Things To Do In Arts Culture

Part of our Arts Culture guide.

Eight stops through our Arts Culture coverage, from Dürer’s engravings to London’s West End. Each section names the specific works, neighborhoods, and landmarks worth your time.

10 Must-See Masterpieces By Albrecht Durer

Albrecht Dürer’s 10 most iconic pieces are listed here. Start with Young Hare (1502), a watercolor capturing every fur strand with scientific precision. Praying Hands (1508), a pen-and-ink drawing, is a study in folded devotion, while Melencolia I (1514) pairs a brooding angel with a magic square—the bottom row adds to 34 in every direction. Knight, Death, and the Devil (1513) is an engraving where the armored rider ignores the skeletal figure and horned beast, a moral allegory in fine lines. Adam and Eve (1504) is his first engraving signed with a monogram, and The Four Horsemen from the Apocalypse series (1498) shows the rider’s bows and arrows in explosive detail. Rhinoceros (1515) is a woodcut so anatomically confident it was copied for centuries, despite Dürer never seeing the animal. Self-Portrait at Twenty-Eight (1500) presents the artist in a Christ-like pose, while The Large Piece of Turf (1503) is a weed-filled watercolor that turns a patch of grass into a botanical study. St. Jerome in His Study (1514) completes the list, a quiet engraving of the scholar at work, with a lion dozing at his feet.

Beautiful Matera Italy: Things To Do In The City Of Caves

Matera, in the southern region of Basilicata, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its origins date back over 7,000 years, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world, and its most iconic feature is the Sassi—an intricate network of dwellings and churches carved into rocky cliff faces. Walk the Via Sassi to see cave homes with modern doors, then step into the Rock Church of Santa Maria de Idris, where Byzantine frescoes still cling to the stone. For a view, climb to the Belvedere di Murgia Timone across the ravine, where you can see the entire Sassi district spread out at sunset. Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario is a preserved cave home, furnished as it was in the 1950s, with a donkey stable and a stone hearth showing how families lived before the city was evacuated. End with a meal at a ristorante nel Sasso—many are carved into the same rock, serving orecchiette con cime di rapa (pasta with turnip tops) and local Aglianico wine.

The ABSOLUTE Best Things To Do In Oaxaca, Mexico

Oaxaca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, holds archaeological wonders, colonial architecture, and a rich indigenous heritage. Start at Monte Albán, the ancient Zapotec capital, a 15-minute drive from the city center—climb the South Platform for a view of the entire valley. In town, the Santo Domingo Church hides a gold-leafed chapel behind its plain facade, and the adjoining Museo de las Culturas holds a collection of Mixtec jewelry, including the famous gold pectoral from Tomb 7. For food, hit the Mercado Benito Juárez for tlayudas (crispy corn tortillas with beans, cheese, and meat) and chapulines (toasted grasshoppers with lime and chili). The Guelaguetza festival in July and Day of the Dead in late October bring parades and altars, but even off-season, the Andador Turístico is a pedestrian walkway lined with alebrijes (wooden animal sculptures) and talavera pottery. Try a mezcal tasting at a local palenque, where the agave hearts are roasted in earthen pits for a smoky finish.

Things To Do In Colombo, Sri Lanka

Colombo, on Sri Lanka’s western coast, blends traditional charm and modern attractions. Once a trading port, it has evolved into an urban hub with historic landmarks and bustling shopping districts. Start at the Gangaramaya Temple, a Buddhist temple mixing Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian, and Chinese architecture—its museum holds a 2,500-year-old bodhi tree sapling. The Colombo Fort district is home to the Dutch Hospital, now a dining and shopping arcade, where you can try hoppers (fermented rice pancakes) at a street stall. For a quieter moment, walk the Viharamahadevi Park, the city’s oldest green space, or take a train ride on the Coastal Line south to Mount Lavinia beach, a 30-minute trip with the sea on one side and stations on the other. The Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, 11 km northeast, is a Buddhist temple with murals by Solias Mendis, painted in the 1920s, depicting the Buddha’s life.

