying to Greece just for the island sun, here are a few reasons to spend time in the capital too!

The Acropolis

Even if you’re not a fan of history, some of the ancient sites you just have to visit — and this is probably the most famous one in Athens. The Acropolis is an ancient city at the top of a hill, and here you’ll see the Parthenon, a temple built almost 2,500 years ago. It’s worth climbing up, too, for the views — of the sea, mountains and Lycabettus Hill rising up between the city’s apartment buildings.

The streets of Plaka and Monastiraki

If you still have energy after climbing the Acropolis, take a walk around the nearby area. Yellow and white buildings look down on the smooth stone streets of the area known as Plaka. Stop at the gift shops or take a break from the sun with a Greek coffee or a traditional meal in one of the local restaurants — or tavernas. Walk on and you’ll soon find yourself in the narrower streets of Monastiraki with its flea markets on all sides, giving you a real Greek experience.

Panathenaic Stadium

Close to the center of town and not far from the National Garden is the ancient Panathenaic Stadium, which was restored for the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. It’s also the place where the Athens marathon finishes every year, so if you like running, you too could feel like an Olympic winner!

The coast

When you’re in the center of Athens, it doesn’t feel much like a coastal city, but the sea is just a few minutes’ drive away. The beaches get better the further south you go, or you can walk by the boats in the shadow of the stylish new opera house.

2 . Here, our selection of Britain’s strangest museums has something for everyone.

Glasgow Riverside Transport Museum

The museum houses steam engines, motorbikes, Glasgow buses and just about anything else that has a set of wheels, wrings or sails. One of the last tall ships in existence is moored (停泊) outside, and you can take a boat there from Govan. For those not in love with transport, there’s a copy of a 19th-century Glasgow street with traditional shops and an old subway station.

Entrance is free and for children of all ages.

The Natural History Museum, Hertfordshire

The Victorians were mad about collecting, and this is essentially the personal collection of just one home-educated boy, which began when he was 5 years old. But as a member of the Rothschild family, Walter took 40 years to do it. There’s just about every stuffed animal you could ever imagine, and quite a few you couldn’t: a polar bear; George, a mandrill (山魈) from London Zoo and a four-ton elephant seal.

Entrance is free.

The Pencil Museum1, Cumbria

It is a museum all about the history of the everyday pencil. There are free daily artists’ demonstrations and workshops, so you can enter from one end of the museum and go out with a drawing from another end. The lovely Lake District location adds to the experience and the wonderful shop is especially enjoyable for stationery (文具) lovers.

Entrance: adults £8, children £6.

The Time Machine Museum of Science Fiction, Hertfordshire

This is the result of 30 years of crazy collecting by Andy Glazzard. There are artworks from sci-fi classics, but most of the museum artworks center on Doctor Who.

Entrance: adults £4.25, children f3.25.

5 . CATALONIA & LITTLE TRAINS OF THE PYRENEES

Experience both the sparkling coast of Catalonia and the shimmering peaks of the Pyrenees as you spend time in both France and Spain on this enchanting holiday.

8 DAYS        £899pp

Day 1: London & Roses

Meet at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar to Paris, continuing to charming Roses for seven nights by rail and coach.

Days 2—3: Roses & the Little Red Train

Today is yours to explore beautiful Roses. You could head to the sweeping, sandy beach for a day of relaxation or find a quiet café on the seafront. On Day 3, journey on the fantastic Little Red Train, travelling through the dense green of the Pyrenees in cheery red carriages from Rivesaltes to the small town of Axat.

Days 4—5: Girona & the Núria Valley Rack Railway

Visit Girona, a city of storybook history that’s full of museums and terracotta buildings. Day 5 features a journey on the Núria Valley Rack Railway, the only way to access this remote valley.

Day 6: Roses

Today you have another chance to explore beautiful Roses, an authentic Spanish fishing port.

Days 7—8: Figueres & London

Today takes you to Figueres for a visit to the Salvador Dali Foundation. Later, visit the town of Besalu, with its striking bridge. Leaving Roses on Day 8, travel by rail to Paris and join the Eurostar to London St Pancras.

Please Note:

DEPARTURES BETWEEN APRIL—OCTOBER 2023.

·Save £150pp on 2023 European holidays on new bookings made between 23rd December 2022 and 31st January 2023.

