Europe Action & adventure, Animal, Art, Beach, Flowers, Gardens & parks, People + Water sports pictures

• World

Colorful architecture, a warm climate and a laid-back Mediterranean lifestyle make this coastal city a favorite with celebrities and holidaymakers.

Be spellbound by the scale and splendor of the Spanish Royal Family’s former official residence.

Make your way along elegant promenades to find medieval churches, thermal spas and stunning gardens in the shadow of the Italian Alps. 

Discover themed gardens, artist pavilions, viewpoints and wildlife stations set around a natural amphitheater in the grounds of a medieval castle. 

Relax by the pond, walk through landscaped gardens, and admire the elegant statues and buildings in one of Madrid’s biggest and most popular parks.

From its architecture to its industry and sporting events, this is a city of fascinating contrasts just an hour by train from London. 

See the swans glide by under weeping willows and relax with a picnic in the park while taking in the pristine beauty of the source of the Clitunno River in Umbria.

Learn about changes in Swedish culture since the 16th century. Find historic furniture and photographs and displays about local festivals and the Sami culture.

Visit the two intriguing castles that flank this historic Spanish beach and relax on its photogenic stretch of golden sand.

Build your courage for the many carnival rides on the People’s Pier and explore the sights backing onto this beach.

Whether you’re catching a train or not, be sure to visit this “secular cathedral,” an early 20th-century icon that sits on a hill north of Old Town Limoges.

The friendly capital of Northern Ireland has a fascinating history and is just an hour away from the country’s scenic Atlantic coastline.

Relax by the pond, walk through landscaped gardens, and admire the elegant statues and buildings in one of Madrid’s biggest and most popular parks.

Ponds, sculptures and slides grace the leafy park near this long and innovative two-part bridge that doesn’t quite meet in the middle. 

A lake and a majestic fountain are among the highlights in this urban park that stands on the site of the city’s former fortress.

Visit this centerpiece of a program of new construction in Stuttgart for the architecture as well as the books contained inside.

With some of Spain’s foremost modern and contemporary artworks and a collection that ranks among the world’s finest, this is a museum art lovers won’t want to miss.

Nature and technology, history, festivals and performing arts make this one of the most popular cities in Germany’s Baden-Württemberg region.

Escape the city and head to one of the world’s largest urban parks, which has lakes and meadows, as well as beer gardens and a variety of interesting relics.

Build your courage for the many carnival rides on the People’s Pier and explore the sights backing onto this beach.

One of the Costa Blanca’s finest beaches is loved by locals and vacationers alike for its soft sand, crystalline water, busy promenade and nightlife. 

Maze-like hedges, marble sculptures and colorful flower beds adorn this historic royal garden, where the palace’s stables and carriages once lay.

Visit the upscale ski resorts, trek across the snow-capped mountains and learn about the mixtures of cultures in this eclectic region.