Latest news with #HoneyDijon
NDTV
7 days ago
- NDTV
5 Unforgettable Summer Experiences In Europe That Belong On Your Bucket List
Dreaming of Aperol spritzes, sun-soaked coastlines, and endless summer evenings? Europe is calling — but skip the same-old city breaks and tourist-packed spots. This year, make it one to remember with experiences that go beyond the guidebook. Think soaking in Iceland's steamy volcanic hot springs, road-tripping Italy's coast by Vespa, or sleeping under the midnight sun in a glass igloo. Whether you're after adventure, chill vibes, or jaw-dropping views, these five bucket-list moments will turn your European summer holiday into something truly unforgettable. Because if you're going all that way, it should be a trip worth talking about. Here Are 5 Incredible Summer Experiences In Europe: 1. Swim In Iceland's Secret Lagoon At Midnight Skip the overhyped Blue Lagoon and head to its lesser-known sibling, the Secret Lagoon in Fluair, about 90 minutes from Reykjavik. This natural hot spring is Iceland's oldest public pool, dating back to 1891, and it still bubbles with geothermal warmth all year round. The real magic? Summer means near 24-hour daylight in Iceland, so you can float in the steamy water late into the night while the sun hovers just above the horizon. No crowds, no rush — just nature doing its thing. Plus, it's much cheaper and far more relaxed than its flashier cousin. Best time to go: June to early August 2. Party Under The Stars At A Croatian Island Festival Croatia's summer festivals are nothing short of legendary. The best way to do it? Head to Pag Island for Hideout Festival (held in late June) or hop over to Hvar for more glamorous, boat-party vibes. These aren't your average beach raves — we're talking open-air stages, DJs like Peggy Gou and Honey Dijon, and sunrises that'll ruin you for club nights back home. Hvar in particular has carved a niche for itself among the yacht set, with swanky cocktail bars and chic beach clubs like Hula Hula and Carpe Diem. But there are quieter corners too, if you need a break from the bass. Best time to go: Late June to early July 3. Sleep In A Treehouse In The French Alps For a total switch-off, head to the Alpine forests of France and book a night (or three) in a treehouse. Places like Les Cabanes Entre Terre et Ciel near Annecy offer fully equipped cabins perched in the treetops, complete with private terraces and, yes, hot tubs. By day, go hiking or paddleboarding on Lake Annecy. At night, stargaze with a glass of Savoie wine while owls hoot in the distance. It's rustic without being roughing it — the perfect balance of nature and comfort. Best time to go: June to September 4. Ride The Glacier Express Through The Swiss Alps Europe isn't short on scenic train rides, but the Glacier Express in Switzerland might just top them all. Connecting Zermatt and St. Moritz, this eight-hour journey cuts through alpine valleys, crosses 291 bridges, and climbs mountain passes you'd never reach by car. What makes it bucket list-worthy? Panoramic windows, first-class dining service, and views of the Matterhorn that genuinely live up to the hype. It's peaceful, pristine, and the exact kind of slow travel that makes you fall in love with the journey — not just the destination. Best time to go: July or August for green hills and clear skies. 5. Chase The Sunset On Italy's Amalfi Coast By Vespa If you've seen the Amalfi Coast from a coach window, you haven't really seen it. Rent a Vespa and feel the sea breeze as you ride through the winding coastal roads from Positano to Ravello. It's a classic Italian summer scene, complete with lemon groves, cliffside villages, and panoramic views at every turn. Stop for a scoop of lemon gelato in Amalfi, visit the stunning Villa Cimbrone gardens in Ravello, or just pull over wherever the view demands it (which is often). You'll be hard-pressed to find a more scenic stretch of road anywhere in Europe. Best time to go: May to mid-June or September to avoid peak traffic
National Geographic
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- National Geographic
7 of the best new museums to visit this year
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Whether it's getting in touch with different cultures, finding creative inspiration or even sinking your teeth into the history of a specific subject, museums can be intimate and interactive spaces that conjure new trains of thought while transporting visitors into other worlds — even if just for a brief moment. And 2025 is a great year to wander collection-filled halls, get lost in exhibitions and stimulate the senses with new interactive experiences — here's where to do it. 1. Grand Egyptian Museum, Egypt A massive 11-metre, 3,200-year-old statue of Ramses II greets visitors at the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the largest archaeological museum in the world. This highly anticipated space dedicated to Ancient Egyptian civilisation has been in the works for over a decade, with multiple pushbacks due to rising costs and the pandemic, but the first galleries finally opened in late 2024. The grand staircase that leads to the main galleries is a statue-stacked celebration of Egypt's gods and kings, holding over 60 significant pieces from the museum's collection. Once upstairs, visitors can peer through the floor-to-ceiling windows that face the Pyramids of Giza before admiring the museum's 100,000-strong collection. Tours are offered every hour in Arabic and English and last 90 minutes, but that's not nearly enough to cover the entire museum. This July will finally see the museum's official grand opening, when the King Tutankhamun collection will be unveiled. An old-school jukebox, curated by DJ and activist Honey Dijon, plays inspirational hits