Book now at raildiscoveries.com/FRS.

Call 01904730557.

Discover more.

6 . Museum of Senses

1,048 Reviews Monday-Sunday 9:00 AM-8:00 PM

Museum of Senses is an experience with over 50 exhibitions for kids and adults that arouses your senses so you are inspired to discover more and therefore, feel more. Live the unimaginable, experience a world of sensations, and test your senses at an extraordinary museum. A place as fun as it is educational, as amazing as it is mysterious, and as crazy as it is rational (理智的).

Duration: 1-2 hours

Admission tickets: $12. 20 per adult

National Automobile Museum

1,797 Reviews Tuesday-Sunday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM

As one of the top Reno attractions with a “Wow!” factor, you won’t want to miss it. The museum has more than 225 rare, one-of-a-kind, antique and collector cars with authentic (真实的) street scenes and sounds that bring displays to life. With artifacts, a theatre presentation, audio tours, and a Museum Store-there’s lots to see and do.

Duration: 1-2 hours

Admission tickets: $55 per adult

Gallery of Steel Figures, Prague

923 reviews Monday-Sunday 10:00 AM-9:00 PM

Gallery of Steel Figures is an interactive and original exhibition. Our steel figures are inspired by characters from cartoons, sci-fi, fantasy, fairytales, pop culture as well as animals and hits from the automotive world. You can touch, climb in and sit on all the figures and of course, take pictures with your favorite superheroes or childhood friends. And the good part is, all exhibits are made from recycled steel parts!

Duration: 1-2 hours

Admission tickets: $13. 23 per adult

Group size: 50

The Getty Center

14, 603 reviews Tuesday-Sunday 10:00 AM-5:30 PM

Grand museum takes pride in a most impressive collection by such great persons as Van Gogh, Monet and Cezanne, along with the architectural triumph of its six buildings and gardens.

Duration:2- 3hbours

Admission tickets: $19. 06 per adult

Located in the Nujiang River Valley at an altitude of 1,000 metres, the Xinzhai village has an annual average temperature of 25 degree centigrade and slightly acid soil, which make it     1     ideal place for growing high-quality coffee plants. As one of the     2     (early) places to produce coffee plants in China, the Xinzhai village began to plant coffee trees in 1952,     3     the Chinese people were not used to drinking coffee. Consequently, the villagers ended up     4     (grow) rice and corn instead. In the 1980s, when international brands     5     (introduce) to China, the villagers began to cultivate coffee plants again. Since 2007, the Xinzhai village has been upgrading their coffee industry, selecting high-quality coffee plants to produce high-quality coffee professionally and cultivating     6     (they) own coffee brand. Today, the coffee growing area is 9 million square metres,     7     an annual output value of more than 100 million yuan. The “Baoshan Arabica coffee”     8     (produce) here has won many international awards and is sold all over the world. In addition, the Xinzhai village has also been developing local tourism. When visiting here, you can pluck coffee beans, learn how to properly brew coffee from baristas, and taste the     9     (fresh) ground (磨碎的) high-quality coffee. Every year, about 120,000     10     (tourist) are attracted here, which further boosts the local economy.

9 . A Guide to Bangkok

Overview

This destination is a city of temples, floating markets and a wide range of accommodations to suit every budget. Before your visit, read through our brief guide to learn about this exciting city.

Must-see attractions

The waterways around the Chao Phraya River are some of the most scenic areas around Bangkok, and the Chatuchak Weekend Market is a good place to visit. To experience Bangkok’s “East meets West” atmosphere, head to Khao San Road to visit market stands. To experience Thai culture, visit the Wat Arun, the Grand Palace and Wat Pho.

Free things to do

·Take a free meditation class at the International Buddhist Meditation Centre inside Wat Mahathat.

·Visit the temples. With the exception of a few like Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho, most are free and open every day.

·Watch a free Muay Thai boxing match at MBK Center.

· Relax and watch a free music concert in Lumphini Park.

Money-saving tips

· If you love to shop, look for bargains on high-end goods. You’ll often find much better deals here than in Singapore.

·Rent a bicycle to explore Bangkok.

· Choose metered taxis but decline rides from drivers who bargain about the price.

·Check out some web pages to view price comparisons for flights, hotels, and rental cars before you book.