Things to do in Ala

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle is located in the foothills of the Alps in Bavaria, Germany, near the Austrian border and not far from the small town of Füssen. Built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria as a tribute to composer Wagner and inspired by the legend of the "Swan Knight" Lohengrin, construction began in 1869. Its fairy-tale appearance—white walls, blue domes, and scattered spires—served as the inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle. It is perennially regarded as Germany's tourism icon. The castle interior was originally planned to have over 200 rooms, but by the time of the king's death in 1886, only a dozen had been completed, each exquisitely crafted. The throne hall's dome is painted with a star-studded blue night sky, while the floor features mosaic patterns of flora and fauna, with a chandelier modeled after a Byzantine crown hanging high above. The Gothic double bed in the king's bedroom took over four years to carve by more than a dozen sculptors. The relatively large singers' hall in the castle, adorned with murals of "Lohengrin" and "Parsifal," was modeled after the Wartburg singers' hall and still hosts concerts every September. Swan motifs are nearly omnipresent, appearing in murals, door handles, and washstands. Interestingly, this medieval-inspired castle was already equipped with telephones, central heating, hot water, and automatic flushing toilets at the time, making it remarkably advanced for its era. To capture the classic postcard-perfect shot, head to Marienbrücke. This pedestrian bridge, suspended over the Pöllat Gorge, faces the southern facade of the castle and is not far from the bus drop-off point. It gets crowded in the afternoon, so an early visit is recommended. You can take the shuttle bus, a horse-drawn carriage, or hike up the mountain. The hiking route offers a bird's-eye view of the castle, and along the way, you can also see the yellow Hohenschwangau Castle, the old royal palace on the opposite hill. The castle's ending carries a touch of tragedy: Ludwig II built it with his private funds and loans, facing strong opposition from his ministers. On a late night in June 1886, he was arrested in his castle bedroom and mysteriously died days later by Lake Starnberg. Seven weeks later, the castle opened to the public. Today, visiting the interior requires following a guide, and photography is prohibited inside. Live guides provide commentary in English or German, while an audio guide is available for Chinese. Visitor guide To the castle There are three ways to reach the castle: taking the shuttle bus, riding a carriage, or going on foot. Most people choose to take the shuttle bus, then walk a short distance to Neuschwanstein Castle, where there is a viewing platform to overlook another castle—Hohenschwangau. You can also reach the castle by carriage, where you can enjoy picturesque scenery along the way, and the witty carriage driver will share legendary stories that happened here. After disembarking, it's just a short walk to the castle entrance. If you don't want to wait in line for the shuttle bus or prefer outdoor activities, you can also hike to Neuschwanstein Castle. Along the way, you can capture an aerial view of the castle, and there are relatively fewer travelers. Take a postcard-perfect photo of the castle Marienbrücke (Mary's Bridge) is located near the terminal stop of the uphill bus. This 100 m-high bridge spans between two cliffs, with its floor made of wooden planks that slightly bounce when stepped on. Here, you can capture the famous postcard-perfect shot of Neuschwanstein Castle. If you arrive early before your scheduled visit time, you can first head to Marienbrücke to photograph the beautiful view of Neuschwanstein Castle, as the bridge gets overcrowded after noon. Guided tour To visit the castle interior, you must follow the official guide. The guide provides services in English and German. You can also choose to use an audio guide (available in Chinese). After the visit, you can take a short break at the café inside the castle.