that capture the Stonewall community's rebellious spirit and joy. Photograph by Stephen Kent Johnson 2. Stonewall National Monument Visitor Centre, US Last June — on the anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion on the 28th of the month — marked the opening of New York City's Stonewall National Monument Visitor Centre, a cultural hub dedicated to all things LGBTQ+. It's set in what was one half of the original Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village, which was raided by police in 1969, sparking a series of protests. The visitor centre plays host to a variety of talks, live performances, on-site tours and exhibitions highlighting LGBTQ+ history while a modern revival of the original bar occupies the other half of the building next door. A rainbow-coloured Wall of Solidarity greets guests and unveils Stonewall's global legacy while highlighting the voices of revolutionary hope while an old-school jukebox, curated by DJ and activist Honey Dijon, plays inspirational hits that capture the Stonewall community's rebellious spirit and joy. Entry to the visitor centre is free of charge. 3. Nintendo Museum, Japan Giant brick blocks and green pipes decorate the courtyard of the Nintendo Museum, which opened last October in Kyoto, Japan, conjuring up the imaginary world of the global entertainment brand. The museum, spread across three buildings, is dedicated to the history of Nintendo, from its humble roots — founded in 1889 as a maker of hanafuda ('flower cards', traditional Japanese playing cards) — to the company's latest games and consoles, including special editions and concepts that were never publicly released. The main attraction, as expected, is the collection of interactive games, featuring Nintendo's famous characters, from Kirby to Super Mario. End the nostalgia with a visit to the museum gift shop for Nintendo memorabilia, followed by the Hatena Burger restaurant, where visitors can choose from over 270,000 possible ways to build a burger. Tickets are made available by lottery and must be bought at least three months in advance through the museum's website. The striking brutalist building in Kristiansand in southern Norway houses the largest collection of Nordic modern art. Photograph by Alan Williams 4. Kunstsilo, Norway The sleek, white brutalist building that houses Kunstsilo, Norway's latest museum of contemporary Nordic art, might seem like a recent construction, but it's actually a repurposed flour mill built in 1935. Recognised for its modern, functionalist architecture, the silo is now home to prestigious collections that showcase 8,000 pieces of Nordic art. The Tangen Collection, the largest collection of Nordic modern art, gathers work from Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland from the late 1890s to present-day. Kunstsilo also offers digital contemporary art and temporary exhibitions, along with lectures, concerts and workshops. There's also a brasserie on the ground floor and the Panorama bar on the ninth, for views of the fjord and archipelago outside the southern port city of Kristiansand. 5. Women Artists of the Mougins Museum, France British collector Christian Levett closed his museum of antiquity in Mougins on the French Riviera and reopened it as a dedicated space to art created entirely by women of the 19th to 21st centuries. Femmes Artistes du Musée de Mougins, or Women Artists of the Mougins Museum, holds Levett's personal collection of over 100 paintings and sculptures created by more than 80 artists such as Frida Kahlo, Blanche Hoschedé-Monet (stepdaughter of Claude Monet), Joan Mitchell, Jenna Gribbon, Leonora Carrington and dozens more. The ground floor is dedicated to painters of the impressionist and surrealist movements, while the first floor showcases abstract work from the 20th century. The second floor embodies figurative art and various depictions and expressions of the human body while the basement level is dedicated to 21st-century women artists and their legacies in the art world. The museum is open daily and tickets can be purchased in advance online. Visitors to the Museum of BBQ can dive into a ball pit resembling a can of BBQ beans at the end of their visit. 6. Museum of BBQ, US A museum dedicated entirely to flavour, the Museum of BBQ allows guests to get lost in the sauces of America's four main barbecue regions: Kansas City, Memphis, Texas and the Carolinas. Opened by food writer and BBQ judge Jonathan Bender, this Kansas City-based museum dives deep into every step of the sizzling practice, from meat cuts and dry rubs to how smoke, wood and fire affect the final result. Visitors can also soak up the history of the craft while enjoying some 'rib ticklers' (BBQ-themed dad jokes) and photos with the championship mustard belt — an ode to South Carolina's famous mustard-based sauce. After the culinary history, it's time to dive into a can of beans — or at least into the giant ball pit that resembles one. 7. Saka Museum, Indonesia Shining a light on often-overlooked Balinese culture and history, the Saka Museum in Bali weaves the island's intimate connection to nature into its state-of-the-art architecture and design. Opened in 2024 by Ayana Bali, a destination resort with four award-winning hotels, the Saka Museum is free for hotel guests and open to others for a small fee. Named after the Hindu solar calendar, the museum showcases preserved ancient texts, gamelan instrument ensembles, stone statues and ogoh-ogoh sculptures from local Balinese communities as well as offers a deep dive behind Nyepi, Bali's annual, island-wide Day of Silence. Saka offers tours, seminars and exhibitions, along with vast indoor and outdoor spaces for weddings and special events. To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