Things To Do In Oslo: 17 Dos And Don’ts

Oslo rewards visitors who follow a few practical dos and don’ts. Do start at the Oslo Opera House, where you can walk up the sloped roof for a panoramic view of the fjord—the architecture is designed for climbing. Don’t skip the Vigeland Sculpture Park, a 20-minute tram ride from the center, where 212 bronze and granite figures (including the famous Angry Boy) are arranged in a life-and-death tableau. Do take the ferry from Aker Brygge to the Oslofjord islands, where you can swim in the summer or hike the rocky trails year-round. Don’t miss the Munch Museum—it holds The Scream (there are four versions; the museum owns two), plus 28,000 other works by Edvard Munch. Do rent a bike to ride the Akerselva River path, which passes old industrial mills now converted into galleries and cafés. Don’t eat at the tourist traps near the Royal Palace; instead, head to Mathallen food hall for reindeer sausage or rakfisk (fermented trout). Do check the weather—Oslo is 60 km from the Swedish border, and a sunny day can turn to rain in an hour, so pack a layer.

7 Interesting Things To Do In Warsaw, Poland

Warsaw, once called the ‘Paris of the East,’ was tarnished by World War II but rose from the ashes. Start at the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site reconstructed brick-by-brick from wartime photographs—the Royal Castle was rebuilt in the 1970s, and its interiors include period furniture and paintings by Canaletto. Walk the Royal Route south to Łazienki Park, where the Palace on the Water sits on an artificial island, and peacocks roam the lawns. For a sobering history lesson, the Warsaw Uprising Museum (open daily except Tuesdays) documents the 63-day 1944 revolt with original film footage and a replica of a sewer tunnel used by insurgents. The POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews is a modern building with a swirling glass facade, housing an eight-gallery exhibition covering 1,000 years of Jewish life. Don’t skip the Vistula River boulevards at sunset, where pop-up bars and beach bars line the water, and try pierogi at a milk bar (a communist-era cafeteria) like Bar Prasowy for a cheap, authentic meal.

Best Things To Do In Annecy, France (A Travel Guide)

Annecy, in southeastern France, is known for its canals, cobblestone streets, and mountain backdrop. The Vieille Ville (Old Town) is a maze of narrow alleyways lined with colorful houses, boutique shops, and cafés—don’t miss the Palais de l’Île, a 12th-century prison turned museum sitting on a small island in the Thiou River. The waters of Lake Annecy offer a serene escape; rent a pedal boat or take a mini-cruise to the village of Menthon-Saint-Bernard, where a fairy-tale castle perches on a hill. For a view, hike or bike up to the Col de la Forclaz, a mountain pass overlooking the lake—paragliders launch from here, and you can watch them land on the shore below. In town, the Château d’Annecy (a 12th-century castle) houses the Musée-Château, with alpine art and a collection of wooden furniture. Try raclette or tartiflette at a savoyard restaurant, and buy fromage d’Abondance at the Marché de la Vieille Ville on Sunday morning.

9 Must-See Shows In London's West End

London’s West End offers a rich history and vibrant atmosphere for theater enthusiasts. The top 9 must-see shows include Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre, running since 1985 and featuring “I Dreamed a Dream.” The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre has played since 1986, with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score and a famous chandelier drop. Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre brings Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hip-hop musical about the American Founding Father. Wicked at the Apollo Victoria tells the untold story of the Wicked Witch of the West, with “Defying Gravity” as its showstopper. The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre uses puppetry and African rhythms, running since 1999. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre is a two-part play continuing the wizarding story—book both parts. Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge Theatre features songs by Tim Minchin, including “Revolting Children.” Frozen at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane brings the Disney film to stage with “Let It Go” in full. Jersey Boys at the Trafalgar Theatre tells the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, with hits like “Sherry” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” For discounts, check the TKTS booth in Leicester Square for same-day tickets, or book in advance for weekend shows.