2026 Europe 50 - Best Things to Do

Gallery of the Academy of Florence

The Gallery of the Academy of Florence was established in 1784 by Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo of Tuscany through the reorganization of Florence's art education institutions. It is located on the former sites of the San Matteo Hospital and the San Niccolò Monastery, with its origins tracing back to the Academy of Drawing Arts founded by Cosimo I de' Medici in 1563. The gallery's collection initially served as a teaching resource for students to copy original works. In 1873, to protect Michelangelo's David from exposure to the elements in Piazza della Signoria, the statue was secured on a wooden cart and transported through the center of Florence to the gallery. As the dedicated exhibition hall was not yet completed, it remained sealed in a wooden crate for nine years until the Tribune of David, designed by architect Emilio De Fabris, was finished and opened to the public. Today, David stands bathed in natural light from the skylight above, drawing countless visitors who come specifically to see it. The museum also displays a concentrated collection of Michelangelo's four unfinished sculptures, "The Prisoners," originally carved for Pope Julius II's tomb, along with the equally incomplete "St. Matthew." The human figures appear to be breaking free from the rough stone, offering a direct experience of his "unfinished" sculptural language. At the center of the Hall of the Colossus near the entrance stands Giambologna's full-scale terracotta model for the marble group "The Rape of the Sabine Women," created for the Loggia dei Lanzi. Surrounding it are 15th- to 16th-century Florentine paintings by Botticelli, Perugino, Filippino Lippi, and others. The 19th-century hall, originally a women's hospital ward, now replicates the studio of Lorenzo Bartolini, displaying plaster models. The museum also houses a musical instruments section, featuring a Stradivari viola and cello once owned by the Medici family, as well as early keyboard instruments made by Bartolomeo Cristofori, the inventor of the piano. The visitor route extends from the Hall of the Colossus at the entrance to the Hall of David at the end. Most travelers turn back to the exit after seeing "David," leaving the painting galleries and the musical instrument department on both sides with sparse crowds, making them great places for quiet art viewing. The museum is not large and has a clear layout. Long queues at the entrance are common during the peak season, but the painting galleries and musical instrument exhibition areas are less crowded and worth visiting as well.

Malcesine Monte Baldo cableway

Monte Baldo

Parco Cesare Battisti (Parco del Palù)

La Limonaia del Castel

Ossuary Pasubio

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Germany

BMW Museum

The BMW Museum is located at the BMW brand experience center in Munich, the global headquarters of BMW, and is the core venue showcasing the century-old history of the BMW brand. The museum covers a total area of approximately 5,000 m² and features a "bowl-shaped" design, adjacent to the iconic BMW "four-cylinder building" headquarters. The exhibition halls of the BMW Museum are designed as an encircling space, divided into seven themed exhibition areas, presenting the entire process from the spark of inspiration to the realization of products. It displays various BMW automobiles, BMW motorcycles, and some special-purpose vehicle samples produced over the years, and employs modern high-tech means such as sound, light, electricity, and multimedia, as well as photographic and audiovisual materials, to enhance the artistic space of product display, comprehensively interpreting the history of the growth and development of the BMW automobile company. The halls are connected by ramps and platforms, with a visiting route stretching approximately one km, and walking through it feels like shuttling through a three-dimensional city of automobile culture.

Malga San Giorgio

2026 Europe 50 - Best Things to Do

Saint Mark's Basilica

Saint Mark's Basilica is located in Saint Mark's Square, adjacent to the Doge's Palace. The basilica was first built in 828, and after the old church was destroyed by fire, reconstruction began in the 11th century. It was originally used to house the relics of Saint Mark and later stored various treasures brought back during the Crusades, making it an art repository with a rich collection. The church is primarily Byzantine in style, blending various architectural and decorative elements from Romanesque to Renaissance. Its facade features five Romanesque doors with diamond-shaped arches, topped with Oriental and Gothic spires, along with marble statues, reliefs, and floral motifs. The massive dome and dazzling mosaics are its most striking features. The church consists of five large domed main halls and two cloister-style vestibules, forming a giant Greek cross in its overall layout. The design of the five domes was inspired by the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople, making it a highly representative Byzantine-style structure. In front of the church stand three flagpoles, symbolizing the three regions of Cyprus, Crete, and Morea that Venice controlled during its peak, bearing witness to the city's past glory. At the top center of the church stands a statue of Saint Mark holding the Gospel of Mark, with the winged lion symbolizing Saint Mark beneath it.