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Moscow’s dominant sisters

Since the end of World War II, these 7 buildings have proudly dominated the Moscow skyline. With the construction of these legendary high rises, nicknamed 'the Seven Sisters', leader Joseph Stalin sent a powerful message to the rest of the world. His architects’ taste was anything but conservative; the dominant sisters are a bold combination of Russian Baroque and American high-rise architecture.

Arts & Culture

The Kotelnicheskaya embankment building

Communist paradises

These mega-structures are indeed sister buildings. Although the buildings have Baroque, Gothic and Orthodox style influences, they all feature a central tower with adjacent wings. The ‘Sisters’ have garnered numerous accolades: one is the tallest hotel in the world, another contains the largest chandelier, and the university is the highest educational building in the world. The lavish interior features many opulent decorations. Everything is stunning, from the marble stairways in the university building to the ceiling paintings in the hotel and the lavishly decorated towers in the apartment buildings.

The lobby of the Hilton

Real Russian ambiance

The Leningradskaya was built in 1954 as a luxurious Soviet hotel. In recent years the building underwent extensive restorations and has been transformed into an international Hilton hotel. The Russian ambiance has been preserved: bronze chandeliers and marble pillars dominate the lobby decorated with frescos and ornamental mouldings. The rooms today are more spacious and furnished with contemporary Russian design. Book a room on one of the higher floors in the tower for a spectacular city view. One of the other Stalinist towers now houses the Radisson Royal Hotel. The original ceiling paintings in the lobby and classic décor of the 497 rooms evoke the ambiance of a palace on the Moskva River. Indeed, the rooms are priced accordingly. But even if you choose to stay elsewhere, you can still visit the Mercedes Bar on the 31st floor. Everyone is welcome for a cocktail with a view.

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Arts & Culture

Nightlife

Beach

Water sports

Nature

Active & Outdoor

Culinary

Arts & Culture

Houston and Dallas may be bigger and more famous, but Austin is in fact the capital of Texas. It’s also the least Texan city in Texas. And the weirdest city in the country. This is something its residents take pride in, as evidenced by the Austin motto of Keep Austin Weird! Have a peek inside weird houses or admire a cathedral of junk in a city where there is even a museum devoted entirely to the weird and strange.

Nightlife

When it comes to music, you might be inclined to think New Orleans (jazz), Memphis (rock ‘n’ roll), Chicago (blues) or Nashville (country), but Austin is actually the music capital of the US. The city boasts over 250 music venues, more than any other American city. You can choose from countless live performances and a fantastic music festival every month, such as SXSW. Austin lives and breathes music.

Beach, Water sports, Nature

The airport in Liberia is the gateway to the Province of Guanacaste, the sunniest part of Costa Rica. Thanks to its large number of snow-white buildings and tree-lined streets made of white gravel, the city itself is also referred to as ‘la ciudad blanca’. But, let’s be honest, most visitors who arrive here are primarily interested in white sand. Only a half hour by car from the airport is the fantastic Pacific coast with beaches that are postcard perfect.

Nature

In the Rincón de la Vieja National Park, you can hike, swim in natural hot springs, picnic and camp. The park features a variety of ecosystems around nine craters and 32 rivers with spectacular waterfalls during the rainy season. The diversity of flora and fauna is amazing: look up and chances are you’ll see toucans, sloths and monkeys in the treetops.

Active & Outdoor

Old towns, stunning constructions and wonderful nature: admire all of this and more in THIS IS HOLLAND, a brand-new 5D movie attraction by the producers of De Nieuwe Wildernis (The New Wilderness). It is the perfect introduction to Holland for first-time visitors, but also an interesting surprise for Dutchies who think they know their country inside out. This is a magical 5D experience with smells, colours, images, sounds, rain and shine.

Culinary

Everyone in Sweden knows Småland as the nation’s culinary centre. The region’s cuisine goes above and beyond the famous meatballs: a Michelin-star restaurant serves innovative Swedish haute cuisine, coffee is elevated to an art, and you can visit a lovely castle and pretend to be Lord or Lady of the manor. Here are three suggestions for typically Swedish restaurants in the city of Växjö.

Arts & Culture

Älmhult is the birthplace of renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus and children’s books author Astrid Lindgren, however its most famous ‘offspring’ is IKEA. Life in this southern Swedish town evolves around the blue-and-yellow furniture giant: from the IKEA Hotel and IKEA Museum to the IKEA Bar and IKEA Spa. Welcome to the one and only IKEA Småland – meatballs and ball pit included.